I needed this vegan chocolate cake recipe in my life. Mostly because: cake, but also because its inherent virtuousness (still talking abut cake) really uplifted and inspired me.
I used to focus a lot of energy on making vegan desserts that were also somewhat virtuous. I would exasperate myself beyond belief doing it! (see these cookies) I don’t have the patience for the trials and errors of baking, especially when you start taking away gluten, sugar etc. I told myself that if I was going to enjoy a treat, I would just make it an all caps, full-on, sugar and everything T-R-E-A-T.
But this cake. It’s fudge-y, dense, undeniably chocolaty with so much beautiful fragrance from fresh orange, and it’s easy to make! It’s also entirely sweetened with a mix of dates, applesauce, and orange juice. Another thing: it’s gluten-free! And vegan, obviously. The level of achievement this cake ascends to… it’s exhausting and awesome.
And of course I can’t even take credit for it! The recipe is from the brand new cookbook by Anya Kassoff of the Golubka Kitchen blog, with transcendent photography by her daughter Masha Davydova. I’m very bad at staying up to date with everything in blog land, but I always check when Anya has updates. Her recipes hit the right note of produce-focused, perfectly attuned to what level of satisfaction the season demands, and very smart flavor pairings.
I had seen an earlier galley of Simply Vibrant, but I didn’t know how much I needed this dose of inspiration until the physical book showed up at my door. We’re in that deep, lingering last stretch of Winter, and I’m admittedly slipping into a staid routine with all of our meals. Anya’s style speaks to exactly what we’re all craving I think: seasonal shifts on international flavours, streamlined and intuitive cooking methods, and a nourishing plant-powered undercurrent that is present but not in-your-face.
Even the section breakdown of the book speaks to the way that I think a lot of us find ourselves eating these days (Morning Porridges & Pancakes, Salads & Bowls, Just Veggies, and a chapter devoted to Noodles, Pasta & Pizza, among others). Recipes I’m looking at for the near future Broccoli Stem Riceless Risotto, the Gluten-Free Onion Pizza Crust technique, Creamy Steel Cut Oats with Rainbow Chard and Pine Nuts, and the Tomato and Eggplant Green Mung Dal.
I can tell you with certainty that Anya’s recipes are foolproof. For a person that owns many cookbooks and blogs about food for a living, it (surprisingly!) takes a very special body of work to get me to cook from a recipe to a tee night after night. Simply Vibrant inspires me to do that. This book is going to be my new fave for a long time.
Vegan Chocolate Orange Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE CHOCOLATE ORANGE CAKE:
- 1 cup soft Medjool dates, pitted
- 2 tablespoons neutral coconut oil, at room temperature, plus extra for oiling the pan
- 1 cup brown rice flour
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of sea salt
- zest of 1-2 oranges
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ⅓ cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
FOR THE GLAZE:
- ¼ cup finely chopped dark chocolate
- 1 teaspoon neutral coconut oil
Notes
- The original recipe calls for one big bundt cake, and I’ve left the baking time/instructions for that version here. If you have mini bundts like I do, I’ll let you know that I got 10 total out of this recipe, and that they took about 18-20 minutes to cook.
- Skip the chocolate sauce glaze at the end if you want this to be totally sugar-free.
- To make this nut-free, I recommend replacing the almond flour with sunflower seed flour, which I talk about making in this post. The book notes that you can just use more brown rice flour as well!
Instructions
- Soak the dates in hot purified water for 10 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a bundt pan with coconut oil.
- Combine the flours, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and orange zest in a large bowl; mix thoroughly.
- Reserve ½ cup of the date soaking water and add it to a blender along with the drained dates and orange juice; blend until smooth. Add the applesauce, coconut oil, and balsamic vinegar, and pulse to combine. Pour the date mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir just until everything is incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan, transfer it to the oven, and bake for 55-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for at least 20 minutes, then invert the cake onto a plate or cake stand.
- Make the glaze: Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a double boiler setup until liquified and combined. Pour the glaze over the vegan chocolate orange cake and garnish as you please (more orange zest, chopped pistachios or dried rose petals).
Hmm! Chocolate and orange, topped with pistachios – definitely going to try this!
When I find myself in a cooking rut, I usually end up flippig through Amy Chaplin’s cookbook for the gazillionst time (although I have many cookbooks I really like and cook from regularly) – Amy Chaplin’s approach to eating just always reminds me of the fascination I felt when I started to cook & bake with new-for-me ingredients or cooking methods a few years ago. And that fascination always rubs off again on my daily cooking motivation :)
Would love to find new inspiration in Anya’s new book!
I have a mindblowing brownie recipe that my whole family adores, and the whole thing is always gone in less than a day. It’s a recipe that I’ve come to rely on for a quick and easy, but decadent and satisfying dessert, and it’s popularity means I can come back to it time and again without being a bore!
Finding a new recipe and baking always gets me out my cooking rut :) for example most recently I baked a pumpkin chocolate chip loaf :)
The First Mess cauliflower soup with lemon and rosemary got me out of a rut AND was my first go at soup making! So yummy and easy! https://bright-life.today/2013/02/20/vegan-roasted-cauliflower-soup-recip/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
A recipe that gets me out of a cooking rut….some naan pizza! I top my naan with a bunch of veggies before it gets baked till crisp. Makes the whole family happy!
This book is looks so beautiful! For me noodle bowls always get me out of a rut. They give me the opportunity to build a simple, nourishing meal that never gets old. I browse my local farmer’s market for an array of veggies then work “ backwards” in choosing the type of noodle to form the base. This always inspires to be creative while remaining flexible.
Some sort of veggie burger..someone is always using something different beans, vegetable, grain or spice we got to try. Thanks
I have a recipe for homemade pasta sauce that pushes me out of a rut by reminding me it’s worth it to cook from scratch and watch every ingredient enter the pot!
My go-to “recipe” in the winter would have to be some sort of hearty stew or a salad — packed with legumes, a grain, and the best produce that the season has to offer!
I rarely encounter a rut because I make dozens of new recipes a week :)
I feel your “pain” regarding deserts! It always amazes me how I can spend a whole day happily cooking all kinds of savoury and when it comes to baking my kitchen always seems like Armageddon hour… But I do feel very warm inside when I finally have a good “healthy” option to try out! I would really love to try out the recipes in this book: it sounds so comforting and straightforward! So, it is hard to choose one food that always takes me out of my rut, as I go a lot for soups and roasting my veggies… but I do have a special place in my heart for lasagna – I like to make mine with said roasted veggies (depending on the season and on what I already have on my fridge), a creamy cashew white sauce, and spinach “green” pasta <3
This cake looks so good! I will definitely be making it soon :-) I don’t have a particular recipe which gets me out of a rut, but I find that taking some time to sit on my bed and flicking through my small cookbook collection (including The First Mess, Oh She Glows, Yum Universe, Deliciously Ella with Friends) really helps. I usually find a recipe which I’ve been meaning to try, but had forgotten about until that moment. Although sometimes merely the act of seeking out inspiration and admiring the beautiful, colourful photos does the job. I also just find this so relaxing, that I usually stop caring about the rut altogether.
When I am in a cooking rut I always seem to lean towards the Big Comfy Sweet Potato recipe as posted by My New Roots. I’ve found it to be a fail-proof recipe and there are so many ways to vary the dish depending on what you’re feeling like and/or what’s in the pantry. Love it!
My favourite recipe to get me out of a cooking rut is kimchi fried rice.
I’m Canadian and trying to eat more vegetables. I can only eat so much coconut, cashews, and dates, I dream of eating locally and there is not one single coconut tree where I live. In fact there is 6’ of snow in my driveway. I hunger for comfort food: onions, carrots, celery and regular potatoes, thyme, sage, garlic. Like chicken pot pie without the chicken! Now, that I would cook
Nothing like having company to up my cooking game. Not only does it get me out of a cooking rut, it also makes me clean. I love to make babaganoush for the snack before dinner, artichokes with aioli, a salad and pasta with mushroom stoganoff. I’ll have to include these chocolate cakes for my next dinner party(maybe Valentines Day). I have Celiac disease and truly appreciate a good gluten free vegan dessert. Thanks for sharing
A recipe that always gets me out of a rut is a delicious focaccia recipe by David Tanis. It’s simply perfect.
When I’m in a cooking rut, I like to make tamales! I vary the filling based on what I can find at the farmer’s market. So tasty!
I don’t have one particular recipe to get me out of a rut, but rather I try something new! I love Indian curries, stews, Greek, Thai, and experimenting with all things plant-based. Recently made your Moroccan Stew from the First Mess Cookbook and loved it.
Thanks for this great recipe! When I’m in a rut in the winter, I make homemade almond milk hot and cold beverages, roasted Brussels and squash and dip in tahini sauce… that nourishes me and satisfies. Chocolate in any form is my favorite dessert:)
I usually don’t get into a cooking rut, but can get bored with certain flavors or times of year and the quality of what is avalible. I love make roaste sweet potatoes and pepper and making a peanut sauce and serving over brown rice. I also love making marinated/roasted tofu with coconut kale.
A simple tomato soup inspired by Heidi Swanson. I’ve done both the roasted tomato and the simple tomato soup by Heidi but the quicker one has inspired me lately to make more healthy yet easy meals. I recently had twins so time is sparse but I love cooking (and eating delicious food!) so I will scour my favorite food blogs to specifically find dinner recipes that take the least amount of time / use the least amount of pots and pans. The best part of the soup is adding your favorite toppings, though it is delicious on it’s own as well and lasted long enough to have it for lunch one or two days later.
Any time I make curry I get my mojo back for weeknight cooking.
I find that baking cookies gets me out of my rut.
a fresh fruit crumble :)
This cake looks delicious! My favorite meal to get out of a rut is some kind of Indian food. I love the delicate balance of spices and flavors in this cuisine, and it always makes me feel inspired!
These cakes look fantastic!
My favourite recipe for getting out of a cooking rut would have to be kichadi! The simplicity of it and the versatility is so wonderful. Not to mention the grounded feeling it brings! It feels so nourishing and like I’m literally feeding my soul.
Mmmmm this looks AMAZING! I’m trying to cut out wheat as my neurologist recommended (for migraines) so I’m on the hunt for yummy treats like this. As for food ruts, I get in them a LOT and my favorite hot artichoke dip (from the classic Uncheese Cookbook) always helps me get reinspired!
I feel like I’m in a cooking rut right now! A good breakfast recipe for something like pancakes or baked oatmeal tends to get me out of my ruts since breakfast is usually my favourite meal. :)
My favourite meal/recipe that gets me out of a food rut is a roasted vegetable Budda bowl. Countless different veggies (usually whatever I have on hand) some greens, grains, roasted chichpeas and a delicious sauce to top it off! I love the versatility of Budda bowls and roasted vegetables are my favourite!
Bread of any sort is always a feel good thing for me. The chocolate orange cake sounds yummy with oh so good ingredients.
These cakes are so beautiful and the description of orange scent just blows me away! I’m not sure what recipe blows me out of a rut–right now I am thinking a huge green salad with basic vinaigrette because I am just ready to be done with winter foods. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I have never been a recipe person, but IG has helped a lot with that! Once i started cooking vegan, it was hard to figure how to start. But seeing pictures and reading realistic blogs has helped. Many times my “snapping into place moment” is the synchronicity of what i See on IG with what i See at the market. That’s when i get excited!! i think, “oh i know what i can do with that!”
this time of year, my go to is curry with coconut milk and brown rice (no recipe). i love to get in the kitchen and start mixing it up with different spices and vegetables (butternut squash is my favorite). there’s something so nourishing, warming, grounding and inspiring about a simple curry.
i honestly also follow golubka kitchen regularly and will often try their recipes for inspiration. my favorite soup (butternut squash, cranberry, fennel, leek and pear) is from golubka as is my new fav breakfast porridge (butternut squash and millet). you sensing a theme? ;-)
Really any kind of soup or stew. I made the chickpea saffron soup from your book recently and I need lived how quick, easy and filling it was, and also how tasty it was cold for lunch the next day. I work full time and often don’t get home until 8:30 or 9 so I often find myself falling into a rut of eating scrambled eggs for dinner because they’re so easy. But whipping up a batch of soup for the week is always a good reminder of how easy cooking can be. I also find it comforting that no matter what is going on I can still feed myself something nutritious and tasty, and this, maybe cheesily, has felt very empowering lately.
Any sort of roasted vegetable in mole sauce. Rich, hearty, spicy, and served over rice or quinoa–what’s not to like ? Especially on these cold, cold days that we have been having lately.
These look sinfully delicious…happy feasting.
A big pan of roasted veggies ALWAYS breaks me out of a rut!!!!!!!
That cake looks amazing! Whenever I’m in a cooking slump, I make green goddess rice. How can I not love cooking again after eating a bowl (or two) of that deliciousness?!
This looks sooo delicious! I would love to win a copy of Anya’s cookbook! Thank you for a lovely giveaway. When I’m in a rut, I turn to your Moroccan chickpea stew. It’s hearty and delicious, and making it inspires me as I see the beautiful veggies, smell the wafting spices and enjoy the Moroccan flavors when it’s all done.
I like to experiment with different soups to get out of a cooking rut!
These heavenly little chocolate orange cakes are currently baking in the oven and I cant wait to try them!! I have Anya’s first cookbook The Vibrant Table and would love to add her new book to my collection. When I am in a cooking rut I usually get inspiration from a cookbook or one of my favourite food blogs. There is nothing that gets me more excited to cook or bake than beautiful food photography! Once I have found a recipe that excites me I try and let my creativity shine by putting my own spin on it.
When I get in a cooking rut I seek out one of my favorite cookbooks – either to be reminded of a forgotten favorite, or to be inspired with something new.
there are two road to take when stuck in a rut…the familiar comforting road home or out on the limb of new and exciting. when i am cooking for myself sometimes it is challenging to energize the desire with the scents and tastes that I know i will respond to when i could just have another pancake for dinner..So either i will peruse the cookbooks and begin an adventure to the unknown with inspiration and curiosity or start rollin’ rollin’ rollin’ easy eggrolls that will satisfy immediately the need for speed and spice.
I would have to say homemade bread – yum! Thanks!
I guess my go-to would be my variation on Waldorf salad that I created out of a combination of cravings and frustration years ago. Very simple but so satisfying – apples, walnuts, craisins, broccoli florets, and a simple light coleslaw style dressing. I have been known to eat this for lunch every day for weeks it is so satisfying and filling :-)
While I am not vegan, I do go to vegan recipes often because the creative use of fruit and veg makes any meal so much more nutritionally well rounded and usually beautiful as well :-)
My favorite recipe is minestrone soup. Always different and always so good!
Thanks for all your recipes inspirations!
Gah! I can almost smell the waft of chocolatey orange through the pictures (DROOL).
I definitely get in recipe ruts; my fave when I need to bust out of it is the My New Roots srublanksn beet curry with kale malung, which I like to do on quinoa with coconut yoghurt. It reminds me of the beauty of a well crafted recipe :)
Oh this is just what my weekend needed!!! Chocolate and orange
Anya’s cookbook looks beautiful and you make it sound so divine!
My go-to is a soup recipe I came across years ago from Bella Bonita. Carrot yam and ginger. So simple but nourishing and cleansing too. It’s even my fall back for guests and I always get compliments!
Anything with lots of spices and herbs. Lately, I’ve been loving really green soups with lots of spiced nuts and seeds on top!