Chocolate Orange Drizzle Loaf Cake ~ Sweet and Simple Bakes Monthly Baking Event.

The first of the month means time to present ‘Sweet and Simple Bakes Monthly Baking Event’. It was my turn to choose a tried and tested recipe this month. I presented a recipe that I have been baking for years and a huge favourite of my family “Chocolate Orange Drizzle Loaf Cake”. This loaf cake has three elements to it but I assure don’t let that put you off as it remains a sweet & simple bake. The first element is the orange sponge loaf the second being the wonderful orange drizzle and thirdly a topping of chocolate. I know this is such a classic combination of flavours that never cease to lose their appeal. This would make a great teatime cake cut into slices and served with a lovely cup of tea – perfect!

Chocolate Orange Drizzle Loaf Cake

Ingredients

For The cake
175g (6 oz) softened butter
175g (6 oz) caster (super fine) sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
Finely grated zest of 2 oranges
175g (6 oz) self-raising flour, sifted
2 tbsp milk
For The Orange Syrup
Juice of 1 orange
100g (4 oz) granulated sugar
For The Topping
50g (2 oz) dark chocolate or milk chocolate – your choice
Sprinkles of choice (optional)

You will need a 900g (2 lb) loaf tin – greased with a little butter and lined with greaseproof paper or non-stick baking paper.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan oven 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.

In a mixing bowl, add the butter and sugar and beat together until light and fluffy in appearance. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well until fully incorporated. Add the orange zest, flour and milk and fold in gently with a spatula or large metal spoon. Turn into the prepared tin, smooth the top of the mixture and bake in the oven on middle shelf 35 -45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin. When cool make little holes in the cake with a skewer, (this is important for pouring the syrup onto the cake to ensure the syrup soaks in fully.)

For The Orange Syrup

Put the orange juice and granulated sugar into a pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and boil for a couple of minutes. Pour over the top of the cake. When all the juice has soaked in, carefully remove the cake from the tin.

For The Topping

Melt the chocolate by placing a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Once the chocolate has melted, pour over the top of the cake. Either smooth the top over with a spatula or make a little pattern with the prongs of a fork. Add sprinkles if desired, leave chocolate to set before cutting into the cake.

Lastly slip into the sublime world of chocolate orange drizzle passion, and eat your heart out on a slice or two.......mmmmmmmm.....

Please do call by Sweet and Simple Bakes, view our round-up of our other bakers; also, if you would like to join in our monthly bake, we would be most delighted to have you join in and bake with us – everyone is welcome!