Gluten free blueberry & dark chocolate cake

This decadent gluten free cake is absolutely perfect for a celebration. I served it this past weekend for my wonderful mum and little sister's birthday. We had a lovely family brunch and finished off our meal with big slices of cake.

I love that this cake looks pretty but also a little effortless — like you threw it all together and it just happened to land in a really beautiful way. You'll find the preparation fairly simple and the gorgeous combination of dark chocolate and blueberries is guaranteed to completely charm whoever you're serving it up to

Rather than fussy icing, I use a honey sweetened vanilla mascarpone cheese. I pile it up roughly on top and sprinkle the whole thing with roughly chopped chocolate. 

Have a wonderful week. I hope it brings good things your way. Kelly x

Gluten free chocolate & blueberry cake w/ honey vanilla mascarpone

1 & 1/2 cups dates - soaked in hot water for 10 minutes

Heaped 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 lightly heaped tsp gluten free baking powder

1 tsp vanilla extract or seeds from 1 vanilla pod

1/4 cup melted coconut oil or butter

5 free range eggs - lightly beaten

2 cups almond meal

1 heaped cup blueberries (I used frozen blueberries, do not thaw first)

125 grams dark chocolate - roughly chopped.

Preheat oven to 165 degrees celsius

Place the dates into a food processor and blitz until you have a rough puree,

Add the vanilla, nutmeg, baking powder, coconut oil and cocoa. Process until well combined.

Add the eggs and half the blueberries. Process until only just combined. 

Pour the batter into a bowl and fold through the almond meal, chocolate and remaining blueberries.

Pour / spoon the batter into a greased and lined cake tin. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface.

Bake for 50 - 55 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.

Will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge.

Vanilla and Honey Mascarpone

250 grams mascarpone cheese

seeds from one vanilla pod or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 heaped Tbsp honey or maple syrup

Whip all the ingredients together until well combined.

Pile the mascarpone on top of the cake. Spread evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings or roughly chopped nuts.