Julia’s Allergy-free Birthday Cake

Julia’s Allergy-free Birthday Cake
Adapted from her Grandma Mimi’s (Sue Cibula) famous birthday cake recipe that she makes for everyone’s birthday parties. It’s a tradition in the Cibula family. Enjoy!

• 3 Cups flour (We like Tom Sawyer All purpose wheat-free for Julia but if you don’t have allergies it is an amazing cake with regular all purpose flour!)
• 2 Cups Sugar
• 6 Tbsp cocoa
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup of olive oil
• l2 tbsp white vinegar (recipe says white but I use whatever I have red, balsamic, etc. Always turns out great.)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups cold water

• Mix dry ingredients.
• Make 3 holes - oil, vinegar, vanilla
  (I do it even though it doesn't seem to make a difference....they end up merging!)
• Pour water over it all.
• Beat well.
• Bake 30-35 minutes @ 350 (the cupcakes are about 20 minutes.)
note: I think it is better to slightly undercook than over cook. The cake is moister.

Variations: We sometimes add Enjoy Life Dairy-free chocolate chips at the end before baking.
Mexican Cake: Add cinnamon, a pinch of crushed black pepper and chile pepper (ancho or cayenne pepper works well). Bananas are good too.

Julia proud of her birthday cupcakes. A couple years ago we baked these for her to take to preschool.   Dairy-free, wheat free, peanut free soy free, etc. etc. What the other kids don't know won't hurt them!!!