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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Caramelized Sugars Cake

Do you ever wonder what happens when one has a bunch of local, organic strawberries, a pantry full of other not so shabby ingredients, & the desire to show carnivores and veggie lovers alike that vegan baking rocks?!? Well, this cake is what happened to me in the aforementioned scenario, my Dears. In fact, I can't even begin to tell you how my writing skills will never be able to fully express the beautiful, bouncy sponge like texture of this enchanting cake that has me confused as to whether the heavens or the underworld gave me some aid in creating it...

Note: This cake is perfect for pairing with fresh or stewed fruit-a sponge cake of sorts. It is called 'caramelized sugars' cake due to it having more than one sweetening agent!

Recipe
1 1/4 Cup Organic, A.P. Flour (Arrowhead Mills is excellent)
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/8 Tsp. Salt
1/4 Cup Agave Syrup
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
2/3 Cup Vanilla Soy Milk
1 small organic banana (mashed)
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1 1/4 Tsp. Lemon Juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees & spray a cake pan with oil. Note: this recipe is for one layer cake.

In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda thoroughly. Create a well and add the agave, oil, soy milk, vanilla and lemon juice. Before mixing, mash the banana through your hands and allow to fall into the bowl. Mix gently till homogeneous. Do not over mix.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.














Strawberry Sauce*
1/2 lb. Strawberries (washed and sliced)
2-3 Tbsp. Sugar
1 Tbsp. Corn Starch
2-3 Tbsp. Water
Pinch of cinnamon

In a sauce pan, place the strawberries and sugar. Mix the cornstarch into the water and pour into the pan. Bring to medium heat and cook for a couple of minutes or until you like the look of the strawberries.

*Sauce can also be made with blueberries, peaches, etc.



















Enjoy with whipped cream or Soyatoo!

62 comments:

  1. This looks SO fantastic! I bet even without the sauce it'd be wonderful, but the strawberries take it over the top. :)

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  2. What a gorgeous cake Stella! Non-vegans are always surprised that vegan cakes are delicious...LOL

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  3. Stella,

    Are you in St. Pete? I think that's what you said yesterday in your comment. Our strawberry season was pushed back a bit in Florida, because of all the ridiculous cold weather we had. But, now they are at their absolute peak. Way to put them to good use. No objections to anything in your cake...it is...shall I say...a work of art.

    My cousin, The Vegan Voice, just posted some vegan tacos on the blog. The look pretty darn tasty for being vegan!

    Love the combo of banana and agave syrup in the cake! Cheers!

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  4. So glad to meet another Florida foodie. I was trying to find an email on your site, but mine is lazarocooks@gmail.com. Feel free to contact me whenever. Us Florida foodies gotta stick together. Cheers!

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  5. Hey Mo, thanks! I'm curious about your flax egg, Dearie!

    Yeah Jilly, people do often seem surprised when they are gobbling up my cakes and I tell them 'it's vegan by the way'. A look of surprise, even shock seems to set in...

    Hey Lazaro! Thank you. I just checked out the vegan tacos-I'm making them tonight actually!
    Thanks for the e-mail too. Mine is on my 'About Me' page. I need to put it on this page though...

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  6. This does look tempting. Thanks for the recipe.

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  7. yumm. that looks great..

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  8. Your cake and the photos look bewitching! I may work up to trying a vegan cake, so far I've only tried cookies and cupcakes.( they were good, I have to admit)

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  9. Yay dessert! Now I'm happy. Not that all the other things looked scrumptious too. And healthy vegan! Simple too. No freaky powders that I cannot find online.

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  10. Oh how delicious it looks! I bought so many strawberries at the farmer's market last week, but I've already eaten them all. This is a great idea for next week's strawberries!

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  11. I have to admit that looks like a great cake, vegan or not......that is definitely the way to get me to become a vegan...well at least while I am eating it....lol....and strawberries....yummm...you know I love strawberries...can we make vegan whipped cream?

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  12. That cake really does look bouncy and sponge-like, I think it would have a happy-go-lucky personality...if it were human. :D
    This sounds delicious!

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  13. Mmm, I've never seen or heard of soyatoo. I was looking for a vegan whipped cream to go with my vegan lava cake experiment, but wasn't able to find one at the time. Guess I'll have to poke around some more.

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  14. That's a great looking dessert! Love soy milk but have not used agave syrup. Time to try it.

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  15. Wow, it looks delicious, I just got agave syrup.

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  16. Dear Stella - That is amazing especially with the agave nectar and the vanilla milk! WOW- ONLY YOU!

    BTW, I have given you 3 awards.

    I pass on this torch with no expectations. I give it for love and with love. No one knows more than fellow bloggers how busy our lives are! You just might get a kick from it!

    Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors

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  17. oh my bewitching friend how you taunt me with this at 3:00am?? I absoultely must have this..I have everything on hand but the vanilla soy milk, I have chocolate but lovely lady this will be passing my belly soon,very soon

    sweetlife

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  18. Did you say it's a bouncy sponge cake? I'll take it!

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  19. Oh my, why did I log in just right before dinner???

    Strawberry season has just ended here and I don't know where in heaven's name I can get a hold of agave syrup in this corner of the globe.

    Looks devilishly delicious a vegan cake can get. :)

    Now, dinner time...

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  20. No need for words when you have photos like this...I can see the amazingness of this cake. You have impressed me!

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  21. Hi Stella, This is such a sophisticated comforting cake. I'd have eaten that cake as is or strawberry is also my favorite (and a splash of balsamic vinegar, huuuu...) Love it!

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  22. Stella, you had me at "witch"!! I cannot wait to "brew" up something and spend time on your blog. Thanks for finding me!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  23. It looks fantastic and soo inviting. Love the pictures too.

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  24. Hey Dennis, this is an answer to your ?.
    Many times, vegans will use the super thick fat in a can of coconut milk and whip it just like cream. It's so delicious. I recently bought a can of full fat coconut milk. It ended up just being a can of fat (no liquid whatsoever). I was fine with that!

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  25. I don't need vegan Stella, but it's sure lookinf great in your cake! Can think of so many things to pour over it too.
    Great recipe!

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  26. What a wicked recipe! It looks light but delicious. I just made a cherry cake today, but your recipe is going next on my list.

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  27. Wonderful recipe. I can go so crazy with the topping. I love substituting agave for sugar. This is exactly the recipe i was looking for.

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  28. It looks spongey and perfect. I would just die for this right now!

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  29. Stella you never seem to stop impressing me with your lovely creations. Your cake looks delicious and would definitely be on my list of comfort foods. I love how there's always an ingredient in your recipes that always send me on a mini scavenger hunt through my local grocery store. Which by the way, I am still trying to hunt down that delightful rose water haha. Ask me about Asian ingredients and I could probably give you an essay answer but when it comes to baking I'm like a headless chicken running around in my grocery store lol. Great recipe yet again Stella.

    Oh and yes Gary is one of those who can eat anything and not gain an ounce of fat. But at 33 he's starting to think twice about loading his plates with all meat a no veggies. Have a great day, dear! :-D

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  30. This is fabulous, Stella! I love your use of soy milk in your baking - I always have some on hand, and once in a while I get courageous and use it in my baked goods. Also, I enjoy agave syrup - need to buy some more. But I do have a ton of strawberries that need a home...this cake may be it!

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  31. This look delicious! I'd love to make a version with coconut milk. I wonder how that would work? Although I'm not a vegan, I'm quite fascinated with vegan baking.

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  32. Now this looks like a moist, substantial, and delicious piece of home cooking!
    YUM!
    Valerie

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  33. It looks terrific, loving all the strawberries on top!

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  34. Stella,

    I nominated this wonderful blog for an award. Check it out here...

    http://lazarocooks.blogspot.com/2010/04/another-editors-pick-article-and-more.html

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  35. That cake looks absolutely luscious even on its own! I bought a lovely punnet of strawberries the other day, but I was a bit naughty and paired them with chocolate mousse.

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  36. Wowsers that looks great...can you pass me a fork please...he he!

    xoxo

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  37. I came back to your site just so I could look at this picture again. Strawberries are not quite in season here yet (I live in the Kansas City area). So for now, I can pine away at the pics on your site. I can't wait to try this cake!!!

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  38. Stella, the cake looks and sounds delicious! Yay for vegan baking!

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  39. I just found you on Lazaro cooks and I'm so glad I did. I bookmarked you, which I NEVER do and can't wait to come back and poke around. This cake looks amazing. I'll be back soon and let you know how it comes out!

    Alex aka Ma What's for Dinner
    www.mawhats4dinner.com

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  40. Stella, this strawberry cake sounds fantabulous! There is nothing like fresh organic strawberries! They are simply the sweetest and the best!

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  41. Stella that is so sweet of you. Thanks for stopping by :)

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  42. the cake looks and sounds delicious
    you did great job cutes

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  43. Fantastic! I really should try making some vegan cakes. This looks so moist and scrumptious!

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  44. You hooked me on the word caramelized, Stella! This looks super!!

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  45. Wow, your cake looks amazing! Organic strawberries are the best!

    Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog. I've enjoyed poking around on yours!

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  46. As everyone has already said...this cake looks fantastic. I love using agave nectar and I'm always looking for new recipes to incorporate my favorite baking ingredient. I'm going to a picnic on Sunday with a bunch of my vegan friends, and I can't wait to give this a try! Thank you for sharing.

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  47. When I read the title I thought it has some caramelized sugar in it, just like our fruit cake :-) This sounds better and the cake slice is so very tempting !

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  48. You are right, this vegan cake rocks. Love it!

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  49. Stella that cake looks so much like my absolute favourite dessert - sticky toffee pudding, I can't believe it's vegan! You are absolutely the vegan dessert queen around here :)

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  50. Stella,

    I'm really sorry to hear about the AC breaking. Hope you can get that fixed.

    I sent you some emails to your gmail acct, let me know if you didn't get them!

    Cheers!

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  51. Hmm...I would love to have a piece of this. :)

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  52. This looks absolutely fantastic! I must try it with strawberries when they are still in their season.

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  53. You never cease to amaze me Stella :) Hugz....
    I'm a meat-a-tarian, and I am definitely in the category of being a stunned banana when I come across vegan baking. *SAY WhAT?!?!?!?* but recipes like these make me incredibly giddy and giggly. They make me extremely excited to constantly be learning that there are always alternatives, healthy ones for one's soul and heart.
    xoxoxo..

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  54. Yummy! Looks fabulous...and I love that you used agave syrup in this cake, it is one of my favorite sweeteners as of lately!

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  55. Stella

    I was just staring at the agave nectar I bought a while back wondering what on earth to do with it; you have answered my question! Your cake is beautiful !

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  56. This looks just divine. So moist. Go Vegans!

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  57. I absolutely love your blog, just discover it through the foodie blogroll and added to my feeds right now... greetings from little italian witch!

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  58. U have a great space and very delicious recipe's.
    Do visit mine if u have time:-)
    www.rumanarawat.blogspot.com

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  59. Ok so I've been living in a box for gosh knows how long and have just discovered your blog now. This cake looks sooooo good! I only wish strawberries were in season over here!

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  60. My first time here... so glad I found you.

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  61. Mmmmmm this looks amazing! Do you think rice milk would work too, or is it not creamy enough?

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Please do comment, Dearies!