Steamed Black Forest Mud Cake with Vanilla Mascarpone & Vanilla Cherry Jam

Ingredients

GF, VGN, VEG, RSF

2 hrs

12-16

Cake

• 180g good quality salted butter (or coconut oil for dairy free)
• 200g coconut sugar (or 180g brown sugar)
• 150g good quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 100ml milk (or plant based milk of your choice; almond, coconut or oat)
• 1 tbs vanilla extract, powder or paste
• 1 tsp fleur de sel or flaked sea salt
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 190gspelt flour (or 150g buckwheat flour for gluten free)
• 50g cacao powder
• ½ cup dried sour cherries

Vanilla Bean Mascarpone

• 500g mascarpone
• 100ml pure cream 
• 1 tbs vanilla paste, powder or extract​

Vanilla Cherry Jam

• 1 cup good quality cherry jam
• 1 tsp vanilla paste, powder or extract
• 2 tbs brandy (optional) or water​

Method

Cake

1. Add the butter, sugar, dark chocolate and vanilla into a medium saucepan and place onto medium heat until the butter has melted, then set aside to cool slightly.
2. Whisk the milk into the chocolate mixture, then whisk in the eggs.
3. Add the flour, cacao, fleur de sel and sour cherries and fold through.
4. Pour the mixture into a pre lined 20cm round baking tin.

If Baking In A Steam Oven

1. Set your steam oven to 100 degrees Celsius and time for 1.5 hours. 
2. After the cake mixture has been poured into the baking tin cover the cake with two large sheets of baking foil. Cross the foil over each other to ensure the tin is completely enclosed. 
3. Steam the cake for 1.5 hours at 100 degrees. 
4. Remove from the oven then carefully remove the foil and set aside to cool.

If Baking In A Conventional Oven

1. Preheat your oven to 120 degrees Celsius.
2. Place a large baking tray into the bottom of the oven and fill with boiling water. I use the large grill tray in my oven and slide it into the bottom shelf then fill it to the top with hot water. It's easiest to fill the tray with the boiling water while the tray is already in the oven. 
3. Bake the cake for 1.5 hours uncovered.
4. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Vanilla Bean Mascarpone

1. Fold the mascarpone, cream, and vanilla together and set aside.

Vanilla Cherry Jam

1. Mix the cherry jam, vanilla and brandy (or water) together until well combined then set aside.

To Assemble

1. Once the cake has cooled place onto a cake plate or stand. 
2. Pipe or spread and swirl the mascarpone onto the cake, then drizzle with the cherry jam mixture, top with fresh cherries, and freshly shaved chocolate. 
3. You could also bake this cake in a square tin, then cut it into square pieces and serve as brownies without the mascarpone and cherry jam. Enjoy!