Maple layer cake

Waaaaay back in the way back machine it was summer. And it was good. And we made these little, spongey maple baby cakes. (Not for babies. Baby cakes because they are little. Like babies. Like babies, not for babies. Little.)

Fast forward: it hit zero over night. What? And additionally, it's mi madre's birthday. She likes maple. So I thought, what could be more fitting than a fabulous maple layer cake? The baby cakes became two small layers, and I made a beautiful whipped chocolate maple frosting. And this cake came together,  simple and yet decadent.

equipment:

1. kettle
2. mixing bowl
3. mixing spoon
4. whisk
5. measuring cups
6. measuring spoons
7. 2 * 8" round cake pans, coated with coconut oil and  lined with parchment
8. oven


ingredients:

a)
2 cups of water (warmed up a little but not hot)
2 tbsp coconut oil (the warm water will melt it)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp raw apple cider vinegar

b)
4 tbsp ground chia seed
1/4 cup tapioca starch
1 3/4 cups kamut flour

c)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground vanilla bean (optional but awesome)
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
(you can use 2 tsp baking powder instead of cream of tartar and baking soda)



directions:

1. preheat the oven to 345!
2. in a mixing bowl, combine the warm water and coconut oil and let the coconut oil melt
3. add the rest of the ingredients from part a)
4. using a whisk, mix in the ingredients from part b)
5. still whisking, mix in the ingredients from part c)
6. pour the batter into the pans
7. bake at 345 for 40 minutes, or until the top springs back when gently pressed



(Thick Gooey Ganache Frosting:

equipment needed:
kettle
measuring cups
measuring spoons
mixing bowl
mixing spoon
mixer with whisk attachment

immersion blender

ingredients:

1 1/2 cup pitted honey dates
1 cup very hot water (just boiled is good)
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup cacao butter
6 tbsp maple syrup


2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 cup raw cacao

directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the boiling water , the cacao butter, and the coconut oil.
2. add in the dates
3. add in the maple syrup
4. let it sit for 15 minutes
5. add the sea salt, vanilla extract, and raw cacao
6. blend until smooth with an immersion blender
7. allow to  cool until it starts to resolidify. This will take a long time.
8. when it's cool enough, it will whip up and transform from dark and glossy to lighter and fluffy
9. frost the cake generously when it's ready.