4 Ingredient Healthy Chocolate Cake
This chocolate cake is so fudgy and moist. It is just 4 ingredients and doesn't contain any flour, refined sugar, butter or oil. The cake is easy to make and takes less than five minutes to prepare the batter.
Ingredients
- 11 oz (312 g) chopped apples (core and seeds removed, apple skin stays on), approximately 3 cups of 1-inch apple pieces, see note before starting
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp (54 g) unsweetened dutch process cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs + 2 large egg yolks
- 6 tbsp (3 fl oz/90 ml) maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Grease a 6-inch round springform cake pan with cooking oil spray. Line the bottom with a parchment round and cut a long parchment paper strip to line the inner sides of the pan.
- Add the chopped apples, cocoa powder, eggs, egg yolks, and maple syrup to a high powered blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides if needed. Because this recipe incorporates the apple skin, you do want to make sure the mixture is well blended so you won’t taste any apple peels.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes or until completely set. The surface should no longer look wet and the cake should be slightly risen with some small cracks on the surface.
- Let the cake cool completely. While the cake can be enjoyed once cooled, I recommend placing it into the fridge for several hours, uncovered. This cake is extremely moist and fudgy. Putting it in the fridge will help it firm up and make it easier to cut. It will also allow the flavors to develop better and make the cake sweeter. If desired, frost cake before serving. Store uneaten leftover cake in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
- Apple note: Make sure to use a sweet apple variety because a lot of the sweetness of the cake comes from the apples. I used Fuji. Leaving the peel on for the apples will help the cake set up better because apple peels contain fiber and pectin. If you use a high powered blender like a Vitamix, you should be able to fully blend the peels and not taste them in the cake. If you don't have a high powered blender and are worried about tasting the peels, you can leave the peels off but your cake will be more moist.
- Please note that this cake has a strong cocoa flavor and has a bittersweet chocolate level of sweetness. If you generally prefer sweeter desserts, this cake may not be for you.
- Maple syrup note: Maple syrup is used to add sweetness to the cake. You can reduce the syrup if you want to make the cake healthier. You can also increase the syrup if you prefer sweeter cakes (add about 2 or 3 tbsp more), but your baking time will also need to be increase and your cake may be more moist.
- I recommend using Dutch process cocoa powderin the cake because it will taste less bitter than natural cocoa powder.
- I used Rodelle Dutch process cocoa powder (Amazon | Walmart)*
- You can use a solid one piece 6 inch pan but the cake will be harder to remove. It is easier to remove with a springform pan. I used this 6-inch pan.*
- *These product links are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Optional chocolate frosting: If you want to use the frosting I made in the photos, you will need 4 tbsp melted coconut oil, 1/2 cup unsweetened cacao powder or natural cocoa powder (Dutch process does not work), and 4 tbsp maple syrup. First mix the coconut oil and cocoa powder until smooth. Then stir in the syrup until incorporated and the frosting thickens.
- Estimated nutrition does not include optional frosting.
Serving: 1slice, Calories: 157kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 27mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 18g, NET CARBS: 21
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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