Chocolate Almond truffles

This is a delicious, not too sweet, soft truffle recipe I made with the immersion blender. Using dates instead of sugar and soy sauce for that unami flavor that goes well with chocolate, you will be surprised at how good this is!

1/2 C almond butter
1/3 C date paste*
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa
1/2 t vanilla extract
1/2 t tamari or soy sauce

Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy. Chill in the refrigerator before scooping into balls. Turn this into icing by adding 1/4 C liquid. Makes about 1 C.

* soak a handful of pitted dates in enough warm water to cover for 1 hour. Drain the dates and reserve the soaking liquid. Add dates to a blender and add just enough soaking liquid to get a smooth consistency. (Use leftovers in baked goods and just reduce the liquid a bit.)

Mexican Chocolate Cake

(Picture above is courtesy of this post on Serious Eats - their recipe is very similar to this one.)

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo! A delicious, vegan, Mexican chocolate cake. Enjoy! This recipe is really from Mom, but I re-found it a few days ago and thought I'd post it...

CAKE:

1 ½ cups flour

1 cup sugar

½ cup unsweetened cocoa

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. baking soda

¼ t. cayenne pepper

¼ t. salt

1 cup cold water

¼ c. canola oil

1 T. balsamic (or other) vinegar

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat cake pan with cooking spray.
2. In bowl combine all ingredients, and stir until smooth.
3. Pour into pan and bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
4. Cook in pan for 10 minutes.

ICING:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

½ c. cocoa

6 T water

1. In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, cocoa and water.
2. Pour glaze over cake.
3. If desired, dip small strawberries into glaze and place strawberries on to of cake.
4. Set aside for about 30 minutes.

Robust Chocolate Veganry (aka best chocolate cake)

A staple cake from 3D 2007. Don't be fooled/turned off by the fact that this cake can be vegan. Its the moistest chocolate cake I know.

2 C brown sugar
1 3/4 C whole wheat flour
1 t salt
3/4 C cocoa
1 1/2 t baking soda
1 C milk (soy/rice/dairy, can be chocolate0
1/2 C oil
2 t vanilla
1 C boiling water

Mix and stir in boiling water. Bake 35 minutes at 350.