This healthier chocolate cake is rich, creamy and fudgy. The cake needs just 2 ingredients and doesn’t require any flour, eggs, dairy, butter or oil. It also doesn’t require any baking. The cake is easy to make and stores well.
A slice of chocolate cake on a white plate with a fork

This is an easy chocolate dessert to make ahead of time. The cake is rich and creamy and similar to a chocolate torte but made a little healthier.

Ingredients

  • Apples
  • Dark chocolate chips

Apples: Apples are cooked until tender and pureed in a blender. I recommend using a sweet apple variety like Fuji, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Envy. You can also save time and use store bought unsweetened applesauce, but since apples are in season right now, I prefer using fresh apples.

Dark chocolate chips: Make sure to use dark chocolate chips without around 60% cocoa. If the cocoa amount is too little, the cake will not set. The chocolate chips are melted and mixed with the apple puree, which creates a rich, creamy cake.

How to Make Healthier Chocolate Cake

  • The apples are cooked until tender and pureed in a blender.
  • The dark chocolate chips are melted until smooth.
  • The melted chocolate is added to the blender and blended until you have a smooth batter.
  • Transfer the batter to your prepared cake pan and place into the fridge until set.
  • If desired, you can frost the cake before serving.

A chocolate cake cut into eight slices

Texture

This cake has a texture similar to a torte type of cake. It is very rich and creamy. It also has a bittersweet level of sweetness.
A bite taken from a slice of chocolate cake

Expert Tips

  • You can substitute with unsweetened applesauce if you don’t have time to peel and cook apples. If using unsweetened applesauce, you will still need to blend it in a blender.
  • I recommend blending the chocolate and apple puree in the blender to get a very smooth batter. If you just mix the two ingredients by hand, your cake will not be as smooth and will be slightly grainy.
  • Make sure your apple puree is room temperature or else it will cause the chocolate to seize.

A slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting
Chocolate cake slices decorated with chocolate frosting and chocolate curls

More Healthier Chocolate Cake Recipes

4.88 from 8 votes

2 Ingredient Healthier No Bake Chocolate Cake

This healthier chocolate cake needs just 2 ingredients. No flour, eggs, dairy, butter or oil. It also doesn't require any baking. It's an easy make-ahead dessert that works well for any occassion.
Servings: 14 slices
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups (443g) dark bittersweet chocolate chips, 60% cocoa
  • 356 g peeled and chopped/sliced apple pieces, (approximately 3 1/4 cups of 1 inch apple cubes)

Instructions
 

  • Spray the interior of a 7-inch springform pan with cooking oil spray. Line the bottom with a parchment round. Also line the sides with long strips of cut parchment paper.
  • Add apples to a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a simmer on the stove, cooking until the apples are fork tender (cooking time will vary depending on how thick your apple pieces are, but mine took around 15-20 minutes). Let apples cool slightly and then drain the water.
  • Add 356 grams of apples to your blender. I recommend using a scale to weigh this. The apples absorb some of the water as they cook, so you don’t want to use the whole amount of drained apples. You should have a little bit leftover. If you don't have a scale, you can blend the whole amount and then measure out a scant 1.5 cups of pureed apples for the recipe. Again, you won't want to use the whole amount because it will make your cake too soft and not set.
  • Blend the apples until they become a thick, smooth puree.
  • Add chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between with a spatula, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Alternatively, you could do this over low heat in a double boiler on the stove.
  • Let the chocolate cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Transfer the melted chocolate to the blender with the apple puree. Blend on high speed for a few seconds until you have a smooth, uniform, chocolate batter.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula.
  • Put in the fridge to set, around 4-5 hours or overnight. Once cake is set, carefully release it from the cake pan and peel off the parchment paper. If desired, you can frost the cake or decorate it with fresh fruit before serving. Use a large sharp knife to cut the cake. I recommend cutting small thin slices because this cake is very rich. Store any uneaten cake in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

  • Dark chocolate note: Make sure to use dark chocolate chips (sometimes labeled bittersweet chocolate chips) that contains around 60% cocoa. Also make sure your dark chocolate chips contain lecithin. Avoid brands like Enjoy Life that don't contain any lecithin because that ingredient is needed to help keep the chocolate smooth. 
  • Applesauce substitution: To save time, you can use store bought unsweetened applesauce.  You will need 356 grams of it. I recommend using a scale. If you don't have a scale, it is a scant 1.5 cups of applesauce. You will still need to blend the applesauce to make it more of a smoother puree consistency since applesauce tends to be more chunky and grainy.
  • Optional ganache frosting:
    • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
    • 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) canned coconut milk or heavy cream
    • Add chocolate chips to a medium bowl and set aside. Heat coconut milk in a small pot or pan over medium low heat. Heat until simmering. Pour hot coconut milk/heavy cream over chocolate chips. Let sit for 60 seconds then gently mix until chocolate is completely melted.
    • Frost over the surface of the cake. 
  • Estimated nutrition does not include optional frosting.
Serving: 1slice, Calories: 182kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Sodium: 0.3mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 15g, NET CARBS: 17
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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