Vegan's Chronicles

Kabocha cake!

Do you ever crave something that is completely out of season?

IMG_1681.jpg

Like fall pumpkin bread in the middle of summer?

IMG_1944.jpg

I know it's always best to eat foods that are in-season, but I recently ordered some pure kabocha flour from this baking website and simply had to put it to good use. :) It's 100% kabocha that has been dried and turned into a fine powder. I think I actually prefer this to cans of pumpkin puree because it's very easy to measure, you don't have to worry about what to do with any awkward leftovers, and it gives an intense pumpkin flavor and bright orange color to baked goods.

IMG_1695.jpg

This bread turned out sooooo good, especially for the first attempt! It looks like a heavy, dense loaf, but it's surprisingly light. The texture is very moist with a soft crumb. I also think it's the perfect amount of sweetness. Just enough to make you feel like you're having a treat, but not enough to give you a sugar rush.

IMG_1707.jpg

Summer Kabocha Cake
makes two small loaves, or one standard loaf

200g all purpose flour
30g kabocha flour/powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp all spice
1/8 tsp ground cloves

210g water
150g sugar
75g grape seed oil
12g brown rice vinegar

handful pumpkin seeds

1. Preheat oven to 350F or 175C, lightly oil and flour your baking pans
2. Sift all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Mix well.
3. Whisk all wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
4. Add the dry to the wet ingredients and fold until just incorporated.
5. Gently fold in the pumpkin seeds (or whatever add-ins you desire).
6. Spoon batter into baking pans and spread evenly with the back of a spatula. Sprinkle top with more pumpkin seeds.
7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
8. Remove from oven and let rest in pan for about 10 minutes before turning out and letting cool on a rack. Enjoy!

IMG_1709.jpg

Tea time!

IMG_1731.jpg
IMG_1735.jpg

Happy happy joy joy~

IMG_1867.jpg

Oh, but wait, what's this??

IMG_1872.jpg
IMG_1854.jpg

I loved the first loaf so much that I made another one today, with ground flax seeds and a few alterations to make it slightly more substantial. Oh, and I added chocolate chips and walnuts. Ohhhh yeaaa.

IMG_1886.jpg

Mmm, this stuff is the ultimate.

IMG_1934.jpg

And for those in Korea, you can order your very own loaf from the bake shop! :)

IMG_1911.jpg