Six Food Intolerance Living

If you're a gluten-intolerant reader, you've no doubt heard of Ginger Lemon Girl.  She's known for her easy, frugal and delicious gluten (and now dairy and soy) free baking.  We became fast friends a year or so ago and have chatted nearly everyday since.  Well, I'm excited to say that yesterday, I was mentioned on her blog! :)

It was also about a year ago that my husband switched offices and told me that not only were a couple of his co-workers also gluten free, but that one was also allergic to nuts and another was vegan.  Of course, my initial reaction was: "Ooooo, what can I make for everyone to enjoy?"  It definitely has to be something baked .... definitely something chocolaty (because really, who can deny chocolate?) and definitely something gluten and nut free that was also vegan.  Enter Ginger Lemon Girls Amazing Everyday Chocolate Cake (scroll down to see it, her also Amazing Everyday Carrot Cake is listed first).  Yum.  So yum in fact that Hubby downs it in a minute without one "This is gluten free, isn't it" word or look.  From the first time I made it, it's been in heavy rotation in our house - with one addition to Carries original recipe - chocolate chips.  How to make a chocolate cake even better?  Add more chocolate - 1/4 cup of Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips to be exact!  I always felt it gave it just that extra bit of decadence. 

So, I knew the recipe I wanted to make for my husbands co-workers, now I just needed to convert it.  It had eggs and I often used almond milk in the recipe.  Second part - easy.  I used Tempt Unsweetened Original Hemp Milk instead of almond milk.  But eggs - how do I replace eggs?  Not being intolerant to eggs nor vegan, I had never tackled the problem.  But with a little research and creative thinking, I figured it out and made an awesome cake.  It's slightly more dense than Carries original Everyday Chocolate Cake but hey, who says that's a bad thing?! ;)  And the best part was that EVERYONE in the office could have some, enjoy it and eat together.  There's nothing more rewarding than having your food bring people together. 

And really, isn't that what all us home cooks are doing?  Bringing our families, extended families and friends together, for one moment in an entire day, together around a table.  Food in which everyone can partake and enjoy.  Hopefully, that's what my version of Carries awesome cake can do. 

To see Carries post and pictures that will have you salivating, please go to her blog.

Just want the recipe already?  Here it is:



Gluten, Dairy, Soy Free and Vegan Chocolate Cake
Created by Carrie Forbes, GingerLemonGirl
Adapted to be vegan by Clara Ogren, Six Food Intolerant Living
Makes: 1 8x8 pan (doubles well for a 9x13 pan) or 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:
1/3 cup brown rice flour
1/3 cup tapioca starch
1/3 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup unsweetened original flavored hemp milk
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup allergen free chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together all the  dry ingredients, except the chocolate chips.  In a medium bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients.

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips.

Spray an 8x8 cake pan with non-stick cooking spray or grease with grapeseed oil.

Pour batter into greased lined cake pan.

Bake cake for 18-25 minutes. Test the cake for doneness with a toothpick

Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting with your favorite gluten, dairy and soy free, vegan icing.
 
 
Enjoy!  :)