To try and dispel the myth that home baking is time consuming or requires lots of ingredients that you never have in the cupboard, I've been sharing some of my super easy recipes, to try and get everyone baking this Christmas. Last week I shared my easy peasy recipe for mince pies. That batch lasted a measly 3 days in my house, before there were requests for more. Next time I'm doubling up, and filling even more tupperware with pies!

This week I bring you a super simple cake, that can be made with just one flick of a switch. Yup, the whole of this cake is thrown into the mixer at once, meaning you won't have to spend ages cleaning dishes( because no one can deny that that's the worst part of cooking) and wondering what goes in when. This cake is chocolate orange flavour... why is this a Christmas cake you ask? Yes its true, this can be made at any time of the year, but don't Terry's Chocolate Oranges just signify Christmas to you? I usually have one in my sweetie stocking from Santa, and there's something very festive about the taste of a chocolate orange. So I took my inspiration from Terry, to make this very light and moist chocolate orange cake. And even though I decorated mine with green and red sprinkles, there's nothing to stop you from making a pretty design with some segments of chocolate oranges, or grating it over the icing. 

Ingredients

For the cake mix

150g plain white flour

2 table spoons of cocoa powder

1 tablespoon of baking powder

175g of unsalted butter (soft)

175g caster sugar

3 eggs (beaten)

3 teaspoons of orange flavouring

2 tablespoons of milk

For the icing ( and filling) 

140g of butter (soft)

280g of icing sugar

2 tablespoons of milk

Method

For the cake

1. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder into a mix (or mixing bowl) and add the butter, caster sugar, eggs and orange flavouring (add to your own taste - I added three and had a subtle hint of orange). 

2. Mix it all together to until its smooth, then stir in the milk. 

3. Half the mixture into two greased sandwich tins (c. 20cm) and ensure it's even and smooth on top. 

4. Put it into the oven (preheated to 180 degrees Celsius) and bake for 25 minutes ( or until risen ). Leave it to cool before moving them from the tins onto wire racks

5. Once cooled, spread the butter cream icing to sandwich the two halves together. Spread the remainder of the icing over the top of the cake and decorate to your liking. 

For the icing

1. Beat the butter, until its a soft paste.

2. Add half of the icing sugar and mix in, once mixed add in the rest of the icing sugar

3. Mix in 2 tablespoons of milk

And from this all, you'll make an extremely tasty Christmassy cake (for those who aren't lovers of the traditional Christmas cake). 

Love,

Emily

xxx

~Latest Post - Things To Do In Aberdeen At Christmas ~

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