Vegan Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

2 &1/2 cups self raising whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp baking powder
1&1/4 cups sugar
few drops of vanilla extract
9 tbsp sunflower oil
1&1/2 cups water
1/4 cup chopped nuts to decorate

For chocolate fudge
1/4 cup soy margarine
3 tbsp water
2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1-2 tbsp hot water

Method

1. Preheat oven to 325 degree F. Grease a deep 8 inch round cake pan, line with baking parchment and grease the paper lightly with a little sunflower oil.
2. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder. Add the sugar and vanilla, then gradually beat in the sunflower oil. Add water in the same way, beating constantly to get a smooth mixture.
3. Pour the the cake mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon.
4. Bake the cake for about 45 minutes until the toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven, leave in the pan for about 5 minutes before turning over onto a wire rack and let it cool. Cut the cake in half to make 2 equal layers.
5. To make chocolate fudge, place the margarine and water in a pan and heat until the margarine has melted. Remove from heat and add the sifted confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder beating shiny, adding more hot water if needed. Pour into a bowl and cool until firm enough to spread and pipe.
6. Place the bottom layer of the cake onto serving plate and spread on 2/3 rd of the chocolate fudge mixture. Top with the other layer. Decorate with stars with the help of a piping bag filled with remaining fudge. Sprinkle with sifted cocoa powder and chopped nuts.

Posted in: Baking