Vegan Chocolate Cake with Creamy Chocolate Filling
Gena Hamshaw
Photo by James Ransom
- Serves
- 10 to 12
Think vegan desserts are out of your reach? Think again. While this recipe is a little time intensive, it feels much easier if you make the creamy chocolate filling a day or two ahead of time. You can also make the cake a day ahead of time, and then simply assemble it and make the ganache the day you'll be serving.
Ingredients
Vegan chocolate layer cake
- 3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cup almond, rice, or soy milk (I used soy)
- 2/3 cup melted coconut oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cup organic sugar
Creamy Chocolate Filling and Ganache
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3 tablespoon almond or cashew butter
- 6 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped finely
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
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Directions
Vegan chocolate layer cake
- Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350° F.
- Step 2
Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Place these dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Step 3
Add the apple cider vinegar to the milk and beat until it's frothy. Whisk in the oil, vanilla, and sugar.
- Step 4
Add about a third of the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix them together (you can use a spatula, whisk, or a hand mixer on the lowest setting). Add another third, keep mixing for a few moments, and then add the final third. When ingredients are just fully incorporated, stop mixing.
- Step 5
Pour the cake batter into two round, 8 or 9-inch springform cake pans that have been greased with coconut oil. Bake for twenty-five minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake is clean. Allow the cakes to cook completely.
Creamy Chocolate Filling and Ganache
- Step 1
To make the creamy chocolate filling: Use a food processor to process the pumpkin, cocoa, maple syrup, and almond or cashew butter till smooth. Set aside.
- Step 2
To make the ganache: Stir the milk and syrup together in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Pour this mixture over the chocolate and stir until all of the chocolate is melted. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Step 3
To assemble the cake: remove the cakes from their pans. Place one onto your cake stand and gently shave the rounded top off of it with a sharp knife. Spread the creamy filling over this layer. Gently place the other cake over it. Pour the ganache over the cake. Transfer to a refrigerator to set for an hour. Serve.