One of the interesting parts of life is that it’s always moving, changing.
I like it that way. I like new adventures, new lessons and new traditions — and these past few years have certainly been full of those.
Yet, there is one tradition that I’m pretty sure will never change: Christmas morning will feature chocolate oranges.
I’m sure of this tradition’s ability to last is because one sad, sad year, my sister and I didn’t get the oranges in our stockings. It was absolute anarchy. A few days later, a pair of chocolate oranges appeared on the counter and we haven’t gone without them on Christmas morning since.
Of course, there will come a day when I’m the one filling my children’s stockings with chocolate oranges. But, there will definitely be one left over for me — especially considering all the baking options it grants.
Last year were double chocolate and orange cookies. Now, my chocolate orange recipe is…
Chocolate + Orange Cake
(Adapted from Peas and Thank You)
Ingredients
- 3/4 C whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 C all-purpose flour
- 1 t baking powder
- 1/2 t baking soda
- 1/2 t salt
- 1 t cinnamon
- 1/2 C buttery spread
- 1/2 C brown sugar
- 1/4 C sugar
- 1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 C unsweetened milk
- 1 t vanilla
- 2 t orange zest
- 1 chocolate orange, roughly chopped*
Directions
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Using a mixer, cream together buttery spread, sugars, applesauce, milk, vanilla and orange zest. Slowly pour in flour mixture while continuously beating on low-speed. Mix until all the flour is combined. Fold in orange pieces.
- Pour batter into a well-greased 9×9-in pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 24-26 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
*If you can’t find a chocolate orange, you may be able to swap dark chocolate and add in a few more teaspoons of orange zest. Let me know if you try that!
If you’re feeling decadent, this could be delicious with some frosting or ice cream. It’s also great on its own, thanks to the abundance of chocolate. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much the orange flavor came through.
Now the trick is waiting until next year when I can make this again… Does anyone have some spare chocolate oranges they want to send me?
Question: Do you have any Christmas stocking traditions?
In addition to the oranges, my sister and I always get a dog ornament “from” our dog.
