If you find you’re in a pinch for a quick dessert, or have a large dinner on which to focus, this delicious recipe will make it look like you spent hours on it. Part of the reason it is so simple is because the base, the vegan and gluten-free chocolate cake, is pre-made by Amy’s Organics, and available at Whole Foods and the frozen section of most grocery stores. It is delicious, and doesn’t even need to be baked!

Vegan and Gluten Free Chocolate Cake with Sweet Cashew Cream and Poached Cherries

*At least 2 hours prior to preparation, take the Amy’s Organic Chocolate Cake out of the freezer to thaw, and soak the cashews.*

Vegan and Gluten-Free Cashew Cream

1 cup raw cashes, soaked at least 2 hours
1/4 cup filtered water
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Put all ingredients in a blender, and blend at high-speed until thick and creamy. If needed, keep adding water in small amounts to get the cream to the desired consistency. Set aside.

Poached Cherries

1 cup distilled water
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups of cherries, pitted
Juice from 1/2 lemon

Heat all of the ingredients, except the cherries and lemon juice, in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until sugar dissolves and the mixture starts to boil. Let it boil gently for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Don’t let it over-boil. Add the cherries and lemon juice and cook for another few minutes and remove from heat.

When ready to serve: slice the chocolate cake into serving sizes. Place each piece of cake on a plate, and spoon the cashew cream and poached cherries (preferably still warm), over each slice. Serve.

To top the entire dish even more, add some chocolate shavings as garnish. Simply use a vegetable peeler to shave some of your favorite chocolate into small shavings.

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