Cake:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice, plus 2 tablespoons finely grated zest
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons orange juice
Directions
Special equipment: a Bundt pan
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the softened butter and 1 tablespoon of the cocoa to make a thick paste. Use this paste to paint the inside of the Bundt pan. Set aside.
In an electric mixer, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and remaining 1/2 cup cocoa and mix until blended. Add the orange juice, mayonnaise, vinegar and vanilla and mix until just combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold in the orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean, 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
For the chocolate glaze: Mix the confectioners' sugar and cocoa together. Whisk in the orange juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a good consistency to drizzle. Drizzle the glaze over the cake.
You can substitute 2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise.
I took this to work for National Library Worker's Day 2015. I think the staff liked it, but it's not one of my favorites. I thought it needed more orange flavor and while I can't put my finger on it, it was missing something. It was moist and thick, but missing.....something.
