Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

Image courtesy of chicagoist.com

One of my greatest edible joys are fresh summer cherries. I wait for them to appear in the markets with the loyalty of a rescue dog. I am especially fond of the plump and golden Mt Rainier cherries. Last week I began to purchase and hoard them. Every time I went to the store for this or that I grabbed a bag full of cherries. All of a sudden I had a fridge full of them that needed to be eaten so I created this dessert.

Mt Rainier Lava Cakes

By: S. Duquet

This ingredient list will create four individual lava cakes. Because  I had so much topping left, I was able to make an additional 8 inch round pan of brownies (which was cool). If you have the cherries, time and patience you can make more lava cakes.

Filling Ingredients

3 1/2 C pitted and chopped Rainier cherries (or any fresh, sweet cherry)

2 tsp vanilla

2 tsp agave

juice of 1 lemon

Topping Ingredients

I used the Dark Chocolate Brownie recipe from the Engine 2 Diet because it is vegan, oil free and amazing

Ingredients

1/2 C light brown sugar, packed

1/2 C raw sugar

1 C unsweetened applesauce

1 Tbsp Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 1/4 C water (whisk this really well)

1/4 C + 2 Tbsp soy milk (or non dairy milk of your choice. I added a bit more because the batter looked dry to me.)

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/1/2 C whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 1/4 C 60 percent or greater cocoa powder (I did not have this so I used the extra dark cocoa powder)

1 1/2 C dairy free dark chocolate chocolate chips or chunks ( I used a 71 % cocoa chocolate bar that I cut into pieces which was divine)

Make It Happen

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~Put pitted and chopped cherries, vanilla, agave and lemon juice in a bowl and set aside to mingle

~To make the topping, combine the sugars and applesauce with an electric mixer. Beat in Ener-G mixture, soy milk, vanilla and vinegar.

~Combine the dry ingredients (except the chocolate chips or chunks) in a separate bowl. Whisk out any lumps.  Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, then stir in the chocolate chips.

~Spoon the cherry mixture evenly between  four ramekins and top with the brownie batter. The batter does not expand significantly when baking so I piled it on.

Bake in a 350 degree oven until the tops are slightly domed and shiny and look like a thoroughly cooked brownie.  The insides will remain liquidy.

I served ours with Chocolate Obsession vegan ice cream and the anticipation of a child waiting at the locked gates of Disney World. This is one of the most delicious desserts I have ever had.

The baked cherries are plump and tangy under their blanket of dark chocolate lava. They are somehow the star even though they are enveloped by a dark chocolate embrace.

Pitting the cherries is a labor of love but you will be rewarded by the unbelievable flavor and presentation of this dessert.

The added bonus was having a pan of brownies the next day for another guest. Do the work once and benefit twice…thank you incredibly easy compassionate dessert.

Have a delicious day.

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