1 Mix your prepared cream cheese icing with the plum in short pulses in a blender so as not to break it down too much. The result should be a light purple colour with some visible plum flesh running through it.
You wont believe how virtuously good this vegan cake is. Coconut and raspberries are a killer combination.
INGREDIENTS
150g plain flour
75g ground almonds
2 tsp baking powder
tsp salt
cup desiccated coconut
cup coconut oil, melted
1 cup coconut milk
100g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp coconut extract
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
extra fresh ones for topping if in season or freeze-dried if not
ICING
vegan coconut glaze (see below)
METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 180C fan-bake. Grease and line a 22cm diameter cake tin.
2 In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, salt and the coconut.
3 Add in the coconut oil, coconut milk, sugar, and vanilla and coconut extracts. Stop your electric mixer once all the ingredients are combined; do not over-mix.
4 Pour the batter into the tin and dot the raspberries into it, pressing them down lightly with a spoon.
5 Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until golden in colour, springy to the touch, and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
6 Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
7 Meanwhile, make the vegan coconut glaze.
8 Drizzle the glaze on the cooled cake and refrigerate for 20 minutes to allow it to set.
9 Top with fresh or freeze-dried raspberries.
10 Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
VEGAN COCONUT GLAZE
1 cup icing sugar
cup fine desiccated coconut
a few splashes of coconut milk
23 tbsp virgin coconut oil, softened
1 tbsp lemon juice
pinch of salt
tsp vanilla extract
METHOD
1 Beat all of the ingredients together until smooth. You can adjust the icing sugar quantity to suit however thin or thick you like your glaze. Note that since you are using coconut oil the glaze will firm up when chilled, so it is okay if it seems very liquid.
You would never guess that this cake is vegan. I swear it has the richness and moistness of any good chocolate cake, and the berries make it even more decadent. For the photoshoot, I made a mini triple-layer version with raspberry jam in between the layers, but you can just make it in a standard tin.
INGREDIENTS
150g plain flour
60g ground almonds
150g brown sugar
cup good-quality cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
tsp salt
1 cup soy, almond or oat milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
cup coconut oil, melted
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
cup dark chocolate chips (70% cocoa solids)
1 cup blackberries, blueberries or raspberries + extra for garnish
ICING
vegan chocolate drizzle (see below)
METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 180C fan-bake. Grease and line a 22cm diameter cake tin.
2 Sift all of the dry ingredients together. Transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer and combine.
3 Mix in the milk, vanilla, coconut oil, vinegar and chocolate chips, being careful not to over-mix.
4 Pour the batter into the tin and scatter the berries on top, pressing them down lightly.
5 Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until springy to the touch, and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
6 Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
7 Meanwhile, prepare the vegan chocolate drizzle.
8 Pour the drizzle over the top of the cooled cake and refrigerate for 20 minutes to allow it to set. Decorate with the remaining berries.
9 Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
VEGAN CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE
150g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped
cup coconut oil
pinch of salt
METHOD
1 Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a double boiler until smooth.
2 Finish off with a pinch of salt.
Carrot cake is my all-time favourite cake; I dont make it very often because there is a fair amount of mess and effort involved in grating the carrots. But this recipe makes it all worth it. Its seriously moist, spicy and free of any butter or refined sugar.