Chocolate Orange Cheesecake Layer Cake 🍫🍊🍰
📋 Ingredients:
For the chocolate cake layers:
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot water
For the orange cheesecake layer:
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
For the chocolate ganache:
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
👩🍳 Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
4. Stir in hot water until smooth batter forms.
5. Divide batter evenly among prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
7. In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, orange zest, and vanilla extract until smooth.
8. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
9. Pour cheesecake batter over one of the cooled chocolate cake layers.
10. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cheesecake is set. Cool completely.
11. In a small saucepan, heat heavy cream until just simmering. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, then stir until smooth ganache forms.
12. Spread ganache over the top of the cheesecake layer.
13. Place second chocolate cake layer on top of ganache, then repeat with remaining cheesecake layer, ganache, and chocolate cake layer.
14. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Enjoy! 🎉💜💜