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    Home » Cakes and Cupcakes

    Dairy Free Chocolate Cake

    Published: Feb 14, 2022 · Modified: Aug 31, 2022 by Mariah Mandile

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    This rich and decadent Dairy Free Chocolate Cake recipe is the perfect birthday cake for any chocolate lover! Plus, it's made with healthier ingredients like almond flour, unsweetened applesauce, and cacao powder.

    Chocolate cake with strawberries on top.

    Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through qualifying links.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🍴Ingredient Notes
    • 🍴Step by Step Instructions
    • How to make Dairy Free Chocolate Ganache
    • Expert Tips
    • How to store leftovers
    • Recipe
    • Shop this recipe!
    • Want more recipes?
    • 💬 Reviews

    Why you'll love this recipe!

    This is the perfect chocolate cake recipe to bring to any special occasion! I promise no one will notice it's gluten-free and dairy-free. (My friends and family love it!)

    If you're not an everyday baker, you will love how simple and easy this recipe is. It's made with a handful of simple ingredients, and you do not need xanthum gum, avocado oil, or vegan butter.

    After following a few easy steps, the end result will blow you away! It's a rich, decadent, and super moist chocolate cake.

    🍴Ingredient Notes

    Overhead shot of chocolate cake ingredients.
    • Eggs - I have not tried using an egg replacement for this recipe.
    • Unsweetened Applesauce - Any applesauce will work for this recipe. I like using unsweetened to cut down on added sugar.
    • Vanilla Extract - Just a splash to balance out the chocolate flavor!
    • Golden Monkfruit - You can sub with coconut sugar or any granulated sugar.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar - The acidity helps to activate the baking soda. You can also swap for lemon juice.
    • Almond Flour - My favorite gluten-free flour! I would not recommend subbing almond flour for any other flour. My favorite almond flour brands are Bob’s Red Mill, and Blue Diamond. Both have a finely ground blend that doesn’t come out clumpy!
    • Cacao Powder - You can use traditional cocoa powder, but I like cacao powder because it’s less processed and more NUTRIENT DENSE. TerraSoul is one of my favorite brands – great quality and great price!
    • Baking Soda & Baking Powder - You'll need both to create the perfect texture.

    🍴Step by Step Instructions

    Step 1: Mixing Dry Ingredients

    Start by adding almond flour, cacao powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Stir together with a whisk or fork. (Make sure to break up any flour clumps.)

    Dry ingredients in mixing bowl.

    Step 2: Mixing Wet Ingredients

    In a separate mixing bowl add eggs, applesauce, monkfruit, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar. Stir together with a whisk.

    Wet ingredients in mixing bowl.

    Step 3: Preparing to Bake

    Next, pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir together until smooth and creamy. Pour the cake batter into an 8" round pan. (Grease with coconut oil or line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.)

    Cake batter in mixing bowl.

    Step 4: Baking

    Bake the cake at 350° for 30 minutes - or until a toothpick comes out clean!

    Cake batter in round cake pan.

    Step 5: Frosting the Chocolate Cake

    Let the cake cool to room temperature before removing. Serve as is or with dairy-free frosting or chocolate ganache and strawberry slices.

    Chocolate cake on parchment apper with strawberries.

    How to make Dairy Free Chocolate Ganache

    Chocolate ganache is very easy to make! It's a super thick dairy free and vegan chocolate frosting option!

    Just melt about a ½ cup of chocolate until it's smooth and silky.

    Add coconut milk or any dairy-free milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until you've reached your desired consistency. (Mix with a fork or whisk.)

    Expert Tips

    • Do not pack the almond flour into the cup. Use a spoon to scoop it into the measuring cup and scrape off the excess with a knife.
    • If you store the cake with chocolate ganache in the refrigerator, it will harden. I recommend frosting right before serving.
    • Top the chocolate cake with fresh strawberries, raspberries, or cherries! It adds color and balances out the chocolate flavor.
    • For a second layer, you can double the recipe or use two smaller 6" cake pans.
    • Use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate ganache on top.
    • If you want to use pre-made frosting, I recommend Simple Mills or Miss Jones.
    Slice of chocolate cake on a white plate.

    How to store leftovers

    The cake with or without frosting stores best in the refrigerator. 

    After about 5 days I would transfer any leftovers into an airtight glass container in the freezer. To defrost, just place the frozen cake in the refrigerator the night before.

    More cake recipes!

    • Gluten-Free Banana Cake
    • Halloween Cake Pops Recipe
    • Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Pops
    • Almond Flour Vanilla Cake

    After you make this Dairy Free Chocolate Cake, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    Chocolate cake with strawberries on top.

    Dairy Free Chocolate Cake

    This rich and decadent Dairy Free Chocolate Cake recipe is the perfect birthday cake for any chocolate lover! Plus, it's made with healthier ingredients like almond flour, unsweetened applesauce, and cacao powder.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 480 kcal

    Equipment

    • 8" Round Cake Pan
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients
      

    Wet Ingredients

    • 3 Eggs
    • ½ Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
    • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • ½ Cup Golden Monkfruit You can sub with coconut sugar.
    • 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

    Dry Ingredients

    • 1+½ Cups Almond Flour
    • ½ Cup Cacao Powder
    • 2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ¼ Teaspoon Salt

    Instructions
     

    • Start by adding almond flour, cacao powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl. Stir together with a whisk or fork. (Make sure to break up any flour clumps.)
    • In a separate mixing bowl add eggs, applesauce, monkfruit, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar. Stir together with a whisk.
    • Next, pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir together until smooth and creamy.
    • Pour the cake batter into an 8" round cake pan. (Grease with coconut oil or line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
    • Bake the cake at 350° for 30 minutes - or until a toothpick comes out clean!
    • Let the cake cool to room temperature before removing. Serve as is or with dairy-free frosting or chocolate ganache and strawberry slices.

    Notes

    How to make chocolate ganache
    Chocolate ganache is very easy to make! Just melt about a ½ cup of chocolate until it's smooth and silky. Add coconut milk or any dairy-free milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until you've reached your desired consistency. (Mix with a fork or whisk.)
    Helpful Tips
    • Do not pack the almond flour into the cup. Use a spoon to scoop it into the measuring cup and scrape off the excess with a knife.
    • If you store the cake with chocolate ganache in the refrigerator, it will harden. I recommend frosting right before serving.
    • Top the chocolate cake with fresh strawberries, raspberries, or cherries! It adds color and balances out the chocolate flavor.
    • To make a layer cake, you can double the recipe or use two smaller 6" cake pans.
    • Use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate ganache on top.
    • If you want to use pre-made frosting, I recommend Simple Mills or Miss Jones.
    How to store leftovers
    The cake with or without frosting stores best in the refrigerator. After about 5 days I would transfer any leftovers into an airtight glass container in the freezer. To defrost, just place the frozen cake in the refrigerator the night before.
    ** See full post for more information and step by step photos!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1SliceCalories: 480kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 19gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 340mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 10gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 94IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 237mgIron: 4mg
    Keywords almond flour chocolate cake, dairy-free chocolate cake recipe, gluten-free chocolate cake recipe, low carb chocolate cake
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @freshwaterpeaches on Instagram!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lauren

      February 25, 2022 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      Can’t believe this is gluten-free! My family loved it! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Mariah Mandile

        February 28, 2022 at 11:15 am

        So happy to hear that!! (:

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Mariah!

    Welcome! I'm so happy you're here. My name is Mariah - I'm a holistic health coach and recipe developer based in Connecticut. I love all things gut health, clean living, and I have a slight obsession with chocolate! Here you'll find simple and easy to make gluten-free, dairy-free recipes that your whole family will love!

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