Buffet, vegans and omnivores

C_J

With regard to a vegan-friendly dessert, I made this "Death By Chocolate" cake for a lunch at work this week, where I have several vegan colleagues. They absolutely raved about it, apparently it was delicious.  It's from Fearne Cotton's recipe book, and it is super super easy to make - I used maple syrup in my version, as I wasn't sure that honey was vegan-friendly:

Death by Chocolate Vegan cake

SERVES 12

FOR THE CHOCOLATE SPONGE

300g white spelt flour, sifted

100g unsweetened cocoa powder

1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp fine sea salt

2 tsp vanilla extract

350g maple syrup or honey

460ml almond milk (homemade from the book or shop-bought) or rice milk

150g coconut oil, melted, plus extra for greasing

1½ tsp cider vinegar

FOR THE COCONUT ICING

3 x 400ml cans full-fat coconut milk, chilled overnight

5 tbsp set honey

5 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

good pinch of fine sea salt

TO DECORATE

handful of fresh strawberries, hulled and halved

chocolate shards (optional, see the book for homemade)

1 tsp icing sugar (optional)

·         Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/350F/gas 4. Lightly grease two 20cm springform round cake tins and line the bases with baking parchment.

·         To make the sponge, combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients except the vinegar. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and fold together. Stir the vinegar into the mixture, then immediately divide evenly between the prepared cake tins. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cakes comes out fairly clean. Remove the cakes from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes, then carefully turn them out on to a wire rack to cool completely.

·         To make the icing, remove the cans of coconut milk from the fridge without shaking them. Remove the lids and carefully scoop out the very firm, set coconut cream at the top, leaving the coconut water in the cans (don’t throw the water away – use it to make soups, curries, porridge or smoothies). Add the thick coconut cream to the bowl of a food processor, followed by the set honey, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and salt, and blitz until completely smooth. Transfer to a bowl, cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.

·         Once the cakes are completely cool (this is important, otherwise the icing will melt), ice both layers and create a sandwich.

·         Decorate the top with the strawberries and, if wished, chocolate shards and a light dusting of icing sugar.

 

pickledonionspaceraider

That looks awesome CJ, but well above my pay grade (I have never made a cake) and far too time consuming

oystercatcher

As a vegetarian and a bit slow on my feet I often find there is not a lot left that I can eat at buffets , omnivores can be very thoughtless ! Maybe make a little announcement before everyone tucks in ?

rach_k

Supermarkets have several vegan desserts in the freezers and fridges e.g. Asda and Aldi both have apple strudel and Elmlea does really nice plant based cream, or there's dairy free ice cream everywhere.

Tesco's frozen Plant Chef range is good - particularly the mini sausage rolls.  Wicked Kitchen in their fridges (dessert and savoury) is nice too.  Iceland have some decent bits in their vegan section.  Morrisons also has nice things, plus fake pork pies that aren't porky but are very nice and are big enough to cut into quarters in the bakery.  Sainsbury's sells Oggs cakes which are expensive but delicious - they do a pack of 9 mini cakes that are great.  Then add breadsticks, baguette, houmous, fruit, veg sticks, salsa, guacamole is sometimes okay... I'd love all that!  

pickledonionspaceraider

rach_k said:

Supermarkets have several vegan desserts in the freezers and fridges e.g. Asda and Aldi both have apple strudel and Elmlea does really nice plant based cream, or there's dairy free ice cream everywhere.

Tesco's frozen Plant Chef range is good - particularly the mini sausage rolls.  Wicked Kitchen in their fridges (dessert and savoury) is nice too.  Iceland have some decent bits in their vegan section.  Morrisons also has nice things, plus fake pork pies that aren't porky but are very nice and are big enough to cut into quarters in the bakery.  Sainsbury's sells Oggs cakes which are expensive but delicious - they do a pack of 9 mini cakes that are great.  Then add breadsticks, baguette, houmous, fruit, veg sticks, salsa, guacamole is sometimes okay... I'd love all that!  

Oh excellent.  I had started feeling a bit overwhemed but this post helps tremendously, thanks 

Rosa_Damascena

Re: the vegan dessert recipes we've had on here - vegan desserts are very creative, but with the exception of the chia delight (which  comes with its own set of side effects) served as a reminder that non-vegan cooked desserts tend to be much healthier.

cod3

The lowest common denominator is that all your guests eat plants.  Why not go all plant-based?  Save on money, time, fighting, washing up and risk of cross contamination.
If you are looking for inexpensive, frozen, vegan buffet food, Farmfoods have a good selection including mini sausage rolls that are ace. 
For pudding I can recommend vegan chocolate pots.  They can be made ahead of time and served in tea cups or glasses with a selection of fruit, nuts and biscuits for topping and dipping - Biscoff and some ginger snaps are vegan.  It is really delicious!
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chocolate-recipes/vegan-chocolate-pots/

cod3

"The only idea i have at the min quorn nuggets. I really am in trouble"
PS...be careful buying Quorn for your guests as most of the range is not vegan-friendly.

rach_k

Rosa_Damascena said:

Re: the vegan dessert recipes we've had on here - vegan desserts are very creative, but with the exception of the chia delight (which  comes with its own set of side effects) served as a reminder that non-vegan cooked desserts tend to be much healthier.

Such as?  I'm struggling to think of any non-vegan cooked dessert that wouldn't be either the same or healthier veganised.  The only really healthy desserts I can think of are fruit-based (so probably nearly vegan anyway).  What am I missing?

Farway

cod3 said:

"The only idea i have at the min quorn nuggets. I really am in trouble"
PS...be careful buying Quorn for your guests as most of the range is not vegan-friendly.

Also be careful, some folk, me included, have a violent vomiting reaction to Quorn, and one person has died from it, like eating peanuts when allergic. Best warn people first