Rustic Chocolate Cake with Purple Vanilla Frosting

Ingredients:

• 220 g flour

• 100 g cocoa powder

• 150 g sugar

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• Pinch of salt

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 200 ml plant based milk

• 100 g vegan chocolate (melted)

• 3 tbsp apple sauce

• 50 ml coconut oil

• 1 tbsp peanut butter

• 3 tbsp raspberry jam (optional)

Buttercream frosting:

• 200 g vegan butter (softened)

• 400 g powdered sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1-2 tbsp Purple Sweet Potato Powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
   
   
2. In a bowl or glass, pour the milk and add lemon juice. Stir and set aside.
   
   
3. Melt the chocolate using a double boiler or microwave.
   
   
4. Sift the flour into a bowl. Add cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, soda, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
   
   
5. Add the milk mixture, peanut butter, oil, apple sauce, and melted chocolate in the dry ingredients. Mix until well combined.
   
   
6. Transfer the batter in a round baking pan. We used three round 14 cm pans. You can also use two 20 cm pans.
   
   
7. Bake for 35-40 mins. Insert a toothpick in the center of the cake, and if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
   
   
8. Remove the cake from the oven and cool completely.
   
   
9. Prepare the buttercream frosting: in a bowl, beat the butter with vanilla extract in low speed.
   
   
10. Mix continuously while adding the sugar in batches. If the buttercream is too thin, add more sugar. If it's too thick, add a tablespoon or more of plant-based milk.
    
    
11. Add the purple sweet potato powder. Mix in high speed.
    
    
12. Assemble the cake: spread 1 tbsp of raspberry jam in between cake layers. Frost the entire cake with the buttercream using a spatula. A thin frosting around the cake would give it a "rustic" look.
    
    
13. Decorate: top the cake with fruits and flowers (we used sliced figs, a mix of berries and chrysanthemums). Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Notes:
You can use the same recipe for making muffins!