"Why use an artificial food dye when nature has designed something so magnificently vibrant? So many different healing ingredients can make our food colorful."
- Brianna Beard
We are swooning over this ethereal and gorgeous cake Brianna has created. Tahini Cacao cake batter infused with Lion's Mane layered with Butterfly Pea Flower Reishi frosting and finished with blackberries and edible flowers.... this is what we imagine faeries and mystical beings would feast on!
I am always looking for inspiration in nature. Flowers always speak to me. The frosting in this recipe is infused with Butterfly Pea Flower water; I came across these beautiful flowers at our local farmers market. Turns out they are medicinal and can be used as a natural food coloring. Why use an artificial food dye when nature has designed something so magnificently vibrant? So many different healing ingredients can make our food colorful. Think beets for crimson red, turmeric for orange and Chlorella for a deep forest green. You can find dried pea flowers online, usually sold for tea. The tea is renowned for its ability to protect the skin against premature aging and is full of potent antioxidants. I chose black tahini for the cake to create a deep contrast in color to the vibrant frosting. If you are unable to find butterfly pea flower, or just want to keep it simple, you can omit that and just use a few extra blackberries to achieve the vibrant purple color.
I spiked the cake with Lion’s Mane and the frosting with Reishi. Do you remember how magical mushrooms were to you as a child? I always imagined little fairies and elves living among the mushrooms that would grow in our lawn. Fungi, including mushrooms, are peculiar forms of life. They pop up, seemingly overnight, out of nowhere. And unlike plants, they’re not green, they don’t have leaves or roots, and they never form flowers, fruits, or seeds. This medicinal treat is a brain booster and immune system strengthener. If you enjoy making desserts, I highly recommend investing in some powdered adaptogens, it’s a delicious and easy way to make your food super powered!
The cake is so moist that it would work wonderfully as a muffin or brownie as well.
Ingredients(cake) 1 1/4 cup brown rice flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder pinch of salt 1/3 cup cacao powder 1-2 tbsp. Sun Potion Lion's Mane 2 tbsp. flax meal + 6 tbsp. water 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1/3 cup plant milk (almond or coconut) 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup coconut sugar 1/3 cup black tahini 1/2 cup mashed banana 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (frosting) 1 1/2 cups raw cashews (soaked) 3/4 cup coconut cream 4 tbsp. maple syrup 1/4 cup melted coconut oil 1-2 tbsp. lemon juice 4 tbsp. butterfly pea flower water 8 blackberries 1 tbsp. Sun Potion Reishi 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/4 tsp sea salt |
MethodPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F Use coconut oil to grease your baking dish (I used a 9" springform pan, you could also use a cupcake tray) Make the flax "egg" by whisking together the ground flax seed and water, then set aside Add apple cider vinegar to plant milk and set aside Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cacao and Lion's Mane Mix together all of the wet ingredients, flax "egg," plant milk with ACV, vanilla, coconut sugar, tahini and banana Thoroughly combine with the flour mixture and finally add the chocolate chips Spread into a springform pan and bake for 18 minutes (If making cupcakes check at 15 minutes) To check for either, use a toothpick and if it comes out clean, then it's ready Let cool (the frosting & making the flower water) To make the flower water, use about 5-8 flowers and 1/3 cup hot water Steep for 15 minutes Add all frosting ingredients to a blender and puree until velvety smooth Refrigerate for an hour (going mini) To make the mini cake, make sure cake it cool, use a small ring mold to punch out and round from the cake Slice in half and frost one side, stack the other half on top and frost the top of that Garnish with blackberries and edible flowers |
