Vanilla Corn Cake w/ Roasted Strawberries – It’s the perfect balance between cornbread and cake. A little sweet, a little crumbly, ideal for the dessert table or even brunch. The roasted strawberries and coconut whipped cream are the most delicious toppings!Â
Beautiful. Inspiring. Fresh. Seasonal. Creative. Mouthwatering. These are just some of the words that come to mind when flipping through Laura Wright’s new cookbook, The First Mess, Vibrant Plant Based Recipes to Eat Well Through the Seasons. It’s truly one of the most beautiful cookbooks I’ve seen. And every recipe makes me want to run to the kitchen and make it right now! Trust me, you’re going to feel the same. Today, I’m bringing you a full review of this gorgeous cookbook and sharing one of the recipes you’ll find in there – this yummy Vanilla Corn Cake w/ Roasted Strawberries. I’ll also be giving away one copy of the cookbook to a lucky reader so be sure to read all the way to the bottom and follow the instructions to enter.
Laura Wright
Not only does Laura’s photography draw you in, so does her writing. Her style is approachable and cozy. She makes you want to be in her world.
Laura explains how she first connected with food growing up on her family’s farm, picking berries, and selling the produce at the farmer’s market. She studied environmental ethics at a university which led to her decision to go vegan. She later studied culinary arts and went on to work for a farm-to-table chef when that term wasn’t even trendy. At the urging of friends, Laura started her blog, The First Mess.
Her blog highlights healthy plant based food that’s easy, yet creative, and always delicious.
Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © 2017, Laura Wright Reprinted from The First Mess Cookbook by arrangement with Avery Books, a member of Penguin
The First Mess Cookbook
The recipes in this cookbook are simple and satisfying, just like the recipes on Laura’s blog. You’ll find over 100 new vegan recipes, all with a seasonal spin. Most of the recipes are easy enough for weekday cooking, but also unique enough for entertaining.
Let’s take a look inside:
Mornings and Breakfasts – Cookies for Breakfast; Fluffiest Multigrain Pancakes; Red Flannel Beet Hash w/ Dill; Toasty French Toast Bake
Soups and Stews РWeeknight Root Vegetable Dal; Creamy Jalape̱o Corn Chowder; Tofu Noodle Soup w/ Coconut Lemongrass Broth; Chipotle Pumpkin Chili w/ Tempeh and Beer
Salads and Dressings – Go-To Kale Salad w/ “Master Cleanse” Dressing; Sesame Cucumber Noodles w/ Melon and Avocado; Meyer Lemon Romanesco Glow Salad; Warm Balsamic Mushroom Salad w/ Pine Nut Parmesan
Hearty Mains and Big Plates – Butternut and Pesto Cream Lasagna; Eggplant “Bolognese” Pasta; Creamy Harissa Lentils w/ Cauliflower Rice; Burrito-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes w/ Rustic Salsa
Vegetables and a Couple of Grains – Crispy Salt and Vinegar Potatoes w/ Lemon Garlic “Aioli’; Fennel and Cherry Tomato Gratin; Garlicky Winter Vegetable and White Bean Mash; Roasted Carrots w/ Ginger Maple Cream
Energizing Drinks and Small Bites – Salted Caramel Date Shake; Hot-Pink Protein Smoothie; Seedy Sesame Granola Bars w/ Chocolate; Homemade Popcorn w/ Magic Dust
Desserts and Small Treats – Stone Fruit Pecan Crumble; Fudgy Nut and Seed Butter Brownies; Blueberry Muffin Loaf; Dreamy Lemon Curd
There are also chapters for Stocking your Pantry (which includes sections on Healthy Fats and Oils, Acidity, Natural Sweeteners, Protein, Whole Grains, Baking Necessities, and Flavor Savors) and Kitchen Equipment (which are broken down into categories by Necessary, Nice to Have, and Deluxe Commitment).
Vanilla Corn Cake
It was a hard decision to choose which recipe to share with you guys today. They all look so amazing and I knew you would love any of them. But since I love my cornbread on the sweet side, this Vanilla Corn Cake really stood out to me. It’s just sweet enough and has that wonderful crumbly texture you expect from cornbread. It’s great straight from the pan even with no toppings at all. Perfect for brunch, with tea or coffee, or of course as dessert just as it’s intended.
Roasted Strawberries
This sweet corn cake would be delicious with fresh fruit, but you really have to try these roasted strawberries! Roasting them makes them even sweeter (with NO added sugar or sweeteners!) and juicier. Try the roasted strawberries over a little dairy free vanilla ice cream too – so good!
Vanilla Corn Cake w/ Roasted Strawberries & Coconut Whipped Cream
I know you guys will love this Vanilla Corn Cake w/ Roasted Strawberries! If you make it, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. And make sure you get yourself a copy of the The First Mess Cookbook so you can make all of the other delicious recipes too. Be sure to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a copy for free!! Good luck!
- 3/4 cup (175 mL) full-fat coconut milk
- 1 tsp (5mL) fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup (250 mL) cornmeal, not coarse
- 1 cup (250 mL) whole spelt flour
- 1 tsp (5 mL) lemon zest
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) aluminum-free baking powder
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) baking soda
- 1 tsp (5 mL) fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground turmeric, optional
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons (125 mL + 30 mL) pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) sunflower oil, plus extra to grease pan
- 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla bean paste, or pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups (1 L) whole strawberries, roughly 1 quart; smaller berries are preferred
- Whipped Coconut Cream, (page 271), for serving (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pan with sunflower oil. Cut a circle of parchment paper to fit in the bottom of the pan and press it in. Lightly grease the parchment, and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut milk and lemon juice. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes so that the milk can curdle slightly.
In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, spelt flour, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, and turmeric, if using.
Make a well in the center of the cornmeal mixture. Add the maple syrup, sunflower oil, vanilla, and coconut milk mixture. With a spatula, gently mix until you have a smooth and unified batter. Avoid overmixing.
Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan and slide the pan into the oven. Bake the cake for 25 to 28 minutes or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely. Raise the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut the strawberries into halves or quarters (depending on size), and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Slide the baking sheet into the oven and roast the strawberries until they become juicy and jammy, about 20 minutes.
Serve slices of the corn cake with a few roasted strawberries and some Whipped Coconut Cream (page 271) if you like.
Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © 2017, Laura Wright Reprinted from The First Mess Cookbook by arrangement with Avery Books, a member of Penguin
a Rafflecopter giveaway
More Dairy Free Sweet Treats to Love:
Brown Rice Crispy Treats w/ Strawberries
Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes w/ Strawberry Coconut Frosting
Warm Peach Crisp w/ Maple Coconut Whip
This truly looks delicious. Can wait to try making it, especially with those strawberries on top. Yum.
You’ll love it, Edwina. Thanks!!
I absolutely love cornmeal in cakes and vanilla is my favorite cake flavor, so this just looks divine!! I’ve never tried one of her recipes, so I will have to check some out! This cake definitely got my attention!
You’d love it, Brandi! The texture is so good. I just love her recipes…definitely check her out!
Yummy! This looks like the perfect cake for spring! Absolutely gorgeous! 🙂
Thanks, Sina!
I would love to try the Stone Fruit Pecan Crumble. Sounds so good!
Perfect for summer!
I would like to try the corn cake.
I cannot wait to try the Crispy Avocado Tacos as my daughter is a huge fan.
Me too. I have those bookmarked as well. Thanks, Adrien!
Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes w/ Strawberry Coconut Frosting
Would love to try the VANILLA CORN CAKE. Sounds good.
You’ll love it!
I love this corn cake, It looks so delicious and the Brown Rice Crispy Treats w/ Strawberries..yummy
Thanks, Anita. The Brown Rice Crispy Treats w/ Strawberries are on the blog now, not in the book. Just click the link in the post! Enjoy!
I am most excited to try the Vanilla Corn Cake w/ Roasted Strawberries.
frozen strawberry cupcakes
I think I would like to try my hand at Lemon curd.
That’s on my list too!
I am excited to try the Hot-pink protein smoothie.
Good choice. We eat with our eyes first!
I am most excited to try Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes w/ Strawberry Coconut Frosting for my family. This looks so delicious!! Thank you.
Thanks, Debbie! The Strawberry Cupcakes recipe is actually on my blog, not in the book. You can get it right now! Just click the link in the post. 🙂 Enjoy!
Vanilla Corn Cake w/ Roasted Strawberries
Yay! Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe with us and for giving us a chance to win a copy of our own :)o be honest pretty much all of Laura’s recipes sound great, so picking just one favorite one is everything but easy… nevertheless, the Blueberry Loaf, lemon curd and breakfast cookies sure spund exra tempting
I definitely have my eye on that lemon curd. I swear I will just eat it with a spoon – ha! Thanks, Pia, and good luck!
Everything sounds delicious, but this one has me drooling! I love cornbread, so I think this corn cake would be perfect for me!
Yes, you would love it!! And it’s so super easy to make! Thanks, Sarah!
I have this book for review too and it’s SO pretty!! I love the style and theme and the recipes look great. Awesome job on this cake!
It’s really such a beautiful book. And I love that every recipe has a gorgeous photo! Can’t wait to see your review too!
I just tested the cornbread recipe for our cookbook yesterday. I’m going to have to turn the leftovers into dessert! Great review of a beautiful book.
Yes, you definitely should! 🙂
I would like to try the Crispy Avocado Tacos
Yes, delicious!
Love cornmeal with spelt in baking, they pair beautifully! These cake pics are unfair, lol! Want it now!
HaHa! Thank you, Dreena! You won’t be disappointed – it’s so good!
This looks completely amazing!! And those strawberries…YUM.
Thanks, Kerri! I can’t wait for strawberry picking season! 🙂
Oh wow this sounds and looks like an incredible dessert. Cornbread and strawberries are a match made in heaven! I NEED this book!
You do! You’d love it!
You definitely did that recipe justice Jenn – it looks sooo flavorful and fulfilling! I’m intrigued by many of the recipes you’ve noted; may have to pick this one up!
So many good ones in this book! All of them actually! You’ll love it! Thank you, Alisa!
Love the idea of roasting strawberries! They have such a good flavor. Sounds like a great cookbook as well!
It makes them almost like strawberry jam, but with zero added sugar. So yum!
Thanks for the sneak peek inside the cookbook! Sounds wonderful! And this vanilla corn cake with roasted strawberries looks heavenly!
This is such a fun cookbook, and your cake looks amazing!
I think this corn cake would be my choice. I may make it for Easter!
It will be a big hit! Let me know if you try it.
I think I would be drawn to the cookies for breakfast recipe first. I am of the thought that one can never have enough opportunities to eat cookies.
HaHa! I like that way of thinking!
The Warm Balsamic Mushroom Salad w/ Pine Nut Parmesan sounds yummy!
Thanks, Francine. I agree – anything with Balsamic gets my vote!
The entry for the book is not working properly for me or I could be doing it wrong. I could not comment up there. But I will here. All of the recipes listed, I see something EVERYONE in the house would love and there are 5 of us from 11-73 years~ I cannot wait to try many of them! I think the first thing would be the meyer lemon salad, jalapeno corn soup with this amazing vanilla corn cake roasted strawberries for an AMAZING meal.
Hi, Stacie! You’re commenting exactly right. You just need to make sure you check off the “I commented” button in the giveaway widget to get credit. Glad the recipes sound great to you. I think you will love them all!
I have to admit that I never go for corn based desserts, but this recipe might totally change that! Looks AMAZING!!
I wouldn’t have thought to either, but it’s really so good! I think you’ll like it!
Yummy! I have this book but I haven’t made anything yet. You’ve inspired me to try a few recipes – starting with this one!
You’ll love it! I made the Quinoa and White Bean Risotto today for lunch and nearly ate the entire pot myself. So good!
I love cornmeal in cakes too! The coconut whipped cream looks awesome, I can’t wait to try it!
The texture of the combo of cornmeal and spelt is so good! You’ll love it!
This sounds amazing and I was just thinking about a honey corn cake I make and putting blueberries with it but not anymore I need this! Love that you roasted the strawberries.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I also like sweet cornbread! I was looking through the list of recipes you included and I automatically new I had to try the Jalapeno Corn Chowder.
This looks so beautiful and delicious!
Thank you, Julie!
ohhh i’ve never heard of this before, but am already positive that I’d love it!! The flavors sounds amazing and I’m quite certain this would be a party hit!
Yes, I think everyone would love it! And it’s so easy – you can’t go wrong!
I love cornbread muffins but never thought to turn it into a cake! I love this recipe, the roasted strawberries on top look amazing. Can’t wait to try this in the summer!
I do like my cornbread on the sweet side, but never would have thought before to go all out and do a cake. And now, it may be the only way I eat it! 🙂 It’s so good!
Laura’s book looks amazing – it’s definitely on my list to pick up soon. And this cake!! It sounds amazing and I love all those berries on top.
Truly gorgeous! You will love it. I can’t stop picking it back up to thumb through again. Her cauliflower recipes are currently calling my name! 🙂
This looks great for not having any dairy! That creamy topping looks YUM! I love it when a cookbook speaks to you, it’s the best!
I read cookbooks like novels, so it’s gotta keep me interested and engaged. This one definitely does! Thanks, Kristina!
Oh this looks so good!
Thanks, Maryann! You’ll love it!
Oh my goodness, that TOPPING! I have got to make this.
It’s so delicious! You will not be disappointed!