Chocolate Cake with Orange Bitters Recipe

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by ANGOSTURA^® bitters. All views and opinions are my own.

When it comes to cake, chocolate is definitely my favorite (in case that isn’t already obvious from the multiple recipes I have for it on my blog). Today I’ve decided to share something a bit more sophisticated and complex by incorporating ANGOSTURA^® orange bitters into a chocolate cake recipe.

For those unfamiliar with the brand, ANGOSTURA was founded by Dr. Johann Siegert in 1824 when he first produced aromatic bitters as a medicinal tincture designed to alleviate stomach ailments. (Fun Fact: ANGOSTURA^® aromatic bitters are also one of the only concoctions with alcohol content that was not discontinued during Prohibition.) While many of us associate bitters with cocktails, you can also cook with bitters to add depth and complexity to a number of sweet and savory dishes.

You may be thinking, “What are bitters?” Simply put, they’re an ingredient infused with flavor by way of aromatics, spices, herbs, fruit, botanicals, etc. They pack a lot of flavor in just a few dashes and, similar to vanilla and other extracts, bitters are a great enhancement to pastries, cakes, and other baked goods.

Enter this chocolate cake.

Chocolate and orange are a great pairing, and the orange bitters I added to the cake batter and chocolate spread provide a delicious touch of citrus oils and spices to complement the chocolate. I also amp up the orange flavor by adding some fresh zest to the batter. The cake itself comes out delightfully moist and rich (and just so happens to be vegan). To up the decadence, I melt some chocolate to spread on top and then sprinkle it with flakey sea salt, which provides a nice textural contrast and really brings out all of the flavors. (Be sure to use dairy-free chocolate if you want the entire dessert to be vegan.)

Ready to give this chocolate cake recipe a go? You can purchase ANGOSTURA bitters at grocery stores, liquor retailers, and cookware stores nationwide. Happy baking!

Yield: One 8-inch cake

Chocolate Cake with Orange Bitters Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Chocolate and orange are a great pairing, and the orange bitters in this recipe provide a delicious touch of citrus to complement the chocolate.

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Ingredients

Chocolate Cake:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1½ cups water
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 1½ teaspoons ANGOSTURA orange bitters
• Zest from 1 orange (about 1 tablespoon)

Chocolate Spread:

• ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon ANGOSTURA orange bitters
• Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

1. To make the Chocolate Cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Put a circle of parchment paper in the bottom of an 8-inch cake pan and coat with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
2. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, both sugars, baking powder, and salt in a bowl, making sure to break up any clumps of brown sugar. Add the water, vegetable oil, and bitters and whisk until smooth; stir in the orange zest. Pour into greased cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack; let cool completely. (Note: The dome that you see when you take it out of the oven will fall. That is okay.)
3. To make the Chocolate Spread: Add the chocolate, corn syrup, and oil to a small bowl and melt in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir until smooth. (If necessary, you can use additional 15-second increments to get the chocolate to melt completely.) Stir in the bitters.
4. Spread the Chocolate Spread on top of the cake and sprinkle with some flakey sea salt. Enjoy!