Mint Chocolate Fudge Cake...

If you're having friends or family around for dinner this weekend, make this cake. Don't tell them it's refined sugar and grain free. Just tell them you've made Mint Chocolate Fudge Cake.... watch them hoover it up! All elegance and table manners goes out the window when you get near a cake that tastes this good....

I try to keep my recipes as simple & as quick to make as possible. This cake is really easy... it will take a little more of your time since you've to wait for it to cool before icing, but it's worth it. 

For the cake: 

• 300g butter (ok it's a lot, but it's a big cake... and I'm not saying eat it every day!)
• 8 tbsp Irish honey
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp peppermint extract
• 100g unsweetened cocoa powder
• 8 eggs
• 125g ground almonds 
• 2 tsp Gluten free baking powder
• 4 mint leaves, finely chopped

Line two 8" round cake tins with baking parchment. 

Preheat oven to 160d (fan). 

Start by melting the butter, honey, vanilla, peppermint & cocoa together in a heatproof bowl.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition.

Finally, fold in the ground almonds, baking powder and mint leaves.

Divide equally between the lined cake tins. 

Bake for 25 minutes at which point the cakes should be firm to the touch and a cake tester comes out clean.

 Remove from the tins and set aside to cool on a wire rack. 

For the peppermint icing:

• 200g mascarpone 
• 100g coconut cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 tbsp Irish honey

Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl & beat well until smooth.

To assemble:

Sandwich the cake together with a generous layer of peppermint icing.

Cover the top and sides evenly with the remaining icing.

Next..... and only cos I just can't help myself..... Chocolate!

For the ganache: 

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp Irish honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Melt all the ingredients together in a heat proof bowl. 

Pour the chocolate over the top of the cake...don't worry if it flows down the sides!

Garnish with fresh berries & a sprig of mint. 

Spongy chocolate cake (Grain & refined sugar free)

We all LOVE brownies.. they're gorgeous, rich and made of chocolate.. I need to find a man like that!

BUT...

Sometimes, it's nice to have a light cake... a nice sponge, or just something a little less decadent than a fudgy brownie. Since we're all in agreement that chocolate is amazing.. I threw together this simple grain & refined sugar free chocolate sponge... after all, you can never have enough chocolate cake recipes :)

• 2oz coconut oil
• 2 tbsp raw organic honey
• 1 small banana, mashed well
• 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs 
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• pinch of salt
• 1oz almond flour
• 1oz unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 160d (fan) and line an 8" square tin with greaseproof paper. 

Start by beating coconut oil and honey together until combined. 

Separate eggs, adding one egg yolk at a time to the oil & honey mixture. (Place whites in bowl of your stand mixer) Beat well between each addition. 

Next mix in mashed banana, yoghurt and vanilla. 

Add sieved almond flour, cocoa & baking soda to this mixture, and mix well. 

Using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer/food processor (you can do this using a hand whisk too, it'll just take a little longer) whisk the egg whites with 1 tsp of lemon juice until you have stiff peaks. 

Next using a spatula/large plastic spoon (don't use a wooden or metal spoon as they'll knock out all the air you've just added) add the egg white a little at a time, folding the mixture gently to incorporate the egg white. Be patient... you want a light, spongy texture to this cake. 

Pour mixture into lined tin, and bake for 20 minutes until springy to touch & a skewer comes out of the centre of the cake clean. 

Cool on a wire rack. You could serve this cake as it is, or add some fresh raspberries as a garnish. It's amazing with coconut and raspberry ice cream (dairy & sugar free)... That reminds me, I must make some so I can post the recipe :) 

I make a quick chocolate almond ganache to drizzle on the top...

Ganache:

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1tsp almond butter 
• 2 tbsp cocoa
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Pop all the ingredients into a heat proof bowl and microwave for 15 seconds at a time until melted and smooth. Make sure to stir after each 15 seconds, or the mixture will burn, seize and turn into oily burnt chocolate (believe me... I know! And for the love of God don't taste it to see if you can work with it... you'll most likely need to wash your mouth out with industrial strength mouthwash and you'll still taste burnt chocolate for the next hour!) 

Anyway, I digress... leave the ganache aside for 5 minutes to cool and thicken slightly. 

Drizzle over cake and cut into slices.