Lenten Chocolate Orange Cake

I have a friend who says you can't be both a great cook and a baker, it's either one or the other. If this is true, I'm a baker.  Now finding recipes or tweeking them to be lenten or vegan is a challenge and a lot fun. 

Chocolate Orange Lenten Cake

3 c unbleached flour (can be a combination of whole wheat and all purpose)

1 1/2 c sugar

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 c cocoa

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c apple sauce

1/4 c maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

2 T balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 c water

1/2 c orange juice

2 T orange rind

Icing

Chocolate-1/2 c icing sugar (powdered sugar)

1 T cocoa powder,

2 T orange juice

1/2 t vanilla extract

Orange- same as above, omit cocoa powder.

I use a non-stick canola based baking spray for the pan.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together all above ingredients slowly, leaving the rind last and blend this in.  Bake the cake for approximately 45-55 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Once cooled, mix both icings and slowly spoon over cake.  Fill center with mandarins or sliced oranges.

Enjoy!

This is a fave of ours, but usually I bake it during winter fasts, it's always a hit for the coffee hour table.  During the summer, we have a lot more sorbets and yummy fruits, as well as Zucchini bread.  Hmmm, Zucchini bread, going to have to make that next.

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