Ottolenghi’s Brownie Cake

The passage of time is hitting hard lately.  Between the holidays and beginning of a new year, it’s a time of reflection and wondering where the time went.  Wondering how it is at all possible I have lived in Florida for more than two years.  How I accomplished something I wanted so badly and seemed so massive.

How my book has been out for a year and a half and was more like the little book that couldn’t instead of the little book that I could, I hoped so badly it would be.

How The West Wing and Las Vegas marathons I’ve been happily enjoying aired more than fifteen years ago.

I miss the good old days, sometimes, but I know they weren’t always good.  I have a lot of regrets, but I know we all do, and even if I could change them, it doesn’t mean the big picture would have even budged.

Even better, I know I’ve come into my own, become more comfortable with who I am as a person.  I’ve had a lot of good times in my past and I hope there are many more to come.  Time is a cruel thing if we spend too much time ruminating over it, so I guess I better not let it lord it’s power over me, and instead just keep having fun and moving forward.

And eating more cake, especially if it’s as good as this rich and decadent brownie cake.  While it might not have the glamour of a towering layer cake, this easy to make cake is an instant classic with the dense texture and complex flavors that never become to sweet thanks to the hit of coffee in both the cake and the frosting.  Have your cake and eat it too … time’s ticking.

Ottolenghi’s Brownie Cake

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Laura
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 10 slices 1x

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Description

Rich and decadent cake, topped with ganache frosting, both with a hint of coffee.

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Ingredients

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Cake

1 cup coconut oil

7 ounces carob or dark chocolate, chopped

2 tablespoons espresso powder

1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk

¾ cup coconut sugar

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1 ¾ cups paleo flour blend (2 cups almond flour, 1 ¼ cups tapioca starch, ¾ cup coconut flour)

½ cup carob or cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon sea salt

Frosting

¼ cup carob or cocoa powder

2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 ½ cups carob or dark chocolate chips

1 tablespoons espresso powder

2 tablespoons coconut butter

1 tablespoon vanilla bean powder

Additional 1/3–2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

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Instructions

Make the cake.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/ 325 degrees F convection.  Oil a 9 inch cake pan.  In a large microwave safe bowl, melt coconut oil and carob or chocolate on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until fully melted.  Stir in the espresso powder, sugar, vanilla, and eggs.  Stir in half the flour, followed by the milk, then the remaining flour along with carob or cocoa powder, and salt.

 

Pour batter into the prepared pan, and bake about 30-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs.  Cool completely in the pan.

 

Make the frosting.  In a medium microwave safe bowl, place carob or cocoa powder, milk, carob or dark chocolate chips, and espresso powder.  Microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until fully melted.  Stir in the coconut butter, vanilla, and as much additional milk as needed for a spreadable consistency.

 

Spread onto the cake, slice, and serve.  Cake may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or frozen, wrapped in parchment and foil, and placed in a zipper bag for up to 3 months.  Thaw in the microwave about 1 minute.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Food52

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minute