Chocolate Cake
It was supposed to be a blizzard. It wasn't. It WAS National Chocolate Cake day though. Thanks to The Lions for tipping me off. I don't know who comes up with these things - but I like any excuse to whip up a cake. I'm always looking for new ways to make things. Don't get me wrong - I like tried and true, but there's something that thrills me and makes me feel like a magician of sorts when I'm in the kitchen combining ingredients. I found this beautiful bottle of molasses in my cabinet - I've always been a fan of molasses - but I've never used it exclusively as a sweetener in a dessert. It's so dark and beautiful and a touch mysterious. So with that in mind I went ahead and decided it would play a starring role. Measure, mix, pour, bake. It all goes in the pan and then we wait. I was worried at first bite it was too much. Too strong - but then I found myself taking another bite - and another bite. I like this cake. It's distinctive flavor separates it from other chocolate cakes. It has an edge - and a certain mysteriousness (yes, there's that word again!). It may not be for everyone - and that's ok - as time goes on we come to understand that we can't please everyone.
Molasses Chocolate Cake gluten free and vegan yield: 1 - 8x8 pan
- 1/2 cup Chickpea Flour
- 1/4 cup Potato Starch
- 1/3 cup Arrowroot
- 1/4 cup Flax Seed, golden, ground
- 1/4 cup Hemp Seed
- 1/2 cup Cacao Powder
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Xanthum Gum
- dash Cinnamon, ground
- 1/2 tsp Cake Spice *
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 Tblsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Molasses
- 1/4 cup Oil (Olive, Coconut, Vegetable)
- 1/4 cup Apple Sauce
- 1/4 cup Almond Milk
- 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
Oven at 350. Grease and line with parchment your 8x8 pan Whisk together all dry ingredients. Whisk together all wet ingredients. Add wet to dry and combine well. Add chocolate chips. Pour batter into pan and bake about 25 minutes.
When cool flip the cake out of pan. I finished by sprinkling shredded coconut and drizzling with a simple raw cacao icing (raw cacao & almond milk) and coconut milk icing (coconut milk and powdered sugar)
*penzeys spice blend: cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves Penzeys is a great spice company that I love ordering from. They have numerous blends that are a fast & easy way to pump up the flavor in anything your cooking.
