If you are a chocolate lover, and even if you are not, brace yourself. This cake is a perfect mixture of silky, creamy, sweet, and rich flavors and textures. It is highly decadent and an experience of pure ecstasy — hence the name. And if all that wasn’t already good enough, it is made of pure and wholesome plant ingredients that are nutritionally dense and actually contribute to good health. You won’t find any flour, dairy, refined sugar, or oils here. Instead, it is full of healthy fats, protein, and carbohydrates, including fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. It is naturally ultra-low in sodium and cholesterol-free.

The next time you have a special occasion or just want an extra special treat, give this delicacy a try and enjoy the delicious experience it provides for the senses.

Characteristics

TYPE: Snack, Treat
PREP TIME: < 15 mins (+ pre-soaking and chilling)
SERVINGS: Makes 1 cake (9-inch / 23cm); 8 - 10 slices

  • Whole food
  • 100% Plant-Based (Vegan)
  • Raw
  • Gluten-free
  • Wheat-free
  • Grain-free
  • Soy-free
  • Corn-free
  • Oil-free
  • Peanut-free
  • Refined Sugar-free

Goodies Needed*

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

Filling:

TOOLS:

  • Food Processor
  • 9-inch (23cm) Glass Pie Dish
  • Spatula

Preparation Steps

  1. Soak the 1 cup of dry cashews in a bowl of water overnight or for at least 4 hours. When you are ready to work with them, drain the water and rinse the cashews well several times.

  2. Place the dry almonds and dates into the food processor and process until a uniform, crumbly, and sticky mixture results. Transfer this mixture to your glass dish.

  3. Using clean fingers, spread the mixture evenly in the dish and begin to press the mixture firmly down and along the sides to make a crust.

  4. Place the soaked cashews and all filling ingredients into the food processor. Coconut butter is normally hard (unless it is in a hot environment) so simply use a fork to remove about 1 cup worth of chunks. Process all the ingredients until the mixture is fully smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape the sides several times.

  5. With the help of your spatula, transfer the filling mixture onto the crust.

  6. Level and smooth out the filling over the crust and place the cake into the refrigerator to set and chill for at least 2 hours. (You can also freeze this cake for an ice-cream cake effect.)

  7. Once the cake has set, cut into 8 to 10 slices, and serve. Keep cake leftovers covered and refrigerated or frozen.

Tips

  • There is no need to wash your food processor between making your crust and filling.
  • Coconut oil is not the same as coconut butter. The former is a fat extract, which liquefies easily, while the latter is a whole food, naturally hard. This recipe requires coconut butter, also referred to as coconut manna or coconut purée.
  • For best digestion, weight, and energy, always aim to eat treats like these in between meals as snacks, not right after meals as desserts.

Health & Nutrition Benefits

Almonds / Almond Butter

  • provide healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
  • provide phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin A, E, and most B vitamins, including folate
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, and manganese
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, osteoporosis, and other diseases
  • Tips: Choose organic and raw almonds and almond butter, as conventional almonds and roasted almonds have pesticide, toxin, and other health concerns.

Medjool Dates

  • provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
  • provide phytonutrients and antioxidants
  • have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties
  • provide vitamins, especially the B vitamins
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, and iron
  • support optimal health, energy, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support digestive, immune, and cardiovascular health

Cashews

  • provide healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
  • provide phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin K and some of the B vitamins
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Coconut (fresh and dry)

  • provides healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
  • provides antioxidants, phytonutrients, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provides vitamins, like vitamin C and some B vitamins, including folate and choline
  • provides minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and iron levels
  • can support proper bone health and protects against osteoporosis
  • can protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
  • Health Tip: Avoid dry coconut that has been sweetened, sulfured, highly processed, or found to contain other additives or preservatives.

Cacao (Powder, Nibs, Beans)

  • provides healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
  • provides lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provides vitamins, especially most B vitamins
  • provides minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • contains euphoric properties (anandamide), aphrodisiac properties (arginine), anti-depressant properties (tryptophan), anti-aging properties, and helps to stimulate and balance brain activity
  • helps maintain healthy blood pressure and blood sugar
  • protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
  • Tips: This information applies specifically to pure cacao products and not any chocolate with added dairy, sugar, or other additives. Choose organic and raw pure cacao products for maximum nutrition and health benefits.

Bananas

  • provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
  • provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, including vitamin A, C, E, K, and most B vitamins
  • provide minerals, including potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and zinc
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy digestion, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Maple Syrup

  • provides mostly simple carbohydrates (sugars) and about 20% fewer calories than honey
  • provides antioxidants and phytonutrients
  • provides trace amounts of B vitamins
  • provides minerals, especially manganese, zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, copper, and magnesium
  • serves as a good, natural sweetener option, which provides some nutrition and health benefits

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