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.

Fishy Crackers take two -- a vegan, nut free, sugar free school snack

ingredients:

1 cup kamut flour
1/4 cup sweet potato flour
1/4 cup finely ground chia seeds
1 tsp  baking soda



1 tbsp mesquite powder
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp turmeric

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup ice water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar



directions:

1. preheat the oven to 345
2. combine the dry ingredients
3. using a fork, cut in the coconut oil
4. once the ingredients resemble sand, add the cold water and form a lovely dough
5. roll the dough out on a silicone mat and cut it into fish shapes (I did this on the mat that I would bake it on and didn't move them again.) I did this in 2 parts on 2 silicone mats. Or use baking parchment!
6. bake at 345 for about 14 minutes -- let them get crisp and lightly brown






I cut these by hand ... with a butter knife. And separated them out after they were baked.

macaroons -- vegan, gluten free, sugar free etc

I like the simplicity of these cookies. I think they are versatile -- would lend themselves to various sweeteners -- maple macaroons anyone? -- as well as various flavours. I have some Orange and Lemon organic flavour (basically it's essential oil) that I'm looking forward to taking for a spin.  Anyway, I kept it plain and uncomplicated this time, and they were very quick and very easy to make. They are not as puffy and soft as the usual macaroons -- maybe I'll soak the coconut next time. I like 'em!

ingredients:

1/2 cup water + 2 tsp egg replacer
1/2 cup coconut sugar

1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1/4 cup ground chia seeds

3 cups shredded coconut



directions:

1. combine the ingredients and stir really well
2. roll into balls and flatten, place on a lined baking sheet
3. makes 24-28 cookies
4. bake at 345 for 16 minutes

More Breakfast Muffins -- gluten-free, peanut butter and raisin

I'm at it again. But in my defense with the breakfast muffins -- breakfast does come once a day.

ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter
2 cups hot water
4 eggs

1 tbsp ground vanilla
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup whole chia seeds
1/2 cup flax meal
1/4 cup hemp hearts
1 cup shredded coconut

2 cups almond flour
1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup raisins


directions:

preheat the oven to 345

1. combine the ingredients in the order listed
2. scoop into 24 muffin cups
3. bake at 345 for 30 minutes

Chocolate Cake for my son's birthday

Light and delicate in texture, moist, rich, insanely chocolaty. This cake is everything a chocolate cake should be. It is also gluten-free, grain free, high in protein, (and if you take away all the ganache and glaze, pretty good for you), and of course truly delicious.

ingredients:

1/4 cup agave

1/2 cup bittersweet callebaut chocolate morsels (or any other very high quality bitter sweet chocolate morsel you prefer) (100g)

1/2 cup coconut sugar

1/2 cup organic butter

1 cup boiling water

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

 2 tbsp ground chia seeds

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ceylon cinnamon

pinch chili pepper finely ground

a little black pepper finely ground

3 dark roast or espresso beans, finely ground

1/2 cup raw cacao

1/2 tsp baking soda

4 eggs

2 cups almond flour 

directions:

preheat the oven to 345

1. pour boiling water over room temperature butter and chocolate morsels to melt them

2. when they are melted, add the agave and coconut sugar, followed by the apple cider vinegar

3. add the chia seeds, vanilla, sea salt, cinnamon, chili pepper, and black pepper

4. add the raw cacao

5. add the eggs and mix well

6. add the almond flour, and combine fully

7. add the baking soda

8. scoop the batter into prepared muffin cups

9. bake for approx 30-35 minutes, until the cakes feel firm and springy to the touch

or

10. pour the batter into prepared pans (buttered and lined with parchment

11. bake for 40-45 minutes, until the cake feels firm and springy to the touch

remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the pan

I assembled the layer cake with a truffle ganache filling between the layers and a chocolate glaze covering the cake in a lovely layer of sheen and deliciousness. Plus, the glaze can hide a multitude of sins ... ;)

Truffle Ganache Filling

Chocolate Glaze

This recipe will make 24 baby cakes, or 3 x 8 inch layers. I guess it would probably make 2 of the 9 or 10 inch layers.