well, we had the first "vegan challenge" failure....a chocolate cake that was....awful!

[NRaleighLiberal]

Whole wheat flour, cocoa, vegan chocolate chips, apple sauce, water, baking power, cocoa, vinegar, sugar......

Tastes like a rubbery, bland thing that was no fun to eat at all!

Still...for the most part, everything we've made has been fine - only one week to go.

I guess some things are just meant to be made using a few of the "bad" ingredients!

[The empressof all]

1. That Vegan Choc cake can be tricky

I make them all the time but you need to measure exactly. I use half whole wheat pastry, half white and then sub almond milk for the water. I also up the vanilla, salt and sugar a smidge. I also think it's better when you add the vinegar last....Who knows why

[PADemD]

2. baking powder

Wouldn't baking soda make the cake texture better?

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. texture was only part of the issue - I used all whole wheat flour - certain overkill!

[Warpy]

4. I always used the real stuff for treats

even when I was a pretty strict veg head. After all, it was supposed to be bad for you and making substitutions (especially substituting carob for chocolate) turned it into an exercise in hair shirt piety instead of a treat for a birthday party.

It's another example of how some people allow fanatacism to force them to take things a little too far.

However, the next time you want a vegan treat, I can tell you that free trade ultra dark chocolate and silken tofu make a kickass chocolate mousse.

[GoCubsGo]

7. This is one of those times I wish DU had a "like" button.

I have had the same issues when it comes to making low-calorie/low-fat recipes, in general, but especially treats. Half the time, the outcome isn't worth the calories in it, let alone the ones you saved with all the substitutions.

Do you have a specific recipe for the chocolate mousse, Warpy? I have a box of silken tofu that is going to go out of date next month. That would be a great way to use it.

[Warpy]

8. My favorite is in a book

called "This Can't Be Tofu." This recipe, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/dark-chocolate-mousse-recipe/index.html looks pretty close, only instead of the tablespoon of brandy I used a teaspoon of real vanilla extract.

It looks dark and chocolatey and sinful, at any rate, and definitely worth trying.

[GoCubsGo]

9. Thank you!

I look forward to trying this recipe.

[HappyMe]

5. Oh no!

Sorry.

Maybe as someone else suggested, make treats with the 'bad' ingredients.

[HopeHoops]

6. You forgot the bacon.

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. So....it is improving with age (or we are getting used to it!)....

With all that whole wheat flour the chocolate flavor isn't pronounced enough and it almost has a graham cracker flavor - but we found that if you put strawberries or raspberries on it, it goes down a bit more easily! (I know, I know....dessert should not be a punishment!)



Will definitely go with maybe spelt/whole wheat combo, sub almond milk for the water, add a bit of baking soda - see if I can lighten the thing up a bit - maybe bump up the cocoa as well