Quinoa chocolate cake

ingredients

• Cake

  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 4 large_piece eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 170 gram pitted prunes
  • 100 gram dates
  • 145 gram butter, melted
  • 2 cup cooked quinoa - ¾ cups uncooked and boiled in 2 cups water for 15 mins
  • 6 teaspoon (heaped tbsp) cocoa
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch salt

• Chocolate frosting

  • 50 gram butter, softened
  • 2 cup icing sugar
  • 2 tablespoon (heaped tbsp) cocoa
  • 4 tablespoon boiling water

method

• Cake

  • 1

    Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 24cm loose-bottomed cake tin and line the base with baking paper.

  • 2

    In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and vanilla.

  • 3

    In a food processor, blend the prunes and dates with the melted butter until you have a smooth-ish paste.

  • 4

    Add the milk, eggs and vanilla, followed by the cooked quinoa, then blend until combined.

  • 5

    Add the cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt, pulsing until well blended.

  • 6

    Pour the batter evenly into the tin and smooth over the surface. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool completely in the tin.

• Chocolate frosting

  • 1

    Make chocolate frosting by beating together the softened butter, icing sugar and sifted cocoa with boiling water, added a bit at a time, until frosting is blended, smooth and lump free.

  • 2

    With a large knife, split the cake through the middle and carefully remove the top layer. To serve, spread the bottom layer evenly with the frosting and replace the top layer.