Chocolate Chip & Orange Cake

I have officially succumbed to my winter state (even though its still autumn) as we saw the first frost this morning and I also feel perpetually cold and so we bid adieu to all things summery and welcome in the knitwear and cosy baking season. I will say however I think its a little early to be putting up the fairy lights and Christmas tree, no joke but I know of more than a handful of people who have done so and that's not including the high-street shops, but I guess I excuse the rampant consumerism and excessive commercialisation of festivals because its adds to the fun.

Speaking of celebrations, remember remember the 5th of November, one of my favourite nights of the year. We had a big firework display in the garden and lots of people came round, there was a mini bonfire and popcorn, chips and pakoras oh and sparklers and cold noses and hot chocolate. The firework 'competition' with the neighbours and the noisy night and smog filled morning that follows - the usual traditions.

Unfortunately I didn't get round to baking anything, but if I had it would have been this chocolate and orange cake because what goes better with hot chocolate than a slab of warm, chocolaty, citrusy cake. This cake recipe is actually a spin of my usual lemon drizzle loaf which means its super fluffy and light but this time its loaded with chocolate chips and a subtle orange flavour. 

So to make this Chocolate Chip & Orange Cake you'll need the following ingredients:

- Butter or margarine
- Caster sugar
- Self raising flour
- Eggs
- Baking powder
- Milk
- Oranges
- Chocolate

Begin by creaming together 113g of butter/margarine and 113g of caster sugar until light and fluffy. Note that these amounts are suitable for a loaf cake, double up the recipe for a larger cake. 

Add in 2 eggs beating well after each addition, then grate the zest of one large orange and add this to the mixture.

Juice the same orange and stir this into the batter, in a pinch this can be substituted for pre-bought pure orange juice. 

Next sift in 138g of self raising flour and 1 tsp of baking powder along with 1 and 1/2 tblsp of milk. If wishing to omit the milk then just substitute for additional orange juice. 

Chop up a generous amount of chocolate (about 60g), if wanting more even sized chunks then opt for chocolate chips. Stir this into the cake batter but set some aside.

Spoon the batter into a lined loaf tin and top with the remaining chocolate chunks.
Place this into an oven preheated to Gas Mark 4 and bake for until golden brown and springy to the touch.

Once it comes out of the oven drizzle the top with some freshly squeezed orange juice and allow this to soak into the cake. 

 Serve with hot chocolate, orange slices and a good TV show (by the way, was anyone else disappointed with the GB Bake Off finale? I found it incredibly boring and that's not because I already knew who the winner was - thanks Prue!)

😋

Enjoy!

 Q x