Grab a Fork!
The kitchen in our house is where the family gathers and when something is cooking or baking it is no exception. Someone is always trying to lick the bowl or steal a piece food off a plate, and the dog is waiting under foot in case something drops. My husband and I both love to cook and bake and we are passing that love on to our son. For those of you who may know a little about me I absolutely love to bake. It's my happy place and I have a giant sweet tooth. I have a wonderful mother in law who is vegan. She is always trying new wonderful recipes and loves experimenting with healthy alternatives. I am an old school baker who believes in the french baking philosophy of butter, butter, and more butter. This cake is a true compromise of our two styles. If you love cake, coffee, or chocolate this recipe is a must try.
I found this recipe on Pinterest, I know you are shocked, me on Pinterest never. (ALWAYS!) This recipe is from an amazing blog called Savoring Spoon. (She is a Sarah too!) Her recipes are fantastic, easy and extremely affordable. Sometimes vegan recipes get a little expensive when it comes to ingredients that are hard to find. My husband who is more of a cook then baker wanted to take the lead and since I am a great wife, I let him. haha. We followed the recipe to a "T" except for the espresso powder, we could not find it at our local store, so we used instant coffee instead. My favorite to use is Medaglia D'Oro Instant Coffee (it's an Italian instant espresso) that you can find a most local grocery store chains. The one note I do want to make when substituting a powder with a liquid is now you must watch your liquids. For instance, in the buttercream do not add both the instant coffee mix (because you have to make it with water) and the additional water that is called for in the recipe. Mix the instant coffee and add only the amount of water needed.
My Taste Tester!!
Long the way we had a very good taste tester, our son, to make sure the cake was good enough for his grandma, needless to say, he did an amazing job. The cake came out moist and fluffy, and the buttercream was rich and delicious. It was truly one of the best cakes I have ever had! Try this recipe out for your next special occasion, it's a guaranteed hit, vegan or not.
On a special Note:
I have so many women in my life who have birthdays in October and November. They are mothers, sisters, cousins, and friends. I am not sure what it is about this time of year but the women I know born in these two months are strong, passionate, and loving. I am extremely grateful to know them, they inspire me, and give me strength. Happy Birthday Ladies!
