Wacky Chocolate-Orange Cake with Orange Frosting

Mille® 's Note:

When I first saw this recipe (on the label of a white vinegar bottle - where else?), I thought "Vinegar in a dessert? This must be a joke!) So I made the recipe, just for the heck of it, and found it surprizingly yummy!

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 9

Yield: 1.0 cake

THE CAKE

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons olive oil or 5 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar (I kid thee not - please do not omit or substitute)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon orange extract
• 1 cup orange juice

THE FROSTING

• 1 ½ teaspoons unflavored gelatin
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup confectioners' sugar
• ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon orange extract

Directions:

1. ---- THE CAKE ----.
2. Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
3. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt into an 8" x 8" baking pan.
4. Make 3 holes in the dry ingredients.
5. Place oil in the first hole, vinegar in the second hole, and vanilla in the third hole (again, I kid thee not- trust me on this one!).
6. Pour orange juice over everything and mix well.
7. Spread batter evenly in the pan and bake in dish that the batter was mixed in.
8. Bake 30 minutes or until center is firm.
9. Allow to cool.
10. Refrigerate leftovers (if any).
11. ---- THE FROSTING ----.
12. Combine gelatin, orange juice, and cold water in small saucepan.
13. Let stand until thick.
14. Place over low heat, stirring constantly, just until gelatin dissolves.
15. Remove from heat and cool, but do not allow to set.
16. Whip cream, sugar and vanilla until slightly thickened.
17. While beating slowly, gradually add gelatin to whipped cream mixture.
18. Whip at high speed until stiff.
19. Spread thickly on the cake.

Reviews

[KitchenManiac]

I followed this recipe to the T...and it turned out wonderful!! Visually as well. Will be posting a picture of the end product. I hope it entices you to try it too. :)

[Sylvia Ali]

Loved the cake, but I believe you made a mistake when you said to add water, I just added the orange juice and found it sufficient. Also I made a butter cream frosting instead and added orange juice and orange extract to it. Thank you for enhancing my days...made it twice already!!!!

[Chef #570804 Halifax Liz]

Forsuch an easy and quick cake this is very good. I think the orange juice is what makes it so much better than the original wacky cake (never liked it). Frosting is excellent, easy to make and light and can certainly be used on other cakes. Highly recommend this frosting if, like us, you do not like a heavy sugary topping.