Vegan Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache

Vegan Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache. Simple Chocolate Layer Cake. Add raspberry or apricot preserves. Soy-free Palm Oil-free Recipe.

Ingredients:

Cake: makes two 8 inch pans
Dry:

• 1 cup wheat flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cup powdered vegan sugar , 2 Tbsp more for sweeter - blend raw sugar to fine powder to use or use wholesome sweeeteners vegan powdered sugar
• 1/2 scant tsp salt

Wet:

• 1 1/2 cups non dairy milk divided
• 1/3 cup non dairy chocolate chips or bar semi sweet chips, or dark chocolate for dark/bittersweet cake
• 1 tsp vinegar apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup oil
• 3 tbsp maple syrup

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup non dairy milk
• 1/3-1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup or more non dairy semi sweet chocolate like Enjoy Life
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter or almond butter or other seed or nut butter
• Fruit preserves like raspberry apricot, cherry (optional)

Instructions:

Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 170ºc. In a bowl, whisk all the dry ingredients for the cake really well.
2. In another bowl, heat 1 cup of non dairy milk and chocolate until just about hot (heat in the microwave or stove top). Whisk until chocolate is melted. Add in the rest of the wet ingredients and 1/2 cup non dairy milk and mix in until smooth..
3. Add the dry to the wet and mix to make a smooth batter.
4. Transfer batter to two greased or parchment lined 8 inch cake pans.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F / 170ºc for 32 to 34 minutes. or until toothpick from the center comes out clean. Do not overbake as the cakes can get crusty or dry.
6. Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes then remove from the pan and cool on the rack completely before adding a glaze or ganache. Cover the cakes with a towel while it is cooling to prevent drying out. To shorten the cooling time, cover the cakes with a towel or parchment or a lid and place in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.

Ganache:

1. Heat the non dairy milk + sugar in a pan over medium heat, until just about hot. Mix well. Add in the chocolate, mix once and take the pan off heat. Keep mixing until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
2. Add in the vanilla and peanut butter or other nut butter. Mix until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes to thicken to desired consistency.
3. Pour some of the ganache on one cake. Spread using a spatula to even out if needed. Let the ganache set in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes or freezer for 10.
4. Add a thin even layer of fruit preserves on the other cake (optional) (warm the preserves to make them easier to spread if needed). Place this cake on top of the cake with the ganache glaze. Pour the rest of the glaze over the top cake. Spread using a spatula if needed. Let the ganache set in the refrigerator for half an hour. If you have more ganache left, pour over the set glaze for another layer. Cover the cake and let it chill for a few hours before serving.

NOTES:

• Chocolate cakes can tend to dry out or get hard edges if baked too long. If your cake tends to do that, reduce the baking time by 5 mins. Ovens heat differently, the pans, cocoa/chocolate brand etc add to the iffy behavior.
• A ganache or glaze will help add moisture to the cake. Let the cake chill with the ganache for a few hours for best results of overall moisture.
• If the cake is overbaked (too dry). crumble it up, add some ganache and make into cake snack balls
• Use good quality chocolate. It adds amazing flavor and texture.