Mississippi Mud Pie Cake
A supremely luxurious chocolatey, squidgy cake. Yum!
This chocolate lovers’ dessert will make enough for at least 8 people. Each slice is richly satisfying and is a cross between a gateau and a pud. It keeps well in the fridge for for a good week (if you can resist it for that long), so should provide you with many second helpings!
Select Dates 500g (Infinity Foods)
200g pitted dates
Bicarbonate of Soda 100g (Sussex Wholefoods)
1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
Organic Cocoa Powder 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods)
60g cocoa powder
70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, Organic 90g (Green & Blacks)
150g chocolate, melted
Ground Almonds 1Kg (Sussex Wholefoods)
75g ground almonds
Organic Brown Rice Flour, Gluten-Free 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods)
175g brown rice flour
Vanilla Paste 100ml (LittlePod)
1 tsp vanilla paste
Xylitol 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods)
120g Xylitol
Other Ingredients
250g low-fat yoghurt
250ml boiling water
125g reduced fat cream cheese
2 large eggs
Method
1) Pre-heat oven to 170°C/Fan 150°C/Gas Mark 3.
2) Put the dates, water and bicarbonate of soda in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high for 3 minutes or until the dates are soft. When cooled/luke warm, puree the dates to a smooth paste, either with the back of a fork in or a food processor. N.B. Some inner fibres from the dates may not grind down, so remove these by hand.
3) Put the date puree, yoghurt, melted chocolate, cocoa powder, ground almonds, rice flour, salt, vanilla paste and egg yolks into a large bowl and mix to a smooth batter.
4) In separate bowl, beat the egg whites, gradually adding the sugar until the mix is stiff and glossy. Fold into the batter mix until just combined.
5) Pour the mixture into an oiled, circular cake tin – approximately 23cm/9 inch diameter. Bake in the middle of the oven for 50-60mins or until there is a slight spring in the middle of the cake. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before turning out.
For the topping or ‘icing’:
1) Sift the cocoa powder into the same bowl as the cream cheese/creme fraiche.
2) Add the honey or Xylitol, and Vanilla Paste and mix thoroughly.
3) Using a palette knife/butter knife or the back of a dessert spoon, spread the topping evenly over the top and around the side of the cake. Create whatever pattern you wish e.g.: concentric circles, soft peaks, etc.
4) Gently sift a little cocoa over the top of the cake then serve. Optional: You may also like to garnish the middle of the cake with loosely piled chocolate shards or quills.
