Here’s an easy recipe that proves that simple can often be best. This Clementine Chocolate Cake, minus the chocolate ganache and decoration, takes only 5 minutes to prepare and uses only 5 ingredients.
Anything I can count with just the fingers on one hand is easy and simple enough for me.
And I know everyone needs recipes like this. If you don’t, then I want to get to know you. In an intimate way….
No, not in a romantic way….
Intimate. Meaning, very close. Like inside out.
But not in a boyfriend-girlfriend way. Or boyfriend-boyfriend way. Or girlfriend-girlfriend way. Nothing like that!
I just really want to know a person who doesn’t need easy recipes.
I want to scrutinize his/her life.
‘Coz I want to be that person some day.
Where I can have all the time in the world to everyday try out elaborate, extravagant recipes. That would be a dream come true!
Now, back to the Clementine Chocolate Cake.
I have for the longest time loved the flavor combination of citrus and chocolate. I know I’m not alone. This is a proven winning flavor combination.
I also happen to have a proven, easy lemon cake recipe that I’ve been making for the longest time. I think it’s even one of the first cakes I’ve ever made.
So when I received my annual citrus box from my MIL, I knew I had to make the cake. Except this time I decided to use clementines instead of lemons. Oranges or tangerines would also work well. But obviously you wouldn’t call it Clementine Chocolate Cake. You would call it Orange or Tangerine Chocolate Cake.
Most of the time when I make this clementine cake, I just make it plain and serve it with either a drizzle of honey or sugar glaze. Perfect for an afternoon tea.
This time around, though, I thought I could add a little pizzazz. By glazing it with chocolate ganache and decorating it with chocolate dipped clementine segments. A few additional simple steps, really.
And look! Nice enough to be the centerpiece of your dinner table, isn’t it?
(Or a fitting celebratory cake for a son’s acceptance into a college of his choice. Yay! Congratulations, son! Okay, actually, it’s a college of my and his dad’s choice. He’s still waiting for more acceptance letters but at least something’s already in the bag. We’re so proud!)
Here’s the printable recipe for the Clementine Chocolate Cake
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup self-rising cake flour, sifted
- Zest from 1 clementine
- ½ cup (3 oz.) dark chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons half & half, warmed
- Clementine segments from 1 clementine (about 10)
- Chopped almond
- Fleur de Sel or any coarse salt
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add egg, one at a time, beat until well blended.
- Add flour and zest, mix until well combined.
- Grease or spray a 6-inch round cake pan. Spoon in batter and level the top with the spoon.
- Bake for 35 minutes. Cool before decorating.
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Stir until smooth.
- Dip clementine segments one at a time, sprinkle with salt and nuts.
- Lay on parchment paper until chocolate hardens.
- Heat half & half briefly just until it's warm, add to the rest of the chocolate. Return to the double boiler if necessary. Stir into a smooth and spreading consistency.
- Spread chocolate over cake. Let it set slightly before placing the clementine segments.
Oh my thats a wonderful cake Angie. I am a huge fan of chocolate and orange and also love a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Well this has it all. Saved to evernote, love a cake that is not fussy.
It’s a good one, Suzanne! The cake itself is very easy to prepare. It’s my go-to cake recipe for whenever I need something quick. The chocolate dipped clementines take some time, but not too bad. And they’re very good with the salt & nuts. Make extra! 😀
I need and I want easy recipes. Compl X recipes and I run in opposite directions. This is just perfect Angie! Bookmarking it!!❤️
One of these days, I should do a video to show how quickly this comes together. Really was super easy and fool proof. I hope you’ll give it a try. The chocolate dipped clementines should be a fun project for the kids! 🙂
I bet 🙂
Actually I’m taking my coffee and I would love to have a generous slice of your gorgeous cake just in front of me, Angie. Looks amazing! 🙂
Thanks, Linda! Means a lot coming from you! It was an easy cake to make. I just dolled it up, that’s all 😀
Looooove it! so easy and looks just so delicious 🙂
Yes, it’s very easy. Give it a try, Trupti! ?
Sure 🙂
Just a few extra steps but the payoff was a beauty of a cake! Very nice, Angie, and well-timed. I like citrus this time of the year. Their colors give me something to look at besides the gray skies. I cook without recipes all of the time. It’s when I want people to eat my food that I follow recipes. 🙂
Before I started blogging, I rarely followed recipes very closely. Even when baking! But now I follow to a t and take copious notes! I have to if I want to share my recipes. Don’t wanna get angry emails! 🙂
How beautifully this comes together Angie. I also like that it’s not one of those double tiered cakes when you slave in the kitchen for hours on end. I think I can handle a 6″ cake all by myself? LOL. Seriously though, it is lovely, gorgeous photos and ever so tempting with the chocolate and clementine top! Well done!
No kidding, I only make those tiered cakes when the mood strikes and it doesn’t strike that often, haha… Easy cakes are the best. And with a little extra time spent on decorating, you end up with something that makes people think you’ve been slaving for hours! ?? Thanks, Loretta!
My kind of baking Angie! Easy peasy and you made the simple cake look like a million bucks with that adorable decorative flourish! Yum!
Thanks, Johanne! For working moms like us, recipes like this save the day! The clementines are truly addicting, though, so be warned! Make extra! So good! 🙂
What a gorgeous cake!
Thanks!
welcome!
That looks so yummy! And if there’s fruit in it it’s definitely healthy too, right? 😉 I bet it would even make good cup cakes.
I like the way you think, Becky, haha… Thanks!
A. I’m really excited to try this cake! I love the no fuss factor. Also, have you thought about a Nutella ganache? I had a similar combination recently and cannot stop dreaming about it.
B. Congrats to (you and) your son!
Oh, oh, Nutella!! Yes to that!! Even easier and better. Next time I’ll remember. You have the best idea! 🙂
Congrats to your son! I remember it being such a relief when I received my acceptance letter to a school I actually wanted to attend (and not my safety option). This cake looks delicious as always too! What a great way to celebrate!
It was a big relief to us; it’s so competitive these days. The cake was delicious. And you can make the chocolate dipped clementines, Kaila. So good!
Yes!! This is the sort of recipe I always need! I especially love it when the quantities are very easy to remember (1 stick, 1 cup, 1/2 cup and 2 eggs) as it becomes the sort of cake you can whip out anytime. Congratulations to the son–acceptance only comes after a quite a bit of hard work 🙂
Yah, me, too, I love easy to remember recipes. The part that slows me down in the kitchen is usually the reading and following recipes ? We’re all so proud of the son! At this point he probably can ask for anything and he’ll get it, but don’t tell him, lol!
Oh my god, that looks like the next cake in the long line of orange cakes I want to bake!
Luckily I already started working my way through the delicious list 😉
(Psst… Some of them are also featured on my blog)
Thanks! So nice of you to stop by! I’ll have to check out your blog, thanks for letting me know. And would you like to join the party? 🙂
Chocolate and orange are one of my favourite combos, your cake looks a real beauty Angie. I love the idea of using clementines, delicious. Pinned for later 🙂
Thanks, Sarah! I highly recommend it. If nothing else make the chocolate dipped clementines, just so good, and quite healthy actually. ?
Hello!! I just stumbled upon your blog and I love it. Such clean photos!! And I can’t believe this cake… I’m loving the only-5-ingredients part. I’m a college student and the fewer the ingredients, the better!
Thank you so much! Well, as a working Mom, even though I just work part time, I appreciate easy recipes, too. I’m so glad you came by. I hope you like what you see and visit again in the future! ?
I saw this cake on FB as soon you posted it… the idea of the two flavours together (clementine + chocolate) made my mouth watering more than once… it must be amazing!
It’s a winning combination! What I love most is the chocolate dipped clementines. I couldn’t get enough! I think I’ll make more soon. They’re a pretty healthy snack! Thanks, Margy! How’s the baby?
Yes, citrus + chocolate winning combo. you are right! The baby is doing great, despite the teething….
Looks mouth watering. I have pinned it to my Pinterest board for other cooks to enjoy. I have been away from your blog too long. It looks even more gorgeous than I remember! Happy Sunday.
Thanks, Lita! It’s been a big journey of learning this blogging thing. I’ve been trying to improve ??
Chocolate and citrus, the perfect combo!
Yup! So is chocolate & mint, chocolate & peanut butter, etc… I guess anything improves when combined with chocolate, lol 😀