Jack O’Lantern Cakes

Cakes

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar & 1 cup almond milk – mixed together and set aside
• 6 tb coconut oil
• 2 tb vanilla extract
• 1 + 1/2 cups wholemeal spelt flour
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/2 tb baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• grated zest of 1/2 an orange
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder
• pinch cloves & nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp beetroot powder

Method:

Combine all the dry ingredients, then mix in the wet ingredients till well combined. Pour into 12 mini bundt tins (using an ice cream scoop makes this easier). Fill tins to about 3/4s full – make sure to grease them with oil first. Bake 180°C about 15mins.

Cool in tins till cold, then loses around edges and turn out carefully to avoid breaking the cakes. Put in freezer overnight or a few hours till quite firm.

Glaze

Ingredients:

• 1 + 1/2 cups cacao butter, melted
• 3/4 cup coconut cream (if cold, heat gently till warm)
• 3 tb maple syrup
• 1 + 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 tsp turmeric
• 3/4 tsp beetroot powder

Method:

Blend everything together till smooth.

To Assemble:

Remove cakes from freezer and allow to thaw slightly, then trim the bottom to make them flat. Use an apple corer to make sure holes go all the way through the middle of the cakes. Dip cakes into glaze then use a little more glaze to join them together in pairs and place on baking paper in freezer to set.

Once the cakes are set together and firm, remove from freezer and use an apple corer to make holes for eyes and cut a mouth shape with a small knife. Use apple corer to make sure the hole through the centre is properly open. Then dip cakes into the glaze again and put some glaze into the eye and mouth areas. Put in freezer to set.

You can then re-dip the cakes in glaze again and decorate as liked with drip effect or a dusting of turmeric and beet powder. It’s best to keep these in the freezer until ready to serve.

To serve, put some baking paper on a plate or board and light a birthday cake candle, then use the candle to drip some wax onto the paper and place the candle upright onto the wax (so it stays and stands, refer to the video above if need be). Place the Jack o’lantern cake over the candle and light the candle. It may melt the icing a little but should be okay till candle burns down. After that the cakes can be eaten for a tasty treat!