Chocolate Orange Cheesecake Layer Cake 🍊

Ingredients:

For the chocolate cake layers:
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup hot water

For the cheesecake layer:
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the orange curd:
• ½ cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tsp orange zest
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 tbsp butter

For the ganache:
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped

Garnish:
• Fresh orange slices

Preparation:
1. Cheesecake Layer: Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Pour into a lined 9-inch cake pan and bake for 35–40 minutes. Let cool completely, then chill.
2. Chocolate Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In one bowl, mix dry ingredients. In another, beat eggs, sugar, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Combine both mixtures and add hot water slowly. Divide into two 9-inch pans and bake for 30–35 minutes. Cool completely.
3. Orange Curd: In a saucepan, whisk juice, zest, sugar, and yolks over medium heat. Stir constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Chill.
4. Ganache: Heat cream until simmering. Pour over chocolate and let sit 1–2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Let cool slightly.
5. Assemble: Layer one chocolate cake, spread orange curd, place cheesecake layer, more curd, second chocolate cake. Pour ganache over top and let it drip down the sides. Chill until set. Garnish with orange slices before serving.