Vegan chocolate torte
This decadent vegan dessert is made up of a brownie layer, a dark chocolate ganache layer and truffle batons to decorate. A chocoholic’s dream.
You will need a 20cm/8in loose-bottomed or spring-form tin.
Ingredients
For the brownie layer
- 150²µ/5½´Ç³ú crunchy peanut butter (ideally sugar-free)
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú golden syrup
- 150²µ/5½´Ç³ú caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 25g/1oz cocoa powder
- 275g/10oz dark chocolate
- 100g/3½oz light rye flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
For the chocolate ganache layer
- 100g/3½oz unrefined light muscovado sugar
- 350g/12oz dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces
For the truffle batons
- 240g/8oz dark chocolate
- 120²µ/4½´Ç³ú maple syrup
- 25g/1oz cocoa powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
To decorate
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú dark chocolate, grated
- 1 tsp edible gold shimmer powder
Method
Preheat the oven to 170C/150C Fan/Gas 3. Oil the sides of the tin and line the bottom with baking paper.
To make the brownie layer, heat the peanut butter, syrup, caster sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder and 100ml/3½fl oz of water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir, until well combined. Remove from the heat.
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. (Do not allow the base of the bowl to touch the surface of the water.)
Add the chocolate to the peanut butter mixture and mix thoroughly. Add the rye flour and baking powder and mix by hand, until all the flour is incorporated.
Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 15–20 minutes, until set but squidgy. Leave to cool completely.
To make the ganache layer, heat the sugar and 150g/5oz of water, until simmering.
Put the chocolate in a bowl and cover with the sugar water. Blend with a hand blender, until smooth. Leave to cool for 15 minutes.
Pour the mixture over the brownie and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
To make the truffle batons, melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir in the maple syrup and salt.
Line a roasting tin with cling film and pour in the chocolate mix. It should be approximately 1cm/½ in deep. Refrigerate for an hour.
Once set, cut into 3cm1¼ in long batons and dust in cocoa powder.
Mix the grated chocolate with the gold powder, until the chocolate is sparkly gold.
To serve, release the torte from the tin and put on a plate. Press the golden grated chocolate around the edge and in a halo ring on the top. Stack the batons randomly in the centre. Let it come to room temperature before eating.
Recipe Tips
Use the highest quality dark chocolate you can.