Vegan Wacky Cake Recipe

It is an absolutely gorgeous day here in Americus. Hope you are also having a break from the crazy weather we have all experienced this winter. I wanted to post this recipe before Valentine's Day, but between the "winter project" and guests, I just couldn't find the time.

Recently, we have hosted many guests with special dietary considerations. I try my best to please everyone. In looking for a chocolate recipe for vegetarians that was also dairy free, I found variations of what is known as "wacky cake". From what I read, it is a recipe from the depression era when milk, eggs and butter were not readily available.As you can see, it looks quite appetizing! So, join me in the kitchen of the Americus Garden Inn as I prepare this recipe.

It starts with items you already have in your pantry. I always sift the flour, but, you don't have to.

Add the cocoa. Again, I always sift cocoa to avoid lumps.

Add the sugar.

Add the baking soda.

Add the salt. That's it for the dry ingredients.

I used the whisk with the strainer.

And finished in the bowl.

Now comes the fun part. They say you can do this in the pan, but, I did it in the mixing bowl. Make 3 indentations in the dry ingredients. Add vinegar to one indentation.

Add the oil to the second indentation.

Add the vanilla to the third indentation.

You can see the vinegar has started to react with the baking soda.

Pour the water over the top.

Stir until just combined.

Immediately pour into an 8" square pan (sprayed with PAM) or 12 muffin cups.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes (20 minutes for cupcakes)

Sprinkle the top with confectioner's sugar. Some variations suggested placing some chocolate chips on the hot cake and spreading the melted chocolate over the top.

I made sure there was enough powdered sugar to cover the top.

Slice the cooled cake and serve.

Looks good, doesn't it? You can also make this gluten free by using gluten free all purpose baking mix.

So, when you are looking for a chocolate recipe that is dairy and egg free, this is the recipe. Let me know what you think.

VEGAN WACKY CAKE RECIPE

1 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder (some recipes called for 3 TBS)

1 cup sugar (some recipes called for 3/4 cup)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 TBS vinegar

5 TBS oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup water (some recipes used coffee instead)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray 8" square pan with PAM.
3. Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
4. Make 3 indentations in the dry ingredients.
5. Pour vinegar, oil and vanilla into the 3 indentations.
6. Pour water over the top and mix quickly just until combined.
7. Immediately pour batter into the pan and place in the oven.
8. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, or until it tests done.
9. Sprinkle with lots of powdered sugar. Allow cake to cool before slicing.
10. Enjoy.
    
    This cake is extremely moist and is very good, possibly better, the day after baking. You can use flavorings other than cocoa for a distinctly different cake.

Thank you for visiting the Americus Garden Inn blog. Next post will highlight the latest photos of the December/Winter project, which is close to completion.

Americus Garden Inn December project now the "Winter Project"

Greetings from the Americus Garden Inn. The December project is now officially the "winter project". We are hoping to finish soon. When we have guests staying with us, we do not allow the workers to come as we do not want our guests to be disturbed or inconvenienced in any way. Between guests and weather, this is taking much longer than expected. Since I haven't posted in awhile, allow me to share what has been accomplished. Remember, if you click the photos you can see a larger view.

Here you can see front upper corner is wrapped and ready for siding. On the lower level, the old siding has been removed.

A closer view of the exterior of the living room, or ladies' parlor before insulation. Kim is working on the window trim.
The upper balcony has had old siding removed. Insulation and Tyvek are done.
The west side of the Burgundy Suite is what you see in this photo.
This is the south side of the Burgundy Suite.

Insulation went up quickly and it was wrapped in Tyvek.

The work begins on the exterior of the Veranda and Magnolia Suites.

The siding around the Veranda Suite was removed and the space between the upper and lower floors was prepped for the fiberglass insulation to be blown into the cavity.

The insulation was installed, Tyvek wrapped and siding put up.

As of yesterday, this is where we are on this project. We had to special order bead board to match the original and it has not yet arrived. I can almost see the finish line...

Thank you for visiting the Americus Garden Inn blog. We hope you'll visit again soon.

Vintage Magazine January 2011

What a surprise to find my face front and center on the January 2011 cover of Vintage Magazine. You can read the article on their website. The photos were taken by Scott Umstattd.

This one gives you a great view of the back porch.

The article was written by Mandy Flynn.

An interesting view through the stone arch.
Special thanks to Kate DeLoach, the editor/publisher of Vintage Magazine for printing the article and sharing the photos with us.

Gluten Free Brownie Muffins

I started to post the gluten free brownie muffins, but, I saw this incredible full moon outside. Remember to click on the photo to enlarge. Look up at the moon tonight and think about all of us together looking at the same bright, beautiful sky.Back to the original intent of this post, the gluten free muffins. It is really difficult to satisfy a chocolate craving when you have to avoid gluten and soy. I have found the most delicious way to solve this by making a very small batch of gluten free brownie muffins. Can you see how yummy this is? This recipe is easy and quick. You can make them with regular flour if gluten is not a problem for you. This recipe only makes 4 muffins.Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and place 4 liners in your muffin pan. I always fill the extra cups halfway with water for even baking.

Measure 1/4 cup of oil and 1/2 cup of sugar (I use a little less sugar)

Pour the sugar into the oil

Mix thoroughly (I used a fork)

Crack an egg into the same bowl or measuring cup

Mix well (I was still using a fork)

Add 1/2 tsp vanilla

to the same bowl or cup

Stir to combine

Measure 1/4 cup rice flour into a small bowl

Add 3 TBS baking cocoa powder

to the dry ingredients

Add 1/8 tsp of baking powder (eyeball 1/2 of a 1/4 tsp measure)

same amount of salt

Whisk the dry ingredients to combine.

Make sure there are no lumps of cocoa.

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients

Mix well.

Divide the batter evenly (I use a scoop measure)

into the 4 lined muffin cups

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes (toothpick inserted will be almost clean)

Let them cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan.

Enjoy these fabulous muffins.

Small Batch Gluten Free Brownie Muffin Recipe

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup rice flour

3 TBS baking cocoa powder, unsweetened

1/8 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 4 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. Mix oil and sugar until blended.
3. Add egg, blend well.
4. Add vanilla, blend well.
5. Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
6. Add wet to dry ingredients, mixing well.
7. Scoop evenly into 4 muffin cups.
8. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out almost clean.
9. Enjoy! With 4 muffins, you can share with a special someone, if you want to...

Thank you for visiting with me in the kitchen of the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast. I would have shared my gluten free muffins with you, if you were here! Next post will detail the progress of the December/January project. Visit again soon!