When the lovely Shannon invited Elina and I over for an impressive Etiopian feast earlier this week, I thought it would be fun to stick with the theme and bring a dessert we could also eat with our hands. For some reason, I couldn’t get the idea of making a snack cake out of head, even though I’m still not 100% sure what a snack cake actually is – I associate the term with Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Zingers, etc – but figured any sturdy cake we could pick up and enjoy without utensils would fit the bill! I also decided that our snack cake should also be super easy to make, so I whipped up my creation in just one bowl with a spoon (no fancy mixer needed!) and topped it with a simple 2 minute dark chocolate ganache melted in the microwave.
This is a rich and decadent treat that I loaded with three types of chocolate – melted unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder, and dark chocolate chips. But, it also has a nice contrast of fresh orange flavor bursting through, from both the juice and zest of a few oranges. It’s sinful and super easy to throw together at the last minute. There are definitely more snack cakes in my future!
Dark Chocolate Orange Snack Cake
Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
Chocolate Orange Snack Cake:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon espresso powder
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
1 cup dark chocolate chips
Dark Chocolate Ganache:
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream
Directions:
Heat oven to 350˚F. Microwave the butter and unsweetened chocolate in a microwavable bowl at high power until the butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Place melted mixture in a large bowl and stir in orange juice, vanilla extract, and egg. Mix in sugar and espresso powder, followed by the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Stir in orange zest and chocolate chips.
Pour batter into an 8×8-inch square greased pan and bake at 350˚F for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
In a small microwavable bowl, microwave the dark chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream, uncovered, on high for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Continue stirring until the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Spread the ganache over the cake and refrigerate until the ganache is set, about 1 hour. Cut into 16 squares and serve.
Nutrition: 251 calories, 14.8g fat, 2.0g fiber, 2.6g protein per serving
Cost: $0.39 per serving