Recipe by
Vegan Chocolate Cake with Chocolate-Espresso Frosting

Makes one (9- by 11-inch) sheet cake or one 8-inch double layer cake
For the cake:
⅔ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sunflower seed oil
¾ cup maple syrup
½ cup coconut sugar
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup cocoa powder
2 ¼ cups superfine almond flour
1 ¼ cups oat milk
For the frosting:
3 cups confectioner’s sugar
½ cup cocoa
1 tablespoon espresso powder (plus more for dusting, if desired)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional, for a kick)
5 tablespoons sunflower seed oil
3–4 tablespoons boiling water
Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil a 9- by 11-inch sheet cake pan or two 8-inch round pans.
In a large bowl, mix pumpkin puree, applesauce, vanilla, oil, and maple syrup. Add coconut sugar and mix well. Add dry ingredients, one by one, mixing well after each addition. Stir in oat milk. The batter should be just pourable, not too thin or thick, so adjust with more oat milk or almond flour as needed. Pour batter into the cake pan(s) and bake for 30–40 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan(s) for an hour before frosting.
To make the frosting, whisk together confectioner’s sugar, cocoa, espresso powder, cinnamon, and cayenne, if using. Stir in sunflower seed oil, then 3 tablespoons boiling water, adding more water as needed, until you have a glossy, spreadable frosting. Frost the cake, dusting with more espresso powder if you like.
LOVE READING
edible MAINE?
You can have our exciting stories and beautiful images delivered right to your doorstep. Click HERE to purchase an annual subscription.
LOCAL FOOD NEWS,
SEASONAL RECIPES
AND EVENTS
DELIVERED FRESH
TO YOUR INBOX
Join the edible MAINE community!
SIGN UP NOW
for our e-newsletter and receive regular updates on local food issues, online exclusive stories, original recipes, sponsored buying guides and special issue sneak peeks.
No. 14 / Fall 2020
From Issue