A (Partial) Vegan Victory

I tasted the best vegan chocolate cake I had ever had a few weeks ago, when a coworker brought in said cake plus shamrock cookies for St. Patrick's Day. (Random, don't you think?) Fortunately, my coworker shared the recipe...which means I can share it with you! It's amazing how flavorful and moist a butter- and egg-free cake can be.

• 2 1/2 C flour
• 2 C sugar
• 2/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 t baking soda
• 1 t salt
• 2 C warm water
• 2 t vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp distilled white or apple cider vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 350, and grease your pan(s).
2. Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add water, vanilla extract, oil, and vinegar. Whisk until all is smooth.
4. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
   

Greg and I whipped up this tasty treat in no time, and had a hard time restraining ourselves from licking up all the batter. Here, you can see the smooth, fluid batter (with occasional bubble) pre-oven.

30 minutes and 350 degrees later, voila - a cake (represent)!

A good cake demands good frosting - so, I was hesitant to top this dessert with vegan frosting, which can be salty with an odd consistency. Enter the following (resolutely dairy-based) frosting recipe. I would suggest adding the heavy cream to the butter along with the dry ingredients, as I had a dusty mess on my hands prior to the cream's incorporation.

• 1/2 C butter
• 3 C powdered sugar
• 3 T unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 T heavy cream
• 1 t vanilla extract

1. Cream the butter.
2. Mix the cocoa and sugar; gradually add to the creamed butter.
3. Add the cream and vanilla, and beat until frosting is well-blended and fluffy.

The finished product was delicious! The cake is light, moist, and chocolatey, and the frosting is cool, creamy, and sweet. This is the best chocolate cake - counting both conventional and vegan recipes - and chocolate frosting I have ever made from scratch! We washed this rich delight down with a dessert-like beverage which, like the baked good, had vegan and non-vegan components. The blend of dairy milk, soy milk, and Godiva white chocolate liqueur is a winner.

Don't you wish you could have a piece?!