Erin’s back – and I’m so glad! Look at this beautiful chocolate torte. Oh, my… Thank you, Erin, for another beautiful recipe from your lovely kitchen in Alaska.
As someone traveling this “Real Food” journey, I do try to incorporate more nutrient dense foods into my family’s diet. However, I am also happily learning how to turn a delicious sounding standard baked good recipe into a nourishing soaked flour or sourdough treat. In years past, I have been more of a recipe follower and less of a recipe trail blazer. I am quick to admit that all of this tweaking is quite freeing… and addicting! Enjoy the latest experiment… and success!
Here is a very delicious and easy, soaked, whole-grain chocolate cake. It does not require all of the squooshing as in my recent muffin recipe! The original recipe made this torte as a double decker with filling in the middle and on top. We found a sliver of single layer to be just enough. I cut the second round as brownies and saved a jar of the filling to be used as a dollop on top if I so desired. My boys (all of us, really) enjoyed them equally as well plain.
This recipe is adapted from The Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen.
Chocolate Torte Ingredients
- 2 cups whole grain flour of choice
- 2/3 cup plain yogurt (or coconut milk plus 2 teaspoons of an acid such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar)
- 1/2 cup milk (or fermented dairy or whole coconut milk thinned to a milk consistency)
- 1/2 cup melted butter or coconut oil
- 1/2-3/4 cup honey (how sweet do you like your treats?)
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup cocoa (my cocoa is a blend of natural and Dutched cocoa.)
- 1-1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Yogurt Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cup yogurt cheese* (other mild creamy cheeses or greek yogurt can be used here, too.)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon or more of freshly grated lemon zest (I used more – any citrus zest would work here.)
- 3 tablespoons raw honey
Make The Yogurt Cheese
*These are directions to make your own yogurt cheese, if you want to do this instead of using another mild, creamy cheese that’s on hand.
The night before I made the Chocolate Torte, I took about 3 cups of my homemade yogurt and strained it in my fridge. I use jelly bags for my strainers, and they work wonderfully. As you can see, I tie them with their own draw strings to the shelves of my fridge above a bowl. In the morning, I can easily remove the yogurt cheese from the bag and place it into a container for use as sour cream, cream cheese, ice cream, frosting… The whey can then be poured into a glass jar to be used for soaking and fermenting.
Make The Chocolate Torte
In a medium size bowl, stir together your 2/3 cup yogurt plus 1/2 cup of milk, fermented dairy, or coconut milk. Add 2 cups of whole grain flour. Stir well to combine. Cover and set aside for 8 to 24 hours.
When ready to complete your torte, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place an oven rack on the middle shelf, and butter (2) 9-inch round cake pans. I am sure other shapes and sizes would work just as well; just adjust baking times.
In a small bowl, combine melted butter or coconut oil, honey, eggs, cocoa, vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Whisk. Whisk. Whisk. Pour this mixture onto your soaking dough. Using a hand held beater, mixer, or a wooden spoon, mix until smooth. I used the beater and was thrilled with the results.
Pour batter into your prepared pans. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes or so before turning them onto a cooling rack. Oh, delicious.
Make The Yogurt Cheese Frosting
While cakes are cooling, prepare your yogurt cheese topping. Combine yogurt cheese, vanilla, zest, and honey in a bowl. Stir to combine. Taste. Oh, mercy. So good! Put in fridge until your torte is cool and ready to top.
Frost Your Torte And Enjoy!
I frosted one 9-inch round, and the leftovers kept beautifully in the fridge in a sealed container. The other 9-inch round I cut into brownies and left plain. A bit less messy, for my boys to enjoy. I also kept these in the fridge in a sealed container. If unfrosted, these will freeze very well.
So, who is game to make this? I’m going to, for sure. Let us know if you’re going to give it a try!
I’m sharing this post in Pennywise Platter Thursday, hosted by Kimi at The Nourishing Gourmet. A beautiful torte made at home with wholesome ingredients is definitely a frugal (and healthy) option to paying for the same luxury at a bakery!
About Erin
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This looks so good! I love the idea of making yogurt cheese for frosting. What a wonderful idea!
.-= Melodie´s last blog post… I Have The Urge To Spank But I Choose Not To =-.
This is a great chocolate torte. A healthier version with whole ingredients is really fantastic. I started making my own yogurt cheese too and it’s a great alternative to boxed cream cheese. Thanks for the recipe.
Oh,yum! That looks really good. I may have just found what I’ll make for my son’s Baptism Day this weekend.
Oh my…..this looks yummy! My yogurt cheese always turns out too tart (except for the first time I made it) Is it the yogurt I’m using? I buy organic whole milk yogurt from Trader Joes and a couple of times I’ve tried one from Henrys.
Jana
.-= Jana @ The Summer House´s last blog post… Enrich Moisturizing Face Lotion =-.
Jana – Have you dripped it in the fridge?
Or you can use this soft cheese recipe of mine, which is not tart:
http://ediblearia.com/2010/01/29/easy-raw-chevre/
It would be especially not tart if dripped in the refrigerator.
This looks amazing! YUM!!!
This looks delicious! I’ve developed a major sweet tooth the last few months of my pregnancy and it is really hard to come up with foods that are healthy and sweet. I can’t wait to try it.
oh….yes. Thank you-that’s it. I will drip it in the fridge
Thanks a bunch.
Jana
.-= Jana @ The Summer House´s last blog post… Enrich Moisturizing Face Lotion =-.
I’ll try it! The yogurt cheese sounds a little advanced for me, but I’ve been meaning to make Wardeh’s frosting, so I’ll try it with this cake. Maybe with some orange zest mixed in.
Keep the recipes coming, Erin! How about a main dish?
Melodie and Divina- the yogurt cheese frosting is delish! and you can lick the spoon and the bowl without a second thought!
Jana- i agree with Wardeh… dripping it in the fridge prevents it from turning too tart. if the yogurt has a tartness in the first place, the honey, vanilla, and zest compliment it nicely.
Kelli- you are sweet! i made fresh salmon patties the other night and tonight it’s a smoked salmon rice salad… maybe i should post one of those? you’ve got me thinking!
i know wardeh’s frosting would be amazing on this torte, but at some point you should give yogurt cheese a try. scoop. hang. drip. done! it also works to drain the yogurt in a cheese cloth or even a pillow case! how about if i think up a main dish, and you try your hand at yogurt cheese!
Rebecca- you have a special weekend ahead of you!
i’d love to hear if the torte adds to the sweetness of your celebration!
MacKenzie- congratulations, and i think this little torte will please your sweet tooth! and how great to compliment it with a topping of calcium!
I will definitely be giving this a try. It sounds (and looks) so wonderful!
Seriously, I’m thinking of starting some flour soaking tonight, and calling in sick to work tomorrow to make this.
I have been having some serious chocolate cravings lately, and this will surely hit the spot.
Tried out the chocolate cake and just dusted it with icing sugar. It turned out great and is a keeper to go into my healthy food binder.
Thank you!
Ann
Yeah Ann! I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know.
I made this for a family celebration, it turned out yummy. I made a few alterations though. I already cook with sprouted grain flour so I didn’t do the first step. Baked in a brownie pan, did homemade whipped topping, had blueberries and raspberries and sucanat for the top. Wonderful dessert, Thanks
Ceitllyn, so glad to hear that you enjoyed the dessert! I made another batch the other night, and we served it with a cinnamon whipped cream. Delish!
I made this torte for a fun game night a few months ago, and my brother and I loved it. At his request, I’m making it again for his birthday. Yummy!
Osanna- Thanks for letting me know! I am so glad you both enjoyed the treat!