Discover Earth Cakes: The Witchcraft book, a guide to baking delicious and magical treats by Jana Brunclikova, a passionate naturopath with over 14 years of experience. This beautifully crafted book features over 30 vegetarian and vegan recipes, inspired by nature and free from gluten, dairy, and refined sugar. Learn the secrets of elemental magic and create Earth cakes fit for a fairytale. Jana unveils 3 wholesome baking recipes, empowering your inner green witch.

NO BAKE CHEESECAKE WITH BASIL & LIME

Serves: 16 people
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 4 hours

Ingredients:

Cashew Cheesecake Filling:

- 2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water for 2 hours
- 1 cup zucchini, peeled and chopped
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup melted raw cacao butter
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/3 cup honey or brown rice syrup
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Crust:

- 6 Medjool dates, pitted
- 1 1/2 cups pecan halves (or walnuts)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Green Witch Preparation:

Lightly grease a springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper for easy removal.

Crust:

Add the dates to a food processor fitted with an ‘S’ blade and process until they are broken down a bit. Add in the pecans, oil, salt and maple syrup and process until the mixture is sticky (be careful not to over-process, or the nuts will release excess oil and the batter will be oily). Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the lined pan, then place it in the freezer to set while you make the filling.

Filling:

Drain the cashews and place them in a high-speed blender. Blend until they are finely ground, then add in the zucchini, lime juice, basil, honey, maple syrup, vanilla, salt and blend again until very smooth (you may need to stop and scrape the blender a couple times to make sure everything gets incorporated or add water if the mixture is too thin and doesn’t mix into a smooth paste). Add melted oils and butter and blend until smooth.

Pour the cheesecake filling into the crust and smooth the top. Place the cheesecake in the freezer to set until firm for around 4 to 6 hours or in the fridge overnight (the thicker your cheesecake layer, the longer it will take to set).

Serve the cheesecake directly from the freezer for a firm texture, or you can let it soften in the fridge for an hour beforehand to soften it up a bit. I recommend cutting small slices, as they are very rich!

This cheesecake will melt if you leave it sitting at room temperature for too long, so I recommend keeping it chilled until just before serving. Leftovers can be tightly covered and chilled in the freezer for up to 3 months.

The heart-shaped lime tree leaf is associated with the heart and all of its symbolism and the principles of love, fidelity and justice. As a ‘Feminine Tree’, the lime often plays an essential role in myths, fairy tales, legends and in popular customs.

LEMON BALM POPPY SEED & HONEY CAKE

Serves : 8 people
Preparation time : 20 minutes
Cooking time : 30-40 minutes

Ingredients:

Cake:

- 1/2 cup fresh lemon balm leaves
- 1 3/4 cups blanched almond flour
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup oil (such as olive oil)
- 1/2 cup local honey (this can be replaced with maple syrup if you don’t like heating honey)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs or vegan egg replacement
- 1/2 cup of thin coconut yogurt
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Icing:

- 1/2 cup fresh lemon balm leaves (or 1/4 cup dried)
- 1 cup just-boiled water
- 1/4 cup local honey
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- Extra poppy seeds for sprinkling
- Optional - lemon balm leaves for garnish

Green Witch Preparation:

Preheat oven to 180C. Lightly grease a baking pan of your preferred shape. Finely mince the lemon balm (I use a food processor for this, but a knife is fine too).

Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl mix the oil, minced lemon balm, honey and vanilla extract. Add the eggs or egg replacement, mixing them in one at a time and then the buttermilk (or yoghurt).

Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture in two batches. Mix until combined and be mindful not to overmix.

Mix in the poppy seeds, then pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until it is brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean- about 30 minutes for a cakelet pan or 60 minutes for a loaf pan.

Icing:

Steep the lemon balm in 1 cup of just-boiled water for 5 minutes.

Strain into a small pan. Add the honey and stir until dissolved.

Separate two tablespoons of the lemon balm and honey mixture into a small bowl and allow to cool.

Once cool, add the arrowroot powder and stir well. Bring this mixture back into the small pan with the lemon balm and honey.

Heat the pan on medium-low heat. Whisk the mixture continuously until it begins to thicken. Pull off the heat just as it thickens, otherwise it will become too thick and overly gel-like. Spoon the icing over the cake and sprinkle poppy seeds on top. Garnish with fresh lemon balm leaves if desired.

I just love this moist cake - it’s simple and you can have a slice for breakfast too. It’s perfect as is and I personally would not combine it with any extra icing, although a little whipped cream would go very nicely.

Poppy and poppy seeds are symbols of sleep, death and regeneration. In Christianity, the poppy symbolises not only the blood of Christ, but also his resurrection and ascent to Heaven. So, while poppies have been associated with death throughout history, they also have also symbolised regeneration and eternal life.

DANDELION CHAI SPICED CARROT CAKE OR LOAF

Serves : 10 people
Preparation time : 15 minutes
Cooking time : 40 minutes

Ingredients:

- 1 cup organic carrots (grated)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (grated)
- 50 millilitres dandelion root chai tea made on plant-based milk
- 2 eggs at room temperature or vegan version (use 2 flaxseed eggs)
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
- 1 cup coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener
- 1 1/4 cup almond flour
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 40g walnuts(chopped)
- Handful of organic sultanas or dried fruits your choice (figs are nice too)
- Optional - handful of grated coconut or extra dried fruits, seeds or nuts for decoration. Goji berries work nicely too.

Icing:

- 125 grams vegan cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey
- 1 pinch cardamom

Green Witch Preparation:

Preheat oven to 175°C. Line a cake or loaf tin with baking paper. In one bowl mix carrots, ginger, chai tea (at room temperature), (vegan) eggs, oil and sweetener. In a separate bowl mix all of the remaining ingredients except the walnuts and sultanas. Combine both mixtures and stir with a wooden spoon. Add the walnuts and sultanas (and coconut if using) and pour the batter into the tin. Bake for around 40 minutes.

Carefully cut the cooled cake in half and snuggle with Cashew icing page …(or frosting recipe below) in the middle and on the top. Sprinkle with cardamon and decorate with more fruits, seed, nuts or your favourite flowers. Or just go simply as on the picture.

Frosting:

For the frosting, mix vegan cream cheese with sweetener and cardamom and spread over the cooled loaf.

The carrot is an edible umbellifer. It is a plant associated with Mercury and the Virgin reveals a fruit but also an elongated vegetable – it’s a male sexual symbol. In the spiritual sense we talk about abundance and fecundity in its steps. This vegetable symbolises prosperity and also represents family joy and prosperity with friends and colleagues (in society). We can find meaning behind the carrot’s symbolism that we are able to reach the goal we are aiming for. Similar to carrot’s stellar performance, we can also be launched into the world and succeed. Life will give us very clear signs that will make it easier for us to do what we want to do. However, in some cases beware, as the symbol of the carrot can also evoke a decoy or a trap. It is said that carrot can be effective in cases of jaundice and urinary problems. I even heard a rumour that they may assist to open cancerous tumours.