chocolate decadence cake

inspiration comes in many forms. farmers markets, pinterest, a special event ,a beautiful photo or blog. i was inspired last week by a post from souvlaki for the soul who was in turn inspired by a recipe from the paleo spirit. I am a huge fan of peters photography and creative recipes, i knew that he wouldn't steer his readers wrong and he certainly raved about the cake - i knew i had to make a vegan version of this dense chocolaty cake.

it has been a banner year for berries - each week at the farmers market i have come across a new berry i have yet to try. the sweet little Lady that i purchased my currants from last week had a few containers of gooseberries. i fell in love with the colors, shape and lines - the berry itself is not overly sweet, but has a sweetness similar to a blueberry. Gooseberries are full of vitamin c, fiber and potassium - a healthy little berry to add to any part of your day.

the cake itself it gluten free, sugar free, soy free & peanut free as well as vegan.

overall this is one of the "healthier" desserts you could make.

very moist, almost fudge like in texture a little slice goes along way. i personally loved the contrast between the rich dense cake with the fresh subtle sweetness of the gooseberries.

the more i experiment with gluten free baking the more i fall in love with the process. know don't get me wrong, i will still give my left arm for a slice of crusty bread  - which coincidentally i picked up a beautiful loaf of peasant bread at the farmers market Saturday morning which was absolutely amazing! however, there is something to be said about gluten free living, i find the less gluten i consume the better i feel and have made a conscious effort to consume less gluten overall on a daily basis and feel better for it.

if you have a loved one with a gluten allergy and would love to bake them a sweet treat or are just interested in more of a gluten free lifestyle , I would highly suggest you start with this cake.

for more detailed information about this cake and the paleo way of living make sure you head over to the paleo spirit for a visit!

Chocolate Decadence Cake

(1) 8" cake round or (2) 6" cake rounds

*recipe slightly modified  from paleo spirit

you will need:

*pre heat oven to 350*

10 medjool dates

(soaked overnight)

1 ripe banana

3 flax eggs

(1 flax egg = 1 tbsp flax + 3 tbsp hot water)

1/2 cup coconut oil - room temp/soft

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup double dutch dark cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt

1/2 cup strong brewed coffee

coconut whipped cream , chocolate ganache or your favorite frosting

handful gooseberries or cherries

assembly:

 in a food processor fitted with an s blade puree dates. add banana and flax eggs and process until well combined. transfer fruit puree to a medium bowl, whisk in coconut oil, coffee and vanilla until well mixed.

combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl - add the dry to the moist and mix until you have a smooth batter. grease (2) 6" round cake pans or (1) 8" round cake pan with coconut oil. evenly divide batter among the (1) or (2) pans smoothing the top with a spatula.

bake in a pre heated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester when inserted in the center comes out clean.

allow to fully cool on a wire rack prior to removing from pans and frosting with your favorite topping or icing.

suggested toppings:

coconut whipped cream

chocolate ganache

fresh pitted cherries

fresh gooseberries

enjoy!

Print this Recipe