Monday, July 9, 2012

summer berry cake

summer berry cake
my heart skips a beat anytime i come across local berries at the market.
there is something totally special about a perfectly ripe, sun kissed berry.
currants, raspberries, gooseberries and blueberries are all in season around the lakes region  - have I told you how much i love this time of year.
head over heels in love.

summer berry cake

i really never need an excuse to make cake. funny thing is, growing up i was more of an ice cream girl.
I believe most of us find our tastes changing as we grow up. at least that is what i have found to be true.
don't get me wrong, i am still an ice cream girl at heart, but I've made room for a little cake in my life too.
a sweet little lady had currants for sale at her stand on Saturday.
as you now know from reading this post i can't pass up fresh berries
 especially from little little old ladies who grown them
summer berry cakesummer berry cake
seriously, i have an obsession - 6" mini cake pans. they are pure awesome.
raspberry & currants - both wonderful additions to this cake.
the raspberry cake stayed home with me & the currant went to my dad's to
celebrate my gram's 70th birthday. there was fierce competition between my vegan currant cake and
his non vegan carrot cake, it was a 50/50 split
- but props to my dad for baking his first cake ever, from scratch even!
summer berry cake

with just a few ingredients you can bake yourself a pretty fabulous cake.
coconut sugar, whole wheat pastry flour, flax egg, really good vanilla & coconut oil are the core ingredients of this super tasty cake. if you haven't already, check out my earlier post on all the "too good to be true" health benefits of coconut sugar.
summer berry cakesummer berry cake
powdered sugar sprinkled on top brings the sheer prettiness factor to a 10
summer berry cake
served naked or coated with a thick layer of frosting, you really can't go wrong.
served at breakfast, brunch or your next celebration this is a cake that is sure to please even the non cake lovers. like i said before, i am a total ice cream girl at heart, so naturally i served it up with a bit of vegan ice cream. the best part was enjoying the last bit of cake with the melty ice cream at the bottom of the bowl.
summer berry cakesummer berry cake
for a gluten free version, simply sub in your favorite AP gf baking mix or almond flour would also be amazing.

summer berry cake
summer berry cakeg
simple, elegant, tasty - the perfect 3 words that describe this cake.
summer berry cakesummer berry cake
tell me, are you an cake kinda guy/gal or do you love ice cream?
summer berry cake
Summer Berry Cake
makes (2) 6" cakes or (1) 8" cake

you will need:
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup coconut sugar
3 flax eggs (1 fax egg = 1 tbsp flax + 3 tbsp hot water)
3 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp white vinegar
1/2 cup cold water

toppings*
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup fresh currants
*any fruit will work nicely

assembly:
pre heat oven to 350*
  grease (2) 6" round cake pans or (1) 8" baking round with coconut oil and dust with a bit of flour tapping the excess out of the pan

in a medium bowl combine flour through salt, stir to combine & set aside
in a separate bowl whisk together coconut oil through water

stir together wet and dry ingredients until well moistened. divide batter equally among cake rounds if using 2 or simply pour all batter into the one pan. top batter with fresh berries or fruit. I prepared one currant and one raspberry.

bake in a pre heated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a cake tester when inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.

to remove from the pan, simply run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan and cake, then gently place your hand or a plate over the top of the cake and remove the pan. Once the cake is free from the pan inverted/place the cake on a serving platter berry side up.

enjoy!

Yum

38 comments:

  1. SO beautiful Heather! I get so excited by fresh local berries too, or really any local produce. There's just something so amazing and special about it!

    I was always an ice cream girl when I was younger too. I think it's because I hated the taste of those insanely sugary frostings that always seemed to accompany them. When served cake at a birthday party I would actually eat around the icing while every other kid there argued over who would get my remains lol. However now that I have started making my own baked goods, cake has found a special place in my heart. Having control over the ingredients and flavours makes such a difference!

    Hope you had a lovely weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha I remember anytime chocolate cake was served I would ask for ice cream only, I couldn't stand bakery chocolate cake - I was spoiled though, my mom is am amazing cake maker and would make these awesome cakes for us each birthday that we got to pick out- strawberry cake and vanilla cake were always my top choices...then the year she made me a giant chocolate chip cookie- that was epic!

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  2. Gorgeous cakes, lady! It's making me pretty sad that I have yet to stumble upon currants at the market. *Sigh*

    PS - I also have an obsession with mini cake pans. And mini anything. Smaller is so. much. cuter.

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    1. I know it- the weather must have to be just right, this year is the first year that we have had currants at the Market in ages - a totally lucky score!

      Seriously smaller, teeny tiny is waaay cuter :)

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  3. Wow, that looks good! I have to get me some of those cake pans, because the size is just too cute (and practical!).
    I'm an ice cream girl through and through - but that doesn't mean I don't adore a good slice of cake. Ice cream and I, we have an open relationship. ;)

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    Replies
    1. YES you do need to get your self some mini cake pans- hey an engagement gift perhaps :)

      Haha ice cream and I totally have an open relationship too- but ice cream always comes first he he knows it :)

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  4. i have never had fresh currants before and i am really sad about that after reading your post. you are so cute with your cakes, no excuse needed!

    ps- the cakes are BEAUTIFUL!!!

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    Replies
    1. Caitlin we need to get you here to NH - Scapes, Currants and I swear there was one other thing you mentioned that you have yet to try! Thank you Miss Lady your comments always put a big Ol' smile on my face :)

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  5. This is one gorgeous cake! wow! So so so pretty! And looks so yummy.

    Love the little cakes too. I've been buying mini pans for everything from donuts to bundt cakes. *hah*

    I love Willow's comment about she + ice cream having an open relationship. It's like me and cookies. *hehe*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww thanks Court! I love my mini bundy and donut pan, they are SO much fun!

      I bet cookies would make room in the middle for some ice cream- I know my cookies don't mids shairng some space with vanilla ;)

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  6. my goodness! what a stunning cake! it truly is elegant -- and your photos are gorgeous! and i agree - fresh berries at a farmer's market are a highlight of the summer for me! have a great week!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Caralyn! I love Farmers Markets, they are oneof my all time favorite thing of Summer - the food and farmers are amazing!

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  7. Lovely cake! I really like the pattern of berries on the top. I think I'm more of an ice cream person, but really my #1 love is cookies!:)

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    Replies
    1. You and court with the cookies - Justin has a pretty serious realtionship ith cookies too :)

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  8. YUM! I'm definitely in the mood for a berry cake now!

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  9. So pretty! Oh my goodness, I love berries too. My inlaws raspberries are just starting to ripen and even though I'm a little scared(last year I spent way too much time picking because there are a ton of berries) I'm so excited. There is nothing like fresh berries :D Your cake looks so delicious. As always, I love that it's whole grain - it looks perfect and the ingredients list is perfect too :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can spend hours picking berries, I get a little obessesive, I promise myself okay just this one more, then I see another perfect berry and can't help myself from picking it!

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  10. Its been settled: I need to get some 6inch cake pans. These cakes are stunning and I want them real bad. Both of them. ;-)

    There is something so eye-catching about bunches of fresh berries at the farmer's market. Even if I have some already, I find myself staring longingly.

    I used to like soft-serve ice cream or frozen yogurt, but since becoming vegan, I've grown much more fond of the baked dessert, be it cake, cookies, bars, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a total weakness for anything pretty at the Farmers Market, for teh life of him Justin can't understand it, hes liek didn't you just get a crate of berries - yeah but these were too pretty not to buy...boys :)

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  11. This berry cake looks UNBEATABLE my friend :D
    I love it and it oozes summer :)

    Cheers
    CCU

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  12. those currants look so pretty! i need to keep an eye out for some. your cakes always come out perfect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Richa- this coming from the perfect bread baker herself!

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  13. So pretty! I couldn't resist berries from a little old lady either! Darling!

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    1. There is something about little old sweet lady's that I cannot resist - they are tooo cute especially when they are sellling little cartons of berries!

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  14. I'll take cake over ice cream any day (well, except most of the time I'll take both at the same time). Love this - looks so pretty & delicious!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Jeanine - you are a smart lady, both at the same time- of course!

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  15. I need this cake in my belly right now! All 6" of it!! Send me some?

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    Replies
    1. Yes - I will send you all 12" if I could! We are planning a trip to Cali come March so maybe I can smuggle cake on board and hand deliver to you :)

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  16. This looks incredible. Beautiful pictures too.

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    1. Thank you for the lovely comment Theresa and for stopping by!

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  17. O.M.G!!!!
    This looks absolutely delicious!
    Your photos look wonderful as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!

      This wasone of my favotite summer cakes so far this year :)

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