Frozen Avocado Cake Food

FROZEN AVOCADO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly butter the inside of a 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan.
• Make the crust: Crumble the crackers and cookies into a medium bowl. Use a pestle or the bottom of a heavy bottle to crush them into fine crumbs. Add ⅓ cup (75 ml) of the condensed milk and stir until very well combined. (You can grind the crumbled graham crackers and mix them with the condensed milk in a food processor if you prefer.) Press the crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake until the crust looks a little darker and smells sweet and toasty, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool the crust in the pan on a wire rack.
• One at a time, cut an avocado in half lengthwise. Twist the halves to separate them. Hold the half with the pit in one hand. Holding the knife in your other hand, rap the knife blade into the pit to lodge it there. Twist the knife to loosen and remove the pit. Use a large spoon to scoop the avocado flesh onto a chopping board, discarding the skins. Coarsely chop the avocados.
• Add the chopped avocados, cream cheese, remaining condensed milk, and salt to a food processor. (You can combine the filling in a blender instead but you may need to work in batches.) Grate the zest of 1 lemon and set aside. Squeeze the zested lemon and the limes (you should have about ⅓ cup/75 ml lemon), reserving the remaining lemon for garnish. Add the juice to the avocados and process the mixture until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Spread the filling in the cooled crust and sprinkle with the grated lemon zest. Cover the pan and freeze until the filling is firm, at least 6 hours or preferably overnight.
• Let the frozen cake stand at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before slicing. Dipping a thin knife into hot water between each cut, slice the cake into wedges and serve, topping each serving with freshly grated lemon zest.

EASY VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease two 20cm sandwich tins with a little dairy-free sunflower spread, then line the bases with baking parchment.
• Put 1 large avocado and 300g light muscovado sugar in a food processor and whizz until smooth.
• Add 350g gluten-free plain flour, 50g cocoa powder, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda, 2 tsp gluten-free baking powder, 400ml unsweetened soya milk, 150ml vegetable oil and 2 tsp vanilla extract to the bowl with ½ tsp fine salt and process again to a velvety, liquid batter.
• Divide between the tins and bake for 25 mins or until fully risen and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cakes comes out clean.
• Cool in the tins for 5 mins, then turn the cakes onto a rack to cool completely.
• While you wait, start preparing the frosting. Beat together 85g ripe avocado flesh and 85g dairy-free sunflower spread with electric beaters until creamy and smooth. Pass through a sieve and set aside.
• Melt 200g dairy-free chocolate, either over a bowl of water or in the microwave, then let it cool for a few mins.
• Sift 25g cocoa powder into a large bowl. Bring 125ml unsweetened soya milk to a simmer, then gradually beat into the cocoa until smooth. Cool for a few mins.
• Tip in the avocado mix, 200g sifted icing sugar, melted chocolate and 1 tsp vanilla, and keep mixing to make a shiny, thick frosting. Use this to sandwich and top the cake.
• Cover with sprinkles or your own decoration, then leave to set for 10 mins before slicing. Can be made 2 days ahead.

AVOCADO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and allspice in a large bowl.
• Blend eggs, avocado, and milk smooth.
• Pour into dry ingredients. Stir until combined.
• Fold in lemon zest.
• Pour batter into a 9 x 13 baking pan or 2 round pans properly prepared.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Dust with powdered sugar or frost with a complimentary frosting.

PRESERVING AVOCADO (FROZEN)

Steps:

• Puree the avocado with the lemon juice.
• Place in zip locks meant for the freezer, leaving a little "head" space for expansion.
• Date the bag and lay flat to freeze.
• I like to be sure the bag is no more than an inch thick. This way it is easy to break off a small piece.