Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (312g) All-purpose flour
- 1 cup (120g) Spelt flour
- 1 ½ cups (300g) Maple sugar
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- 2 tbsp (10g) Unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 cup (240ml) Avocado oil
- 1 cup (240ml) Room temperature buttermilk
- 2 Large eggs
- ½ cup (120ml) Concentrated beet juice
- 1 tbsp Vanilla bean paste
- 1 tsp Apple cider vinegar
- 16 oz (450g) Low-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (245g) Plain Greek yogurt, strained
- ½ cup (60g) Organic powdered sugar
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
- Fresh raspberries
- Edible gold leaf
- 1 tbsp Freeze-dried strawberry powder
Instructions:
- Prep pans. Grease two 8 inch pans and line the bottoms with parchment. Note: This is non negotiable for a clean release.
- Whisk dries. Combine the AP flour, spelt flour, maple sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa.
- Mix wets. In a separate bowl, whisk the avocado oil, eggs, buttermilk, beet juice, vanilla, and vinegar until the color is a uniform, vibrant pink.
- Combine. Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Whisk gently just until no large flour streaks remain.
- Divide batter. Pour the batter evenly between the two pans.
- Bake. Place in a 350°F oven for 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
- Cool. Let the cakes sit in the pans for 10 minutes before flipping onto a wire rack.
- Prepare frosting. Whip the softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, powdered sugar, and lemon zest until smooth and airy.
- Frost. Once the cake is completely cold, stack the layers with a thick middle coating of frosting.
- Decorate. Dust with strawberry powder and top with raspberries and gold leaf.