An Unreasonably Healthy Chocolate Cake

Some days just call for chocolate cake. This Unreasonably Healthy Chocolate Cake is rich and properly chocolatey, layered with a strawberry chia jam made with The Mothers Blend or The Children's Blend, then finished with a silky chocolate Foraged ganache.

It's made with nourishing ingredients you'll feel good about putting on the table, in a chocolate cake that genuinely tastes incredible.

A little note before you start: this recipe makes one cake. If you'd like a double-layered cake with the jam in the middle, simply double the cake ingredients and method.

The Cake

Ingredients:

• 3 cups blanched almond meal
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup cacao powder
• 3/4 cup maple syrup (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 cup room temperature coconut cream
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 180°C.
• Whisk the egg whites with the apple cider vinegar until firm and fluffy. You can use a beater, or in the Thermomix, use the butterfly whisk on speed 4 for 1 and a half minutes.
• Scoop the egg whites out into a large bowl.
• No need to clean what you whisked the eggs in. Simply add the egg yolks, maple syrup, coconut oil, almond meal, cacao powder, coconut cream, vanilla, baking soda, and collagen (if using), and blend on low-medium speed until just combined. Try not to overmix.
• Spoon the mixture into the bowl alongside the egg whites, and gently fold the egg whites through until combined.
• Scoop into lined muffin moulds or a lined cake tin and bake for 35 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean.
• Allow to cool completely, then add your favourite topping.

The Strawberry Chia Jam

Optional, but oh so delicious. Serve it on the side, or spread it between two cakes for a layered showstopper.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups frozen strawberries (400g)
• 3 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp Foraged For You - The Mothers Blend or Foraged For You - The Children's Blend
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Sweetener to taste, if you like, such as monk fruit drops or 2 tbsp maple syrup

Method:

• Blend the strawberries until fine.
• Add the chia seeds and gently warm the mixture to thaw and combine.
• Add the vanilla and your sweetener of choice, and keep mixing through.
• Once melted and combined, allow to cool slightly. Then stir through your chosen Foraged For You blend until well combined.
• Pop it in the fridge until the cake has cooled and you're ready to layer.
• If you're making a layered cake, spread a thick layer of jam over the top of the bottom cake once both have cooled. Stop just short of the edges, as it will ooze out when you place the second cake on top.
• Place the second cake on top, then carefully spread the ganache below all over the top and sides.

The Chocolate Foraged Ganache

You can use any icing you love here. This is just our favourite!

Ingredients:

• 200g chocolate of your choice
• 150g coconut cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• Optional: 1/2-1 tbsp Foraged For You - The Mothers Blend or Foraged For You - The Children's Blend

Method:

• Melt the chocolate, then add the coconut cream, vanilla, and salt, and whisk to combine. Add The Mothers Blend or The Children's Blend and keep whisking (or even better, gently blend) until everything is well combined. Have a taste and add a little more blend if you like.
• Pop the ganache in the fridge to firm up slightly, checking every 15 minutes or so and stirring it. Don't let it set completely, or it'll be too hard to spread.
• Once the cakes are completely cool and the jam is sitting in the middle, spread the ganache over the top and sides, taking care not to let the cakes slip and slide.
• Place the whole cake in the fridge so the ganache can set, and the jam can settle into place.
• Slice and enjoy!

A little note to keep in mind.. the blend in the jam and ganache counts towards your daily serve, so keep that in mind if the little ones are going back for seconds (and thirds).