Kirbie's Cravings

3 Ingredient Chocolate Cake

This rich and moist chocolate cake doesn’t contain any flour but you wouldn’t even know it. It has a texture just like regular chocolate cake but is so much easier to make. The cake needs just 3 ingredients.
a slice of cake being removed.

If you need a quick and easy shortcut chocolate cake, this is it. It tastes like a chocolate cake made from scratch.

Ingredients

  • Chocolate spread (like Nutella)
  • Eggs
  • Baking Soda

Chocolate spread: Using a chocolate spread is the key to this cake being made with so few ingredients. Chocolate spread already contains fat, sugar and chocolate, eliminating the need to add these to your cake. The most common chocolate spread is Nutella, but other brands of hazelnut chocolate spread should also work. And it doesn’t have to be a chocolate hazelnut spread. There are chocolate spreads that are just chocolate flavored spread without any nuts.

Eggs: Eggs give this cake structure and act as a binding agent. You will need to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites but you do not need to beat the egg whites to stiff peaks like you normally would when you separate the eggs.

Baking soda: Baking soda helps give the cake rise.
a slice of chocolate cake on a plate.

How to Make This Cake

Heat the chocolate spread in the microwave so that it has a thinner consistency. Add in the egg yolks and fold them in. Your batter will initially become very thick once you add the egg yolks and become a little hard to mix. This is normal.

The egg whites are then added in. Whisk until the batter is smooth and no egg white streaks remain. Sprinkle the baking soda over the cake batter and then whisk it in. Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan and bake.

If desired you can frost the cake with a chocolate ganache frosting. I also added some chocolate curls for decoration.

a whole frosted cake garnished with chocolate curls.

More Easy Chocolate Cake Recipes

3 Ingredient Chocolate Cake

Servings: 10 slices
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
This rich and moist chocolate cake needs just 3 ingredients. It has a texture like regular chocolate cake but it doesn't contain any flour.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cups (387 g) Nutella or other chocolate spread
  • 4 large eggs egg whites and yolks separated
  • 1/4 tsp + 1/8 tsp (2 g) baking soda

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line the bottom of a 7-inch nonstick springform pan with parchment paper. Do not line or grease the sides. You need the cake to be able to climb up the sides and stick to it a little. If you grease the sides, it will cause the cake to collapse too much during baking.
  • Add the Nutella or whatever chocolate spread you are using to a large microwave-safe mixing bowl. Heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds so that the Nutella is runnier and easier to mix.
  • Add in the egg yolks and fold them in. As you fold them in, you will notice the spread will turn very thick and become hard to stir. This is normal. Continue to mix until the egg yolks are fully incorporated.
  • Add in egg whites. Use a whisk to mix until batter becomes uniform and smooth. Once you add in the egg whites, your batter will become thin and easier to mix again.
  • Sprinkle the baking soda over the cake batter. Whisk until it is evenly blended in.
  • Pour the cake batter into your prepared cake pan. Bake for about 40-50 minutes or until cake is done. Let cake cool and then gently release it from the springform pan. The cake will deflate a little as it cools. You can slice off the top to even the surface if you plan on frosting it (I did). If desired, frost before serving.

Notes

  • If you are using a scale to measure ingredients, try to use one that has a 0.1 g precision reading when measuring the baking soda. Baking soda is very powerful in even small amounts and if you use a scale that only rounds to the nearest whole number, you could be off by a lot. My baking soda weighed exactly 2.0 grams.
  • I baked this recipe in an 7 inch springform pan but you can also bake it in a loaf pan or square pan. Just make sure it is nonstick and don't grease the sides.
  • I used Nutella because it is the most popular chocolate spread. You don't have to use a chocolate hazelnut spread. There are chocolate flavored spreads available that don't contain any nuts.
  • This recipe uses US large size eggs. Your yolks combined should weigh approximately 71 grams. Your whites combined should weight approximately 130 grams.
  • Optional chocolate ganache frosting: Add 8 oz of semisweet chocolate chips to a large mixing bowl. Heat 1/2 cup of heavy cream in the microwave or on the stove until it is very hot (almost ready to simmer). Pour the hot heavy cream over the chocolate chips. Let the chocolate sit for 60 seconds. Gently stir with a spatula until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. If your chocolate is not warm enough to get completely melted, put the bowl into the microwave for about 20 seconds and then stir again. Your ganache should be shiny and smooth. Frost over cake. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 242kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 44mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 22g, NET CARBS: 23

The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Mention @KirbieCravings and tag #kirbiecravings!

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2 comments on “3 Ingredient Chocolate Cake”

  1. This looks amazing! Have you tried making this recipe into cupcakes?