Some of the links below are affiliate links, so we may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Check our Disclosure in the Privacy Policy for more info.
How To Make Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cake
A moist chocolate sponge cake topped and filled with Terry’s chocolate orange buttercream; this cake is perfect for all the chocolate orange lovers out there!

There’s nothing quite like taking a bite into this deliciously decadent chocolate orange cake: it’s soft, moist and so indulgent!
Flavoured with Terry’s chocolate orange and cocoa powder; this cake couldn’t be anymore rich and chocolatey. It’s very simple and quick to make yet looks so impressive, that’s why it’s perfect for parties and large gatherings.
The combination of chocolate and orange is a festive and all year-round flavour that’s completely irresistible. Make this cake for Christmas, birthdays or simply because you feel like it.

Why You’ll Like This Recipe
The Texture: This cake is fluffy, moist and light; everything you’ll ever want in a cake.
So Easy: Sometimes making cake can be quite daunting, especially when there’s layers involved. This chocolate orange cake is very simple and easy to make; you can’t go wrong with this recipe.
The Flavour: Chocolate orange is a popular flavour. Making this cake is a good way to use up any spare Terry’s chocolate orange you have around; I always get given a few over the Christmas period.
One Bowl: You only need one mixing bowl to mix the cake ingredients together, you can even wash the same bowl and reuse it to make the buttercream. Like this coffee and walnut loaf cake!
Watch How To Make It
How Tall Can I Make This Cake?
You can make this cake as tall as you like!
If you want to create a chocolate orange cake with more than two layers, you can double the ingredients to get 4 layers or even triple the ingredients to get 6 layers. You can easily double or triple the ingredients on the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
If you’re making a tall layered cake, it needs to be supported with straws or dowels to prevent it from falling or sliding apart.
Recipe Ingredients
To make this Terry’s chocolate orange sponge cake, you’ll need the following ingredients below:
- Self-Raising Flour: Flour gives structure to the cake; self-raising flour has baking powder added to it.
- Caster Sugar: Best for making cakes; it’s mixed into the butter until light and fluffy.
- Butter: I used salted butter but you can use unsalted butter or margarine. If I’m using margarine, I use Stork butter on most occasions.
- Cocoa Powder: This cocoa powder is my favourite ever to exist! I just love it, it adds a fine and rich cocoa taste to this cake.
- Eggs: I used medium eggs at room temperature.
- Vanilla: Using vanilla is optional, you can use orange extract instead. This will give the sponge a chocolate orange flavour instead of a chocolate and vanilla flavour. If you want more of an intense chocolate orange flavour, add orange extract to the cake mixture.
- Chocolate Orange Buttercream: To make the buttercream: butter, icing sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder and Terry’s chocolate orange are whisked together until combined. The buttercream is spread between the cakes and on top.

How To Melt Terry’s Chocolate Orange
Melting Terry’s chocolate orange is quite simple and is done in the same way as any other chocolate. Simply break the chocolate orange apart and place into a large mixing bowl.
To melt in the microwave, heat on a medium heat and stop every 10 to 20 seconds and stir the chocolate each time. Do this until the chocolate has completely melted.
It’s great that Terry’s chocolate come already broken into small segments, this increases the surface area of the chocolate making it easier to melt.
How To Make Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cake
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to make this easy and moist Terry’s chocolate orange cake. Full recipe instructions are on the recipe card at the bottom.
Step One:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (gas mark 4, 350°F) and line two 20cm (8″) sandwich tins with parchment paper. Leave aside for later use.
Place butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl and cream together until light and fluffy.
Step Two:

Add the eggs and vanilla (or orange extract) to the mixing bowl and mix together until evenly distributed.
TIP: Don’t worry if the eggs look split at this stage, it will come together in the next step when flour is added.
Step Three:


Add flour and cocoa powder to the mixing bowl and mix together until combined, then add two tablespoons of milk (this will make the mixture easier to stir). Split the cake mixture evenly between two sandwich tins and bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
TIP: To see if the cake is cooked poke a skewer through the middle, if it comes out clean then the cake is done.
Once the cake is baked, leave the cake aside on a cooling rack for it to cool down.
Step Four:

Whilst the cake is baking, it’s time to make the buttercream.
Break the chocolate orange apart and place into a large mixing bowl. Melt in the microwave on a medium heat, mix the chocolate every 10 to 20 seconds until completely melted.
Place butter into a clean mixing bowl and whisk until smooth.
Step Five:

Then add icing sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla and whisk together until combined.
TIP: Add the cocoa powder and flour gradually when whisking to avoid it going everywhere!
Step Six: