buttermilk chocolate cake recipe {+ cookbook giveaway!!}

by Jen of SewnNatural

Our new Thursday recipe/tutorial feature is off to a huge start with today's chocolate cake recipe... and cookbook giveaway from Cynthia Lair, author of "Feeding the Whole Family - Recipes for Babies, Young Children and Their Parents."

MARY'S BUTTERMILK CHOCOLATE CAKE

I found this recipe in a wonderful cookbook I highly recommend. Cynthia Lair's "Feeding the Whole Family - Recipes for Babies, Young Children and Their Parents". As a mom of a toddler, I'm always on the look-out for quick, delicious and nutritious recipes I can whip up to spice up our meal routine.

The cookbook is packed with simple recipes that excite the tastebuds, employ whole, organic foods and can be easily adapted for everyone around the supper table. You need not be a parent of little kids to enjoy this book - it would be a wonderful treat for anyone.

Check out Cynthia's new humorous {+ fabulous} online cooking show CookusInterruptus, about how to cook fresh local whole foods despite life's interruptions. You can also read her "baby food is not rocket science" article here about how it's best to feed babies "family food".

Note: For a dairy free version, substitute 1 cup soy milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice added for the buttermilk and use melted coconut oil in place of buttter.


image by elana's pantry

Prep time: 45 minutes
Makes 2, 8-inch layers

2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup organic cocoa powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup of maple syrup
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly oil two 8-inch cake pans. Mix flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and stir into flour mixture (do not overstir). Pour batter into cake pans. Bake for 30 minutes or a little less, depending on your oven.

I poured Cynthia Lair's strawberry sauce on for added fruit, presentation and contrast. With strawberries being out of season right now (unless you've stored some away in your freezer from the last harvest), I'd recommend using pears, apples, whatever is freshest & has travelled the least distance to get to your plate.



image by anashruti

STRAWBERRY SAUCE
Prep time: 10 minutes
Makes 1 cup

1 pint organic strawberries
1 tsp lemon or orange juice
1 tbsp maple syrup, honey or agave nectar

Wash and trim strawberries. Place them, the juice, and sweetener in a blender and blend until smooth. Use at once or refrigerate the rest. Will keep a few days in the fridge.

|"Reprinted with permission from Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair".

TODAY'S GIVEAWAY

Cynthia has generously offered one reader a copy of her book!



That's Cynthia 2nd from left!

To enter today's giveaway, simply visit CookusInterruptus and leave a comment about something you enjoyed or learned (one entry per person, please!). This giveaway will end at 9am EST on Sunday, and the winner will be announced soon after.



image by Bruce Tuten

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.

The winner (drawn at random) is... comment #12 Katherine Robb! CONGRATS (now you don't have to go out and buy one!!)