Vegan Chocolate Orange Sponge Cake by Unity

Vegan Chocolate Orange Sponge Cake by Unity

Sponge

180ml Water

175g brown sugar

100ml sunflower or other light vegetable oil

300g white self-raising flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 heaped tbsp cocoa powder

Chocolate orange icing

115g dairy-free margarine

170g icing sugar - sifted

60g cocoa powder - sifted

1 small orange - finely grate zest and mix with the juice

Preheat oven 180C /350F/ Gas 4

Grease two 18cm/7inch cake tins with dairy-free margarine

Sponge cake

Mix water, sugar and oil in a pan and heat gently, stirring until sugar dissolves. Leave to cool then add dry ingredients, folding mixture together carefully until well mixed. Pour into tins and bake for approx. 30 minutes. Leave to cool for 2-3 minutes. Gently go around the edge with a blunt knife and turn out onto wire rack. Leave to cool.

Icing

In a bowl, beat the margarine until soft, then gradually add the icing sugar and cocoa, beating until smooth. Add only a little of the orange juice at a time - you will need less liquid than you think- and mix thoroughly. Spread half the icing onto one cake and put the other cake on top. Coat the top of the cake with the remaining icing.