A Chocolate & Orange Checkerboard Cake Recipe

Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe

A Recipe: Chocolate and Orange Checkerboard Cake Recipe (taken from The Great Australian Bake-Off recipe book 2013) Original recipe here.

Serves 12-16 (6 hours of preparation and baking time between me and my friend)

For the Orange Cake (makes 2 cakes):
2 and 1/2 cups self raising flour
1 and 3/4 cups sugar
3 free-range eggs
1 and 1/4 cups milk
100g butter, melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
zest and juice (approximately 140ml) of 1 orange
red and yellow food dye (to make a subtle orange batter)

For the Chocolate cake (makes 2 cakes):
2 and 1/4 cups self raising flour
1/4 cup dark cocoa
1 and 3/4 cups sugar
3 free-range eggs
1 and 1/4 cups milk
100g butter, melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
zest and juice (approximately 140ml) of 1 orange
few drops of Parisienne essence to colour darker (optional)

For the frosting:
375g butter
45g dark brown sugar
3/4 cup boiling water
600g dark chocolate, chopped

To finish:
additional dark chocolate for decoration
zest of 1 orange

* also need: 4 x 18cm round cake tins, lined with baking paper; 1 baking tray


Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe

*Tip: to create a flat and evenly baked cake, wrap a wet folded tea towel around the cake tin, and secure with string before placing it into the oven
*Cool all cakes fully; it will ensure for an even and clean cut when creating rings

Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe Template
*Tip: when making the template, trace around the cake tin to create the foundation, then use a ruler to measure 6cm inwards around the circumference

Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe Template
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe Template

*Tip: use a long skewer to poke holes closely together around the template to make it easier and even to cut the cake rings when using a knife
*When frosting, be generous with it, to ensure rings stick together

Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe
Checkerboard Cake The Great Australian Bake Off Recipe

Well, here I present the most technical and challenging recipe I have ever had the pleasure to tackle. Me and my bestie Betty, I don't know, kind of thought it would be fun to do the hardest recipe out of my 'The Great Australian Bake Off' recipe book and we cleared a whole Saturday for it.
And it was the most memorable and most bonding experience, baking this cake.
It took us about 6 hours to achieve - preparation, waiting time, baking time and decorating. I am happy Betty was there, she was full of useful tips and so precise and intelligent about baking.
At the end, it was absolutely satisfying to cut into the cake and get a perfect checkerboard pattern that was even and defined. And we were so damned proud. Even if we have had failed, just spending such quality time with Betty was more than enough to make it a perfect Saturday <3

4 comments :

  1. Bonjour,

    Un gâteau artistiquement magnifique... Je ne doute pas un instant qu'il doit être succulent...
    Hum ! J'en veux bien une part ! Adieu les calories !
    Gros bisous

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very creative! I bet it was delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  3. As I am pretty gingham obsessed..this has got to be one of the nicest recipe i have seen, thank you sweet lady, I would love to make one in red to match a buffalo plaid..x

    ReplyDelete

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x Natalie

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