THE CAKES THE CAKES AND THEIR VARIATIONS PALEO CAKE MAGIC! CAKE MIX CAKE MAGIC! CAKE MIX MAKES 4 CUPS (ENOUGH FOR ONE 8- OR 9-INCH TWO-LAYER CAKE, ONE 13 x 9-INCH SHEET CAKE, ONE 10-INCH BUNDT CAKE, OR 24 CUPCAKES) V MAKES 4 CUPS (ENOUGH FOR ONE 8- OR 9-INCH TWO-LAYER CAKE, ONE 13 x 9-INCH SHEET CAKE, ONE 10-INCH BUNDT CAKE, OR 24 CUPCAKES) ¾ cup tapioca flour, spooned and Place a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl. Measure ingredients into leveled 2½ cups all-purpose flour Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together well sieve; sift all ingredients into bowl. Whisk the mix again before ¾ cup arrowroot flour, spooned and 1½ cups sugar to combine. Whisk the mix again before measuring. measuring. leveled ¾ teaspoon baking soda NOTE: It’s important to use table salt in the cake mix; other types ¾ cup coconut flour, spooned and NOTE: When buttering and flouring your pan(s), any of the flours in ¾ teaspoon baking powder will eventually settle out of the mix. leveled this recipe work. Do not use the mix as the coating for the pans. 1 teaspoon table salt (see Note) ¾ cup almond flour, spooned and leveled 1 cup coconut sugar 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon fine Himalayan sea salt 140 CAKE MAGIC! CAKE MAGIC! BONUS 1 DIY Baking Powder Baking powder often has aluminum in it and is made from cornstarch, both of which are high on the list of avoidable things for many health-conscious bakers out there. The ratio of cream of tartar to baking soda is 2:1, but for a batch that gets me through a few recipes, I mix up the following – Whisk together ¼ cup cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons baking soda. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. An Important Note About Paleo: Butter and Dairy So, technically butter isn’t Paleo. I don’t keep a Paleo diet, so the frosting I make for cakes I eat can be made from butter and I don’t think twice. If you were following a Paleo diet or were making a cake for someone who was, then you would choose to make your cake with oil and soy and frosting with non- hydrogenated vegetable shortening, as suggested in the vegan variation in Cake Magic! Since I focus on brain health, I eat butter happily—and usually opt for high-quality butter made from dairy from pasture-fed cows, labeled “grassfed.” To reiterate simply: This flour mix + the recipe variations labeled “Vegan” will lead you to a true Paleo cake. This is all to say it is all possible and all delicious, so you do you. 142 CAKE MAGIC! CAKE MAGIC! BONUS 2 VANILLA CAKES Use Paleo Cake Magic! Cake Mix Buttermilk Cake: Skip, if strictly Paleo. for dry mix; proceed as directed. Vanilla Cinnamon Cake: As written. Confetti Cake: Skip, or make Paleo Sprinkles. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake: Substitute coconut sugar for the ½ cup sugar called for in this recipe. Vanilla–Olive Oil Cake: As written. Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake: This version is already gluten-free! Vegan Vanilla Cake: As written. DARKEST CHOCOLATE CAKES Use Paleo Cake Magic! Cake Mix Cola Cake: Skip. for dry mix; substitute 2 ounces Gluten-Free Darkest Chocolate Cake: This version is already gluten- unsweetened chocolate for free! semisweet, proceed as directed. Vegan Darkest Chocolate Cake: As written. LEMON CAKES Use Paleo Cake Magic! Cake Mix Grapefruit Cake: As written. for dry mix; proceed as directed. Lemon–Poppy Seed Cake: As written. Lemon-Ricotta Cake: As written. Lime Cake: As written. Orange Cake: As written. Gluten-Free Lemon Cake: This version is already gluten-free! Vegan Lemon Cake: As written. 144 CAKE MAGIC! CAKE MAGIC! BONUS 3 BROWN SUGAR CAKE BROWN SUGAR CAKES MAKES ONE 8- OR 9-INCH TWO-LAYER CAKE (OR ONE 10- Root Beer Cake: Skip.. Use Paleo Cake Magic! Cake Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Cake: As written. INCH BUNDT CAKE, ONE 13 x 9-INCH SHEET CAKE, OR 24 Mix for dry mix. Omit light Gluten-Free Brown Sugar Cake: This version is Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Raisin Cake: As written. CUPCAKES) already gluten-free! brown sugar in recipe; increase Brown Sugar-Nut Cake: As written. Vegan Brown Sugar Cake: As written. molasses to 3 tablespoons. Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake: Substitute carob chips for chocolate Brown Sugar–Cinnamon Cake: Add 1 teaspoon chips, or skip. ground cinnamon... Root Beer Cake: Skip. Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Cake: As written. Gluten-Free Brown Sugar Cake: This version is already gluten-free! Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Raisin Cake: As written. Vegan Brown Sugar Cake: As written. Brown Sugar-Nut Cake: As written. Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake: Substitute carob chips for chocolate chips, or skip. APPLE CAKES Use Paleo Cake Magic! Cake Mix Apple Cider Cake: As written, ensuring that the cider or juice you APPLE CAKE for dry mix, proceed as directed. use doesn’t contain added sugar. Banana Cake: As written. MAKES ONE 8- OR 9-INCH TWO-LAYER CAKE (OR ONE 10-INCH BUNDT CAKE, ONE 13 x 9-INCH SHEET CAKE, OR 24 CUPCAKES) Carrot Cake: Substitute grated carrot for the apple; proceed as written. Carrot-Lime Cake: As written. Apple Cider Cake: As written, ensuring that the gluten-free! Fresh Blueberry Cake: As written. cider or juice you use doesn’t contain added Vegan Apple Cake: As written. Pear Cake: As written. sugar. Pumpkin Cake: As written. Banana Cake: As written. Zucchini Cake: As written. Carrot Cake: Substitute grated carrot for the apple. Gluten-Free Apple Cake: This version is already gluten-free! Carrot-Lime Cake: As written. Vegan Apple Cake: As written. Fresh Blueberry Cake: As written. Pear Cake: As written. Pumpkin Cake: Stir 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and 1 te... Zucchini Cake: As written. Gluten-Free Apple Cake: This version is already 146 CAKE MAGIC! CAKE MAGIC! BONUS 4 PEANUT BUTTER CAKE MAKES ONE 8- OR 9-INCH TWO-LAYER CAKE (OR ONE 10-INCH BUNDT CAKE, ONE 13 x 9-INCH SHEET CAKE, OR 24 CUPCAKES) PEANUT BUTTER CAKE VA R I AT I O NS Use Paleo Cake Magic! Cake Mix Almond Butter Cake: Use almond butter without added sugar; for dry mix. Be sure the peanut proceed as written. Almond Butter Cake: Use almond butter without Spiced Almond Butter Cake: Use almond butter butter you choose doesn’t contain added sugar; proceed as written. without added sugar; proceed as written. Cashew Butter Cake: Use cashew butter without added sugar; added sugar; proceed as directed. proceed as written. Cashew Butter Cake: Use cashew butter without Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cake: This version is added sugar; proceed as written. already gluten-free! Pistachio Cake: As written. Pistachio Cake: As written. Vegan Peanut Butter Cake: As written. Spiced Almond Butter Cake: Use almond butter without added sugar; proceed as written. Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cake: This version is already gluten-free! Vegan Peanut Butter Cake: As written. COCONUT CAKE COCONUT CAKE MAKES ONE 8- OR 9-INCH TWO-LAYER CAKE (OR ONE 10- Gluten-Free Coconut Cake: This version is already INCH BUNDT CAKE, ONE 13 x 9-INCH SHEET CAKE, OR 24 gluten-free! Use Paleo Cake Magic! Cake Mix Coconut–White Chocolate Cake: Substitute 2 ounces melted cacao CUPCAKES) Vegan Coconut Cake: As written. for dry mix; proceed as directed. butter for the white chocolate; proceed as written. Coconut–Chocolate Chip Cake: Substitute carob chips for 1 cup Coconut–White Chocolate Cake: Substitute semisweet chocolate chips, or skip. 2 ounces melted cacao butter for the white chocolate; proceed as directed. Spiced Coconut-Pecan Cake: As written. Coconut–Chocolate Chip Cake: Substitute carob Gluten-Free Coconut Cake: This version is already gluten-free! chips for 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, or Vegan Coconut Cake: As written. skip. Spiced Coconut-Pecan Cake: s written. MOCHA CAKE MOCHA CAKE Use Paleo Cake Magic! Cake Mix Chocolate Stout Cake: Skip. for dry mix; proceed as directed. Gluten-Free Mocha Cake: This version is already gluten-free! Vegan Mocha Cake: As written. MAKES ONE 8 OR 9-INCH TWO-LAYER CAKE (OR ONE 10- Chocolate Stout Cake: Skip. INCH BUNDT CAKE, ONE 13 x 9-INCH SHEET CAKE, OR 24 Gluten-Free Mocha Cake: This version is already CUPCAKES) gluten-free! Vegan Mocha Cake: As written. 148 CAKE MAGIC! CAKE MAGIC! BONUS 5 THE SYRUPS THE SYRUPS A Note About Syrups A Note About Syrups The syrup is a backbone of the Cake Magic! formula. I came up with employing this trick of The syrup is a backbone of the Cake Magic! formula. I came up with employing this trick of fancy bakeries fancy bakeries in the home kitchen to lend an extra in the home kitchen to lend an extra layer of flavor to the cakes—the cakes weren’t dry without them or layer of flavor to the cakes—the cakes weren’t dry anything—it was just for fun. without them or anything. It was just for fun. When I began translating the Cake Magic! process without using grains or refined sugars, I turned my focus Now, in the interest of translating the Cake Magic! to the syrups once again. I fiddled around with agave nectar and making flavored syrups with alternative process without grains or refined sugars, I turned sugars but, as it turned out, grain-free cake is beautifully moist and holds a texture very similar to the my focus to the syrups once again. I fiddled original Cake Magic! cakes, and they don’t do well with syrup.