Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake drizzled with silky chocolate ganache. Simple, moist, flavorful, and absolutely scrumptious! Video.
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Hi friends, this is one of the most delicious desserts I’ve ever had –Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake. Truly! Make it with love in your heart, and it will be magic.
Is it possible to weave a spell of love into the food we cook? I’d like to believe so. 😉
Chocolate Bundt Cake | 60-sec Video
Ingredients in Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Cocoa powder
- Coffee
- Orange juice: from oranges or blood oranges
- Orange liquor (or Kahlua or more orange juice)
- Butter
- Brown sugar and regular organic cane sugar
- all-purpose flour (or fine pastry flour)
- baking soda
- Salt
- Eggs
- vanilla
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Milk (or half and half)
How to make Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake
Butter the bundt pan well (take your time to do this well), then dust with cocoa powder, knocking out excess.
Heat coffee, orange juice, zest, orange liqueur, vanilla, butter, in a medium saucepan over moderate heat, whisking, until butter is melted, then whisk in a cup of cocoa powder.
Using blood orange juice is a nice option here but if you can’t find them, regular oranges work well too.
Remove from heat, then add both kinds of sugar and whisk until dissolved, about 1 minute. Let cool.
While the chocolate mixture cools, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
Whisk together eggs and vanilla in a small bowl, then, temper the eggs by pouring a little of the melted cocoa butter mixture to the eggs, whisking, a tablespoon at a time, to warm them gradually.
This is known as “tempering the eggs” ( so they don’t turn into scrambled eggs).
After about 4 tablespoons, pour in the egg mixture into the cooling chocolate mixture and whisk well.
Add the chocolate-egg mixture to the flour mixture and whisk until just combined (batter will be thin and bubbly).
Pour batter into the greased and cocoa-dusted bundt pan and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes.
Cool cake completely in pan on a rack, about 2 hours. Loosen cake from pan using tip of a dinner knife, then invert rack over pan and turn cake out onto rack.
Make the chocolate ganache:
Melt the chocolate chips and milk in a small pot over very low heat. Whisk until combined, then pour over the cake.
Optional: To make the candied blood orange slices – very thinly slice one blood orange.
Place in a pot with one cup water and simmer 20 minutes, until water has reduced to about ¼ cup and orange peel becomes tender. Add in sugar, and stir until dissolved.
Squeeze the juice of the other orange( I used ½) into the mix, and simmer gently for a couple of minutes. Taste, add more sugar if you want. Let this cool. Spoon over the cake after cutting into it, topping with a blood orange slice.
On the homefront: It has been a hard week. I made this decadent Dark Chocolate Blood Orange Bundt Cake last Saturday, not knowing then how much I would end up needing it in the days to come. The next day, my dad passed away, and piece by piece, this cake has nurtured me all week.
In the end, I loved him. More than I ever thought possible. It took a long time for this to happen, to heal the wounds of childhood, to find forgiveness, and slowly untie the knots in my heart. Our relationship was challenging, the hardest relationship I’ve ever had.
There was a time in my young twenties when I came to the realization, there was no changing this very impossible man, and that I could either choose to love him like he was, or walk away. “But the soul often asks more of us than we plan on giving.” as James Hollis likes to say.
Something deep inside me knew I needed to stay and figure out how to do this, not for his sake, but for my own, and ultimately for my own deliverance.
And once I made this choice, now almost 30 years ago, it was like the universe stepped in, in its often most comical way, and made sure I followed through.
At every cross-road, circumstances occurred that practically shoved me in the direction of love.
These external circumstances paired with the inner workings of my subconscious, led me down this road of healing, without me being fully aware of it at the time. As I look back now, I see the thread of synchronicity weaving my inner and outer worlds together, and know there is wisdom in the timing of things.
My mother left my father when she was 80 ( an amazing story!) and charged me with his care. My three biggest fears would eventually become realized, that my mom would die, I’d be stuck taking care of my impossible father, and that I would get a divorce. A perfect storm.
Then, something unexpected happened. My dad lost his memory. And surprisingly, his ego completely dissolved away and what remained of him was this pure loving presence. He was no longer the man who had to be tip-toed around, his angry side basically evaporated.
At first, it was disturbing, that he couldn’t remember things, which kind of made me angry because I knew he would never again “own” his past, or be sorry for how he treated my mom. Turns out I was angry about a lot of things. That he lived and my mom died- of course, I blamed him for that too. Pretty much everything was his fault. 😉
During the next 8 years, I dug up every bone of contention I had with my dad, like I was mining for gold. But every sorrow, every nugget of anger that surfaced was met by his loving presence. He never did say “sorry”, because he had no memory of wrongdoing. But he knew and remembered me, and met me with love. It was like looking into the face of a child. Innocent. And surprisingly, each time I saw him, I felt myself slowly letting go of all the pain, bit by bit. His loving presence was like sunlight, warming and opening my heart.
Today as I write this I feel peace. I’m sad of course, it feels strange not to have him here. But mostly I feel this huge release like I finally got to the top of Mt. Everest and from here I can finally see the deeper meaning in all of it.
I learned to love him fully (as I could). Flaws and all. I see now how his imperfections were part of a much bigger story- my mother’s story and well as mine. I have never felt so much love pour out of my heart, or so much gratitude, for him. For him being exactly how he was.
I also learned that I can forgive someone, without ever receiving an apology, and that when I do this, it liberates me. There is huge freedom in this, spaciousness.
Honestly, I feel as if, learning how to love and forgive my father, has been one of my greatest accomplishments. Perhaps this will resonate with someone out there…
Hope you enjoy this Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake.
Simple, moist, flavorful and absolutely scrumptious!
Sorry for the sad tale….keeping it real.
Love,
More recipes you may like:
- Vegan Meyer Lemon Coconut Bundt Cake
- Vegan Cranberry Cake
- Chocolate Bouchons
- Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with Dried Cherries
- Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta with Blood Oranges
- Easy Flourless Chocolate Torte
Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Yield: 14-16 1x
- Category: dessert, sweets, cake
- Method: baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake with a silky Chocolate Ganache Drizzle. Simple, moist, flavorful and absolutely scrumptious!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder plus 2 tablespoons for dusting pan
- 3/4 cup brewed coffee
- 1 cup orange juice plus zest of two oranges- blood oranges are nice here!
- 1/4 cup orange liquor (or sub-Kahlua or more orange juice)
- 1 cup butter, plus more for buttering pan
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour ( or fine pastry flour), spooned and leveled
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 extra large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 10-inch bundt pan ( 3 quart-4 quart)
Chocolate Ganache Icing:
- 1 heaping cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup milk (or half & half)
Optional: Candied Oranges and Syrup
- 2 oranges (or blood oranges)
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Place oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F.
- Butter bundt pan very well (take your time to do this well) then dust with cocoa powder, knocking out excess.
- Heat coffee, orange juice, zest, orange liquor, vanilla, butter, in a heavy saucepan over moderate heat, whisking until butter is melted, then whisk in a cup of cocoa powder. Remove from heat, then add both kinds of sugar and whisk until dissolved, about 1 minute. Let cool.
- While the chocolate mixture cools, mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- Whisk eggs in a small bowl, then, temper the eggs by pouring a little of the melted cocoa butter mixture to the eggs, whisking, a tablespoon at a time, to warm them gradually. After about 4 tablespoons, slowly add this into the cooling chocolate mixture, whisking as you pour.
- Pour the chocolate-egg mixture to the flour bowland whisk until just combined (batter will be thin and bubbly). Pour batter into the greased and cocoa-dusted bundt pan and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes.
- Cool cake completely in pan on a rack, about 2 hours. Loosen cake from pan using tip of a dinner knife, then invert rack over pan and turn cake out onto rack.
- Make the chocolate ganache. Melt the chocolate chips and milk in a small heavy bottom pot over very low heat. Whisk until combined, then pour over the cake.
Notes
- To make the syrupy blood orange slices – very thinly slice one blood orange. Place in a pot with one cup water and simmer 20 minutes, until water has reduced to about ¼ cup and orange peel becomes tender. Add in sugar, and stir until dissolved. Squeeze the juice of the other orange( I used ½) into the mix, and simmer gently for a couple of minutes. Taste, add more sugar if you want. Let this cool. Spoon over the cake after cutting into it, topping with a blood orange slice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 inch slice
- Calories: 362
- Sugar: 35.3 g
- Sodium: 190.1 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 51.7 g
- Fiber: 3.1 g
- Protein: 4.9 g
- Cholesterol: 53.8 mg
If we don’t have any liquor on hand, is there something else we could substitute?
Yes, feel free to add more coffee, or orange juice. Either will work. 🙂
Hi Sylvia
I made this for my husband’s big birthday and it certainly was a crowd pleaser. I finished the last slice today which after more than 5 days from baking tasted as good.
So thank you very much.
Niku
Wonderful Niku! Good to know and so glad you enjoyed!
Such a moving story about your dad. I had a similar relationship with my father, and though i stayed with him and was lying next to him at the end, i never was able to find peace and forgiveness while he lived, and it’s taken me a couple of years to get to a point where i can forgive. Your story resonated with me so much. Thank you.
And also, your site/blog is so classy and quiet, so enjoyable to watch your videos and read your notes. You are my go to.
Thank you Grace. We all have our own timing and journey when it comes to forgiveness and healing. It does seem that the two are connected. Appreciate you sharing. 💛
Hi Sylvia,
Think I could veganize this recipe with flax eggs? Looks delicious.
Hi Deb- I am not sure. I think it would need more baking powder too but haven’t tried this yet.
Hi Sylvia,
I was so touched by your story. It’s so hard to truly forgive but so liberating too. I hope you can now live in peace having been able to truly love and look after your father. You are brave to shar
Thanks so much. 🙂
This is the most DELICIOUS cake ever. I’ve made it a dozen times already, definitely a crowd pleaser
So happy you have been enjoying this!
I was actually reading about your broths but then got absorbed in the story of your Mom and Dad. Bless you for your honesty.
thanks Tessa.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story and experience with your dad. I have just gone through similar experience with my father in law who was like a dad to me, since my dad passed away when I was a child. I so relate to this. Keep on sharing, true connections are formed in the sharing. 🙂 Su
Thanks Su. ❤️
I don’t like chocolate, I came here to read the rest of the story about your while my tumeric soup is still cooking. What a blessed story for me to read!! Wow, I GET ALL OF IT, I went through something very similar except it was with my step mother. She’s still alive but I have love for her now. I’ve come to learn she endured child abuse herself as a child in the fostercare system 😒 well she repeated her past on to me. I thank God for the time He gave me to spend with her and care for her during her mental break down. It’s not the universe that brought you through that ma’am that was all God. God is love and He works through love. You said it yourself in your story how you found forgiveness for your dad through love. That’s God 🤗 Thank You Jesus !! This story blessed me today thank you. 😊
Thanks Jewell, glad this resonated with you!
Sylvia: Thank you so much for sharing your story and keeping it real.
Life is amazing. Sending love from Victoria, British Columbia.
Life truly is amazing. Funny, surprising and unexpected. 🙂 Thanks Angela.
Delicious cake. I added Gran Marnier to the ganache and also made a gran marnier whipped cream. Everyone loved it at xmas dinner. Rich and delicious, the syrup was a really nice touch as well
Wonderful Eric, thanks!
I loved this cake so much! The flavors blended together so well. The combination of chocolate and blood orange is divine. I did use bakers joy to coat my Bundt pan and the cake released very easily. Will definitely be my go to special occasion cake
hello..!!! planning on baking this as a bday cake for tom… instead of baking in a bundt do u suppose i could bake it in a 9” round. should the baking time be the same..??
I’ve only done it in a bundt cake- so I’m not sure!
I made this for my husband’s birthday. It is the BEST chocolate bundt cake recipe! Super easy to make, and super moist! I am lucky enough to have blood oranges in my yard, and the orange taste is sublime. My daughter doesn’t like orange and chocolate. If I omit the orange juice and zest, do you think I need any other or additional liquid? Thanks again for this GREAT recipe 🙂
Add another liquid, even just water?
Baking this tomorrow. Totally loved your story of your relationship with your dad. Every family has a story and yours is very moving. So happy that you came to place of peace with your dad.
Thanks. I really appreciate this. 🙂
What’s Beautiful Heart Felt Story!!! Thank You For Sharing!!!God Bless
Thanks Stephanie!
This cake was nothing short of divine.
I’m so glad you liked it!
So glad I found your website! I have not tried any of the recipes yet, but am making my shopping list right now! Your story of your Dad is quite similar to my current experience with my Mom. Thanks for sharing. Growing up, I longed to feel her love and pride, guidance and support, but somehow her words and actions were always critical and sarcastic. Though I kept in contact, I fled across the country to Colorado for the healing magic of the mountains. Still here, 30 years later.
She now has Dementia at 84 yo and is kind and funny. It seems the bad behavior disappeared along with her memory. I can completely relate to your story. She seems content in Memory Care, as her cognition and daily function is that of a 6 yo.
Can’t wait to try the chocolate cake! Trying to eat less sugar, but everything in moderation, not all or none, right?
Best,
Barb
Thanks so much for this Barb. I hear you. xoxo
Loved the story about your dad. I am going through a lot of the same things with my dad. The similarities are uncanny. Letting go of expectations, learning to accept and forgive. Major life lessons. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thanks Alicia. Forgiveness ultimately is a give we give ourselves.
Fantastic recipe! Moist, rich, delicious.
Awesome Jessica!!! Thanks!