Gluten-free Mint Chocolate Truffle Cake – The SpiceBox Organics Challenge Part 4

I thought I had outdone myself with my Pear Gingerbread Tart with Mace & Salted Caramel Sauce last week, but no, seems I had yet one more corker of a recipe up my sleeve for your Christmas table!

This cake is rich and decadent and (relatively) healthy. Best of all, it really is a doddle to do. My kid did most of it, while I gave directions ahem ‘supervised’ (with a glass of a wine).

While the recipe replaces normal flour with coconut flour for the paleo dieters, coeliacs, IBS  sufferers and anyone else needing to be gluten-free for a while, it is still sweet and heavy on the chocolate and sugar, so NOT good for the diabetics! Coconut flour was one of the ingredients gifted to me by Spice Box Organics as part of my recipe challenge. Their coconut flour is an all-purpose gluten-free flour which comes in a 2lb (907 gm) bag. I only used a cup of it and barely touched the bag, which leaves plenty for more future baking!

Having never used coconut flour before, I was curious to see how it would hold up in baking. I’m pleased to say it is a WONDERFUL substitute and I’m a convert. It is very finely milled and there is very little noticeable difference. I might be able to discern better if I baked plain bread, but as I was flavouring the flour with cocoa and spices, I couldn’t tell flavour-wise at all. The crumb was moist and firm and the cake was light and airy.  I also added ground flaxseeds for extra Omega 3s and fibre as I have a whole bag to get through, courtesy of a . Don’t worry if you don’t have any, leave it out if necessary.

The Andes mint chips I bought in City Super, but I think Twins Co baking supply shop in Wanchai also carries it and perhaps Olivers too. They come in a large pink and white bag, rather like Hershey’s chocolate chips.

The final result? A beautifully decadent, moist, dark chocolate cake with a lovely oozy ganache, with a hint of mint from the mint chips. I guarantee there won’t be ANY leftovers with this one…

And now, this time it really is Happy Christmas all! Eat, drink and be merry! See you in the New Year!

By Sharon Maloney, Jasmine & Ginger For Sharon Maloney’s Gluten-free Mint Chocolate Truffle Cake recipe, please click here.