The most delicious chocolate orange sheet cake with decadent chocolate orange buttercream made from, you guessed it… a chocolate orange! This cake is perfect for the holidays and brings back all kinds of nostalgic feelings with the most perfect blend of chocolate and orange flavors together in one perfect bite.

Chocolate Oranges for Christmas

Chocolate oranges make for a delightful and festive treat during the Christmas season, combining the rich flavor of chocolate with the zesty brightness of orange, perfect for sharing with loved ones or enjoying as a sweet indulgence during holiday celebrations! We’ve made it a tradition to have a chocolate orange in the bottom of our Christmas sticking every year – milk chocolate for the boys, and dark chocolate for me! You can choose either one for this gorgeous cake.

How to Make a Chocolate Orange Sheet Cake

For my chocolate orange cake, you’ll need the following ingredients (for the full recipe and ingredient quantities, scroll to the bottom of this post. Here’s what you’ll need:

  1. sour cream
  2. buttermilk
  3. eggs
  4. vegetable oil
  5. vanilla
  6. orange extract
  7. chocolate cake mix (I used Duncan Hines chocolate fudge)

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and then sift in the cake mix – it’s that easy! Spread the cake batter into a 9×13 sheet pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Your kitchen is going to smell incredible! It’s the best!

What baking pan should I use and what’s that piping tip?

You can use any 9×13 pan/dish! I used my Caraway, but you can use anything that you have. I also love my 868 large star french piping tip for the border. Speaking of buttercream, let’s get to my amazing chocolate orange buttercream recipe!

How to Make the Best Chocolate Orange Buttercream

This buttercream has a secret weapon to making this the absolute best chocolate orange buttercream… using a chocolate orange! That’s right! My recipe melts the entire chocolate orange right into the buttercream and makes the BEST dreamy buttercream ever! I couldn’t stop snacking on it – it’s absolut3ly mouthwatering. Here’s what you’ll need:

  1. 1 chocolate orange
  2. heavy cream
  3. unsalted butter
  4. salt
  5. vanilla
  6. orange extract
  7. powdered sugar

First, melt the orange and heavy cream into a ganache, cool it off, and add it right into your whipped butter. Add in the rest of the ingredients and whip it up into a creamy silky chocolate orange buttercream.

How to decorate a chocolate orange sheet cake

It’s so easy! Use a cake scraper for the flat design. Add on the chocolate orange slices, then pipe a border around the outside of the cake. Sprinkle on a few chocolate shavings and orange zest and you’re all ready to serve this beauty!

Here’s a video of the process:

I can’t wait to see your chocolate orange cakes! Happy Baking! As always, I’d love to see your Baking with Blondie inspired bakes. Make sure to tag me @bakingwithblondie #bakingwithblondie so I can join in on all the fun! 🙂

Happy Baking!

xo, Mandy

Get the Recipe: Delicious Chocolate Orange Sheet Cake

Scrumptious chocolate orange sheet cake with luscious chocolate orange buttercream in a gorgeous sheet cake!
Servings: 12 Slices
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Ingredients
 

Chocolate Orange Sheet Cake

  • 2/3 cup sour cream , room temperature
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 3 whole large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract or emulsion
  • 1 15.25oz Box Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix , sifted

Chocolate Orange Buttercream

  • 1 whole chocolate orange
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream + more if needed at the end to thin out buttercream
  • 3 sticks (or 1 1/2 cup) unsalted butter, left out at room temperature for about 10 minutes
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla
  • 1/2 tablespoon orange extract/emulsion
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 5 cups powdered sugar

Garnishes

  • 1-2 whole chocolate oranges, some left in wedges, some chopped up
  • 2-3 Tablespoons orange shavings/zest

Instructions
 

For the Chocolate Orange Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Prep a 9×13 baking pan with baking spray or a swipe of shortening with a dust of flour to prevent sticking. Set aside. *If using a decorative cake scraper, make sure to use a 9×13 pan that fits the scraper.
  • In a large bowl, hand-whisk together all the ingredients except for the cake mix. Sift in the cake mix and gently stir to combine. Spread evenly into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 25-27 minutes, then let cool completely before adding on the buttercream.

For the Chocolate Orange Buttercream

  • In a small bowl, combine the whole chocolate orange and heavy cream. Melt in the microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Then heat for another 20 seconds or so and stir again until smooth. Set aside to cool.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whip up the butter until it's light and fluffy. Add in the salt, vanilla, orange extract, a small splash (About 1/4 cup) heavy cream, and cocoa powder. Whip up to combine, then add in the melted chocolate orange mixture. Whip up again, then slowly add in the powdered sugar with the mixer speed on low. When everything has been incorporated, change the mixer to the highest speed and whip up for 1-2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a large french piping tip. Set aside.
  • Spread on the buttercream onto the cooled cake, then use a decorative cake scraper to make the smeared pattern on the top of the buttercream across the cake top. Add on the chocolate orange slices/wedges, then pipe on the buttercream border. Sprinkle on the chopped chocolate orange and orange zest. Enjoy!
Author: Mandy Merriman – Baking with Blondie