Nothing says Happy _____________ like chocolate cake! And nothing says Orange Mocha Chocolate Cake like pink sprinkles, right? Ok, maybe not, but this cake is delicious, easy, homemade, dairy-free, egg-free and soy-free! And I took these pictures close to Valentine’s Day. So if you, your little cuties or your sweetheart have any food allergies (or not), this is the perfect treat.
But this cake isn’t just for Valentine’s Day! It’s for any occasion, which includes an evening chocolate craving! Which is what happened when I made it the night I snapped the picture below. See how beautifully the slice came out of the pan!? Ha Ha. Lesson learned (the hard way again) — let it cool first if you want a “pretty” first slice. If you don’t care, just dig right in! It’s what I do most of the time. And wow is this good warm and gooey, fresh out of the oven. Hint: It also freezes well (and tastes great right out of the freezer … but I never do that – ha).
I’m not a frosting/icing kind of girl, and I’m horrible at decorating cakes, so this cake also solves those issues. Made in a cast iron skillet or a baking dish, you bake and serve it in the same pan! Topped with some chocolate chips and whatever color sprinkles the occasion calls for (or skip the sprinkles if you prefer), you’re in the tasty, homemade baked goodie game without a lot of fuss.
If you need to avoid dairy, you can opt for chocolate chips from Enjoy Life or PASCHA. Otherwise, you can use whatever chocolate chips you love the most.
I bake this in my 10″ cast iron skillet. If you’re in the market for a cast iron skillet, this may be your perfect excuse to finally get one. Amazon has the 10-inch Lodge one on sale right now! It’s normally $26.68, but it’s on sale for $13.96 (as of February 7, 2018)!
The secrets to this Vegan Orange Mocha Chocolate Cake recipe are: 1) fresh orange zest, 2) fresh orange juice and 3) hot coffee. So, technically, you could also call this breakfast, right? If so, I won’t tell.
Earlier in my life, I thought fresh citrus zest sounded awfully fancy and kind of a pain. I was wrong. So so wrong. Citrus zest is essential. And a little orange zest is perfect with chocolate! If you use a microplane zester, you can zest an orange in no time flat. I use the one below (except mine has a blue handle). It’s one of my favorite kitchen tools, and I could kick myself for not getting one sooner. I’m also the girl who used a fork to mash potatoes, like my mom always did, throughout my 20s. Who knew there was a kitchen utensil called a mashed potato masher? Most of the world, probably. But not me – LOL! I was basic, like my mom … but you should see the utensil holder on my kitchen counter now! I totally get how some men (and some women) are with tools …
Looking for more vegan/dairy-free/egg-free dessert recipes? Try these Kitchen Gone Rogue creations:
- Chocolate Amaretto Skillet Cake
- Almond Joy Inspired Chocolate Cupcakes
- Chewy Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- Lemon Almond Wine Cookies
- Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Lemon Shortbread Sugar Cookies
- Cherry Lime Cookies
Pin/save this chocolate cake recipe … and make it for Valentine’s Day (or any other occasion … like, you know, a Monday)
| Servings |
pieces
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- 1 1/2 cups organic all-purpose flour
- 1 cup organic sugar
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup hot coffee (minus 2 Tbsp)
- 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1 Tbsp fresh orange zest
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (dairy-free if vegan or have dairy issues) (you can use 1/2 to 3/4 cup) 🙂
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- In large bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients
- Add the wet ingredients and mix well (I use a hand whisker - this is easy to mix together and doesn't need electric beaters). DO NOT ADD the CHOCOLATE CHIPS YET
- Coat a 10 inch cast iron skillet (or 9x9 baking dish) lightly with oil
- Pour the batter into your skillet or baking dish
- Top with the chocolate chips and bake 28-30 minutes or until done (the center will be a little softer than the edges; that's ok, but you don't want it liquidy!)
- (Optional) Add sprinkles that fit your occasion, let cool some (or completely) and serve. It's really good served warm!
- Enjoy!
© Kitchen Gone Rogue. www.kitchengonerogue.com
Oh yum! This looks amazing.. I can never pass up anything with chocolate or mocha in it. That’s so unique that you cook it in a cash iron skillet!
Thank you! Chocolate mocha is divine … and even better with a hint of orange. 🙂