Chocolate Cake - Vegan/ Dairy Free/ Gluten Free

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 16

Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups Gluten Free flour (I used cup4cup brand)
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cups cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup canola oil or melted coconut oil
• 2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups earth balance vegan butter softened (or any dairy free butter)
• 4-5 cups powder sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4-1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

Instructions:

Chocolate Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease two 9-inch cake pans. I also line them with parchment rounds and sprinkle with cocoa powder for easy removal of the ackes later.
2. Measure 1 cup unsweetened almond milk an add the Tablespoon of vinegar to it. Stir slightly and set aside to curdle.
3. In a large bowl, add the flour sub, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk well to comine.
4. Now add the oil, applesauce, vanilla and almond milk/vinear mixture. Mix on medium speed with a hand mixer (or stand mixer with the paddle attachment) until well compbined.
5. Lower the speed and carefully pou in the boiling water, continuing to mix into the cake batter until combined. The batter will seem very thick at this point.
6. Divide evenly between your round cake pans. I used a large spoon to divide and press to edges. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. After 10 minutes of cooling in the pan, carefully remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely before frosting.

For the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

1. Add the cocoa powder to a large bowl.
2. Add the softened vegan butter and mix with a hand mixer until creamed and well combined
3. Add half of the powdered sugar and half of the almond milk, and mix until combined. Add the rest of the powder sugar and vanilla extract. Mix starting on low, and turn to high. Mix until fluffy and combined.
4. If the frosting seems too dry, add more milk, a tablespoon or two at a time. If the frosting seems too wet and doesn't hold it's shape, add more powder sugar until it thickens up.
5. Frost he cake using an icing spatula or butter knife. I placed wax paper slightly under edges around the cake, so the cake stand would be clean for presentation.

*Notes:

• For cupcakes, fill liners half full and bake for 20-25 minutes. The whole recipe ill yeild approximately 24 cupcakes
• Double recipe to make a 4 layer cake, or cut in half to make a 1 layer round cake.
• Frosting recipe yields enough frosting for 2 cakes.

Recipe adapted from Nora Cooks

Double Chocolate Biscotti

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup dark cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet Chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fehreinheit
2. Cream butter and sugar together, add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add in vanilla.
3. In a seperate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in thirds, making sure all dry ingredients are incorporated before adding more. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Shape dough into a 12 x 4 inch log and place on a well greased baking pan (or use parchment paper or silicon mat) Bake for 30 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut loaf into 3/4 inch slices and place back on baking sheet, cut side down. Bake again for 8 minutes then turn cookies over and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
6. Completely cool cookies on a rack then store in an airtight container.

~Recipe adapted from chocolatechocolateandmore.com

Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Sea Salt

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Baking Chips, for melting into the cookie dough
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Baking Chips, for mixing into the prepared cookie dough
• 2 Tablespoons coarse sea salt, or as needed

Directions:

1. In a heatproof bowl over a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter until smooth. Turn off the stove and let chocolate sit over warm water.
2. Combine flour, baking powder and salt and mix to combine. In another bowl, mix together sugar and eggs, combine throughly with whisk and slowly add the warm chocolate mixture. Stir to combine. Add vanilla extract and mox. Stir in flour mixture. Cool for a few minutes (if batter is warm, chocolate chips will melt). Stir in chocolate chips. Chill for 10-15 minutes.
3. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Scoop rounded tablespoons of batter and place on baking tray. Sprinkle each cookie lightly with a pinch of sea salt. Baking at 350°F for approximately 7-8 minutes until the outside looks slightly cracked. Be very careful not to over bake cookies because they will continue to bake as they cool once removed from the oven. Cookies should be soft and gooey in the center.

~recipe from allrecipes.com

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep. time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yields: 60 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups (12- ounce bag) milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
• nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.
2. Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. 
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. 
4. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. 
5. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on a wire rack.

Chocolate Ravioli

Ingredients:

• 16 wonton wrappers
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (like Nutella)
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Powder sugar, for dusting

Directions:

1. Place 1 wonton wrapper on the work surface. Spoon 2 teaspoons of Chocolate-hazelnut spread into the center of the wrapper.
2. Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with egg. Fold the wrapper diagonally in half over the filling and press the edges of the wrapper to seal. 
3.  Repeat with the remaining wonton wrappers, egg, and chocolate-hazelnut spread.
4. Add enough oil to a heavy large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat oil over medium heat to 350°F.
5. Working in batches, carefully add the ravioli to the hot oil and cook until they are golden brown, about 45 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the ravioli to a plate lined with paper towel to drain. You can then transfer the cooked ravioli to a baking sheet and place in a 200°F oven to keep warm before serving.
6. Dust the ravioli with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

*You can make them up to one day in advance. Before serving, place them on a baking sheet and rewarm in a preheated 375°F oven just until they are heated through, about 7 minutes.

**I used large wonton wrappers and cut them into 4 square pieces to get the size I needed for this recipe.

~Recipe by Giada De Laurentiis from foodnetwork.com

Chocolate Crazy Cake (No eggs, milk, butter or bowls)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups flour (all-purpose)
• 3 Tablespoons cocoa (unsweetened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 5 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mix dry ingredients in a greased 8" baking dish.
3. Make 3 depressions in the dry ingredients. (2 small and one larger)
4. In one of the small depressions measure in the white vinegar.
5. In the other small depression measure in the vanilla extract
6. In the large depression measure in the vegetable oil.
7. Pour the water over it all and mix until smooth.
8. Bake on middle rack for 35 minutes. Check with toothpick to make sure it comes out clean.
9. Cool before adding frosting.

*Cooking times will vary depending on elevation and ovens.

~Recipe from sweetlittlebird.com