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Vegan German Chocolate Cake
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By Amy Pearce
Posted July 23rd, 2007
This article is reprinted with permission from The Artful Vegan: Fresh Flavors from the Millennium Restaurant, by Eric Tucker, (2003, Ten Speed Press)
The Artful Vegan: Fresh Flavors from the Millennium Restaurant
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Servings: 10
Author Notes: Here we have the seductive flavors of the German chocolate cake, coconut flakes, rich macadamia nuts, and gooey date caramel. If blanched hazelnuts are not available, use unblanched nuts, removing as much skin as possible.
Ingredients: Chocolate Cake:
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon egg replacer
1 1/2 teaspoons ground espresso beans
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
4 ounces silken tofu
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 cup canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons coffee extract or coffee liqueur

Caramel-Nut Filling:
3/4 cup macadamia nuts, plus more for garnish
3/4 cup blanched hazelnuts
1 cup soy milk
1/2 cup rice milk
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, plus more for garnish
3/4 Sucanat®*
pinch of agar powder
1 tablespoon arrowroot
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Date Caramel:
4 Deglet Noor dates, or 2 Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup Florida Crystals**
1 cup water
1/4 cup agave nectar
2 kumquats, thinly sliced for garnish
8 chocolate cigars for garnish (available in chocolate specialty shops)
Instructions: To make the Chocolate Cake:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Oil a 9 by 13 inch pan, and line it with parchment paper.

Sift the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, egg replacer, and espresso in a bowl.

In a blender, combine coffee, tofu, maple syrup, canola oil, vanilla, vinegar and coffee extract. Blend until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the cocoa mixture and whisk until smooth (some small lumps are OK). Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan and a small knife inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan.

To make the Filling:
Decrease the oven temperature to 325° F. Spread the macadamia nuts and hazelnuts on a baking sheet, and toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes, until light brown. Remove from oven and let cool. Pulse the nuts in a food processor fitted with the metal blade 4 or 5 times, until coarsely ground. Place the nuts, soy milk, rice milk, coconut, Sucanat®, agar, arrowroot and vanilla in a saucepan, and whisk until smooth. Heat the mixture over medium heat, whisking continuously, for 7-10 minutes, until very hot but not boiling. Pour into a shallow pan to cool.

To Make the Caramel:
Soak the dates in hot tap water for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place the Florida Crystals and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Decrease heat to low and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until the bubbles in the syrup are thick. Remove the dates from the water and transfer to a blender. Add the agave and Florida Crystal syrup. Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend for 1 minute, or until smooth. Let cool to room temperature. (Store at room temperature for up to 1 month. If the caramel crystallizes, cook over low heat until the crystals dissolve.

To Assemble and Serve:
Using a 2 1/2 inch round biscuit cutter or glass tumbler, cut 12 rounds out of the Chocolate cake. Place 1 round on a dessert plate. Using a small ice cream scoop, top with 2 tablespoons of the filling. Repeat, creating 2 more layers of cake and filling. Set a few whole macadamia nuts on top and sprinkle with shredded coconut. Dot the plate with caramel sauce, and garnish with kumquat slices and Chocolate cigars.

*Sucanat -- A brand-name unrefined, granulated cane sugar made from evaporated sugarcane juice, found in most natural food stores. You can substitute any unrefined sugar.

** Florida Crystals -- A brand name less-refined granulated cane sugar. It is available in most natural food store. You can substitute any light, unrefined sugar.

Per Serving Cake: 581 calories (49% from fat); 6.7 g protein; 64 g carbohydrate; 34 g fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 226 mg sodium; 4.5 g fiber.

Per 2 Tablespoons Date Caramel: 65 calories (1% from fat); 0 g protein; 17 g carbohydrate; 0.2 g fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 1 mg sodium; 0.2 g fiber.


 

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