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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Triple Layer Chocolate Cream Cake (from The Everyday Vegan)

Here you have the ultimate chocolate cake - Triple Layer Chocolate Cream Cake from TEV.

Vegan is not even an issue here, this cake gets rave reviews from vegans and non-vegans alike whenever I serve it... and I've had people ask to buy my cookbook on the spot just for this recipe alone!

(Just be sure to use SILKEN extra-firm tofu for the frosting... and use a food processor to puree it, please!)

Cake Batter:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups unrefined sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 3/4 cups water
2 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp mocha extract (or more vanilla)
1/4 cup organic canola oil

Frosting:
2 pckgs (349-g) SILKEN extra-firm tofu, patted dry
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups (generous) non-dairy chocolate chips

For the cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda, then add in sugar and salt and mix well. In another bowl, combine water, vinegar, extracts, and oil. Add wet mixture to the dry, and stir until well combined. Pour into 3 lightly oiled round cake pans, distributing batter as evenly as possible. Bake for 17-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool on a cooling rack.

For the frosting:
In a food processor (don't use a mixer, it won't smooth out the tofu), combine tofu with maple syrup and vanilla, and puree until very, very smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Meanwhile, melt chocolate in a bowl fitted over a pot with simmering (not boiling) water. Pour melted chocolate into food processor with tofu mixture, and puree again until well incorporated (again, scraping down sides of bowl). Transfer to a container and refrigerate until cool (will thicken as it cools). Once cool, spread frosting on cake layers, then refrigerate cake for at least a couple of hours to set (preferably overnight).

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23 Comments:

At 6:46 AM, Blogger Dino said...

HOLY COW! That's SUCH a gorgeous cake, Dreena. Definitely something to make for major occasions. Omg. You freaking rock. <3

 
At 1:10 AM, Blogger Patty said...

I have made this cake many times and everyone is always ohhh-ing and awww-ing over it. Its jus the best chocolate cake.

 
At 6:59 PM, Blogger Amy said...

I will buy the cookbook after seeing the picture, never mind tasting it!

 
At 2:57 PM, Blogger soulmatesforever said...

Definately best chocolate cake ever! The frosting is UNBELIEVABLE! A cross between buttercream and cream cheese I think. Its soooo good!

 
At 6:13 PM, Blogger Megan said...

I made this cake 2x so far and it is my most favorite cake ever!! Thanks so much!!!!

 
At 1:04 AM, Anonymous AlisonC said...

Oh my gosh - a picture of my favourite chocolate cake! I will have to make this again sometime soon!

 
At 9:16 AM, Blogger mustardseed said...

Hi...looks great! Is the frosting chocolatey? I love really rich chocolatey frosting.

And is it possible to achieve good results with 50% whole wheat pastry flour?

Thanks!

 
At 7:32 AM, Anonymous Chef Tomas said...

What did I do wrong? I just made this last night and the icing is watery tasting and bland. Wondering if maybe I used too much tofu?

 
At 5:52 AM, Blogger Dreena said...

mustardc, you can use 1/2 w/w pastry flour - the cake will obviously be a little heavier/grainier, but if you are used to making cakes half & half, then go for it... the frosting will make up for it anyhow! Yes, it IS very rich and chocolatey - not sugary sickly sweet, more chocolatey than sweet.

chef tomas, did you use SILKEN extra-firm tofu? It must be silken tofu, and extra-firm (or at least firm silken tofu). Any other type of tofu will produce yucky results, and you will instead have tofu icing rather than rich, chocolatey luscious chocolate frosting! With the (almost) 2 cups of chocolate chips melted and blended into the silken tofu, it is never runny/watery - or bland... I am thinking you may not have picked up the silken tofu...?? let me know. :)

 
At 6:52 AM, Blogger mustardseed said...

I used silken tofu. And it still went well. I ate the frosting as it is (: like not so runny pudding. Yum. I found that it overpowered the cake sponge a little though.

Everybody adored the cake!! My friends didn't mind at all that it was a little denser than most cakes. And I used all plain flour.

 
At 1:02 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

that cake looks awesome! Got a question regarding the frosting though: Do I need 700 g silken tofu in total? or 350 g? Am a bit confused... but it will probably make sense once I make it? Thank you!

 
At 12:46 PM, Blogger Persikka said...

i think 'm in love, with just the picture!

Now if i could only find firm/extra firm silken tofu :( no such luck yet in my neck of the woods

 
At 8:29 AM, Blogger Sal said...

I made this cake for my parents for easter - it is fantastic, thank you so much for posting.

It went down a storm with my non-veggie parents/brother.

 
At 8:51 AM, Blogger Zara said...

We made this cake, and it was absolutely wonderful. Though we haven't tried the frosting yet.

Seriously, it was totally soft and fluffy... just gorgeous.

 
At 6:07 PM, Blogger becoming a vegan domestic goddess said...

hi dreena, marie here from the philippines. was able to pick up your book from singapore when i was there on holiday --- i'm so excited to try out your recipes! question though --- what is the measurement of the round pan used for this cake? 8 or 9 inches? does it matter? if both can be used, what is the baking time difference between them? thanks!

 
At 11:22 AM, Anonymous shaina said...

does anyone know if you have to use maple syrup? would it be ok to use an imitation or another kind of syrup?

 
At 8:11 AM, Blogger kristin said...

I am looking into food processors (primarily to make this cake) and am curious as to which one you have. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 
At 4:42 PM, Blogger heina5531 said...

I made this cake for Thanksgiving. It was so delicious and easy to make. Thanks Dreena for the recipe. My family was impressed!

 
At 9:02 PM, Blogger Jessica Forys said...

Great cake - I do want to add one trick that I use for the frosting - add a few TB of seedless blackberry preserves - something about that cuts the slight tang of the tofu and makes it taste SO chocolaty decadent.

 
At 11:40 AM, Blogger Baker said...

I am about to bake your beautiful cake for Thanksgiving...but cannot find Silken Extra Firm tofu for icing! Please advise: Should I buy SIlken Soft or another brand's Extra Firm? Which is more important, texture or brand?
Thanks!

 
At 7:14 PM, Blogger Dreena said...

Hi Baker,

The tofu really must be a "SILKEN" tofu, so if you can get another brand of extra-firm "silken" tofu other than Mori-nu, go for it. But, don't go with regular extra-firm tofu - the icing will be awful. If you can only get soft silken tofu, you will need to use more chocolate chips, melted, to firm up the frosting - probably about 2 1/3 cups - just an estimate. Does that help?

 
At 6:48 AM, Blogger Jean said...

Dreena - Thanks so much! The Silken Extra Firm tofu was worth the exhaustive search! The icing texture is absolutely perfect, and the cake is so moist. All iced and ready to serve tomorrow. Me thinks this Silken Tofu provides an excellent, much healthier alternative to buttercream:) - a nice discovery. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

 
At 6:49 AM, Blogger Jean said...

PS- Jean aka Baker:)

 

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