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!
I don't think I have ever had a gooseberry?! I will have to try to find some.
ReplyDeleteThey are slightly sweet - just a really interesting berry, ou should definitely try and find some!
DeleteYou are blowing me away, here, Heather!! Your cakes always sound so incredible, and every single time you say something like 'Gluten-Free baking is so easy' my jaw hits the floor. This cake looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've looked for fresh gooseberries so many times at my market, and have yet to find them! Last year there was someone selling a tiny little gooseberry bush, and now I think I should've grabbed it. Ah, well.
Aww a tiny little goosberry bush, you should totally grab the next one you come across- I heard goosberry jam is amazing!
DeleteYour comments never fail to make my day Willow, you are too stinkin sweet :) xo
If I was able to bake I think I'd have to stop reading your blog, because seriously. I'd be eating cake 24/7, and I'd never be able to stop because everything you post looks sooooo amazing!!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel like all i eat is cake when I go on a baking tangent- thank goodness for family closeby, I just make them eat half of everything I make :)
DeleteI am pretty sure Justin would never leave your house after one meal, you totally make all his favorites!
this ingredient list has completely blown my mind. it's such a clean cake! i feel like i HAVE to make it now! omg.
ReplyDeleteand those gooseberries look awesome! i thought they were grapes! look at you, eating all these amazing fruits..i am truly jealous. xo <3
I totally love that description: a clean cake, I am totally stealing that term!
DeleteHahha they do look like grapes don't they :)
Oh man, I miss gooseberries from Poland... I've nver seen them anywhere in the US :(
ReplyDeleteAwww this is actually the first year that I have some across goosberries - i wonder why they aren't as popular here?They are so good!
DeleteThat. Looks. Delicious.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to trying it. I don't usually go out of my way for gluten free cakes (I have no gluten health issues and love my cake, bread etc) but you may have just won me over with this one. All that fruit! Yum. Well done.
Thanks Patricia for stopping by and for your great comment, I do hope you get a chance to try out the cake, it really is fabulous!
DeleteThis looks amazing...and I cannot fault your ingredient list one little bit (and i thought i was good on the healthy cake front!) haven't had gooseberries in years and so love this quirky appeal :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Jo! Thanks so much for visting.
DeleteThose little gooseberries are pretty quirky aren't they :)
i'll have to find some gooseberries! the indian gooseberries look similar but they are always harvested early for their sour and tangy taste. i have never seen a ripe indian gooseberry:) and they sure are full of goodness. thank you for the reminder to ppick up the dark cocoa .. the cake looks sooo soo moisst and the pictures are beeutiful!
ReplyDeleteYES get on that Dark Cocoa Richa, you will never go back! I loved the little underipe gooseberries, the tang was quite nice - how did you use them growing up?
Deletewe usually ate them as is.. they were really tangy, or made preserves with the whole berry. its like a whole tangy lemon in a sweet preserve. its ridiculously delicious and also a great addition to the breakfast for all that vit C
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI saw your gorgeous photo on Tastespotting, and just had to stop by to tell you how beautiful it is. The recipe sounds really good. Love all of the ingredients:)
Thank you spicie foodie, that means alot coming from such an amazing photographer!
DeleteThis cake looks so decadent! I can't believe how healthy it is!
ReplyDeleteThat purple platter is adorable! I love it! :-)
Gotta love Homegoods....wait I think that was a TJ Maxx find :)
DeleteTotally decadent and pretty healthy too!
I think I love you. I have been trying to eat healthier---cutting out sugar, meat, butter, etc. I think you may have just saved my life.
ReplyDeleteGood cake can be a live saver huh - best of luck with the new lifestyle, once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature and quite easy :)
DeleteWhat an absolutely stunning dessert! I recently did a post on my site using pink currants, which are in the same fruit family, and I thought they were so pretty. But, these gooseberries take the cake!...quite literally :) I am happy to have found your site!
ReplyDeleteLove currants too! Really any summer berry steals my heart - I am so ahhpy that you stopped by!
DeleteOh my this is one of the most amazing ingredients list for a cake I have ever seen! Heather, you are just awesome :) I am bookmarking this for the next special occasion. Or just for next weekend ;)
ReplyDeleteI would never have guessed you are relatively new at gluten-free baking. All your creations look amazing and gluten-filled!
Aww thanks Gabby, I hope you enjoy the cake - Gluten Free baking is fun, thankfullyI haven't had any major disasters, but plenty of other cooking disasters have been had :)
DeleteI need to find gooseberries! I've never had them before, but they are so very delicate and pretty!
ReplyDeleteThis cake is gorgeous by the way. You are one talented girl missy!
You so need to find goosebrries at least once in your life, they are worth seeking out for sure!
DeleteAnd YOU Miss Lady are pretty amazing and talented yourself :) xo
Beautiful! Recipe looks delicious- can't wait to try!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visting Lauren!
DeleteBerries, thick Fudgy chocolate - now you are talking my language my friend ;)
ReplyDeleteA stunning cake with lovely presentation, this is absolutely lovely!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
This is so your langauge uru, no one does chocolate better than you!
DeleteI find I do better with a little less gluten as well, but my bread obsession won't let me cut it out entirely. You are killing me with this cake and the gooseberries! I need to take a dinner and dessert to a neighbor who had a baby last week. She has celiac sprue. Thanks for saving her from yet another boxed gluten free something or other dessert (meals are easy, the gluten free baking science totally eludes me). J'adore! xoxo
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
DeleteAnd I cannt give up my crusty bread either.....I am still dreaming about your pretzel rolls, I think you should send me a few from your next batch :)
I can't seem to remember if I have ever tried gooseberries before, but now I really want to! Love the line patterns. The cake is beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteWow! I have been wanting to try goosberries for a while now, but have never seen them anywhere. This cake looks like pure bliss - will be making soon, you can be sure!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like gooseberries are hard to come by, I wonder why that is?
DeleteA slice of this cake will send anyone into nirvana
I've never tried gooseberries... and I live close to a place called Gooseberry Falls! Somehow that just doesn't seem right. This cake looks absolutely incredible- I included it in a list of my favorite things around the internet on my newest blog post :)
ReplyDeleteYou are the BEST Ruby!
DeleteGooseberry Falls, such an adorable name :)
chocolate decadence indeed! you've done it again! this is outrageous! i think i need a slice of that in my life right about now:) haha stunning photos, as always!
ReplyDeleteThanks Caralyn - I hope you do get a chance to have a slice of this in your life sometime soon!
DeleteWow! Amo el chocolate y este pastel no me decepcionara! Gracias!
ReplyDeleteDe Nada!
DeleteThis cake looks incredible! think I'll have to give it a try. Your photos are sooo beautiful. Will definitely check out Paleo Spirit.
ReplyDeleteThank you Heather, I do hope you enjoy visiting Paleo Spirit!
Deleteoh my word that's gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks Em!
DeleteHow's the Garden doing?
Is it even possible to say that I have never tried gooseberries before? I need to have a lookout for them. Your cake looks incredibly delicious! How I wish I can have a slice now.
ReplyDeleteHi Rowena!You totally need to find some gooseberries - they are so much fun!
DeleteI only just saw your chocolate decadence What a fabulously beautiful recipe you sharing with us here...
ReplyDeleteThe chocolate is really good but especially this blog too
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ReplyDeleteThank you for your tutorial, I really liked the chocolate decadence, it is delicious and yummy
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