These are easy to make and even easier to eat. You can change the ratios of flour if desired: it is fine to use just white or just wholemeal flour, though you'll need to add a bit more water if you use all white flour. The cake will take on a slightly different texture depending on which you use (being lighter with white flour). Ingredients
Vegan Triple Chocolate Muffins by Fairfoods
Muffins - 8 oz (225g) caster sugar
4 dessertspoons cocoa powder
pinch salt
9 oz (255g) plain white flour
3 oz (85g) plain wholemeal flour
1 1/2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
1 oz (30g) vegan chocolate chips
6 fl oz (170 ml) vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
4 teaspoons vinegar
2/3 pint (350ml) cold water
Icing - 2 oz (50g) vegan plain chocolate
1 dessertspoon vegan margarine
1 dessertspoon icing sugar, sieved
Decoration - a few squares of vegan plain chocolate
1. Place the sugar, cocoa, salt, flours and bicarbonate of soda in a mixing bowl and mix well.2. Add the chocolate chips, oil, vanilla essence, vinegar and water. Combine well with a fork, but do not beat.
3. Pour into 12 muffin cases. Bake at 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4 for 15 minutes or until the cake springs back lightly when pressed. Cool thoroughly.
4. To make the icing, melt the chocolate in a double saucepan* with the margarine and icing sugar. Stir to ensure that the ingredients are well combined.
5. Smooth a spoonful of icing on each cake, leave to cool for a few minutes then decorate with flakes of chocolate (grate the chocolate and/or cut it really finely with a sharp knife). *If you don't have a double-saucepan, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl suspended over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure that the bowl does not come into contact with the water.
You can enjoy more delicious dishes from Fairfoods at The West Midlands Vegan Festival, which takes place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October 2016 from 10am to 6pm both days, at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, North Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1RQ. Admission is just £1 (under 16's free), payable at the door. Visit www.midlandsveganfestival.org.uk for more information.