This time, the bundt cake worked.
Back in college when I was cooking and baking a lot, I was also working out 2 hours a day and teaching step class. I had a few recipes that were labeled "low fat" that I made often, and this is one of them. I modified my old recipe as it called for 8 egg whites.
Yep, I used to be a cake eating weight lifter.
Don't let the "low fat" designation fool you, though - this is the finest ruse in all of baking. It is decadent and rich, moist and fluffy. It is delicious.
decadent chocolate bundt cake
dairy, egg and gluten free, vegan
makes one bundt
2 tablespoons chia seeds
¾ cup water
½ box silken tofu, whipped
1 ¼ cup almond milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons instant coffee
1 cup sour cream (Tofutti)
2 (2 ½ ounce) jars baby food prunes
1 box chocolate cake mix (gluten free devils food)
1 (4 ounce) box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup chocolate chips (trader joes dairy free)
powdered sugar, to decorate
Combine chia seeds and water, set aside to gel. Whip tofu until fluffy, add chia gel and continue to whip. In another bowl, combine almond milk, apple cider vinegar and instant coffee. Combine milk and chia/tofu mixtures, sour cream, and prunes. Add cake and pudding mixes, stir until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared (buttered or sprayed, floured) bundt pan, bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes clean.
Cool completely, top with sifted powdered sugar. Optionally, drizzle with melted dark chocolate.
So now you know the ruse includes baby food prunes. Seriously, they are essential to the cake, in the best way. Trust me on this one, this cake is amazing.
I have been meaning to share this cake with you for a while - and when Deb of Kahakai Kitchen chose My Big Fat Greek Wedding as the Food n Flix this month, I knew what I was going to make before I even re-watched the movie.
In the movie, when the two sets of parents are meeting for the first time, the groom's mother brings a bundt to dinner. Mama Portokalos didn't know what it was.
"What is it?"
"Buuunnnn... dt?"
"There's a hole in this cake."
Later when serving it, she presented it with a pot of flowers in the middle.
Come on, you cannot be surprised I did that.
I am having fun participating in food 'n flix for my second month, and this is a fun movie so I was happy to watch it again!
Growing up next door to a huge Italian family, and being best friends with one of the five kids in that family, I can relate to the movie in this way. In fact, my family, while not as large, is most certainly as loud! We are always talking, laughing, eating... some of the main events in the Portokalos family as well.
I love the sweet father, who really just wants what is best for his daughter. I love the brothers and cousins, not only for being protective of Toula, but for the hilarious "teaching" of Greek phrases to the groom to be.
Sticking to traditions that are important and make sense, while bending the rules on some others seems like a good summation of this fun film, and a good way to approach life in general.
Meanwhile, I'm enjoying new flowers in my kitchen window. and some chocolate cake.
To see a roundup of all Greek Wedding inspirations, visit Kahakai Kitchen in the next couple days.
To participate or host a month with your own movie choice, visit Food ‘n Flix for more information and to see the upcoming movies.
debra says
Looks and sounds yummy! But with tofu as an ingredient, it surely isn't soy free 🙂
spabettie says
gosh, Debra, thank you. with all that is going on in life right now, I seem to be screwing up a lot lately! thanks for pointing that out, certainly not soy free. corrected. 🙂
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
That 2nd to last pic with the yellow flowers against the choc cake...so beautiful it looks fake! WOW spectacular photography and food styling.
Not hard to food style this beauty I'm thinking...dark, choc, rich...amazing!
spabettie says
thanks, Averie! I know, I was thinking the flower photos look fake...
Mom Foodie says
Dang, I could really go for a nice big fat slice of that 😀
spabettie says
I wish I could share it with you!! 🙂
Jean | Lemons and Anchovies says
Your pictures are so enticing. I wouldn't need a second invitation to dig into a slice of this cake but the fact that it's a healthier version? Two slices, please! 🙂
spabettie says
yes, you can totally justify two slices! and thank you - I had fun taking these photos, with the flowers and all!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Being married to a Greek husband with a Greek family, straight off the boat (as they say) I cannot stop hysterically laughing every single time I watch that movie. It is so very true....all of it.
My favorite line.."oh he's a vegetarian...I make him lamb" The bundt cake part is my second fave 😉
spabettie says
I love the vegetarian part too... I love all of it, big families are SO fun! I bet you have a blast with your in laws!?!? 😀
Evan Thomas says
Yum! My favorite bakery down the road sells a vegan gluten-free bundt cake like this that's one of the best I've ever had.
spabettie says
Evan, I wish I could share this - I know you'd like it!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
One of my all time favorite movies! I love Toula for fighting for the one she loves and how they learn to accept Ian and he learns so accept them. Such an incredible love story and life lesson. Oh and I'm part Greek, so I like seeing that traditional lifestyle even though I've never lived any part of it. The cake sounds incredible!
spabettie says
yes, I love that too. and Ian's parents, oh my. when they're drinking the ouzo?? too funny. but yeah, true love always makes a good movie 😀
Shannon Roche says
I love bundt cakes. Chocolate and bundt cakes combined are just beyond heavenly. I mix pureed beans into sweets all the time, so I guess prunes aren't really all that shocking. 🙂
spabettie says
see, yes! and the prunes are sweet and add this richness... mmm...
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
Absolutely beautiful! And love that yellow with the blue. So bright and cheerful.
spabettie says
yes, I love the flowers now - they do cheer me up 🙂
Abby says
Windex! Use Windex!
Sorry, I just love that part of the movie 😉
And although I can't eat tofu, your cake looks beautiful. It's practically a work of art.
spabettie says
oh, I LOVE the windex part... and how he says he woke up the morning of the wedding with a blemish, and it's gone now because he windexed it! the only reason I used tofu was as part of the egg replacer... you could take that and the chia out and add 8 egg whites?