Celebration Chocolate Mocha Cake

My house smells like cake! And when there is cake in December, that means 1 thing,,,,,it’s Christmas time!!!!

We decided a while ago, when the children were years younger, that we wanted to make sure they understood the reason why we celebrated Christmas. It wasn’t about Santa, elves or getting the things we wanted, but it was about the gift we received even though we didn’t deserve it. It was and IS about Christ and his birth. And with any good birthday celebration, there is cake!

Every year on Christmas Eve, we make and decorate a cake for Jesus. The kids help pick what kind of cake we make, argue decide who gets to what job in the area of measuring/sifting/mixing and they even help with decorating if I haven’t kicked them out of the kitchen by that point. Its not always the prettiest of cakes but the fact that they are engaged and excited about it, make it all the more delicious looking.

Then on Christmas morning, before any gifts are opened, we join at the table and I bring out the cake. We thank God for our year, we sing “Happy Birthday”, blow out the candles and eat cake for breakfast ( its not any different than muffins, donuts or pancakes, right?) .

The kids love this tradition and I love that its the first thing they do before opening their gifts. It just keeps the morning in perspective for us. If you are looking for a new way to celebrate Christmas, feel free to make this Birthday cake part of it. But whatever tradition you have for your family, I pray that you always remember the reason for the season and that your Christmas is a happy one shared with family and friends.

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Celebration Chocolate Mocha Cake

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

This chocolate cake is easy to make, delicious and perfect for any celebration!

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Ingredients

• 3 C. Unbleached all purpose flour *
• 2 C. Cane sugar (or Coconut sugar)
• 2/3 C.Cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. Baking soda
• 1 tsp. Fine sea salt
• 2 C. Cold coffee (or water)
• 1 C. Melted coconut oil (or Vegetable oil)
• 1/4 C. Apple cider vinegar
• 1 TB. Pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease and flour two 9" cake rounds. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together coffee, oil, vinegar and vanilla.
4. Pour liquid mixture into the dry and mix until combined.
5. Fill each cake pan evenly with batter (I like to use a measuring cup to be accurate).
6. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
7. If you do not have a convection oven, make sure you rotate your cake halfway through.
8. Cool completely before removing from pan and decorating.
9. Decorate with icing of your choice.

Notes

I've also made this with Bob's Red Mill, 1-to-1 GF Flour. No need to add Xanthan Gum.If you use another GF flour, just check if Xanthan is needed. Mostly likely you will need to add 1/2 tsp.