Vegan Chocolate Cake

Dry Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 Cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar (reduce by 2 tbsp for a slightly less-sweet cake)
  • 6 tablespoons unsweetened non-alkalized cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Prepare an 8×8 inch pan or circular pan by greasing and placing parchment paper on the bottom. This will help with the release later on.
  2. Sift together dry ingredients into a large bowl
  3. Combine the wet ingredients and add them to the bowl with the dry ingredients
  4. Stir until smooth and scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly
  5. Allow the cake to bake approximately 25 to 30 minutes, so that when a toothpick is inserted into the center, it comes out clean
  6. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before attempting to remove the cake from its pan

 

Although this cake is fantastic by itself- for decoration, you can add powdered sugar to the top. For added flavor/kick, pair with a raspberry reduction, dulce de leche, or a chocolate sauce. If you would like to turn this batter into cupcakes, or would simply like to ice your cake, the icing I recommend making is as follows:

Ingredients:

        • 5 oz. dark chocolate
        • 2/3 cup heavy cream
        • 1 tsp vanilla extract Directions

 

Directions:

        1. Break up your chocolate if it is in block form
        2. Pour in the heavy cream and extract
        3. Melt in the microwave or over a double broiler and then mix together with a hand mixer or whisk until the desired consistency

 

 

Mandelbrot Cookies

Yield: 3 Dozen

Ingredients:

  • 3 Eggs (Can be replaced with egg replacer to make vegan cookies)
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • ½ cup Vegetable Oil
  • 3 teaspoons Vanilla
  • 3 ¼ cups Unbleached Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 2 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
  • Sugar (for topping)

Optional Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, to add to the Cocoa for a sweeter cookie
  • Lemon or Orange Rind
  • ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
  • ¼ cup chopped Walnuts

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 °F.
  2. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Add sugar and mix well, then add oil and vanilla.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and any additional ingredients
  4. Add to the egg mixture to your dry ingredients and stir until well blended.
  5. Divide the dough in half and add the cocoa to half the dough.
  6. Take ½ of the vanilla half and ½ of the chocolate half, and squeeze them together to form a long marble

roll about 13 inches long by 3 inches wide. This is easily done right on the baking sheet with floured

hands. Repeat the process, forming one more marble roll with the remaining dough. Sprinkle sugar on

top. (This is how it is traditionally prepared)

  1. Alternatively, my family takes the same process but flatten the vanilla dough, place a log of the cocoa dough in the center, and roll it into a log with vanilla on the outside and cocoa in the center. It allows for a nice mix of the flavors! The dimensions will remain the same
  2. Bake these rolls for 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and once slightly cooler, cut into ¾ inch slices. Let the cookies cool well before enjoying

Simple French Loaf

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (not hot, but about the temperature of a nice bath)
  • 1 tbsp honey (3/4 if using pure honey. Feel free to substitute in sugar if you do not eat honey)
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp Active Dry Yeast
  • 3 1/2+ cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

  1. Mix together the water, honey, salt, and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until bubbles form on the surface
  2. Add flour and incorporate until no longer sticky. If you are going to add in garlic powder, add it to the flour and mix before incorporating. Incorporate fresh ingredients or extras (olives, minced onion, etc.) after incorporating the flour. Make sure the dough “bounces back” if poked.
  3. Allow the dough to rest for 20-40 minutes
  4. Form the dough into a load. Allow to bake for approximately 20 minutes, until the bottom is solid when knocked on [Note: if adding a wet mix-in, such as olives, the baking time may increase]

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Yield: approximately 32

Dry Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/12 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp allspice

Wet Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup pumpkin
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350˚ F and prepare pans with parchment paper or another oven-safe, non-stick surface
  2. Mix together dry ingredients in a bowl
  3. Cream butter and sugar and add in egg. Mix until combined
  4. Add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix until combined
  5. Incorporate dry mixture into the bowl with wet ingredients
  6. Grease and flour a spoon to drop approximately 1 tablespoon of the dough onto your non-stick cooking sheet
  7. Cook for approximately fifteen minutes

Vegan Ultra-Orange Cake

 

Dry Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp grated orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350˚ F. Prepare an 8×8 inch pan or circular pan by greasing and placing parchment paper on the bottom. This will help with the release later on
  2. Sift together dry ingredients into a large bowl
  3. Combine the wet ingredients and add them to the bowl with the dry ingredients
  4. Stir until smooth and scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly
  5. Allow the cake to bake approximately 30 to 35 minutes, so that when a toothpick is inserted into the center, it comes out clean
  6. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before attempting to remove the cake from its pan

(This cake is absolutely delicious on its own and, if desired, an orange glaze or powdered sugar on top of this cake will add to its appearance and sweetness)