Easy Lemon and Basil Vegan Loaf Cake

It's warm outside so yes, I'm baking and even though I don't really eat cake, this one was actually really tasty. It wasn't too sweet and it wasn't too over the top (which seems to be the issue I have with cakes, I hate anything sickly sweet). This one is quite simple and I'll also post some adjustments you can make to the recipe for different flavours. So, let's take a look...

Ingredients:

• 150g Brown Sugar
• 150g Vegan Butter
• 2x Tbsp Apple Sauce
• 1x Tsp Baking Powder
• 150g Self Raising Flour
• 1x Lemon
• 20g Fresh Basil
• 1x Tsp Vanilla Essence

How To:

1. Preheat your oven to 180/C and line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper
2. Cream together your butter and sugar in a bowl and then add the apple sauce and vanilla and continue mixing
3. Zest and juice your lemon, adding it into the mixture
4. Chop the basil and add it into the mixture as well
5. Follow this by folding in your flour and baking powder
6. Once combined into a batter, pour into a loaf tin and put it in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, checking as you go
7. Allow it to cool and then take it from the tin and enjoy!

See, simple... now let's take a look at some of the variations of this recipe and things you can do to take this cake somewhere else...

Everyone should have a basic lemon loaf cake recipe, it's great to serve to guests and pretty much everyone likes it. The basil of course, is entirely optional and can be replaced with the following ingredients (keeping the amount the same):

• Fresh mint - for that really nice mint lemonade flavour, I personally love it
• Fresh coriander - for a more fragrant flavour that softens the sweetness of the cake perfectly
• Orange marmalade - yes, orange marmalade - it makes the cake nice and sticky and undertones it with the orange for more citrus
• Dried strawberries - I love strawberry lemonade and I'm actually drinking some right now, why would I miss out on this?
• Lavender - you read that correctly, you can also use rose for the same flavour profile, but it will be perfumed and aromatic. Personally, I don't like this flavour profile but I know plenty who do
• Thyme - for something more calm and yet, savoury - this pairs really well with a teaspoon of honey in the cake batter too and makes for a denser cake that resembles a Jamaican ginger loaf
• Shredded coconut - It's going to taste like a cocktail, hell yeah! You can also make a sauce from a shot of tequila and coconut milk with powdered sugar - mix it together and pour it over the cake - party time!

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You can also replace the whole flavour profile by taking the lemon and basil out and using some of these flavours instead:

• 2 tablespoons of powdered ginger and 1 tablespoon of honey - again, you can create something resembling a Jamaican ginger loaf
• 1 zested and juiced orange along with 1 teaspoon of chopped tarragon - this is something we looked at in 'cake vs cookie' and yes, it is one great combination
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 25g shredded coconut - honestly, if you want a cake that tastes like a bounty bar but with a more subtle flavour then this is a really good combination
• 50g shredded cheese, 20g chopped onion and 10g coriander - stay with me here, it's really good if you like cheesy scones but don't want to do all the fiddly work shaping them. Bake everything into a cake and all you have to do is slice and serve with some ploughman's pickle!

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I'm glad you've enjoyed this easy recipe with me. Genuinely, I wanted to make something that I could sit in the garden and nibble with some lemonade and after making cheese this morning, I was a little tired. For some reason I ate lunch at 11am as well and that was really weird. I have a strange perception of time today - I keep thinking that it's later than it actually is. Well, at least I don't have to cook for the rest of the day - that's a plus...