For my friend’s birthday I wanted to make something a bit more decadent than the usual cake, and this Chocolate Kahlua combo did not disappoint! It’s a bit more time consuming than the previous Chocolate Cake that I posted, but it’s worth the effort – everyone at the Birthday dinner agreed that this Cake was delicious…The Maple Syrup used in this recipe gives it a mellow sweetness and a moist texture. You could always sub the Kahlua for another Liqueur if you like, or if you would prefer to make this cake alcohol free then you can just replace it with Soymilk. I used two different frostings here, but you can always double up the recipe and just use one of them – the topping is more of a Ganache, and the filling has a buttercream frosting texture…The Cake recipe is an adapted version of the one in More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts Naturally, in which it is fittingly called: ‘The Chocolate Cake to Live for’!
Ingredients & Method:
Chocolate Kahlua Ganache (from ExtraVeganZa: Original Recipes from Phoenix Organic Farm, make this first as it takes a few hours to set)
3/4 cups Dark Chocolate, chips or chunks
1/2 cup Soy Butter/Margerine
2 Tblsp. Kahlua (or other liqueur you prefer)
1/4 cup plus 2 Tblsp. Soymilk (I used Chocolate)
– Melt chocolate in double boiler, then add Butter and stir until melted. Pour in Kahlua & Soy milk and whisk until thoroughly incorporated.
– Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Chill in fridge until thickened for a few hours, or place in freezer for about 2 hours if you’re in a hurry. Stir vigorously before spreading on cake.
Fudgy Chocolate Frosting: (from Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living)
1 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar
1/4 cup Cocoa powder
1/4 cup Soy Margerine/Butter
1 1/2 Tblsp. Agave Syrup
1 Tblsp. Chocolate Soymilk
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
– In a mixing bowl, cream Butter, Agave, Soymilk and Vanilla using a hand mixer. Add sifted Sugar and Cocoa, and beat at low speed until mostly incorporated. Increase speed to medium or high, and beat frosting for 2 mins. until nice and fluffy. Place in fridge to firm up until ready to frost cake.
Chocolate Kahlua Cake: (makes one 9 inch two-layer cake)
1 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (or just use more White Flour)
1 cup unbleached White Flour
1/2 cup plus 2 Tblsp. Cocoa powder
1/2 cup Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. granulated Coffee
1/2 cup Canola Oil
1 cup Maple Syrup
1 1/2 cups Chocolate Soymilk
1/2 cup Kahlua
1 Tblsp. Vanilla Extract
2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
*Chocolate shavings (Use a Vegetable peeler to shave Chocolate from a slab)
– Preheat oven 350 F/180 C, and oil two 9-inch round Cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper to fit.
– Sift Flour, Cocoa, Sugar, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt and Coffee into a medium sized bowl, and stir with a whisk to combine.
– Whisk Oil, Maple Syrup, Soymilk, Kahlua, Vanilla and Vinegar in a separate small bowl until well blended. Pour into dry mixture and stir with a whisk until the batter is smooth (don’t over stir). The batter will be thin.
– Divide batter evenly between the two pans, tapping lightly on the counter to eliminate bubbles.
– Bake for 25-30 mins. until the tops of the cakes have set, the sides started pulling away and a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
– Cool pans on wire rack for 10 mins., then run a knife around the cakes and invert onto a rack. Carefully remove pans and parchment paper. Let cool completely.
– Wrap in plastic wrap over plates, and refrigerate until cold. Once ready, frost bottom layer with Chocolate Frosting, top with second Cake layer and then cover with Chocolate Kahlua Ganache. Refrigerate until Ganache has set and you’re ready to serve.
*Garnish with Chocolate shavings and devour in bliss…
rebecca this looks absolutely devine, lucky lucky friend to get such an awesome birthday cake!
Thanks! It’s from the same book as the Carrot Cake recipe…:)
Hi I’m not a vegan but that Kahlua cake of yours is the best damn recipe for any chocolate cake I’ve attempted! I got a very good feeling about the carrot cake, will definitely try making that too ; )
Becca this cake was amazing!! Thank you SO SO SO much!
A special cake for a special friend 🙂
This looks amazing for sure! My husband will love it! Thanks!
I’m sure he will! 😀
Beautiful cake…sounds amazing. Mom would die for this. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure!
That looks really amazing! Great presentation you’ve got there! This is a sure winner in our house, I bet my kids are going to rave about it for weeks! I’d definitely give it a go, I just hope mine will turn out as pretty as yours. 🙂
Judging from the cakes on your sight, i’m sure it will! 🙂
That cake looks amazing!
Fantastic cake!
This looks amazing! Beautiful photos. I hope you will submit this recipe and more to my new “vegan finds” wbsite:
http://www.FindingVegan.com
~Kathy
Thank you! Congratulations on the new site 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, I will definitely submit my recipes to ‘FindingVegan’ 🙂
Beautiful!!! Thanks for this recipe it looks so good and a nice change for a grown-up chocolate cake.
Oh and I found you on ‘FindingVegan’! It works 🙂
Great! Thanks for letting me know 🙂 Glad you like the cake xxx
Hey, I enjoyed your article it is very informative. Great looking food. Keep up the good work.
I have a craving for chocolate!
This is the BEST cake ever. I just recently had to start a vegan diet due to dietary reason and was sure my sweet days were over. But this takes the cake so to speak. Everyone enjoyed it at my friends house. SO glade I came across this recipe it is permantley saved to my recipe box. Thanks!
Wow this recipe takes vegan cake recipes notches higher. I like that it’s being adventurous. Here’s what I want to know. What can I substitute the maple syrup with? Also can I use regular distilled vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar? I’m baking in a convection microwave oven, so what temp and time should I maintain? It’s my husband’s birthday today and though I’m new to baking I dont mind getting ambitious for the special day. Thanks again.
I made this for my family to celebrate my husband’s birthday. It’s a beautiful cake. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
How many Calories for the double chocolate Kahlúa birthday cake a slice?
If i can’t find Agave Syrup can i replace it with something else?
Hi Maria, I haven’t tried but you could just use maple syrup instead I think…
I LoVE this recipe. Its my go to for cake. It is my son’s birthday and he wants cupcakes. Have you tried the cake part for cupcakes and if so any modifications needed? Thank you for such an awesome recipe.
This has been my go-to birthday cake to make for family over the past few years! EVERYONE LOVES IT!!! And I am the only vegan! I decorate with oreos (or Newmans organic version) on top along the edge and frosting “florettes” in between. Thank you so so much for this recipe!!