Authentic Compassion

Friday, April 4, 2008

No eggs, no milk, no butter - is this a cake?

I make one cake in which there is no egg, no butter, no milk or cream in cake or frosting. Last week we took a cake like this to a friend who cannot eat dairy or soy and doesn't like chocolate - she ate two pieces. It really is that good. Wacky cake does NOT make a good layer cake, it is a pan cake or a messy cake, consider yourself warned. Recipe can be doubled for a 9 X 13 inch baking pan. Double the frosting too - if you are decadent - double the frosting and use that much on the 8 inch square cake. OH and the coffee thing - I mean a liquid you might drink - not the grounds. My clarification comes from a story I do not have permission to put into print. You don't have to use Honduran vanilla or sea salt or organic flour or vinegar from a gallon jug- you are seeing ingredients I actually used, but you can use what is in YOUR pantry. I'm nice that way.


Wacky Cake

1 1/2 cups sifted flour,
3 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa ,
1 teaspoon baking soda,
1 cup granulated sugar,
1 teaspoon salt ,
6 tablespoons vegetable oil ,
1 tablespoon plain white vinegar ,
1 teaspoons vanilla,
1 cup cold (brewed!) coffee,

Sift dry ingredients(or at the very least dump them all into the pan and use a whisk to combine them very well) into 8 inch cake pan. Mix with a fork. Form 3 wells in the flour mixture. Into one pour the oil, into another the vinegar and into the last the vanilla. Pour cold coffee over all and stir with a fork until well mixed. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Double Boiler Frosting

1 egg white,
3/4 cup granulated sugar,
1 tablespoon karo syrup OR 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar,
3 tablespoons of water,
1 teaspoon vanilla ,


Mix all ingredients except vanilla in top of a double boiler. Place over boiling water; beat with rotary beater until stiff peaks form. Scrape bottom and sides of pan occasionally. Remove from heat - stir in vanilla (don't overbeat at this point). Spread on cooled cake. Don't mock my improvised double boiler - it works.








Get a fork and eat this cake - right away - if you don't someone else in your house will.





5 comments:

Kelsey S said...

Oh that looks so good I will have to try it!
Kelsey Smith
http://kelseysmith.typepad.com/

Anonymous said...

This is my kind of recipe, simple and delicious, can hardly wait to try it....and yes, I love the Lord too...thanks for visiting my blog...my brother and family live in Ft. Worth.....what part of Texas are you in? out in the country for sure, love it....I am a country gal at heart....

Pam said...

I can personally vouch for this recipe. Thank you, Linda. I can't tell you how many times I have made this choco cake, 8x8, doubled for 9x13, and even as cupcakes. I haven't made the icing you had there, but it is delicious with chocolate icing or cream cheese icing.

Anonymous said...

I am thinking I must give this a try. Thanks for allowing me to lurk! :)

Miss Mandy said...

My grandma used to make a similar cake w/ coffee frosting too. I think I'll try this tonight!