Chocolate Quinoa Cake & Whipped Coconut Cream Icing

Before you roll your eyes and keep scrolling, I promise you, this cake is amazing!  It's moist and yummy and got the deal of approval from the people I served it to!

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked quinoa*

1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk (or preferred milk)

4 whole eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup Earth Balance, melted (or butter)

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

1 cup organic evaporated cane juice or white sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Special Dark)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt 

Whipped Chocolate Coconut Cream Frosting

1 (13.5 ounce) can of full fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight

1 (10 ounce) bag chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and then line two round cake pans (or a 9x13” pan) with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor or blender, combine the eggs, almond milk (or preferred milk) and vanilla extract then blend for ten seconds to combine.
3. Add the cooked and cooled quinoa along with the melted and cooled Earth Balance and coconut oil (could also use all regular butter) then blend until completely smooth, about thirty seconds to one minute.
4. Sift together the dry ingredients in a large bowl (cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt).
5. Add the wet ingredients in the blender to the bowl with the dry and mix together until well-combined.
6. Divide the batter between the two pans and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool.
7. To make the frosting you will need to refrigerate the coconut milk overnight (in the coldest part of your refrigerator) so that the cream separates.
8. When you are ready to make it, melt the chocolate in a sauce pan over low-medium heat. Grab the coconut milk from the refrigerator but don’t shake the can or turn it upside down before opening. Open the can and scoop out the solid parts with a spoon, placing them into the pot with the chocolate. It’s okay if it the solid parts on completely separated, just try to get as much of the thicker portions as possible. Melt the coconut cream and chocolate together then transfer to a large bowl that you can later use to whip it in. (note: if the melted chocolate/coconut milk mixture still appears really dark you can add more coconut milk to lighten it up so that the end result isn't bitter)
9. Allow to cool on the counter then cover and refrigerate for several hours, until thickened. Once it has thickened, remove from the refrigerator and beat on high for thirty seconds to one minute, until a fluffy icing has formed. (I made mine the night before baking the cake).
10. Transfer the cakes to a surface for icing with the bottom side up. I recommend that you only transfer the cakes once as they are fragile and difficult to hold together once removed from the parchment paper.
11. Frost the cake and refrigerate until ready to serve. The icing will melt in really warm conditions but should be fine for a few hours in cooler settings.

Notes

*approximately 3/4 cup dry quinoa will yield 2 cups cooked quinoa. I like to soak it overnight, rinse and then cook it in 1.5 cup water by bringing the water to a boil, adding the quinoa and then reducing to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes. Quinoa should be soft and fluffy, you don’t want any crunchy pieces in the cake!

note: using light coconut milk may result in undesirable results for the icing

(time does not include chilling coconut milk overnight or chilling the icing after it's made)

recipe & photo found at http://makingthymeforhealth.com/2013/12/04/best-ever-chocolate-quinoa-cake-gluten-free/

Brown Sugar Frosting

My friend SL posted this on her blog.  Its a favorite last minute go to icing for me.  I used it twice this summer alone when we had last minute company.  I topped a boxed cake mix (with a couple of added ingredients) with this amazing yumminess....

1/2 Cup Butter
1 Cup Brown Sugar
4 Tbsp Milk
2 Cups Icing Sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla

• Put butter & brown sugar in a bowl.  Cook for 2 minutes 
• Add milk and stir
• Microwave again for 2-3 minutes.  It should be boiling now. 
• Add the icing sugar and vanilla and whisk until everything has been incorporated and you no longer see the sugar.
• Resist the urge to stick your finger in the bowl for a taste...if you do, I will be sorry, IT'S HOT!
• Cool for a bit and then pour over cake.  Let it set for a bit.

Salted Caramel Sauce & Salted Caramel Frosting

Salted Caramel Sauce
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt, kosher or sea
1. Combine the sugar, water, and the corn syrup in a large saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Cover the saucepan and let it cook over medium heat for 3 minutes.
3. After 3 minutes, remove the lid, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil.
4. Do not stir from this point on, but instead swirl the liquid around the pan so that the caramel doesn’t burn.
5. Continue to cook until the caramel turns an even amber color then remove from the heat and let stand for about 30 seconds.
6. *** Be careful here *** Pour the heavy cream into the mixture. The mixture will bubble up significantly and is very hot.
7. Stir the mixture, again being careful. Add the butter, lemon juice, and salt. Stir until combined.
8. Measure 1 cup into a Pyrex measuring cup. Stirring occasionally, allow to cool until thick like molasses and warm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Save any extra in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It is delicious on ice cream

Salted Caramel Frosting
2 sticks butter at room temperature
8 ounces of cream cheese
3-4 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 cup salted caramel (recipe above)
1. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy.
2. Add 2 cups of the powdered sugar into the butter/cream cheese mixture and beat to combine.
3. Add 1 cup of the salted caramel and beat to combine.
4. Add additional powdered sugar until the frosting is the sweetness and consistency you desire.

Recipe from kimberlytaylorimages.com

Easy Red Velvet Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix (2-layer size)
• 1 box (4-serving size) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 ounces red food coloring
• 1/2 Cup sour cream

Combine all ingredients together and beat for 4 minutes on medium speed, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl several times. Grease 1 bundt pan and pour int he batter. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched in the center.

Cool cake prior to icing.  Cut in half so that you can fill it with frosting.

 Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 ounces butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 box (1 pound) confectioners' sugar
• 2-4 tbsp milk (as needed)

Beat the butter butter and cream cheese until smooth and light. Add vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth.  Add milk until desired consistency. Spread frosting over layers and sides.

Homemade Cinnamon Buns

I LOVE Cinnabon!  The smell as you are walking through the mall....mmmmmmmm.  Anyhow, last Saturday morning we were craving cinnamon buns.  The house was full of family and I ventured out and made this recipe.  It was really good, especially the icing!  I served them all to my guests over the weekend so that I did not eat the whole batch!

Ingredients:

• 1 (1/4 ounce) package dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups flour

FILLING

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1/3 cup margarine, softened 
• 1/4 cup instant vanilla pudding powder 

ICING

• 8 tablespoons margarine
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Prep Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 1/4 hr

1. For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.
2. Add sugar, margarine salt, eggs, and flour, mix well.
3. Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour.
4. Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
5. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approx 21 inches long by 16 inches wide.
6. It should be approx 1/4 thick.
7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
8. To make filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
9. Spread the softened margarine over the surface of the dough, then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the surface.
10. Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge.
11. Cut the dough into 1 3/4 inch slices, and place in a lightly greased baking pan.
12. Bake for 10 minutes or until light golden brown.
13. While the rolls are baking combine the icing ingredients.
14. Beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.
15. When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing.