CHOCOLATE CAKE

Birthday parties call for Chocolate Cake. If there are vegans in your family, this is one everyone can enjoy together! It is easy to make and you will not miss eggs or butter...

Start by grating the peel of an organic orange.




Add flour, sugar, oil and baking powder. I wanted a big cake so I used about a pound of flour, 1/2 c oil, 1/2 c sugar and twice as much baking powder as you think you need.



Mix well. It will look crumbly. Add soy milk (I used vanilla) and mix until moistened everywhere. Dough should not be too stiff. It may be a little lumpy.




Spread in paper-lined spring form


and bake at 340°F / 180°C till done









Let cool.

Meanwhile, melt 1/2 pound good dark chocolate in double boiler over hot water. Add grated peel of an organic orange and a lemon. Add a little oil (I use sunflower seed) to keep everything nice and smooth.

Mix 1/2 pound of powdered sugar and the juice of your lemon, add the chocolate once it has cooled a little. Refrigerate for a little while. Keep a close watch, you don't want it to get too stiff to spread.


Now inverte the cake onto a platter, pull off paper.



Slice in half.



Spread bottom half with red jelly (I had some plum jelly... you can use any kind of tart jelly - I like red for the color...)



Spread it right to the edge!





Now place the top half back on the bottom half
and frost with the chocolate mixture!






If you want it plain, it's all done now!


I decorated with jelly flowers for spring... These were made with fruit juice, natural colors and no gelatine - just pectin.


Close-up




Have a piece, and do bring your coffee!


ENJOY!