Ox Blood Chocolate Cake

Ox Blood Chocolate Cake

Posted by The Little Aussie Bakery & Cafe 

An older style cake, popular from the late 1800s, and hence the total lack of regard for the marketability of its name. It was named for the acid and alkali reaction of Cocoa and Buttermilk of the day that created a dark red/brown (Ox blood red) color in the cake.

Ox Blood Chocolate Cake: named for the deep red-brown color created by cocoa and buttermilk ingredients

The Recipe: yields 2-9″ round pans or 1-9″x 13″ square pan

This version of the cake has been modified from the original recipe to be gluten and dairy free. And oh, I almost forgot, no Oxen were harmed in the production of this cake. (Vegetarian friendly, not Vegan)

For a dairy free version, you’ll need to create a non-dairy buttermilk substitute:
1. Add 1 Tbs vinegar/lemon juice to 1 cup of coconut cream, mix well, and let stand 15 minutes – until curdling occurs.

2.   In a heat-resistance bowl, mix 1 tsp dry instant coffee, 1 cup cocoa, and 1 Tbs vanilla essence into 1 cup of hot water. Leave to cool.

3.   In large bowl, combine 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp guar gum, and 3/4 cups Earth Balance (our preferred vegan margarine – butter may be used instead if dairy is tolerated). Cream together well.

4.   To the butter-sugar mixture, add one at a time: 4 medium eggs, beating well after each addition. Blend with this, the  1 cup of buttermilk (or non-dairy substitute created in step #1),

5.  Combine the cool cocoa mixture to the butter-sugar-eggs, and beat till smooth.

6.  Add  1 Tbs baking soda and 2 cups of All-Purpose gluten free flour (our ownLittle Aussie blend recommended!), and beat mixture till smooth

7.  Pour batter into pre-greased  cake pan. Will fit either:  2 round 9″ pans, or 1 square 9″ x 13″

8.  Bake in oven pre-heated to 350°F until a test toothpick comes out clean.
- round pans: 30 – 35 minutes
- square pan: 35 – 40 minutes

9.  Cool and turn out to rack