Vegan Edible Dish Sponge Cake | April Fool's Prank | Illusion Cake

April Fool's day is just around the corner and who doesn't love a good prank? Throw food in the mix and even better! I first saw this illusion cake concept on Emmymade's YouTube channel, by way of Emma's Goodie's YouTube channel. I stored the video at the back of my mind, determined to make a vegan version some day. Now's the perfect time!

I used a 28cm by 21cm rectangular tin. You can also use a brownie tin. 

Ingredients

(makes approx. 8 "sponges")

- 4 cups self-raising flour

- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

- pinch of salt

- 1.5 cups caster sugar

- 2/3 cup sunflower oil

- 2 cups vegan milk (such as almond, oat or soya)

- 1 tsp vanilla extract or juice from half a lemon

- yellow gel food colouring

- green gel food colouring

- 1 tbsp golden syrup or maple syrup or marmalade

- 1/4 cup extra vegan milk (optional)

Method

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius.

Combine the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt, sugar, oil and vegan milk in a large mixing bowl. Fold gently to form a thick cake batter. Flavour with either lemon juice or vanilla extract. Mix to combine.

Divide the cake batter into two separate bowls in the fraction of 1/3 and 2/3. 

Add a few drops of green gel food colouring to 1/3 of the batter. Add 2-3 drops of yellow gel food colouring to 2/3 of the batter.

Pour the green cake batter into a 28 by 21cm cake tin that has been lightly greased and lined with baking paper. Bake for 12-15 minutes until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.

Pour the yellow cake batter into a 28 by 21cm cake tin that has been lightly greased and lined with baking paper. Bake for 20 minutes until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.

Take the cakes out of the tin and allow to cool completely. If the top of the cakes are a little bumpy, use a serrated knife to even them out.

Spread a thin layer of syrup or marmalade or jam over the yellow cake (this will act as a glue) and gently place the green cake on top so that all the edges match. Use a serrated knife to trim around the edges of the cake. Cut the cake into 8 "sponges".

To add to the illusion effect, whisk 1/4 cup vegan milk until frothy. Scoop some of the froth over the sponge to mimic soap suds.