Thursday, January 19, 2012

Improv Challenge Vegan Lemon Cake with Sour Cream Icing

This is Improv Challenge number 2 for me.  Thanks so much to Kristen for hosting us all here.

The ingredients this month were lemon and sour cream.

I could not have been happier with these two because as soon as I heard them I knew I wanted to make cake.

Not just any ordinary cake but vegan lemon cake with sour cream icing (yes they do make vegan sour cream).


This is just a simple, single layer, cake with mild lemon flavor.  Perfect with a cup of hot tea, or coffee.

Ingredients:

1 lemon (juice and rind)
1 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 C sugar
1 tsp baking soda
6 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
water

In bowl place your flour, sugar, and baking soda.  Then mix together.

In a measuring cup put the grated rind of your lemon, juice of the lemon, and then fill the measuring cup up with water to reach the 1 C mark.

Pour into dry ingredients and then add your oil, vinegar, and vanilla.

Mix thoroughly and place in an ungreased cake pan (I used a spring form pan, but you could also use an 8" square).

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

If you double the recipe you could make a layer cake.

Sour Cream Icing:

4 Tbsp Earth Balance (softened)
1/2 C vegan sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
2 3/4 - 3 C powdered sugar

Mix all of the ingredients and then ice the cooled cake.

You should start out with about 2 3/4 C sugar but if you want it thicker just add a little more.  I ended up using about 3 cups because I wanted a thicker consistency.

The end result was delicious and approved by 3 out of 3 children.

The cake is incredibly moist and could stand on its own as a quick bread, but the icing just adds a little yum factor.

Here have a slice!


Be sure to check out the other tasty creations my fellow bloggers have put together with lemon and sour cream.

I hope you have a wonderful Thursday.

Improv Challenge



23 comments:

  1. Hello fellow Improver! This looks delicious. I just want to eat the whole thing! Come on over and visit. We made a terrific soup for the challenge.

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  2. That's a new one for me - I had no idea they made a vegan sour cream! Love how the icing drips over the side just beckoning to me!

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  3. Guess I'm not the only one baking with lemon this week:-) Your cake looks terrific!

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  4. This looks delicious. I love how you have the icing dropping over the sides. I dropped by from the Improv Challenge!

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  5. This looks like such an elegant cake - sounds perfect for tea or coffee :) I'm loving this challenge, so glad I joined.

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  6. This is seriously tempting! I love your idea for this month's challenge. Following your blog :)

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  7. What brand is the sour cream. I have used Tofutti sour cream to avoid the dairy. Your photo is calling my name.

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  8. Hi Rachel!

    Oh, that is a very tempting slice of cake! It looks delicious! So nice stopping by to meet you!

    Kindly, Lorraine

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  9. I haven't done any vegan cooking yet but I've been wanting to give it a try...this cake looks like a great starting place!

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  10. Oh how I love a simple lemon cake. And your glaze looks just amazing!!! : )

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  11. looks delish! (Your cake recipe looks like "wacky cake" gone lemon instead of cocoa -- what a great idea!)

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  12. I'm going to pass on your site to my niece. She's vegan and keeps asking me about substitutes for recipes and I'm totally at a loss. I don't believe I've seen vegan sour cream here but where she is, she'll have no problem. Thanks!

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  13. I have this high weakness for any food with sour flavor and yes, this cake will be one of those I will try out, simple and being vegan is all the most great. Since of late I have become a vegetarian but still cook meat for my hubby. With having just started my baking journey, a simple cake makes it easy for me. Thank you for sharing.

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  14. Amazing work Rachel! This cake looks super scrumptious... and hats off to you for making it all vegan! :) I must find out whether we can buy vegan sour cream over here as it would be so useful for dinners and desserts.

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  15. We don't have vegan sour cream here but I will definitely be giving this a try. Lemon and sour cream -- yum! Anything with those two ingredients has got to be good.. Best wishes to you, Tammy

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  16. Wow does this recipe look delicious! I love lemon-flavored cake! And I have got to try that icing =)

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  17. I am hoping that everyone, no matter what their diet, will be able to find things to make with the chosen improv ingredients. You did a fabulous job with that cake!!

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  18. Great use of the lemon and sour cream...and hat's off for being able to make it vegan! Your cake looks delicious. :)

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  19. Ah, what a fabulous cake! Love the dripping icing...makes me want to dive in with my finger :)

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  20. Definitely drooling at this one - sour cream, tart lemon - looks incredibly delicious!

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