This cake is the green cousin of the beloved carrot cake.  While at first it doesn’t sound too appetizing, the combination of vanilla, apples and kale creates the perfect balance of sweetness, and an ultra-moist cake.  This is also a natural and quick alternative to making a green cake for St. Patrick’s Day.  I’ve had people ask me if I use food coloring to obtain the grassy green color, but it really is just the quantity of kale that is packed into the batter. The cake is superb by itself with coffee but that much better when dressed with layers of dulce de leche and chocolate ganache.

serves 16; PREP time: Active: 30 MIN.; TOTAL: 2 hours

6 cups (about ½ pound) chopped kale

3 Fuji apples, peeled

2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

2 Boxes of Betty Crocker Super Moist French Vanilla Cake Mix

2 cups water

1 cup vegetable oil

6 eggs

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter

12 oz. cacao 60% bitter-sweet chocolate

5-6 heaping tablespoons dulce de leche

 Preheat oven to 350°.  In food processor or high-speed blender combine the apples, kale and unsweetened almond milk and puree until finely blended. 

In a separate mixer bowl, combine cake mix, water, vegetable oil, eggs and cinnamon.  Beat with an electric mixer until blended, about 2 ½ minutes.

Pour into 32 greased and floured 9- x 1½-inch round baking pans. Bake as directed on box, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool thoroughly on racks.

To make the dulce de leche chocolate ganache: In a medium saucepan, combine and heat ingredients over low heat, stirring constantly just until everything has completely blended to a velvety consistency. Remove from heat and chill until cool enough to spread, about 1/2 hour, checking and stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. Use immediately.

With a cake knife, slice each of the cakes through the middle. Put layers together by using the top layer of each cake as the bottom piece. With a cake knife, slice each of the cakes through the middle.  Put cake layers together by using the top layer of each cake as the bottom and middle pieces. Once topping is set, layer generously with dulce de leche chocolate ganache and frost tops and sides of cake layers.