Before I embraced plant based nutrition in 2006, I found this recipe in 1998 and made it for Thanksgiving. It is a 3 layer cake that is luscious beyond belief. Of courses, the ingredients in original recipe are animal based - eggs, butter, whole milk.

Here is the recipe veganized:

  • 3 cups all purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 T baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup vegan butter, room temperature (use sticks)
  • 2 T non dairy butter
  • 2 cups pure maple syrup
  • Ener- g egg replacer for 3 eggs
  • 1 flax egg
  • 1 1/4 cups coconut milk
  • 1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

Frosting:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 8 oz package non dairy cream cheese, at room temp
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted vegan butter, room tep
  • 2 T pure maple syrup
  • Toasted walnut halves

Two 8 inch diameter cake pans with 2 inch high sides!!!

Preheat oven to 325. Place racks in oven center.

Butter cake pans and line with parchment paper.

Dust pans with flour, tap out excess.

Sift 3 cups flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl.

Using electric mixer, beat non dairy butter and extra tablespoon in large bowl till light and fluffy. Add maple syrup and beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.

Add the ener-g egg replacer and 1 flax egg , beating well until well blended. 

Beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with non-dairy milk in 2 additions. Fold in walnuts. Divide batter in pans and smooth each top.

Bake cakes for about 50 - 55 minutes. Cook cakes on wire racks for 20 minutes. Invert cakes on wire racks and cool completely.

Frosting:

Sift powdered sugar in medium bowl. Beat cream cheese and non-dairy butter in large bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar and maple syrup and beat just until smooth.

Using serrated knife, trim off domed top of each cake layer, creating flat surface. Place 1 cake layer, trimmed side up, on platter. Spoon 1 cup frosting in dollops over top of cake layer. Top with 2nd layer, trimmed side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and side of cake. 

This cake can be made one day ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill. Bring to room temp before serving.