Plant Feasts
Cacao and peanut swirl cake
35 mins + 4 hours soaking + 3 hours to set in the freezer or overnight in the refrigerator
Not Too Tricky
serves 12
About the recipe
This is a dessert that I created on a retreat, where the sea and its dancing waves inspired the cake’s swirls. Sweet but salty, with a vanilla and peanut taste. My grandma tells me often that when fear captures me or I feel overwhelmed, to sit with water, to get inspired by it. She tells me that water can be strong and delicate at the same time; it moves around obstacles gently, it doesn’t fear where it’s going, it doesn’t get caught up in the future, it just adapts to what is in its way. Water reminds me to flow in life, and when I’m in flow mode, I create.
Recipe From
Ingredients
160g/5¾oz/1 cup whole almonds
160g/5¾oz/¾ cup pitted dates (I use deglet noor, as they are cheaper than medjool dates)
a pinch of salt
½ teaspoon coconut oil, melted
FOR THE FILLING
250g/9oz/1¾ cups cashews, soaked for 4–6 hours, then drained
WHITE PART
125g/4½oz/½ cup peanut butter
2 drops of pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons agave syrup
250ml/9fl oz/1 cup water
5 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
DARK PART
a large pinch of salt
3 tablespoons agave syrup
250ml/9fl oz/1 cup water
5 tablespoons cacao powder
4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
Method
- To make the base, pulse the almonds and dates in a food processor until broken down, then add the salt and melted coconut oil and blend for a few minutes until well combined and the mixture is starting to stick together. Spoon the mixture into a 23cm/9in loose-bottomed cake pan and press down firmly to cover the bottom.
- To make the filling, divide the soaked cashews in half and place one half in the blender with the peanut butter, vanilla extract, agave and water and blend until smooth. If the filling is too thick and isn’t coming together, add an extra tablespoon of water at a time. Add the melted coconut oil and blend until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a jar or bowl and set aside while you make the chocolate filling.
- Blend the other half of the soaked cashews in the food processor with the salt, agave, water and cacao powder until smooth. If the filling is too thick and isn’t coming together, add an extra tablespoon of water at a time. Add the melted coconut oil and blend until combined.
- Pour some of the chocolate filling into the tart pan to create a circle, then pour some of the peanut filling on top, and repeat until both are used up. Use a chopstick to create swirls in the filling.
- Place in the freezer for 3 hours or in the refrigerator overnight to set. If frozen it needs to thaw at room temperature before cutting and serving.
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