Healthy Chocolate Cake (Vegan, Gluten free, Sugar free)
Ingredients
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2-5 dates (or 1/2 cup sugar substitute per recipe), soaked
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
2 Tbs pure maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
8 oz unsweetened chocolate, (2 baking bars, or sugar free chocolate chips)
1 cup aquafaba (water from 1 cup chickpeas, cooked)
can also include avocado and/or banana
Optional, toppings
raspberries
coconut cream, chilled overnight
sugar free coconut ice cream
Instructions
Making the aquafaba
Soak the chickpeas 8 hours or overnight (unless using a can)
Soak the dates for a few hours, or 30 min in hot water.
If want a coconut cream, place coconut cream in fridge.
Rinse chickpeas, and cook
stovetop for 1 hour
or 5 min in pressure cooker, letting release 20 min
If needed, reduce chickpea liquid 15 min, evaporating until thick.
Measure out 1 cup of the chickpea cooking liquid, and beat with handheld mixer 15 min, or until peaks form. (the rest can be placed in fridge for other uses). Add 1/4 tsp cream of tartar just before fully combined
Option: Place soaked dates in blender and mix with aquafaba and/or nut milk of choice, ensuring total liquid to be 1 cup. (or can do this later w the pumpkin puree)
Making the cake
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
Prep your 8 in spring form pan with parchment paper. Grease the pan, including the sides, with coconut oil. Place the spring form pan onto a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat (to catch the drips).
Place cocoa powder, pumpkin, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl. Place in blender, and mix in dates, blend.
If using baking bars, melt the baking chocolate in a double broiler, saucepan over low heat, stirring until completely melted. Alternatively, just use sugar free chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake in preheated oven for about 60 minutes.
Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove the sides of the springform, and allow to cool completely before wrapping in saran wrap and placing in the fridge overnight to firm up.
Once firm, serve immediately with toppings.
