Cherry Chocolate Mousse Cake (Vegan & Gluten-free)

Thank you, Hana, for creating this gorgeous three layer chocolate cake - the base is a chocolate sponge cake which is covered with smooth chocolate ganache and then topped with sour cherry jelly and decorated with fresh cherries and edible flowers. As cherries come into season, it's the perfect time to try out this dessert.

Cherry Chocolate Mousse Cake

Ingredients

Chocolate cake:

• 1/4 cup brown rice flour (35g )

• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (35g ), ground into flour consistency

• 1/4 cup quinoa flakes or gluten-free oats (25g ), ground into flour consistency

• 2tbsp arrowroot

• 2tbsp raw cacao powder

• 1/3 cup rapadura sugar (50g)

• ½tsp baking powder

• ½tsp bicarbonate of soda

• ¼tsp cinnamon

• pinch sea salt

• 2tbsp ground flaxseed + 6tbsp water

• 1/4cup olive oil (60ml)

• 1/4cup plant milk (60ml)

• 1tsp apple cider vinegar

• 1tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate ganache:

• 7oz Amore di Mona chocolate or dark vegan chocolate (200g)

• 3/4cup oat cream (180ml)

• 1tbsp maple syrup

Cherry jelly:

• 2 cups frozen sour cherries (200g )

• 1/2 cup water (120ml)

• 2½tbsp agar flakes

• 2tbsp maple syrup

Topping:

• fresh cherries

• edible flowers

Instructions:

Chocolate cake:

1. Mix 2tbsp ground flaxseed with 6tbsp water and set aside to thicken.

2. Preheat the oven to 350F (180°C)

3. Grease and line 6" round springform cake tin.

4. In a large bowl whisk together brown rice flour, ground sunflower seeds, ground quinoa flakes, arrowroot, cacao, sugar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

5. In a small bowl whisk together flax eggs, olive oil, plant milk, apple cider vinegar and vanilla.

6. Add the wet mix to the dry mix and mix until well combined. You should have pourable muffin consistency.

7. Spoon the mixture into lined cake tin and bake for about 20 minutes or until a cocktail stick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool down.

Chocolate ganache:

1. Chop the dark chocolate and place into a small bowl. In a pan heat oat cream on a low fire until it comes to a boiling point. Pour over the chopped chocolate and stir until completely melted. Stir in the maple syrup and set aside to slightly cool down.

2. Now carefully pour the ganache onto the chocolate cake layer. Place into fridge for about an hour to set.

Cherry jelly:

1. Place the cherries into a small pot, add water and bring to a boil, gently simmer for 10 minutes until broken down and mushy.

2. Press the mixture through a mesh sieve. You should have about 300ml (1¼ cup) liquid. Now pour it back into the pot.

3. Stir in agar flakes and maple syrup and bring back to a boil. Leave to simmer for about 15 minutes stirring frequently until the flakes have dissolved.

4. Take off the heat and leave to cool down before carefully pouring on top of the chocolate ganache layer. Place back into fridge to set.

5. Gently remove the cake from the cake tin and place onto a cake stand. If needed smooth out the side of the cake with spatula and top with some fresh cherries and edible flowers if you wish.

6. Enjoy!

NOTES

If using fresh cherries for the jelly, 2 cups are about 300g.

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