• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Ascension Kitchen
  • About
    • Philosophy
    • About Lauren
    • Media & Events
    • Contact
    • Terms + Conditions
  • Naturopathy Consults
  • Blog
    • Plant-Based Recipes
      • Healthy Dessert Recipes
      • Mains
      • Snacks + Sides
      • Drinks
      • Kitchen Staples
      • Breakfasts
      • Salads
      • Healthy Dressings + Condiments
      • Ayurvedic Recipes
    • Natural Health
      • Natural Remedies
      • Plant-Based Nutrition
      • Functional Foods
    • Natural Living
      • Natural beauty
      • Natural cleaning recipes
      • Essential Oils
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Blog
  • Plant-Based Recipes
  • Natural Health
  • Natural Living
  • Naturopathy Consults
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Plant-Based Recipes » Healthy Dessert Recipes » Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake with Caramelised Prunes

Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake with Caramelised Prunes

Published: Dec 13, 2015 · Modified: Apr 18, 2018 by Lauren Glucina • Naturopath, Nutritionist

580 shares
  • Facebook182
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This decadent raw cake has a coconut and oat base, topped with two creamy layers - chocolate infused with caramelised prunes, and vanilla infused with fresh ripe cherries. An absolute show-stopper. 

Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake - Vegan

With just over a week till Christmas, I’ve been busy trialling recipes out for the special day, and this Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake is as festive as it gets. The addition of caramelised prunes was a genius idea (because, prunes + dark chocolate = always winning). Although incredibly indulgent, it is still made from wholesome, plant based ingredients, and as always, is entirely free from refined sugars.

[bctt tweet="RAW Chocolate and Cherry Cake with Caramelised Prunes over at Ascension Kitchen!"]

I love raw cakes because they are incredibly hard to stuff up. Take your ingredients, blend, whiz, pour, set, done. The art of it is in the quality of the raw starting ingredients and the combination of flavours. Meanwhile, my beautiful Nana whom I went to visit yesterday, was standing behind her kitchen bench with not one but five Christmas fruit puddings. She is a perfectionist like me and is on a mission to create the perfect recipe, one that doesn’t see the bulk of the fruit sink to the bottom. She has tweaked the recipe to be health-ified – making it with coconut sugar and organic ingredients (go Nan!) but it still needs to be cooked and watched and fiddled with. It tastes incredible of course but not nearly as simple a feat as a raw cake. And I’m all about ease, grace and flow at the moment, especially at the end of a busy year.

But back to the cake…

Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake - Vegan

Prunes Prunes Prunes

Prunes and dark chocolate are an absolute flavour explosion. I like to sub them out for dates occasionally in recipes such as this one – Ginseng, Prune, Cacao, Star Anise and Vanilla Slice (trust me - the bestest combo!).

But for this recipe, I’ve decided to stew them a little in maple syrup, nut milk, cinnamon, sea salt and vanilla. The end result is a sweet, spiced and sticky caramelised creation – turns out this was the best part of the cake. And no, unfortunately, this part of the recipe means it isn’t truly raw, but as we know, maple syrup isn’t a truly raw product to start with (although it is certainly a great alternative to white sugar, being minimally processed and mineral rich). If you want to keep it 100% raw, just soak them a little in hot water with the vanilla and cinnamon, and perhaps a dash of the maple, then drain and use.

And oh the smells while it cooks…

Prunes are high in fibre

Prunes are also a favourite of mine as they are a great source of fibre, particularly insoluble fibre. Insoluble fibre provides food for the friendly bacteria in your colon, resulting in the creation of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid that is used by the enterocytes (the cells in the large intestine) as fuel (so it keeps your colon nice and healthy) [1].

Cherries – potent antioxidants

Another summer favourite are cherries. More so raw, by the handful, as a healthy snack. But today, scattered throughout the creamy vanilla layer of this cake.

Cherries are a concentrated source of flavonoids, a group of plant pigments best known for their antioxidant activity. They specifically contain anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, which are responsible for the beautiful deep red pigment in the skin. These molecules are both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, so may assist in pain relief [1]. They have also been shown to be an effective anti-gout remedy. They inhibit an enzyme called xanthine oxidase, which is involved in the production of uric acid [2].

So, when you take the beautiful prunes and cherries and fold them through these creamy cake layers, you’re creating something pretty magical I reckon.

Hope you enjoy, and wishing you all a slow, restorative Christmas break.

Lauren.

The body heals with play, the mind heals with laughter and the spirit heals with joy.

~ Old proverb

 
Two slices of raw cake on a plate

Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake with Caramelised Prunes

Naturopath Lauren Glucina
A raw, Chocolate Cherry Cake with Caramelised Prunes. This recipe is vegan, soy free, refined sugar free. Fills a 9 inch cake tin. Please note the active prep time excludes the 2 hour soak time required for the cashews.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Plant-based, Raw
Servings 16
Calories 491 kcal

Ingredients
  

BASE:

  • 1¼ cups coconut flakes
  • ¾ cup rolled oats can substitute for almonds
  • 8 large Medjool dates pitted (mine came to 135g)
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil liquefied
  • 2 tablespoons cacao powder
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla paste or extract
  • Pinch of coarse sea salt

CHOCOLATE LAYER:

  • 1½ cups cashews soaked in water at least 2 hours*
  • 1 cup nut milk
  • ¼ cup 100% pure maple syrup or rice malt syrup, coconut nectar
  • ½ cup coconut oil liquefied
  • 2 tablespoons cacao butter liquefied
  • ½ cup cacao powder
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla paste or extract*The longer you soak them the softer and easier they are to blend. You can even soak overnight.

CARAMELISED PRUNES:

  • 120 g prunes chopped in half
  • ¼ cup 100% pure maple syrup
  • ½ cup nut milk
  • Few good sprinkles of cinnamon or just to taste
  • 1 good pinch coarse sea salt
  • 1 scraped vanilla bean optional

VANILLA CHERRY LAYER:

  • 1½ cups cashews soaked in water at least 2 hours*
  • ½ cup nut milk
  • ¼ cup 100% pure maple syrup or rice malt syrup, coconut nectar
  • ½ cup coconut oil liquefied
  • 2 tablespoons cacao butter liquefied
  • 1 scraped vanilla bean or a pinch or two of vanilla bean powder
  • 1 cup of fresh cherries halved and pitted

Instructions
 

CARAMELISE THE PRUNES:

  • Place the prunes, maple syrup, nut milk, cinnamon, vanilla and sea salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and let the mixture slowly thicken and reduce (anywhere up to 20 minutes). Keep your eye on it and stir occasionally.
  • Remove from heat and let cool.

BASE:

  • In a food processor, blitz the coconut flakes and oats till they are fine and crumbly, then add all other ingredients and blend till the mixture forms a dough.
  • Line the base of a 9-inch spring-form cake tin with baking paper and press mixture evenly into the bottom. Set aside.

CHOCOLATE LAYER:

  • Drain the cashews and blend everything but the cacao powder (so, all liquids) in a high-powered blender till smooth. Add the cacao powder last for one last blend.
  • Pour some of the mixture over the base, then scatter a few of the caramelised prunes over the top. Keep doing this till you have used up both of each mixture.
  • Pop in the freezer while you make the next layer.

VANILLA CHERRY LAYER:

  • Drain the cashews and blend everything but the cherries till smooth.
  • Transfer mixture to a large bowl, fold through cherries. Grab cake tin from freezer and pour the vanilla cherry mix over the top. Set in the freezer. Let thaw a little before serving and decorate with fresh flowers.

Nutrition

Calories: 491kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 6gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 22gFiber: 6gSugar: 21gCalcium: 810mgIron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

If you make and enjoy this recipe, please leave a rating!

Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake - Vegan

LIKE THIS POST?

Sign up to my newsletter list below for weekly healthy, plant-based recipes and nutrition articles. And if you want to give back and really make my day, leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!

Finally, you can share this recipe on facebook or via Instagram, or pin it for later. If you try it out, make sure you tag me @ascensionkitchen and #ascensionkitchen so I can see your creations. Thank you!

REFERENCES: 
1. MURRAY, M., PIZZORNO, J., & PIZZORNO, L. (2005). THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HEALING FOODS. NEW YORK: ATRIA BOOKS
2. JACOB, R. A., SPINOZZI, G.M., SIMON, V.A., KELLEY, D.S., PRIOR, R.L., HESS-PIERCE, B., & KADER, A.A. (2003). CONSUMPTION OF CHERRIES LOWERS PLASMA URTAE IN HEALTHY WOMEN. The American Society for Nutritional Sciences, 133(6), 1826-18.

Raw Chocolate Cherry Cake with Caramelised Prunes - gluten free and vegan

Related

Holy Moly Lasagna!
Overhead shot of beautifully styled bowls of ktichari with brushed gold spoons
Kitchari cleanse – your complete guide
Hemp & Macadamia Milk
Hemp & Macadamia Milk

About the Author

I’m Lauren, practising Naturopath, Medical Herbalist, Nutritionist, and essential oils educator in Auckland, New Zealand. I’m incredibly passionate about food as medicine, and helping connect people with the healing power of Nature.

BNatMed, AdDip NutMed, BCS, Certified FitGenes Practitioner.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hannah Phoebe Bowen

    December 13, 2015 at 11:34 am

    ooo i cannot wait to make this! also does your nan want to adopt an extra granddaughter? she sounds amazing! When you say coconut flakes do you mean the big chips or desiccated? xx

    Reply
    • Lauren Glucina

      December 14, 2015 at 8:23 am

      Haha I'm sure she would she has such a big heart! She bakes for the whole neighbourhood, they call her place Cafe Sally 🙂 I used the larger coconut flakes this time but they're pretty much the same thing x

      Reply

Ask me anything Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

ABOUT

I'm Lauren Glucina, a New Zealand based Naturopath, Medical Herbalist and Nutritionist. My main goal is to empower you to connect with the healing power of Nature. I've been sharing plant-based recipes, natural remedies and health articles here since 2012.

If you're here, you're not here by mistake. You're ready to put your physical, emotional and spiritual health first. Welcome!

BNatMed, AdDip NutMed, BCS.

READ MORE

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Search

Features

Graphic displaying logos of websites, publications and shows Lauren has been featured on

POPULAR POSTS

Chocolate Caramel Slice

BEST chocolate caramel slice (vegan)

Close up of zucchini and corn fritters with cream and dill on top

Vegan Zucchini and Corn Fritters

Close up of a herbal facial steam for dry skin

Herbal Facial Steam with Essential Oils for Dry & Oily Skin

3 essential oils for kids sleep

Essential Oils for Kid's Sleep Support

No-bake Snickers Cake on a white cake stand by the kitchen window

Raw Snickers Cake with Vegan Caramel

Ashwagandha Sleep Tonic

Ashwagandha Sleep Tonic

Two bowls of hot Tuscan soup on a marble counter.

Lemon White Bean Kale Soup

Two bowls of kitchari surrounded by fresh herbs and dried spices

How to make kitchari – an Ayurvedic healing meal

LATEST POSTS

  • Fall crockpot potpourri
    Fall crockpot potpourri
  • How to make dandelion tea (from flower, leaf and root)
    How to make dandelion tea (from flower, leaf and root)
  • How to make mugwort tea for lucid dreaming
    How to make mugwort tea for lucid dreaming
  • Amazing kawakawa – all about this versatile native plant!
    Amazing kawakawa – all about this versatile native plant!
  • BEST chocolate caramel slice (vegan)
    BEST chocolate caramel slice (vegan)
  • Easy feijoa loaf recipe
    Easy feijoa loaf recipe
  • Summer cherry tomato confit
    Summer cherry tomato confit
  • Heavenly spiced feijoa chutney
    Heavenly spiced feijoa chutney
  • Easy Moroccan matbucha salad recipe
    Easy Moroccan matbucha salad recipe
  • Hazelnut granola
    Hazelnut granola

CATEGORIES

  • Ayurvedic Recipes
  • Breakfasts
  • Drinks
  • Essential Oils
  • Featured
  • Ferments
  • Functional Foods
  • Healthy Baking
  • Healthy Dessert Recipes
  • Healthy Dressings + Condiments
  • Kitchen Staples
  • Mains
  • Natural beauty
  • Natural cleaning recipes
  • Natural Health
  • Natural Living
  • Natural Remedies
  • Plant-Based Nutrition
  • Plant-Based Recipes
  • Salads
  • Snacks + Sides
  • Uncategorized
  • Workshops

Footer


PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT
© LAUREN GLUCINA 2012 - 2021, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2023 Ascension Kitchen on the Foodie Pro Theme

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
580 shares
  • 182