German Chocolate Cake
230g unbleached plain flour
340g evaporated cane juice
75g cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon salt
240ml strong coffee, cooled
120ml vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
240ml soya milk and cider vinegar*
3 teaspoons egg replacer, whisked with 4 tablespoons warm water
*Pour 1 tablespoon cider vinegar into a measuring jug, then add the soya milk to equal 240ml.
German Chocolate Frosting
115g butter substitute
120ml soya milk
140g dried unsweetened shredded
coconut
115g shelled pecan nuts, chopped,
plus extra for decorating (optional)
85g evaporated cane juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Buttercream (below)
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease and flour two 23cm round sandwich tins.
2. In a stand mixer, combine the flour, cane juice, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Stir to combine.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cooled coffee, oil, vanilla extract and soya milk/vinegar mixture. Turn the mixer onto a low speed and slowly pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix for 1 minute. Stop and scrape down the side and base of the bowl. Add the egg replacer and mix again for 1 minute. The cake mixture will be very thin. Divide it between the prepared cake tins.
4. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted in the centre of a cake comes out clean. Cool in the tins on wire racks for 10 minutes, then flip the tins over to release the cakes. Leave to cool for 1 hour.
5. MEANWHILE, MAKE THE GERMAN CHOCOLATE FROSTING. In a saucepan, melt the butter substitute. Add the soya milk, coconut, pecans, cane juice and vanilla extract. Stir until combined, then heat for 2 minutes or until the mixture comes to the boil.
6. Place one cooled cake on a serving plate. Using an offset spatula, spread half of the German Chocolate Frosting on top, then add the second cake and spread the remaining frosting on top of that. Frost the side of the cake with the Chocolate Buttercream. If you like, decorate the top of the cake with piped Chocolate Buttercream and press some extra chopped pecans into the base of the cake side.
Chocolate Buttercream
225g butter substitute, softened
420g organic icing sugar
25g cocoa powder, sifted
2 tablespoons water
Using a mixer, beat the butter substitute on a medium speed for about 20 seconds until smooth in texture. Stop and scrape down the side of the bowl. Add the icing sugar and cocoa powder and mix for 1 minute on a low speed. Add the water and mix on a medium speed until combined, then increase the speed to high and beat for a further 2 minutes until the buttercream is light and fluffy. Set aside
Recipe from Sweet Vegan by Emily Mainquist. Published by Kyle Books, priced £14.99. Photography: Penny de los Santos
Sweet Vegan is available from the Vegan Society online shop