friends
we’re missing an hour
never before have
i wanted an hour back
like i do now
daylight saving time
never bothered me before
growing up
either because my body didn’t
register the loss
or the countries i lived in
didn’t participate in DST
it’s an adjustment
certainly
much like making minor
dietary changes
we made the decision
recently to cut back on
our gluten intake,
for health-reasons
and as it happens,
our close friends are
also attempting the gf lifestyle
for less than 2 weeks
i’ve missed bread
i’ve missed pasta
no lie:
i’ve cheated
and i have to remind myself
that much like when i went
dairy free
it’s not so much what i’m missing,
it’s what i could be gaining
the challenges i could tackle
in the kitchen
quinoa chocolate cake – gluten free & dairy free
adapted from Quinoa 365
*note: i baked this cake for my dear friend Nuria’s birthday. i’ve made many, many desserts for this hooker, including her wedding cakes, and she said this was her most favorite. the flour wasn’t missed.
*initially i had wanted to make it a two layered cake with whipped coconut milk but the coconut milk was too runny, though delicious, and i wasn’t confident that it would make the trek to the party. so i topped with powdered sugar and called it a day.
2 cups cooked and cooled quinoa (about 1/2 cup dried quinoa, though just cook a full cup and find another use for the unused)
1/3 cup coconut creamer, i used So Delicious
4 large eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil, liquid but cool
1 cups sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
cook up the quinoa according to package instructions, be sure to fight the urge to NOT cook it with broth, cus i damn near forgot… allow to cool completely.
preheat oven to 350F and prep 2 8″ round pans.
in a bowl, sift the dry ingredients.
in a food processor, whizz up the eggs, coconut oil and coconut creamer. add in the cooled cooked quinoa and process until smooth, or as smooth as you want it to be. pour mixture into the bowl of dried ingredients and mix everything until fully combined.
divvy up into pans equally and bake for 28-30 minutes. the sides will pull clean from the pans.
cool on rack and either top with powdered sugar or frosting of your choice.
BAM!
morestomach 
I love bringing my dancers treats, and most can eat just about anything. But I have a few that are gluten-free, dairy free, vegan or all three! You are going to become my number one source for treat alternatives. Which is nice, because I’m feeling awfully lazy these days, and when someone else does all the research for you, it’s very convenient…
anything i can do to help! i’ve been reading up quite a bit on the GF stuff, if i can provide cliff’s notes versions i will!
Hi Lan, love the idea of cooking with quinoa, will be making this one for sure. Dietary changes can certainly be trying, good for you.
hi cheri,
thank you. please do let me know how this turns out for you!
SO. HARD. to get out of bed this morning. Normally I wake up a few minutes before my alarm. Today, it was like — where am I! What day is it. Help.
Good on you guys for cutting back gluten! Please let me know how it affects your overall sense of health and how you feel as you go along, I’m curious. This cake is beautiful with powdered sugar, I dont think anyone would miss the whipped coconut. Lovely!
i’ve been feeling that way all week! it’s just 60 minutes but i guess with sleep, every second counts.
i’m feeling less bloated and not full, it’s a comfortable fullness. it’s still quite the adjustment!
this looks heavenly delicious! lucky friend of yours 🙂 I havent had gluten or any carbs this whole week because of whole30, will have to revisit this cake once I am back!
oh the willpower you exert dixya!
This took Quinoa to a whole new level of amazing!!!
completely agree!
Quinoa in cakes is something that has been on my to-do list for-ev-er. And this one was ya girl’s favorite cake ever, including her wedding cake? OK, I need to get on this ASAP. PS You’re an awesome friend, and PPS props to you for going GF! Good luck!!
it has a very fudge like consistency, very pleasing to the palate, it’s pretty irresistible.
Yes. So much yes. I love that you can just use quinoa instead of flour for structure!! Would you say this is similar to a brownie? Because I have been craving brownies and if I can make a batch healthier with cooked quinoa…um that is SO happening.
not sure if you saw my IG comment: i talked it over with dw and we have decided that yes, it is dense enough to give you a brownie fix but it’s still pretty light comparatively. this treat will give you all kinds of fixes: cake, chocolate, brownies…
Oh sorry it must have gotten buried!! I will look for it. Mmm a light brownie sounds perfectttt 🙂
This looks so yummy and I bet it tastes even better. I am so glad you are doing this challenge, so I can bake from your recipe on a “healthy” day 🙂
if all alternative baking experiments turned out like this, i’d gladly take up the challenge 🙂 i will admit to being very pleasantly surprised that these came out so well.
Oh my… I think I’ve gone to heaven. Thank you for this incredible-looking recipe, will definitely be trying this soon.
YAY to going gluten-free! I’ve been going grain-free as much as I can since the year started and while I do miss bread and pasta, there are no regrets! I mean, you can even make grain-free bread, and cakes and there are so many creative recipes to try, soon you’ll forget the need for wheat!
sending love and strength for going GF!!
xoxo,
felicia
Great pics and amazing recipe! Thanks for sharing.