My grandma taught me that good food is a sign of tradition, love, union, and family. Something magical happens when we prepare food for the people we love. It’s almost like a meditative state for me, and the food becomes a vehicle of love, support, kindness, and compassion to the recipients. That's why I want to share my grandma's easy and vegan orange cake recipe. It's the perfect cake for celebrations and to give as a gift to those in need of cheering. What’s more is that this cake is made the Ayurvedic way. Ayurveda supports our bodies, minds, and spirit by not only teaching us to create healthy meals and adopt healthy habits but also by teaching us that we can still eat our desserts and enjoy the sweetness of the seasons. This cake has all the 6 tastes Ayurveda recommends and each ingredient creates balance in the recipe, which in turn will support digestion and assimilation of nutrients. It’s not about quitting sugar; it’s about learning how to eat in a way that supports our being while making us feel that comfort and loving sensation only homemade cakes can provide. Here’s what you’ll need for Ingredients:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 ½ cups of brown sugar
• 1 ½ tsp of baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups of orange juice
• ½ cup of melted coconut oil
• 1 tbsp of apple vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• The zest of 2 oranges
• ½ cup of dried cranberries
• 1 tsp powdered cloves

Magical Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• Combine all dried ingredients except for the cranberries and mix well.
• Combine all wet ingredients and mix well.
• Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix slowly until well combined. Add the cranberries.
• Bake for 30 minutes to an hour or until a clean fork comes out of it. Depending on your oven.
• Remove from the oven and let it cool down for around 10 minutes before serving.

Ways to make it special:

• Eat with your favorite warm drink on a cloudy/ snowy day.
• Add Ghee or Chocolate Ghee (yes it is a thing!) on top.
• Add a thin layer of Chyawanprash on top.
• Warm up the cake and add your favorite ice cream on the side (not something Ayurveda recommends but freaking delicious nonetheless).

During the difficult times in life, it’s important to hold on to the important things in life that bring us joy and comfort. To me, this cake is an example of that, and I hope you can find that too. I hope you give it a try! Con Amor, Vanessa IG @iamvanessarivero https://www.barefoothealthwithvanessa.com/