Recipe: a power-packed chocolate cake

by | Sep 3, 2010 | Recipe | 2 comments

We’ve been playing around with tasty snack recipes recently … mmmm there are certainly a lot to try..

Our best new find is a chocolate cake recipe that I was initially suspicious of, but am now a mad fan. It’s super-easy to make, super-tasty and full of good-for-you flavours.

I’ve tweaked the original recipe a little, replacing some of the flour with protein powder (for a more substantial and long-lasting energy burst) and adjusting a few of the ingredients according to tastes that I prefer i.e. sweet and chocolate. Yum.

WHAT GOES INTO IT:

  • 2.5 cups flour (I usually use 2/3 spelt flour and 1/3 coconut flour – but this can be adapted according to your tastes and dietary requirements)
  • 1 cup protein powder (whey protein isolate, pea protein isolate, carob or soy protein powder)
  • 2 cups sugar (I use rapa dura, or brown sugar. Or, occasionally, xylitol – which requires less: 1 – 1.5 cups)
  • 4 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2-3 teaspoons of baking powder, or bicarbonate soda (I prefer less, having had the unpleasant experience of using far too much and creating very soapy-tasting cakes indeed)
  • 1 – 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup of vegetable oil (I use olive oil)
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cups filtered water (more if needed)

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

  • 1 – 2 teaspoons of spice is nice, especially cinnamon, cardamom or chilli.
  • Berries – to mix throughout or just sprinkle on top
  • Dates, figs and / or sultanas – chopped finely and mixed throughout

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

  • Preheat your oven to 180 °C
  • Sift the dry ingredients and mix in together with everything else, until it’s well combined.
  • Spoon generous amounts into a muffin pan (you can also make this as a cake or a slice – up to you) and sprinkle the top with mixed berries (if you like)
  • Pop the whole thing into the oven for around 30 – 40 mins, or until a skewer comes out clean.

AND THEN?

  • Eat up!