This decadent, moist Chocolate Orange Cake is vegan and gluten-free. It is made with polenta, ground cornmeal. I really don’t think polenta gets enough credit. It’s like the Ringo Star of the grains, although maybe that’s a bad example. I can’t actually think of one that’s better than that one right now but if I do ill shoehorn it in.
Polenta is basically a humble cornmeal mush that is put together to make something better. Its tastes is basically, well very much like its mother’s, corny. When uncooked, it’s simply a yellow, powdery dust, but it undergoes a magical transformation when toasted and becomes beautifully crisp- breadcrumb coatings, move aside, polenta is in da house (good news for the coeliacs).
This cake turned out surprisingly moist, given it was only polenta (no other grain or nut to mask its features) – it was almost brownie-like, and that’s always a good thing!
Questions about Chocolate Orange Cake
How to make Chocolate Orange Cake? To make Chocolate Orange Cake, you will need polenta, rapeseed oil, maple syrup, juice of 2 oranges, plant milk, baking powder, cocoa powder and orange oil extract. Combine all ingredients to make a grainy batter. Pour into a baking tin lined with greaseproof paper. Bake for 35 minutes and allow to cool before serving.
Chocolate Orange Cake Substitutions
The sugar can replace maple syrup in this recipe.
Coconut oil can be replaced by rapeseed oil or other flavourless oil. Unlike coconut oil, rapeseed oil is not solid at room temperature. However, in this recipe, the baking process means this factor will not have an impact on the crumble’s texture.
This Chocolate Orange Cake is…
- Moist
- Gooey
- Tangy
- Orangey
- Chocolatey
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Plant-based
Chocolate Orange Cake Recipe
Serving size:
Serves 8-10
Ingredients for chocolate orange cake:
• 350g polenta
• 165ml rapeseed oil
• 165ml maple syrup
• Juice of and zest of 2 large oranges
• 200ml soya milk
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• ½ tsp orange oil extract
Method:
- Pre-heat oven to 180C.
- Combine all dry ingredients together for the cake.
- Stir in the orange oil.
- Whisk together until a creamy batter results.
- Pour into a greased cake tin, lined with greaseproof paper.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes and leave to cool.
Made this Recipe?
If you had a go at this Cake please feel free to give me a shout on Instagram at @food_flaneur – would love to see your pics!
If you like cake…
You should definitely give these recipes a try:
Big Thanks to…
Nigella Lawson for their inspiration in helping me to create this recipe. You can find their version here.
Nice recipe
Thank you so much @mistimaan 🙂 If you make it, let me knowhow it goes!