Gateaux Recipes - Vegan Chocolate Gateau

Ingredients

• 275g self raising wholemeal flour

• 50g cocoa powder

• 15ml baking powder

• 250g caster sugar

• a few drops of vanilla essence

• 135ml sunflower oil

• 350ml water

• sifted cocoa powder, to decorate

• 25g chopped nuts, to decorate

For the chocolate fudge

• 50g soya margarine

• 45ml water

• 250g icing sugar

• 30ml cocoa powder

---

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 160'C/325'F/Gas 3. Grease and line a deep 20cm/Bin round cake tin, and grease the paper.

2. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar and vanilla, then gradually beat in the oil and water to make a smooth batter. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Leave in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack and leave to cool. Cut the cake in half.

3. For the chocolate fudge, gently melt the margarine with the water. Remove from the heat, add the icing sugar and cocoa, and beat until smooth and shiny. Allow to cool until firm enough to spread and pipe.

4. Place a layer of cake on a serving plate and spread over two-thirds of the chocolate fudge. Top with the other layer of cake. Using a star nozzle, pipe chocolate fudge stars over the cake. Sprinkle with cocoa powder and chopped nuts.