
I got your attention with the title didn’t I? When I first heard about this cake and saw it on Joy the Baker, I was intrigued so I decided to make this for my husband’s birthday. He had a rotten birthday quite honestly as he was sick with the flu again for the third time these past 2 months. His resistance has been low ever since his hospital visit and the mega antibiotics (although thanks to reader Kyle for her great advice on antibiotics) and at this point, we’re both tired of him being sick. He’s sick of being a patient and I’m sick of being his nurse. This cake was actually good for him as it didn’t contain any dairy, a supposed no-no as far as colds and flus are concerned. It also happened to be Vegan which he isn’t of course but I did find it amusing that I set out some eggs and butter for this cake the night before only to wake up and realise that neither was needed.

While our place is being renovated, we are staying with my parent’s and therefore I was baking in my mum’s kitchen. Baking in a kitchen other than your own is never quite as comfortable as your own kitchen. Couple that with the fact that my mum is not a baker. Her baking powder is rarely used (and had me worried whether it was still in date) and she has a few measuring cups and spoons but not as many as I do as I am a bit of a crazed baker. So sure she may not have had all the equiment but what she had was a garden full of gorgeous flowers including Cherry Blossoms, roses and daisies as she is a keen gardener (sadly, the green thumb was not passed onto me).

The cake itself is quite good indeed. For a cake very low in fat and with no eggs, it has a lovely, light rich chocolate taste to it and is surprisingly moist (although adding some chocolate flakes of chips would have been good in retrospect). The crust is a touch crunchy but the inside tender. I can’t say that I was a huge fan of the avocado buttercream though. In fact I found myself scraping it off the cake and eating the cake by itself. Funnily enough, the avocado buttercream doesn’t turn brown and sets just like a regular buttercream but the taste…well it’s like sweet avocadoes and if you happen to like that idea then it might be the icing for you.
So tell me Dear Reader, are you a fan of vegetables used in sweet dishes e.g. carrot cake, zucchini cake or avocado shakes?
Chocolate & Avocado Cake with Avocado Buttercream (Vegan)

Makes 2 x 8-inch rounds or 2 thinner 9-inch rounds
from Vegetarian in the Middle East
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup soft avocado, well mashed, about 1 medium avocado
- 2 cups water
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180C. Grease and flour two 8 or 9-inch tins. Set aside.
2. Sift together all of the dry ingredients except the sugar. Set that aside too.
3. Mix all the wet ingredients together in a bowl, including the super mashed avocado.
4. Add sugar into the wet mix and stir.
5. Mix the wet with the dry all at once, and beat with a whisk (by hand) until smooth.

6. Pour batter into greased cake tins. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Let cakes cool in pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely before frosting with avocado buttercream.
Avocado Buttercream Frosting
from Alton Brown
- 8 ounces of avocado meat, about 2 small to medium, very ripe avocados
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 pound/500g powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Peel and pit the soft avocados. It’s important to use the ripest avocados you can get your hands on. If the avocados have brown spots in the meat, cut out those spots. Smash the avocado meat up. Show it who is boss. Imagine your most loathed colleague or the neighbour that plays the music very loudly late at night or the one that uses their leaf blower at 7am on a weekend. The avocado needs to be beaten into submission and as smooth as possible.

2. Place the avocado meat and lemon juice into the bowl of a stand mixer fit with the whisk attachment. Whisk the avocado on medium speed, until slightly lightened in color and smooth, about 2-3 minutes.

Avocado buttercream
3. Add the sifted icing/powdered sugar a spoonful at a time and beat. Add vanilla extract until combined. If not using right away, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. And I know your next question-it won’t turn brown!

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75 Comments | Add your own
Tell your Mom the cherry blossoms are amazing! Happy Birthday to your hubby! and the cake looks gorgeous (but am right there with you – I am not a fan of sweet avocados but my husband would love it!)
I love the pale green of the avocado buttercream but I’m not sure I’d like the taste. I like vegetables in sweet dishes when you can’t tell they’re there. Carrot, zucchini and beetroot cake can be great but it could be just that I like the cream cheese icing that goes with them
This looks really interesting! Not sure how much I’d like avocado with chocolate though…
On another note, I am a HUGE fan of carrot cake. I should really try zucchini cake/bread, I think I’d like it.
I saw the post on Joy’s site back when it came out and it both scared me & intrigued me! Hah! I love avocados, and consider myself bold with food, but avocados & chocolate I have not tried….
This looks gorgeous! I only like my avacado fresh with poached eggs or in a salad.
Zucchini, carrot, beetroot, sweet potato, now those are my kinds of vegie cake!
Wow, that cake looks gorgeous. I don’t think I’d ice it though – hate the thought of avocado icing. But will definitely try the cake recipe, as yes, I’m a fan of vegetables and fruits in baking and juices. Love carrot and zucchini cake, pumpkin bread, potato bread, and of course, that Queensland favourite, pumpkin scones!
Happy belated birthday to your hubby. The cake is really cute with the green icing!
The buttercream does take a bit of getting used to, doesn’t it? I’m so glad you were brave enough to try the cake! Happy Birthday to your husband!
Wow, the colour is really striking! I’m not a fan of avocado at all, but my FIL would enjoy this for sure. I do love carrot cake and courgette cake, though. And purple yam cake! xx
Magnificent color and contrast! I really want to test that combo once! Yummy!
Cheers,
Rosa
I do love the colour of the icing but I dont think I would like the taste. I do love a good carrot cake or zucchini cake. I also really want to try a cake with beetroot.
It looks lovely, that’s for sure! I’m not totally turned off by the idea of chocolate and avocado, but it’s hard to envision exactly how it would taste.
This does look like an interesting cake. I would love to try it. The buttercream does sound a little funny – I think I would be like you and scrape most of it off and eat the cake.
this looks great!! My boyfriend made me a chocolate/avacado cake for my birthday last year. DELICIOUS! in fact we put a slice of it , along with a slice of regular choc cake on a plate for his dad and asked him to guess which one was vegan. He couldn’t tell:)
thanks for posting a vegan recipe!!
Yummo! And such a pretty cake with its brown and green (love your cherry blossoms too). I like baked goods with veges in, but when I mention such things to other people, they automatically wrinkle their noses and say they don’t like it as much as the regular versions (psychological, I think).
Ahh yes I love it! Avocado is so great in shakes, it only seems natural that it would work in a cake! I love the vibrant colour of it too, I’m guessing the lemon juice stops it from going brown? As cool as it is that it’s dairy free, I can imagine mixing some sweetened condensed milk into the avocado mixture would be so yummy
I looks great and I love that it’s vegan, but I just don’t know if I could do sweet avocado… Good on you for experimenting!! The cherry blossom looks wonderful!
Yes, you DID get me with the title! I am avocado obsessed, but i’m not sure if i have the nerve for sweet avocado things!
My Mum and Nanna make a fantastic potato cake (no, not the deep fried sort) which i have many fond childhood memories of. Am also a big fan of carrot cake, as long as there’s plenty of cream cheese icing!
Hope Mr NQN is feeling better soon!
And those cherry blossoms are beautiful – the pale pink looks lovely with the soft green!
I got the email with the subject “Chocolate and Avocado Cake”.. and I sat there looking at it going.. WTF has she come up with now!!!
Looks brilliant… I’m intrigued to give it a go!
What an interesting cake! The cherry blossoms are beautiful. I wonder if the avocado buttercream would be better with the addition of some cocoa?
I love carrot cake and I’ve seen some yummy zucchini bread recipes.
My sister makes amazing beetroot brownies from a recipe by River Cottage Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and they are delicious! This cakes looks great and I also think mini ones for kids would work really well.x
The avocado buttercream is definitely very intriguing! The entire cake looks lovely and I hope that your husband feels better soon!
The picture is just gorgeous! You took my attention both with the title and the cherry blossoms in the picture. The combination of dark brown and green couldn’t be better in a cake. Avocado is a new fruit for me as it’s not grown here. We’ve recently seen it at the markets, so I must give it a try.
Absolutely gorgeous! I grew up down the road from a screamingly funny place called “Avocadoland” in northern NSW. They served avocado ice cream and I absolutely adored it. Once you lose the preconception that avocado is only for savoury dishes, it’s a fantastic ingredient for buttery sweets. Gorgeous!
Mon Dieu! I have to make this soon – now there’s a great use for chocolate! Have tried it with beetroot before. It gives an earthy yet slightly tart, richness but the avocado must endow a sort of creaminess which makes taste buds pang in want. Bravo!
As I am allergic to vegetables, I am not sure. Just kidding.
Ok, Darling Lorraine–you MUST go to you tube and look at Owl City, “Fireflies.” You’ll love it. I promise.
And your feature is next Sat.!
Yummie! In Brazil avocado is mainly eaten as a sweet, so for me this reminds me of my chiildhood, but have to admit that never seen it with chocolate cake…I must try this one
Wow, what a bizarre combination but I’m willing to give it a go! Well done on a vegan recipe, I’ve forwarded it onto one of my sister’s who’s vegan to try
The photographs are amazing. The cherry blossoms complemented the avo buttercream frosting beautifully!
Don’t think I could handle that flavor on a cake personally, but you make anything look luscious, Lorraine!
♥
http://artfulhawaiigirl.blogspot.com
Hmm, I saw that cake originally posted on Joy the Baker. It is strikingly pretty but I don’t know if I’d enjoy it – I don’t really like avocados on their own. A textural thing I think, it’s like eating straight vegetal butter to me. However I do love carrot cake and zucchini bread, and my mom used to make a FANTASTIC chocolate zucchini cake when I was little.
That is absolutely stunning. I am making this tonight for my husband’s birthday lunch tomorrow. I hope there’s somewhere I can find ripe avocado!
two words: beetroot cake. oh yes!
Hi! Happy belated bday to ur hubby! Cake looks good! I think green on chocolate always looks great…butI’m not a big fan of vegetables in desserts…I often wonder y wld ppl wanna put zucchini in a chocolate cake..
I would have to give the icing a miss – the colour may be gorgeous, but I can’t get excited about sweet avocado. Having said that what a treat to find a vegan cake recipe – have a dairy free friend and always struggle for puddings.. THANK YOU!
awesome awesome colour contrast! I bet it was yummy! gotta give this a go soon!! Thanks for the recipe Lorraine!
My mother bought me an avocado cake for my birthday and i must say i prefer the avocado on toast.
my favourite vegetable cake is taro cake from savoy bakery..that’s nyum
Mmm, you always come up with the best ideas.What a great combination of ingredients. looks delicious yumm!!.
What a feast for the eyes, brilliant to look at and I would certainly give it a try. As for other vegetable based cakes, I do eat them but I’m not a huge fan.
I made this cake too and had the exact same experience. The avocado was an interesting new ingredient to work with in baking, but I doubt I’ll try it again. My favorite use of veggies in sweet dishes is the pineapple zucchini sheet cake with cream cheese frosting I found on Tasty Kitchen. Yum yum yum!
Oh Chocolate and avocado is tricky but somehow it taste pretty delicious, Ive tried it once in a french/dutch patisserie and the avocado is very subtle. Bravo u gave it a go!
I want to try this out right away! It’s a beautiful cake…I love how green it is
I love the idea of this cake and I am a HUGE fan of vegetables in cakes. It helps me get my recommended daily allowance. Well that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.
As for baking in your mum’t kitchen, I was also living with my parents for a while waiting for my house to be finished and my mother’s words were wise. No kitchen is big enough for two women.
ahh interesting.
never thought of using avacado in a cake!
love them everywhere else though.
in sushi and salads!
love how the green makes it look so appetizing!
What a pretty colour that green is! Though I must say I dont know how I’d feel about sweet avocado. Other veggie cakes are nice – I had a zucchini, walnut & olive oil cake recently which was sublime…but zucchini, pumpkin, carrot, beetroot and sweet potato are all quite sweet when you bake them……but avocado…hmmm…its never that nice warm.
That said – I think my Mum would give this a go because she loves avocadoes!
I’m firmly of the vegetables do not belong in cakes school. I hate carrot cake. What a waste!
One year at work they got me a carrot cake as my birthday cake. It was very disappointing. Getting a carrot cake, having to eat it and to top it all off, pretend that I liked it!
looks intriguing!
how vital is the white vinegar?
Wow, that is a very cool cake! The combination of chocolate & avocado sounds awesome. I would definitely love to try it!
I love carrot cake, but thinking about avacadoes in a buttercream, it kind of turns me off.
But the chocolate cake itself looks wonderful, save for the cream.
I had seen this on her site and was totally intrigued by it! Our kitchen is being redone now and I baked at John’s mom’s… I realized all too late why my muffins were a bit flat… 5 year old baking powder *sigh*
this is unique, gorgeous, and combining two of my favorite things, but little did i know that avocado and chocolate would make a happy couple! i intend to try this posthaste. happy birthday to your sickling of a hubby!
I saw this recipe too! Now I’m dying to try this out.
Happy belated birthday to your husband! Your pics are so lovely, and I am really intrigued with this cake! I am a fan of veggies in desserts…I think I’ll give this a try next time I make a cake!
I do like carrot cake and sweet zucchini breads, and an avocado shake is ok. But, I’m not sure if I’d like avocado buttercream. I’d be happy to give it a taste to find out though.
What an interesting combination! And the green of the avocado is strangely alluring……..
I love vegetables in sweet baking (and savoury too) – I tried avocado in chocolate cupcakes this year and found them fantastic but I saw that buttercream and was curious – would still love to try it – maybe it needs some cocoa so it tastes less of avocado
Avo and Choc! What an interesting combo. I am not a big fan of sweet vege baking with the exception of carrot cake. I am yet to try avocado shake and buttercream….. somehow my intinct keeps tell me DON’T! Ha!
Oh the lovely greeeen!
I don’t think I have ever eaten avocado buttercream before, interesting!
Traditional Japanese sweets (Wagashi) often use vegetables – like edamame beans or pumpkins. But I’m not really a big fan of them lol
This is craziness! I’m a huge fan of using zucchini in cake and now I’m determined to try this. Might skip the buttercream though…
Lovely pictures.
Beautiful cake and very interesting duo! Your avocado buttercream is definitely tempting!
I love avocado milk but not tried using it as a buttercream. Interesting. I guess it will make a good cupcake topping. I may give this a go next time I make chocolate cupcakes
Wow, not only is that a stunning photo of the cake but for the first time in a long time I have seen a recipe concept that was totally new to me. I am going to have to try avocado butter cream.
Great colour, even if the buttercream taste was a little odd. I do love carrot cake, and zucchini chocolate cake, so I am curious to try this.
My mum’s kitchen is similar to yours! I had to finally buy her some measuring spoons and cups last time I was baking there, as I was sick of complaining about her lack of measuring utensils (although her food always seems to turn out just fine).
hmnn im also not a fam of avocado but my hisband loves it… im gonna try this recipe f0or his bday… thank you. it looks delisciouso!!
I just love avocado and I also love chocolates. This cake is just WOW. Something different and unusual but but something everyone would love. Too bad, it’s not avocado season anymore.
I think i’m going to like this one, pavlova topped with avocado and chillies is a favourite of mine (started as a pregnancy weird food combo but continued past the birth lol). My sons birthday is on Wednesday so I might just give this a go, i’m sure it’ll be better than the chocolate potato cake that I made, that one was BAD! The chocolate beetroot cake is yum as is the chocolate tomato cake though. I love carrot cake too but am not that big on zucchini cake
I’ve been wanting to try avocadoes as an egg replacer! It sounds like they’re better left in the batter and left out of the icing!
As much as i love avocado, i have not yet ventured into making desserts with it. This beautiful shade of green is calling my name & I can eat this guilt free too.
What an exotic sounding cake! It looks pretty, but I’d have to taste it to try the flavour combination. I don’t mind avocado shakes, so maybe it would be good.
Hope the husband is feeling better soon! Chocolate cake was sure to help
The contrasting colors are lovely; too bad the avocado frosting wasn’t terribly tasty.
Too bad because it looks so pretty, but then it makes me want to create a green frosting (lime maybe) but without food coloring. Now that could be a challenge. I like citrus with chocolate…so how does avocado lead me to citrus. Crazy food blogger inspiration!
This cake is delicious! I made it this weekend and got doubting looks from my husband and father-in-law. The results cannot be compared, creamy icing, chocolate firm bread and just the right amount of sweetness. I got the big thumbs-up!
Hi Trissa-Thanks, I will!
Hehe he thought the avocado buttercream was very strange but ate it like a good birthday boy
Hi Amy-Thanks! Yes the look is striking but the eating…not so sure! Haha yes cream cheese icing is da bomb!
Hi Su-yin-The cake bit is really good though!
Oh yes I like both-vegetables really make cakes moist!
Hi Rose-I was so drawn to it!
Ahh it’s a must try!
Hi Tiffany-Ooh yes they’re all great in cakes
I made a cake with quite a few of those!
Hi MrsDesperate-Thanks! Yes it’s a bit scary I have to say. Mmm pumpkin scones are amazing yes!
Hi Anh-Thanks! Hehe thankyou
Hi Joy-Thanks for sharing the recipe! It does
Thankyou so much!
Hi Angela-Thankyou!
Ooh yes purple yam cake is divine! I should make one one day
xxx
Hi Rosa-Thankyou so much!
Hi sandra -Yes it looks nice but the taste…well not really to my liking. Oh yes beetroot cake is quite nice! I made one ages ago (it’s on NQN).
Hi Brittany-Thankyou very much! Yes it’s quite hard to describe…
Hi Anita-The cake itself is really nice (my mum went crazy for it) but we weren’t quite so taken with the icing. But hey I’m glad we tried it!
Hi anna-Thankyou! Haha isn’t that funny! I have to say that this chocolate cake was excellent-you couldn’t tell it was vegan at all! You’re welcome!
Hi Cakelaw-Thanks so much! I love cherry blossoms-i never know what I’ll find in her garden!
I think it is-after all most people like carrot cake don’t
they?
Hi Steph-Thankyou! Funnily, I do like it in shakes but he frosting is a bit full on
Yes I think the sugar and lemon juice would definitely help
Ooh yes sweetened condensed milk can fix everything!
Hi Madelin-Thanks! Yes it’s an acquired taste perhaps. Thankyou!
Hi Nic-Haha!
Yes it’s soo sweet too! Oh yes I can believe that would be gorgeous. Cream Cheese icing is da bomb isn’t it
Thankyou so much!
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Haha that’s so funny!
Please do!
Hi Gab-Thankyou! Perhaps that might help-I think it needs something strong in it as the texture is quite silky and nice
Yum I love both!
Hi Clare-They sound great! I wonder what kids would think of these-I’m curious to try it out with some!
Hi Palidor-Thankyou!
He is much better now thankyou!
Hi zerrin-Hehe thanks so much!
I love that colour combo too
Oh yes do, it’s very nice and creamy
Hi Kathryn-Thankyou!
Oh that sounds brilliant! Avocadoland!
I admit I have had avocado ice cream and it was very good!
Hi cassiopeia160-hehe cool! Yes it really gives it a lovely texture. Thankyou so much!
Hi Blond Duck-Haha you aren’t! How about corn?
OK, I will. Oooh thankyou!
Hi Juliana-OH really? I had no idea!
Please do, I’d love to know what you think!
Hi Jo-Hehe cool! Thanks very much, I wonder if she’d like it?
Hi Marilyn-Aww thank you!
I know, I was so happy when I saw them in the garden!
Thankyou!
Hi anna-I really enjoyed the cake bit and perhaps I would enjoy the avocado if it were spread really thinly as it jas a nice moistness but that amount was a bit too much
Oh that sounds lovely!
Hi kat-Thankyou so much! I hope that he likes it! Yes ripe ones are a must
Hi lindsey clare-Haha yes!
Hi Disha-Thankyou so much!
It does look pretty so I thought it would be fitting for a birthday cake but yes the avocado icing wasn’t what I imagined
Hi Claire-Hehe fair enough!
Thanks, glad you like it and you’re welcome !:)
Hi Lianne-Thankyou very much! You’re very welcome!
Hi Dee-Hehe really? That’s sweet! I’ve never seen one in a shop!
Oh I used to get that exact cake for my birtdhay!
Hi nora-Hehe thankyou! You are too sweet!
Hi Matilda-Thankyou!
Fair enough, I tend to like them as they are very moist which means Mr NQN likes them
Hi Lizzy-Yes I’m glad I tried it but I don’t think I’d make the avocado icing again
Mmm yum that sounds lovely!
Hi Lady Macaron-Inside the cake itlse,f it’s really nice!
Thankyou!
Hi Alexandra-Oh yes please do! I loved the colour too
Hi Orla-Hehe I never really thought of it that way!
Hehe I like it! Haha yes that is very, very true!
Hi felicia -Yes this was a first for me although I’ve used it in ice cream
Thankyou!
Hi Esz-Thankyou!
I know, it’s a new one for me too in a cooked cake but it made the cake gorgeous (and you couldn’t taste it). You could in the
I wonder what she would think of it?
buttercream though!
Hi jess-Hahah really? I didn’t think anyone hated it!
Aww you are so funny!
Hi allie-I’m not sure but it might be vital for the balance, after all baking is a science!
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thankyou very much!
Hi ArtemisIII-Haha well I can’t convince you then?
Hi steph-It is totally intriguing isn’t it! Joy has some amazing stuff! Eekk 5 year old baking powder!?
Hi grace-Thankyou!
It’s an unusual but striking combo. Thankyou so much!
Hi pigpigscorner -Hehe you definitely should!
Hi Faith-Thanks so much!
I’d love to hear what you think of it!
Hi lisa-Hehe it’s worth a try although making a whole batch might be a bit much
Hi Trisha-Thankyou! Hehe I agree, I love the colour
Hi Johanna-I think that’s a great idea to add cocoa!
Hi Ellie-Hehe funny thing those instincts!
Hi Yas-Oooh thankyou! It’s …interesting!
I’ve never tried edamame or pumpkin-only red bean and green bean!
Hi Sarah-Hehe it is!
Yes or if you do, make a small batch of it
Unless of course you really like sweet avocadoes! Thankyou!
Hi isa-Thankyou so much!
Hi penny-Cool! Let me know what you think of it if you do make it!
Hi Weekend Carnivore-Oh cool! I hope you like it!
Hi Conor-hehe yes it looks pretty enough!
Yes my mu uses a regular tablespoon as her measuring tablespoon as she doesn’t bake much at all. She did buy some more cups though!
Hi cutie mom-Oh cool, I hope he likes it! Thankyou!
Hi Divina-Maybe this is your kind of cake!
Ahh what a shame about avocado season. We’re lucky to get them all year around here.
Hi Lauren-Wow with avocado and chillies?
I’m so intrigued by that one! :O Chocolate tomato, wow you really are an adventurous baker-bravo!
Hi Erin-Interesting! I didn’t realise that it was as a replacement for egg
Haha yes for me at least!
Hi Soma-Yes it’s delicious too! I loved the cake part
Hi Arwen-Thankyou!
Hmm I like avocado shakes but this one needs something else like the milk or sweetened condensed milk as Steph suggested
Hi Julie-Thankyou so much!
Yes luckily it was easily scraped off!
Hi Angela-Yes I wonder what you coudl use-perhpas pandan flavouring. Have you used that? Haha!
Hi Diana-Oh I’m so glad that you liked it! I’m sure therer were doubters, especially when you tell them what was in it but I’m glad they liked it! Thanks for letting me know
I too made this cake over the weekend, and given your thoughts about the avocado butter cream, decided to skip it and used a vanilla butter cream instead. The cake was brilliant, and exactly as you described. Crunchy on the outside and lusciously moisty on the inside. People were happily surprised with the avocado ingredient, and cake plates were practically licked clean. Even my six year old, who refuses to eat avocado if he recognises it, loved the cake. Thanks again for another fab recipe.
I made this tonight and agree with you that the avocado frosting is too intense (”vegetative” is the word that comes to mind) but that the chocolate cake is excellent! I would make the cake on its own and replace it with another kind of frosting, like cream cheese, or regular buttercream.
Never thought of making cake from avocado but it looks great and very taste. Im in love with avocados so this one im definately gonna try. Thanks so much for the post!
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