Vegan Mocha Cake

Equipment

• 2 pre-lined 6″ tins (or a single round 8″ tin)

Ingredients

• 200 ml soya milk or any plant milk – nut milks will give a bit of a flavour
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 80 ml vegtable oil nut milks will give a bit of a flavour
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 200 g caster sugar
• 200 g self raising flour
• 1 tsp (scant) baking powder
• 1 tsp (scant) baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
• Chopped Walnuts to taste
• 2 tbsp instant coffee finely powdered barista style ones work best, or you can use very finely ground real coffee

For Icing

• 500 g icing sugar
• 2 tbsp instant coffee same rules apply – instant works much better for icing though
• 1 heaped tbsp vitalite/flora or any brand of marg if you don’t need it to be dairy free
• 1 heaped tbsp trex
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1/2 tsp salt
• soya milk to desired consistency

Alternative to xanthan gum

• 1/2 tsp Chia Seeds
• 1/2 tsp Water

Instructions

For the cake

1. Add lemon juice to soya milk and stir to combine, this thickens the milk.
2. Add oil and vanilla to the wet ingredients and stir to combine.
3. Mix dry sponge ingredients in a bowl,
4. then add milk mixture.
5. Stir to combine fully as quickly as possible before adding your chopped walnuts,
6. then pour into 2 pre-lined 6” tins (or 1 8” tin, or small loaf tin).
7. Bang tin down on counter to get out any bubbles.
8. Before baking for approx 25 mins at 180 degrees.
9. When a skewer comes out clean, it’s done.

For the Icing

1. When sponges are fully cooled,
2. combine all icing ingredients in a bowl, and mix thoroughly.
3. Best results if you whip the fats into the salt and vanilla before trying to add the sugar and coffee.
4. When everything is combined, asses your consistency and add soya milk tiny amounts at a time until your icing is easily spreadable and gives a smooth surface when smeared against the side of the bowl.
5. If you get it too wet just add a little more sugar.

Putting it together

Ice as desired and decorate with more walnuts. This quantity of icing will fill and cover one cake, half or divide if you only want to top or fill.