For the Almond Cake Batter Be sure all your ingredients are at room temperature before beginning.
First prepare your 7" cake pans with grease & parchment paper lining & preheat the oven to 350°F
Grind the almonds in a food processor or chop as fine as possible by hand
Sift the flour with the salt, baking powder & baking soda
In a large mixing bowl combine the melted vegan butter, oil, plant milk, extracts & sugar
Sift the flour with the salt, baking powder & baking soda then add it to the wet ingredients in the bowl & whisk to a smooth batter
Add the finely ground almonds & mix evenly
Portion the batter into your prepared pans & bake in the preheated 350°F oven for 15minutes. Then turn the oven temperature down to 300° & bake for another approx 20 minutes or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
Cool the cakes in the pans until they are cool to the touch, then flip them out onto a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.
Prepare the buttercream recipe of your choice and set it aside
Prepare the Chocolate Ganache by chopping the chocolate to small pieces & place in a medium sauce pot with the plant milk whisking constantly over medium heat until melted & smooth. Add the Amaretto *If alcohol free you will use more plant milk
The truffles are simply scoops of cooled & set ganache rolled into chopped almonds~ Optional garnish
For the Chocolate Mousse Melt the chocolate in a large bowl over a double boiler or in a microwave safe bowl~ Reserve
Combine the hot coffee & the agar powder in a smaller sauce pot over high heat & whisk smooth. Keep it warm or the agar will set and you will have to remelt.
Meanwhile whip your favorite whipped cream to medium peaks & reserve in the refrigerator
Whip the aquafaba with the cream of tartar to stiff peaks while adding the sugar very slowly~ reserve
Add half of the whipped cream to the COOLED chocolate mousse base (must be at least 80℉ or you will melt your whipped cream) mix well to lighten the mixture- work quickly as the agar will begin to set~ then add the rest of the whipped cream
Finally fold in the whipped aquafaba meringue
At this point you can allow the mousse to set in the refrigerator to a scoop-able consistency to build the cake, or set the cake up in a ring mold & pour the freshly made mousse into the mold with the cake layers so everything can set together firmly *see video visual
Once the mousse is set inside the cake, proceed to assemble & ice the cake as shown in the video tutorial