Take 3: Vegan Chocolate Cake (The Outcome)
So, what became of that chocolate cake I mentioned a few days back? I made it and…it might be my best attempt yet! The cake was soft, fudgy, nutty, and just sweet enough (according to me).
The recipe was from Hot Chocolate Hits, but the frosting idea was my own (homemade hazelnut butter, cocoa powder, powdered sugar → mix with a spoon). The last time I made this recipe, it was cloyingly sweet. This time, I knew better. I halved the sugar and eyeballed how much sugar to put in the frosting (a dusting of snow, perhaps).
This cake’s official name might be: “Vegan, Gluten-free Nutella Chocolate Cake” sans actual Nutella.
Disclaimer: The following story is a metaphor. I didn’t meet anyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the cake didn’t remind me of any real person.
I don’t bake a lot, which is why I always approach it with an air of caution — a slight fear, an apology. I think, “I’m sorry I haven’t texted. I’ve just been super busy.” My mixer, springform pans, baking soda, and baking powder judge me. Baking requires precise measurement and chemistry. I’m a bumbling chef that loathes using measuring spoons. But, can’t we be friends, “baking” and I? I think so.
This cake itself (below) felt like an “old friend” from high school: familiar, yet glowed up. We didn’t talk much back then (she was on the quieter side) and I’d forgotten how funny she was. She never left our small town, but she’s moved up in the world. She’s worked at the same company for 5–7 years and now leads a department. She manages a team and is a regular speaker at industry conferences.
We chatted for what must have been 3 hours, drinking tea at our local Barnes & Noble. The conversation was lively the entire time. When we parted ways, we stated our intentions to see each other the next time I came home. I knew she would remember and stick to her word. She mentioned a museum that had reliably good exhibits. She’d developed an interest in Egyptian art after taking a family vacation to Cairo a few years ago.
In this fantasy, after spending time with this friend (the cake), I visualize myself in a female-driven comedy where two girlfriends try on an array of hats and sunglasses. Why not offer this friend a different “hat?” In the future, maybe I’ll make this same chocolate cake with a different frosting — chai spice, orange, salted caramel, or banoffee, etc. I think she’d look great.
Happy New Year, all.
