UPDATE: This post has been updated November 2012 to have only palm-oil-free products.

Country Choice Chocolate Organic Sandwich Creme

I had plans to start experimenting with various items on my list right away, but, to tell you the truth, I'm having a little vacation from serious cooking after the weeks of cooking for photographs!  In addition, I've been diagnosed with something called a "Bakers cyst" behind my left knee, so I'm supposed to rest my leg.  So, I was being a bit lazy today and started thinking about foods that really tempt me when I'm down in the dumps-- guilty pleasures.  I didn't want to actually eat any of them, as I've got to lose some weight gained in the last few weeks of cooking more elaborate meals than we are used to, but I thought it might be fun to make a list of some of my vegan "guilty pleasures" in the food department.

Below is my baker's dozen list of indulgences (it could be longer, but I have to stop somewhere!), which includes some things that we only indulge in about once a year, some items that we only eat in restaurants, and at least one that is very mundane!  None of them is a complete loss nutritionally, but they are all quite rich, sometimes downright oily-- definitely not everyday food for me!
UPDATE:  I had to add another one, so it's 14 now!

So what are your guilty pleasures?  (Food only please!)

14 of mine are:

#1: Country Choice Organic Chocolate Sandwich Cremes (veganessentials carries them, too)-- a once or twice a year indulgence--  I like the traditional chocolate with vanilla creme version, but there are others. Unlike my former favorite (Newman-O's) and every other vegan version of this favorite cookie, Country Choice Organic contains NO PALM OIL!



#2: Peppery Chinese deep-fried oyster mushrooms-- we have these at the Whole Vegetarian Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant that was formerly the Bo Kong, on Broadway and 14th.  So yummy!  Here's a recipe, but use vegetarian "chicken" broth powder and use black pepper. There's a western version from Chef Ken Bergeron here.



#3: Brown Basmati Rice with vegan butter-- I don't know why, but I crave this sometimes!  (Generally I don't "butter" my rice!) On the rare occasions when I eat "buttered rice" I use my homemade palm-oil-free vegan "Buttah", but I understand that a commercial vegan palm-oil-free vegan spread will be available in North America soon.



#4: Glazed Yeast Doughnuts-- a childhood favorite. Here's a new recipe for glazed, yeast-raised vegan sweet potato doughnuts.



#5: Potato Kibbeh (recipe here), a Middle Eastern specialty made from  bulgur wheat, mashed potatoes, herbs, onions and LOTS of olive oil.  It's so delicious, but it just does not lend itself to low-fat versions.



#6: Vegetable Tempura (recipe below), another fried dish that we indulge in almost exclusively at Japanese restaurants, though our Japanese friends serve it sometimes and I make it once or twice a year.  I particularly like sweet potato tempura.



The odd time that I make it, here's the recipe I use:

Printable Recipe

Here is my latest low-fat version of what my family calls "Mudpie Cake" (not to be confused with "Mississippi Mud Pie Cake", "Mississippi Mud Cake" or even "Dirt Cake"!), a WWII-era cake (also called Wacky Cake, Cockeyed Cake, "Hole-In-The-Middle” Cake, or Crazy Cake) that continues to be popular today, especially with vegans, since you need no dairy or eggs to make it!

It is commonly believed that Wacky Cake may have been created as the result of rationing during World War II. Here's a quote from foodtimeline.org: "Wacky cake is an interesting study in culinary chemistry. What sets modern Wacky Cake apart from other chocolate cakes? Vinegar and method. WWI-era Dump Cakes likely provided inspiration. They do not, however, include vinegar. Depression-era Crazy cakes feature cocoa, baking soda & baking powder. No vinegar. In sum, recipes with these names vary greatly according to place and period. The connecting culinary threads are innovation, efficiency, and deliciousness."
AND:
"Wacky cake is but one example of the tradition of 'make do' cakes that were popular during times of short supply. Contrary to popular opinion, eggless, milkless cakes were not invented at that time, they were revived from WWI days (which were revived from pioneer days). Dump Cake is another descendant of Wacky Cake in method.
'Dump cake. A cake made by "dumping" the ingredients directly into the baking pan, mixing them, and baking the batter.'
---Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink, John F. Mariani [Lebhar-Friedman:New York] 1999 (p. 117)"

Dump Cake contained eggs, but the wartime cakes did not, since they were rationed in those times. Water or leftover coffee were used instead of milk, as well, making this dark, tender cake perfect for vegans!

The WWII version was called "Wacky", Cockeyed", "Hole-In-The-Middle”, or "Crazy" Cake because of the method: the dry ingredients were dumped into the baking pan and a depression was made in the middle, into which the wet ingredients were poured, and then the whole thing quickly mixed and baked.

The only reference to "Mudpie" or "Mud Pie" cake I could find was to a recipe for the cake designed for children, in which the dry ingredients are shaken in a plastic bag, dumped into the pan and then mixed with the wet ingredients. I've never done that, but we've always called it "Mudpie Cake".

I don't mix the ingredients in a baking pan anymore because I use less oil in the batter now than I used to, and that might cause it to stick to the pan. But it's still easy to make and you only have one bowl to rinse out!

My kids loved making this cake and, especially, eating it! I have been refining my lower-fat version of this cake over the years, and also trying to use more wholegrain flour. This version contains almost half wholewheat pastry flour and substitutes applesauce for some of the oil. It is still easy, chocolate-y, and tender, so we often use it as a layer cake, a sheet cake (this recipe will make either one-- halve it for an 8x8" square snack cake), or for cupcakes (this recipe makes 24). I do have other chocolate cake recipes that I like, but DH likes this one the best!

You can use any frosting you like on this cake, but I made it with this one for DH's granddaughter's birthday. It contains a favorite combination of ingredients.


Printable Recipe

BRYANNA'S CHOCOLATE MUDPIE CAKE WITH COFFEE/COCONUT/PECAN FROSTING
Servings: 18
Yield: One 9 x 13" sheet cake OR 24 cupcakes
**Measure the flour after aerating it in the bag with a spoon, then sift it.

DRY MIX:
1 1/2 cups white cake or pastry flour, sifted after measuring
1 cup wholewheat pastry flour
(It is important to use pastry flour [or cake and pastry flour], since the amount of fat in the recipe is reduced. IF YOU HAVE NO PASTRY FLOUR, use 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch and add unbleached flour to make 1 1/2 cups.)
2 cups brown sugar
2/3 cups organic, fair trade unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
WET MIX:
2 cups water (cold coffee can be used instead, if you like)
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup smooth applesauce
(OR, you can make a lower fat cake by using 1/2 cup applesauce and 1/4 cup oil instead.)
2 tablespoons cider or malt vinegar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
BRYANNA'S VEGAN COFFEE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
1/2 cup vegan "butter" (try my palm oil-free Vegan Buttah!)
3/4 lb organic powdered sugar
5 1/2 teaspoons nondairy milk
3/4 tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder
1/2 tablespoon coffee liqueur (such as Kahlua)-- or you can use Amaretto or rum or brandy
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
OR, if you do not use the liquor, use 2 teaspoons vanilla plus 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 cup chopped, toasted pecans
1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes (the larger kind)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil, or spray with oil, a 9 x 13" cake pan; or 2/ 8" square pans; or 2/ 9-10" round cake pans; or 12 muffin cups (You can also use silicone muffin cup liners). You might like to line the bottom of your pan(s) with baking parchment, cut to fit.

Whisk the dry ingredients together well in a medium bowl. Blend the liquid ingredients in a blender until smooth, then pour into the dry ingredients and mix BRIEFLY with a whisk (important) until smooth-- do NOT beat the batter. The batter will be quite runny.

Scrape into prepared pan(s). (If you use paper cupcake liners, spray them with cooking spray, or use silicone liners.)

Bake for the 9 X13" pan for 45 minutes; smaller pans for 25 minutes; cupcakes for about 20 minutes; or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Cool on a rack thoroughly before eating (this improves flavor-- I don't think this cake is at its best when still warm). Frost the cooled cake and serve right from the pan if you like, or gently loosen and invert on a plate after cooling it off for about 20 minutes, then ice after it cools.

To make the Frosting:
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the Earth Balance until smooth. Add 2 cups of the powdered sugar and the remaining ingredients. Beat until creamy. It may look curdled- don't worry!

Add the remaining sugar, a little at a time, as you beat it, until it holds it shape well and you can see "trails" in it from the beaters. Adjust sugar or liquid (TINY drops at a time!) as needed. It will firm up when refrigerated.

Stir in the nuts and coconut until well distributed. Refrigerate (covered) until it's time to frost the cake.

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 399.2 calories; 37% calories from fat; 17.4g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 258.7mg sodium; 220.2mg potassium; 60.6g carbohydrates; 3.0g fiber; 43.1g sugar; 57.5g net carbs; 3.2g protein; 8.8 points.

NUTRITION FACTS FOR CAKE WITH NO FROSTING:
Nutrition (per serving): 220.6 calories; 26% calories from fat; 6.7g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 203.5mg sodium; 176.9mg potassium; 39.8g carbohydrates; 2.1g fiber; 23.7g sugar; 37.7g net carbs; 2.5g protein; 4.6 points.
NUTRITION FACTS FOR CUPCAKES WITH NO FROSTING:
Nutrition (per cupcake): 165.5 calories; 26% calories from fat; 5.0g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 152.6mg sodium; 132.7mg potassium; 29.9g carbohydrates; 1.6g fiber; 17.8g sugar; 28.3g net carbs; 1.9g protein; 3.4 points.
NUTRITION FACTS FOR CUPCAKES WITH FROSTING:
Nutrition (per cupcake): 299.4 calories; 37% calories from fat; 13.0g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 194.0mg sodium; 165.2mg potassium; 45.4g carbohydrates; 2.3g fiber; 32.4g sugar; 43.2g net carbs; 2.4g protein; 6.6 points.


Enjoy!