I should have known when I made the Panettone and Nutella Bread Pudding, that the healthy eating plan would go downhill. But I have long had my eye on a very special vegan chocolate cake recipe from Leon Baking and Puddings Book Three, which I loved reviewing and have been cooking from lots. As this month’s We Should Cocoa challenge, hosted by Chele over at Chocolate Teapot, was to make a ‘health-conscious’ chocolate recipe, I really couldn’t resist this one any longer. The recipe is called A Very Good Chocolate Cake. And it was, very good indeed!
So, where does the health-conscious angle come into to this chocolate cake? Well, for a start it’s vegan, so it has no animal products in it at all. Secondly, no sugar, instead it calls for agave syrup, which is produced from the Mexican agave plant and is much less likely to give you a sugar rush. Thirdly, eating a chocolate cake (especially one sprinkled with lovely green pistachio nuts) is good for the soul, and therefore also, in my book counts as being health-conscious…
I have to say that when I looked at the required list of ingredients I was a little perplexed. There was no way, in my mind, that this unusual list of ingredients would come together to make a cake. I did my usual trick of embarking on a recipe before making sure I had everything to hand. I didn’t. So, in place of agave nectar I used a UK-produced Canadian Pure Maple syrup by Clarks that I had been sent to try. It worked perfectly. I used half-fat coconut milk, which was all I had, in place of full fat (healthier still) and I used vegetable oil and a squeeze of clementine juice in place of sunflower oil and lemon juice. Oh, and I flavoured the cake with orange essence instead of vanilla. You can see how I didn’t think it would work, particularly with all the messing around I did with the recipe, but it did!
No one would ever know that this is a vegan chocolate cake. It is moist, and it stays moist for a good few days in a tin as it’s made with oil. It smells divine and has a truffle cake texture with a perfect chocolate hit. It would be perfect for Valentine’s Day too. Best of all, it is really easy to make. Simply mix the dry ingredients with the wet, pour into a tin and bake. The recipe in the book is decorated with pretty summer flowers, but as it is winter, a sprinkle of vibrant green pistachio nuts seemed to do the trick.
Here’s my amended version, the original, called A Very Good Chocolate Cake, is by the very talented Claire Ptak and Henry Dimbleby.
[gmc_recipe 2280]
Leon Baking and Puddings Book Three is full of little tricks to make recipes healthier, whether it is experimenting with different flours, such as spelt or gluten-free flour or substituting pure cane sugar with honey, maple syrup, agave nectar or stevia. The recipes are well tested and have a broad appeal – it’s well worth putting on your list!
As promised, I’m sending this over to the We Should Cocoa challenge.
For more blog events to get involved in, check out The Food Blog Diary, which lists many different blog events and blog hops to try!
Beatrice says
Thanks Ren for sharing this recipe. I made it for my little ones and the French playgroup as we have to deal with food allergy and it is the best one I made since I bake cakes without eggs and cow’s milk… A great one that will be done many more times, already passed the recipe to my friends! I used crunched dried pineapples instead of pistachio due to nuts related allergies, not as vribrant as yours but still a good one!
Beatrice
Ren says
Hi Beatrice, I just saw this comment. I’m so pleased it worked for you and you liked it. This is a great book as many of the recipes are vegan or can be adapted – so very useful for kids treats minus the allergys!x
shaheen says
I will have to bookmark this one to make. You have presented it so elegantly, I wih I can do it some justice when I make it.
Ren says
You will Shaheen, it is a well behaved cake!
Corina says
This cake looks amazing – so moist. I absolutely love chocolate cake and like the fact that this one is a little more healthy than some but doesn’t look boring.
Ren says
Thanks Corina, I agree. It is quite a simple but elegant cake, perfect for afternoon tea!
Caroline says
This looks great! One of my best friends is vegan and it’s her birthday in February so I might have to make it! How easy is it to get agave nectar though? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in shops, though I use Tesco Metro and the like rather than bigger stores, which is probably why!
Ren says
Hi Caroline, I made it again today for a birthday party and I found the agave nectar easily next to the sugar. It wasn’t too expensive, in fact, less expensive than maple syrup. I hope you give it a go 🙂
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
Amazing cake, will definitely be trying this. I have one question for you tough……Where to buy coconut oil???!!
Love the sprinkling of pistachios, a perfect garnish :-]
Ren says
Hi Laura, probably the easiest place to get it is Holland and Barrett, it is actually supposed to be very healthy and can raise metabolism, so expect to see more of it in the press and around! Look out for pure coconut oil – it should say on the bottle that it can be used as a butter substitute. If you are ok with making a non-vegan version, use 25g butter in the chocolate topping instead. xx
Resh says
Awesome…..wow….i love chocolate and will bookmark this and try it very soon :)…do link it to my ongoing event at http://www.daily-cuppa.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-first-event-chocolate-lover.html
Ren says
Thanks Resh, will pop over and have a look.
bakingaddict says
I love this book (thank you again Ren!) and this cake looks divine!! I finally got round to making the banana bread you recommended but am waiting for permission to publish the recipe on my blog. I’ve had an unhealthy chocolate week balanced by healthy soups 🙂
Ren says
Aah you’re welcome, I love all the hints and tips and the recipes are well tested. Chocolate balanced by healthy soups sounds like the way forward!!
A Trifle Rushed says
Ren, how marvellous. I’ve never cooked a vegan cake, but I’m really tempted to give this one a try, it looks lovely and sounds really tasty.
Ren says
Same here Jude, I’ve never made one either, knowingly! But you couldn’t tell with this one, so moist and delicious!
What Kate Baked says
Wow! Would it be very very greedy Ren to say I could gobble up all this cake right here right now?! It looks so delicious…and such stunning photos!
Ren says
No, not greedy at all, it is very more-ish!!
Dom says
Fabulous photos! I love the sound of the cake but anything with chocolate works for me!
Ren says
Thanks Dom for the comment and the visit 🙂
Choclette says
Now I’ve made vegan chocolate cakes and they were very good, but this one sounds very very very good indeed – looks splendid too. Really like coconut milk in baking and the orange flavour sounds just right for this time of year. I was hoping to win this book from you, sadly didn’t manage it. Am trying to resist buying, but you’re not making it very easy. Your teapot is beautiful. Thanks for participating in WSC, glad you finally made it.
Ren says
Hi Choclette, I’ve never used coconut milk in any cake but it was a revelation! So sorry you didn’t win, but it is not a bad price on Amazon if your shelves can take any more! The teapot is Pip, I love her collection and it is growing! Thanks to you and Chele for hosting x
Christine says
Oh Ren.. this cake made me drool! 🙂 I LOVE pistachio and the colour of the cake – that deep dark rich chocolate, sets off the crushed pistachio nuts on top perfectly! Thanks for sharing this recipe and your twists. I’ve book-marked this try when I settle in on the other side of the world! x
Ren says
Good luck with the love Christine, I hope you can find all the ingredients over there!! Thanks for popping over to comment x
Miss Cakebaker says
This cake looks great. Bookmarked!
Ren says
Thanks hope you enjoy one day soon x
Charlotte @gofreecakes says
Thank you for sharing this recipe, Ren. I love making vegan cakes. They can be just as good as regular cakes, but with the added bonus of being made with store cupboard ingredients, too. I adore agave nectar although it is expensive. I’ll definitely give this a go!
Charlotte
Ren says
Hi Charlotte, so true, this is a store cupboard cake, totally! All the more dangerous! Makes me wonder why we need sugar and eggs at all…x
Urvashi@BotanicalBaker says
OMG! this looks totally and utterly amazing. I think I am going to have to make this very soon with your orange essence twist too. Gorgeous photos as always x
Ren says
Thanks Urvashi. Using agave nectar or even maple syrup was a revalation, the coconut milk too add a certain something yet is completely undetectable. And I just can’t believe it has no eggs…but it was SO good! I don’t know if you have the book, but you would love the edible flowers it is decorated with. PS You sounded great on the radio, really enjoyed the show!