Chocolate Cake with Chocolate-Orange Sauce

Name: Chocolate Cake with Chocolate-Orange Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 12 serving(s)
Ingredients: Butter, for greasing pan and parchment; 1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour; 1 c. granulated sugar; 1 c. plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa; 2 1/2 tsp. baking soda; 1/2 tsp. salt; 3 large egg whites; 1 c. low-fat buttermilk; 2/3 c. applesauce; 2 tbsp. canola oil; 4 oz. nonfat cream cheese, softened; 1 1/4 c. confectioners' sugar; 1/2 c. plus 2 tablespoons orange juice; 2 tsp. orange liqueur (optional)

By Cheryl SlocumPublished: Jan 10, 2011

1 Rating

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chocolate cake with chocolate orange sauce

Aim̩e Herring

Yields:

12 serving(s)

Prep Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 20 mins

Cal/Serv:

295

Have your cake and eat it, too: Swapping in applesauce for butter and using nonfat cream cheese saves you 215 calories and 19 grams of fat per slice of this rich-tasting chocolate cake.

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Ingredients

Butter, for greasing pan and parchment
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
2 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 large egg whites
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2/3 cup applesauce
2 Tbsp. canola oil
4 oz. nonfat cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice
2 tsp. orange liqueur (optional)

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a nonstick 9-inch cake pan. Cut and butter a circle of parchment to fit into bottom of pan. Set pan aside.
2. Step 2In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until glossy and soft peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, stir buttermilk, applesauce, and oil into flour mixture until combined and batter is smooth. Fold egg whites into batter and transfer to prepared pan.
3. Step 3Bake cake, with rack set in the middle, until a toothpick inserted into center tests clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Invert cake and let cool completely.
4. Step 4Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and 1/2 cup cocoa. In a medium pot over medium-high heat, bring juice to a boil and cook until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add juice to cocoa mixture and stir until combined and the consistency of molasses. Pass sauce through a fine strainer for a smooth and silky consistency. Stir in orange liqueur, if desired. Sift remaining 2 teaspoons cocoa over cake. Slice cake, spoon sauce over each slice, and serve.