Dark Chocolate Orange Cake – Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free

Okay! Let’s talk about cake…. Dark Chocolate and Orange cake to be precise! My friends, this cake is nut free, soy free, dairy free, refined sugar free and it tastes unbelievably delicious. This is the first vegan cake I have ever baked but it certainly won’t be my last. Dark chocolate and orange is a match made in heaven and my most favorite chocolate combination. When I decided to bake this cake, I was apprehensive because there was no eggs, butter or all purpose flour. Instead, I used a mixture of oats, quinoa and chickpeas flour, flax seed eggs and a little olive oil. The cake is sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar but you can also use date or agave or honey for sweetener. I was pleasantly surprised at the result and it would be unfair to not share it with everyone. It is one of those cakes that you can have for breakfast or dessert and not feel bad about it. Imagine having a healthy and nutritious cake, that looks exactly like the ones you find at fancy bakeries and definitely more delicious. Eat what makes you happy and healthy 🙂

Have a lovely weekend! xx

Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Flax Seeds
1/2 Cup Chickpea Flour
3/4 Cup Quinoa Flour
3/4 Cup Oat Flour
½ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
½ cup Coconut Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda Coupons
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
½ Cup Pure Maple Syrup
1 Cup Pure Orange Juice
¼ Cup Olive Oil
Zest of Two Oranges
Handful of Dark Chocolate Chips, optional

Process

1. Preheat the oven at 350 F. Prepare an 8″ cake pan or 3 4″ spring foam cake pans and set aside.
2. Blend the Flax Seeds with 6 Tablespoons of water and set aside.
3. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl (chickpea flour, quinoa flour, oat flour, cocoa powder, sugar, chocolate chips, baking soda, baking powder, and orange zest). Set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, add all the wet ingredients: flax seeds paste, maple syrup, orange juice and olive oil; mix well.
5. Combine the dry and wet ingredients, mix well to make sure there are no lumps.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s) and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
7. let the cake(s) cool completely before taking them out. Serve as desired.

P.S. I coated the cake with some melted dark chocolate and fresh Orange slice.

Enjoy! 🙂