Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Dates


I adapted this recipe from Veganomicon.

Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Dates

Streusel:
1/2 cup pitted medjool dates
1/3 cup regular oats
1/3 cup pecans
pinch of sea salt

Process in the food processor until crumbly. Set aside.

Cake:
1 (15-oz) can pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
3/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 cups pitted medjool dates
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


2 2/3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 Tbl baking powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
Blend the wet ingredients plus medjool dates in blender until dates well blended.
Whisk together dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add wet ingredients from the blender until well mixed.
Spread mixture into pan. Top with streusel.
Cook for 45 to 50 minutes until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.


** This is my hubby's all time favorite cake!! A real winner.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with dates


I adapted this recipe from the cookbook, The Happy Herbivore.


1 1/4 cup whole wheat Pastry Flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup to 1 cup medjool dates, pitted
1/4 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup shredded zucchini


1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease muffin tin.
2. In medium bowl whisk together flour, soda, baking powder, cocoa, salt, and cinnamon together.
3. In you blender puree the dates with the applesauce and almond milk.
4. In another bowl mash the banana. Then stir in the blender mixture with the banana.
5.Add the dry mixture to the wet and stir until just combined.
6. Fill muffin cups to 3/4 full.
7. Bake for 18 to 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

* This recipe makes about 12 muffins. I doubled the recipe and I think that made pureeing the dates with the liquid easier.

** These got a thumbs up from most of the people here. I used the lesser amount of dates and I think they were just sweet enough but if you guys are just coming off sugar you might want to use the larger amount.