Chocolate and citrus is such a winning combination!!!

Sharing a delicious recipe for a Chocolate Orange Cake with Chocolate Orange Buttercream Frosting With Isadore Nut CO’s Cocoa Orange Nuts! Perfect for the holidays!!!!!

Chocolate Orange Cake Recipe

Ingredients

1½ cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

1½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½ cup canola oil (or other neutral oil)

1¼ cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoon orange zest

2 eggs

¼ cup orange juice

½ cup whole milk

¾ cup hot water

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare two 8 inch round cake pans. Spray the inside with cooking spray, then cut round pieces of parchment paper so that they fit in the bottom of each pan do not skip the parchment paper lining!

Whisk flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda together in a large bowl.

Add in the eggs, vanilla, oil, orange zest, orange juice, and milk. Pour in the hot water and mix until smooth.

Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean.

Let the cakes cool in the pans, then run a butter knife around the outside of the cake to loosen it from the pan and flip upside down onto a cooling rack.

Once the cakes have cooled completely, frost them and enjoy!

Frosting Recipe

Ingredients

4 ounces chocolate chips

¼ cup orange liquor (Cointreau or Triple Sec)

12 tablespoon (6 ounces) unsalted butter

1/3 cup Cocoa Orange nuts from #IsadoreNutco

Instructions

Add the chocolate and orange liquor to a double boiler (a small pan set over a larger pan filled with simmering water).

Heat the chocolate gently (keep the water at a low simmer), stirring constantly, just until it's about 75% melted. Add your nuts to the melted chocolate after breaking them into tiny pieces with your meat tenderizer or whatever you have handy! Remove it from the heat and continue to stir until completely melted.

Scrape the mixture into a bowl and use an electric mixer to beat in the butter, adding it one tablespoon at a time while the mixer runs. Continue to beat on high speed for another 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy.

If not using within an hour, beat the buttercream again briefly before using.

After you frost the cake add some orange zest and a beautiful orange garnish and TA-DA!

Gift Giving Spotlight:

One of my fave items in my GOURMAND gift guide!

The Mixed Nut Gift Tin From Isadore Nut Company- A curated selection of four of their nut blends to make gift giving easier for you. Give the gift of healthy decadence with a gorgeous gold tin filled with a quarter pound each of four of their most loved flavors: Chai, Cocoa Orange, Lemon Rosemary, and Turmeric. 🤤

Tasya Kelen ( founder of Isadore Nut Co wears many hats-entrepreneur, wife, and mother.

Tasya’s vision of a healthier snack was inspired by her regular visit to the farmers market after yoga teacher training, back in 2012. Unable to find a clean, gluten free option, she took it upon herself to make her first batch of seasoned and spiced nuts at home. Shortly after her first sale, a series of kismet events unfolded that solidified what she already knew: Healing the world through food made with integrity is where she’s meant to be. Tasya treats food as medicine, sources through sustainable supply chains and supports employment equity so she can leave this world better than how she found it.

What goes into each bag is just part of their story.

In 2018, Tasya toured Jewish Housing and Programming and the kitchen at Cornerstone Creek, where she learned more than 82 percent of adults with disabilities are unemployed. She decided to create a workplace for people of all abilities. Tasya moved production to Cornerstone Creek and began partnering with social service organizations and advocating for persons with disabilities. Now more than half of the staff at Isadore Nut Company are adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Tasya believes that everyone, regardless of ability, should be given the opportunity for employment because everyone holds value and has something to contribute.

The nuts are soooo delicious! I love healthy macro rich snacks like this and they are excellent in salads too.

You will be so glad to know this Minnesota brand has Oklahoma roots too ! Their pecans are grown by the Miller Pecan Farms, Inc. in Afton, OK, on the famous Route 66!. The Miller family are repairing the world through their steadfast commitment to the most natural practices to grow pecans in groves and along the river banks. They are a wonderful partner because there is no pretense about why they’re doing what’s right, they’re doing it because they want to protect the land for future generations.

Tasya is incredible you guys! She is one of my sponsors that always applauds me for being vocal on my platform about important matters like politics!

Please check out Isadore Nut Co and enjoy 15% off your purchase using promo code GOFRENCH15 !!!

Shop here!