Il Cucinologo
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Chocolate Orange Poke Cake

17/11/2023

The chocolate and orange Poke Cake is a delicious dessert that combines the richness of chocolate with the freshness of citrus fruits. It consists of a chocolate cake with holes filled with an orange sauce or jelly. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 200 grams of 00 flour
  • 50 grams of unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 200 grams of granulated sugar
  • 100 grams of soft butter
  • 3 large eggs
  • 250 ml of whole milk
  • 1 packet of baking powder
  • Grated zest of 1 orange (organic if possible)
  • A pinch of salt

For the orange sauce/jelly:

  • 150 ml of fresh orange juice (about 2 oranges)
  • 50 grams of granulated sugar
  • 1 packet of powdered gelatin (or agar agar for a vegetarian version)

For the glaze:

  • 150 grams of powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons of orange juice

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
  2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, beat the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, continuing to mix after each addition.
  5. Incorporate half of the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture, then pour in the milk and orange zest. Mix well.
  6. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until you have a smooth, homogeneous batter.
  7. Pour the batter into a buttered and floured cake pan and bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. While the cake is baking, prepare the orange sauce by heating the orange juice with the sugar in a saucepan until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then add the powdered gelatin and stir until fully dissolved. Let it cool slightly.
  9. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and while still warm, poke holes all over the surface with the handle of a wooden spoon.
  10. Pour the orange sauce/jelly into the holes, allowing it to absorb.
  11. Let the cake cool completely.
  12. Prepare the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar with the orange juice until smooth.
  13. Once the cake has cooled, spread the glaze over the top.

I recommend leaving the cake in the fridge for at least an hour before serving, so the orange sauce has time to thicken properly.

Trivia

The Poke Cake originated in the United States and its name comes from the English “to poke,” meaning “to make holes.” The characteristic of this dessert is precisely having holes filled with a liquid or creamy mixture that enriches its flavor and moisture.