Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake from Naturally Nutritious Wholefood Cookbook

¾ cup (200 ml) honey

½ cup (125 ml) olive, cold-pressed sunflower or macadamia nut oil

½ cup (125 ml)  purified water

3 extra-large organic or free-range eggs

1 cup (250 ml) buttermilk or amasi

½ tsp (2 ml) pure vanilla extract

½ cup (125 ml) rice flour

½ cup (125 ml) sorghum or buckwheat flour

¾ cup (200 ml) chickpea flour

½ cup (125 ml) cacao or carob powder

1 tsp (5 ml) bicarbonate of soda

½ tsp (2 ml) unrefined salt

½ cup (125 ml) chopped walnuts or pecan nuts (optional)

1. 1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.
2. 2. Mix the honey, oil, water, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla well together in large bowl.
3. 3. Sift all the dry ingredients into the liquid ingredients then mix well using a balloon whisk or hand blender.
4. 4. Fold in the nuts if desired. Place the mixture in two (20 cm) round greased cake tins & bake for 20 to 35 minutes
5. 5. OR place in one  large round cake tin (25 cm) and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. 
6. 6. Let the cake cool before removing from the tin.
7. 7. If making chocolate squares, place the mixture into a rectangular pan (28 x 18 cm) and bake for 20 to 35 minutes.
8. 8. Cut into squares once the cake has cooled down.

Topping options:

Chocolate or carob cream topping:  1 cup dark organic chocolate or carob chunks, peeled into shavings and then melted by stirring constantly in a bowl placed over boiling water. Allow to cool, then add ¼ cup freshly-squeezed orange juice or 1 cup crème fraîche, sour cream or thick cream and whisk well. Pour over the cooled cake or spread on with a knife dipped in water.

Orange and chocolate syrup: ¼ cup freshly-squeezed orange juice, ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup raw cacao or carob powder, pinch of salt.  Mix using a balloon whisk and pour over the still hot chocolate cake, which has been pricked all over.

Variations:

Wheat-free: replace the sorghum or buckwheat flour with oat or barley flour.

For a rich chocolate cake, increase the cacao or carob to ¾ cup.