ORANGE COCOA CAKE

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
1 3/4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
3 tbsp. buttermilk or sour milk*
1/8 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. grated orange peel
1/4 tsp. orange extract
Orange Buttercream Frosting (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 3 (8 or 9-inch) layer pans and line with wax paper; set aside.

Stir together cocoa and boiling water until smooth; set aside.

Cream butter or margarine, shortening, sugar, salt and vanilla in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda into 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk; add alternately with flour to creamed mixture.

Measure 1 2/3 cups batter into small bowl. Stir in 3 tablespoons buttermilk or sour milk, 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, the orange peel and orange extract; pour into 1 prepared pan.

Blend cocoa mixture into remaining batter; divide evenly among remaining 2 prepared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely.

Place one chocolate layer on serving plate, spread with some of the Orange Buttercream Frosting. Top with orange layer and spread with frosting. Top with remaining chocolate layer and frost entire cake.

*To sour milk: Use 1 tablespoon vinegar plus milk to equal 1 cup; use 1/2 teaspoon vinegar plus milk to equal 3 tablespoons.

ORANGE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
6 cups confectioners' sugar, divided use
2 tsp. grated orange peel
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 to 6 tbsp. milk

Cream butter or margarine, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, the orange peel and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add remaining confectioners' sugar alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency.

Makes 10 to 12 servings
Source: Cookbook USA

Hi Beth,

I hope someone will have the exact recipe you're looking for. This recipe is from a community cookbook and doesn't list the original source but I'm hoping it's a close version of the one you're looking for.

Happy Baking!

Betsy