Recipe: Healthy Chocolate Cake (Vegan too!)

Every woman needs a signature recipe. One that gets asked for over and over again - one that is taken to dinner party after dinner party and barbecue after barbecue - one that always seems to disappear, without any leftovers.

I think it's safe to say that this chocolate cake is one of mine - and yes, you read right.... it's healthy - just don't tell anyone ;) 

This chocolate cake has been a favourite of mine for quite some time - I first made it over a year ago and fell in love - and no other chocolate cake has ever been able to top it. Even the most decadent, butter filled, sugar laden cakes - and that's saying something. 

Best of all, this chocolate cake is a one bowl recipe and is so simple you could make it even if you had one arm, one eye and only 4 fingers (just as long as you had a thumb!). But it's a cake that has been requested over and over and loved by my family and friends - even the Flamingo Pink girls fell in love with it!

Would you believe me when I told you this drool worthy chocolate cake has no butter? or oil? or chocolate? or that it's vegan? and absolutely no funky ingredients like beans or flours that will cost you a fortune? Probably not.. and don't worry, no one else did either.

In fact, I first made this recipe for family and friends at a dinner party - I was running low on ingredients, but new I could whip up a quick chocolate cake with what I had in the pantry. I was nervous that everyone would hate it, even though I could eat an entire cake myself (it's that good) - but when it came time for dessert, all of a sudden people started asking. Kerri said "oh Kristy, your blog is so healthy - but what are you doing to us with these decadent desserts?! Forget my workout this morning.. this is going straight to my thighs" - Michelle begged me for the recipe, John ate 2 slices and Cheryl all of a sudden became a chocolate cake fan. 

This cake even turned my Mum into a fan of sweets - and she never eats dessert! In fact, when photographing this cake - she took that slice up above and walked past Jesse saying "nerr nerrr, look what I've got!" 

Healthy Chocolate Cake serve 9-12 (a double batch is recommended for a thicker cake!)    
gluten free, low fat, vegan, lower sugar  

Cake:

3/4 cup plain flour/GF flour *see note for other options

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt  

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/3C unrefined cane sugar/brown sugar**

1 tsp vanilla 

Frosting**: 
This makes a small amount of frosting as the cake doesn't need much, but for a full batch - see this Vegan Chocolate Frosting recipe.

1 1/2 tbsp lite Nuttelex or other dairy free butter/margarine alternative

1 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup sifted icing sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla 

Preheat oven to 180°C/355°F. 

Grease and line a small cake tin (or cupcake tins)

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a separate medium mixing bowl combine applesauce, sugar and vanilla and pour into dry ingredients.
Note: if your mix is not wet enough, add in some milk or water until it reaches a thick cake batter consistency. Your climate/temperature/flour etc can all contribute to differences in consistency so use your best judgement! 

Mix until just combined and pour into cake tin.

Bake for 20-35 minutes or until cooked through and a skewer inserted removes clean. If making cupcakes, cook for ~10-15 minutes or until cooked through.

For the frosting, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a mixer, adding in the cocoa and vanilla and mixing until combined. If needed, add a couple of drops of milk/non dairy milk until your desired consistency is reached.

*Flour Options
With the flour, you can use:

• Gluten free or regular plain flour 
• 1/4 + 1/8C oat flour and 1/4 + 1/8C plain flour (GF or regular)
• 1/4 + 1/8C wholewheat flour and 1/4 + 1/8C plain flour 
• 1/4 + 1/8C buckwheat flour and 1/4 + 1/8c gluten free flour 
• I also regularly use Orgran Buckwheat Pancake mix (which has no added sugar) for a light gluten free cake with some added nutrition

**Cheats Tip: Try Cadbury Philadelphia for a super quick and easy frosting. I usually only use about half of a small 140g tub but a little goes a long way!

Just don't be surprised when there's no left overs (and don't worry, after this photo was taken - that fork was licked clean). A double batch is definitely a must do.

Tell me, what's your signature recipe?
and what's your favourite type of cake?

Love this cake? Be sure to try our Healthy Chocolate Fudge Cake too! 

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