Epic New Years Raw Citrus Cake
BAM! It’s time for a new dawning and this cake comes with it. Ready? Well of course you are!
I was sitting on a moped with two (!) of my gorgeous friends as the warm Bali air swooshed by. Morning rays of sun found their way through the majestic trees and played peek a boo on our skin as we sang with the biggest of smiles in our hearts and on our faces. We sang with all the power and joy we had and simply by being free we tapped into our inner brilliance.
”Good morning starshine, the earth says hello”
Three years has almost passed but whenever I come to think about that song or hear it playing it touches me with an explosion of silliness and overwhelming love. Freedom is powerful. It’s fabulous, it’s fierce and It’s magical. Those months on Bali will always have a special place in my heart from where I draw that magic with it’s young yet wise and wild womanhood. It was one of those beginning with the vast possibilities. Everything was blank. Open. New. Raw and honest. It was a grand dawning and there is another song from Hair involved too. Of course. Here we go…
”When the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then peace will guide the planet and love will steer the stars. This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius”
I can’t help but feeling that these last days of 2012 is similar to those Bali moments. It’s just as Raw and Free and something stirs deep within me as we approach the new year. I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is just yet but I trust it will cause excitement in my heart.
Fun & Fabulous Facts
Of all the things I could write about in this section today I choose the prettylicious pink pepper. Yeah I know.. a bit boring maybe but hear me out before you judge. These little ones are quite remarkable. We can still enjoy the ridiculously positive effects of the other ingredients, citrus fruits, figs, coconut, cacao butter, vanilla and mesquite... – I love you too!
Pink peppercorns are actually dried berries growing on a small tree (there are three different species) native to South America. The pink pepper in this recipe I picked myself when living in Spain from the tree, Schinis terebinthifolius (so if you live in a warm climate check your backyard or farmers market). With it´s sweet, mildly bitter and very intoxicating flavor I don’t know how the pink pepper is so seldom used in food. Let´s turn that around, shall we?
Virtually all parts of the peppertree have been used traditionally by indigenous people throughout the tropics. Bark, sap, leaves – you name it and it has a long history of solving problems like rheumatism, depression and toothache. Not all of this has been clinically tested but still, it’s very fascinating. Mother Earth shares some powerful medicine and we can start by adding some of those pink peppercorns to our food. Recent studies provide possible support for the antidepressant and antiseptic properties. And hey, we don’t need any studies to know that these beauties are damn tasty. Especially in this cake.
Epic New Years Raw Citrus Cake
Healthy? Check. Easy to make? Damn right (don’t be fooled be the long recipe). Delicious? Yep. Out of this world? You bet. Let me present to you; Your New Years Eve cake. It’s a Raw Food dessert at it’s best so are you ready to be blown away by a ridiculous flavor explosion? Yes! Ps. Feel like making quite an impression on Monday? Just make this one and you’ll be so very praised. And hey.. make sure you are using organic produce!
Citrus with pink pepper
1 orange
2 blood oranges
2 tsp lightly crushed pink pepper
1. Peel and slice the oranges, toss together with your pink pepper and let marinate in a bowl while you make the cake.
Fig crust
1 cup soft big dried figs (dates work brilliant too)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 tsp Himalayan salt
1. Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until a firm ball of dough has been formed.
2. Press firmly into a 7 inch (ca 18 cm) spring-form pan or a pie plate lined with saran wrap and put it in the fridge while making the filling.
Citrus filling
1.5 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 cup Cashews, soaked for at least 5 hours but preferably overnight
1 banana
2 small oranges, zest and whole fruit
1 small lemon, zest and juice
1/3 cup virgin coconut oil, melted over hot water
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp real vanilla
1. Turn the shredded coconut into a flour by blending it in a high speed blender or a coffee grinder.
2. Add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend until it’s all really smooth (a food processor won’t make this filling as silky smooth). Now pour it over the crust and place in freezer until solid (will take about 1.5 hour).
Vanilla frosting
1/2 cup cashews, soaked for at least 5 hours but preferably overnight
2 tbsp virgin coconut oil, melted over hot water
2 tbsp cacao butter, melted over hot water (can sub for coconut oil but it won’t be as delishioso)
3 tsp lemon juice
3 tbsp pure water
1/4 real vanilla
1/4 tsp powdered ginger
1 tsp Mesquite flour (can be excluded but it’s really tasty AND balances blood sugar)
1 tsp honey
1. Put all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until you have your sweet silky frosting. Set aside in a bowl at room temperature and once the cake has set, pour/spread the frosting over the citrus layer. Lastly add the marinated oranges and – ehhh, ENJOY!
I urge you to sing some tunes from Hair and let that fierce freedom completely soak you up. There is nothing to hold onto, you are YOU – Free and fabulous! Bring on the new year and that new dawning – I’m ready for some new exciting heart explosions.
And hey! Do tell, how are you planning to welcome 2013? Spill that magic of yours in the comments below (I will too) Ps. I hope one particular cake is included in your plans.
Looking forward to meeting you on Twitter & Facebook, love! //Elenore
38 Comments
ElenoreEarth
29 december, 2012I’m gonna put on my crazy gorgeous sequin dress, dance, create amazing food with friends and have a wonderful time. Visit the forest and watch the stars.
2013 – I am ready for you magic!
A tasty love story
29 december, 2012Oh Elenore this cake is so beautiful, it looks like the sun!! You are amazing :) Happy New Year…
ElenoreEarth
29 december, 2012Happy new year to you too! And thank you for spreading all that love <3
Natalie
30 december, 2012Mmmmmm<3<3<3 Ønsker deg alt godt i 2013, solstråle!
ElenoreEarth
31 december, 2012Right back at you! With LOVE
Robyn
30 december, 2012Wow, absolutely beautiful colours,,,gorgeous! And a very Happy New Year to you too….wondering if the figs are fresh? I only have dried ones here at the moment.
ElenoreEarth
31 december, 2012Hi Robyn! M-mm a sparkling new year to you too! The figs are dried.. thank you for asking, I should have written that in the recipe to begin with. Corrected!
Amy @FragrantVanillaCake
30 december, 2012This cake is so beautiful! I made a citrus cake for NY too, great minds think alike ;). I love all of the flavors you have combined here! I wish you a fantabulous 2013 :)!
ElenoreEarth
31 december, 2012Oh did you!? Wow! Yeas that is true, it seems in the world of food bloggers some of us are indeed very connected <3
Sini
30 december, 2012This cake looks amazing. The recipe came a day too late for being included in my New Year’s Eve dinner but will definitely make it another day :) Happy New Year 2013!
Sini, Finland
Magdalen
30 december, 2012I am going for Indian food and then keeping my town’s tradition of going downtown in costume! Hopefully also going health food shopping as I can’t get a lot where I live :)
ElenoreEarth
31 december, 2012Oh, Thank you so much for sharing your traditions <3 Sounds like you are gonna have a great time!
Leah
30 december, 2012I am going to tuck my baby girl all cozy into her bed and then sit in my window and watch the silvery moon cross the sky leaving a trail of snowflakes glittering behind. thankful for my beautiful life.
ElenoreEarth
31 december, 2012Ahhhhh, HUGS and LOVE to you both!
Leah
31 december, 2012hugs to you too elenore! happy new year all!!
Millie
31 december, 2012I’m going for a midnight surf under the bright moon.
Is the 1/4 tsp of real vanilla in the filling and frosting vanilla bean or vanilla essence? Cheers.
ElenoreEarth
31 december, 2012Hi Millie, The real vanilla comes in a tiny jar and is powdered whole vanilla beans. You can get those jars at most health food stores of good grocery stores.
Good luck!
Millie
31 december, 2012Oh and the cashews for the frosting aren’t soaked, right?
Jodi
31 december, 2012Awww. Just made a raw cashew dream cake. Looks delish and will make one next time!
Clare
31 december, 2012Looks amazing! can’t wait to try. Happy new year! X
Amazing Cake from Earth Sprout « Heart Farmers Markets
1 januari, 2013[...] From EaRtH sPrOuT http://www.earthsprout.com/?p=2712 [...]
Karoline | Gröna Skafferiet
1 januari, 2013Wow! Nu måste du ha överträffat dig själv, Elenore!! Fantastiska bilder och urläcker tårta!
Gott nytt år på dig!:)
Lucie D'Alessandro
2 januari, 2013This cake, your photography and post are SO beautiful – you always leave me inspired, smiling and antsy to create… Thank you for being you. Hugs and love for a New Year filled with all you desire xoxo
Arild
6 januari, 2013Wow! What a great post…me and my family also happen to be singing and dancing along to Hair, we started out in October, since our newborn daughter took a liking to the horns and rhythm in Aquarius! Oh yes indeed, the moon is in the seventh house. And yes, no clinical study needed when you can sense with your whole Being every ingredient – the real glidi glidi gloppi resarch.
Thank you for a great blog! My plans for 2013 ? Make revolutionary endocrinesystem-rejuvinating music? Check. Eat wild organic, nordic superfood? Check. Talk with the ground, the trees, the stars and my family? Check. Make the cake in this post? Check.
Kerri
8 januari, 2013What can you use as an alternative to figs.. I have a food intolerance to figs.. could you use dates or something similar???
ElenoreEarth
8 januari, 2013dates works just fine (delicious too) <3
Ólöf
8 januari, 2013Dear Elenore! I am making this wonderful cake as I write this and ohh my! …moste of the filling got straight into my mouth! Thank you so much for your beautiful and inspiring blog and a happy new year!
Judith
10 januari, 2013Ahhh, I love the musical and the songs! Great to know there are more people out there who love the songs and sing them whenever they feel they suit the situation.
I’ll make this gorgeous looking cake for a friend who’ll be leaving for Cameroon soon, to do some worthwhile development work over there. Thank you so much for posting yet another amazing mouthwatering recipe!
Happy new year!
ElenoreEarth
13 januari, 2013Thank YOU! I hope your friend will be pleased for the going away treat!
Big love!
Ellen
12 januari, 2013For the citrus filling, the melted coconut oil…is that 1/3 tbs or cups? :-) So gonna make this cake! xex
ElenoreEarth
13 januari, 2013Oh my gosh! haha, thank you for pointing that out, love! It’s supposed to be 1/3 cup <3
Good luck!
Katie
14 februari, 2013Wow! This is so interesting to me. I work for an environmental agency in Florida and Schinus terebinthifolius is a huge problem here as an invasive species in aquatic habitats. It was originally introduced as an ornamental plant and just took over. I’ve never seen it or even heard of it as food before, and would have never thought it was edible since it’s from the same family (Anacardiaceae) as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Again, all so interesting.
Katie
14 februari, 2013P.S. Haha I feel silly now that I’ve looked up just how many edible plants are in the Anacardiaceae family.. And I should clarify that I *have* heard of pink peppercorns, just had no earhtly idea they were from Schinus! Thank you for the heads up, I will have ample opportunities to harvest them and I’m glad to know that one of our biggest problem plants actually has a small positive to it.
Katie
14 februari, 2013Oh my goodness, I know this is my third comment in a row and now I seem crazy, but this has turned into a discussion at work and my coworkers (we all work with these plants) are trying to tell me it’s toxic and can cause a host of allergic reactions. The internet is telling me both sides of the story as well, from being commercially available as a food to being totally poisonous. So now I’m just even more confused!
Sharing the Love and WIAW! | Almonds & Avocados
27 februari, 2013[...] After hours of poring over her delightful recipes and photos, I knew I had fallen in love. This Raw Citrus Cake really takes the cake (please excise the cheesy [...]
apples and anarchy
23 mars, 2013[...] here in NZ, but as soon as they are, I’m going to try and make Elenore’s beautiful raw citrus cake and Gena’s blood orange kale salad with [...]
Katie
20 maj, 2013Wow! This looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to make it.
ElenoreEarth
21 maj, 2013Yay! Awesome! Tell me how it goes, love :)