Vegan Dark Chocolate Cake (No Eggs)

A mini two layer birthday cake.

Ingredients:

parchment paper

butter & flour

5 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

1 cup cold water

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon rum extract (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)

1 1/2 cup all purpose white flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup "Special Dark" cocoa powder 

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*. Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan. Line bottom with a square of parchment paper. Butter and flour parchment paper, too. Heat butter in a microwavable bowl at 20 second intervals, until melted. Set aside to cool. In a measuring cup, stir together water, vinegar and extract. In a medium or large mixing bowl, Sift together flour, sugar, soda and salt. Stir in cocoa powder. Pour melted butter, then water mixture over the flour mixture. Gently beat only until smooth, just a matter of seconds. Pour into prepared pan. Bake about 30 minutes, or until a  toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for at least 30 minutes. Invert onto a rack. Remove paper and finish cooling. When completely cool, dust with powdered sugar or frost with favorite chocolate frosting.

Notes: Double recipe to make a two layer cake and bake in two square or round pans. (I  made a single batch and baked in three 4 inch ramekins and 2 mini 6 inch loaf pans.) I used the baked cakes to make a mini round 2 layer cake for my sister's birthday, a 2 layer 6 inch oval Father's Day cake for my husband, and a single round cake for tasting.

Mini baked cakes