This gluten free chocolate cake is made with three kinds of chocolate: cacao powder, cocoa butter and chocolate chips!
It's not your traditional super-sweet fluffy chocolate cake, so consider yourself warned. This is a heavy, nutrient dense cake that is not nearly as sweet as your typical cake recipe.
Tools:
Springform pan (like this)
Stick blender (like this)
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Ingredients (per 1 layer):
½ cup coconut flour (like this)
¾ cup cacao powder (like this)
6 eggs
¼ cup simple syrup or honey
⅓ cup applesauce
½ cup maple syrup
¼ cup cocoa butter (melted) (like this)
¼ cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla (like this)
¼ cup chocolate chips (like this)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
Buttercream Frosting:
½ cup butter (room temp- soft)
½ cup cocoa butter (like this)
1 teaspoon vanilla (like this)
½ cup honey (maple syrup might work too, but you'd likely want less).
Process:
1) In a bowl mix together coconut flour, cocoa powder, gelatin, salt & baking soda.
2) Melt cocoa butter & honey over low heat. Add vanilla & maple syrup, and then pour and mix with flour mixture (the simple syrup is made from bringing 1.5 cups cane sugar and 1 cup water to a boil, and then let dissolve and cool).
3) In a separate bowl crack eggs and beat using a fork.
4) Add eggs to batter and stir. Then add the chocolate chips. Batter may appear slightly thin but will thicken slightly.
5) Grease springform pan with butter, or desired baking pan. This recipe makes approx 1 layer.
6) Bake at 350 degrees for about 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7) If making a layer cake, make sure to trim each layer to ensure they are flat and stackable.
For Buttercream Frosting:
1) Melt cocoa butter ever so slightly (just liquid, not hot or warm). Add room temperature butter, honey and vanilla.
2) Mix with a hand mixer until combined. If the frosting won't set up nicely, it's probably too warm. Let cool for a few minutes in the fridge and try whipping again.
3) Frost as desired.
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Linda Jo
The cake recipe does not have butter in it but the cake instructions say "melt butter, honey, and coconut oil over low heat and add vanilla extract. Then pour and mix with flour mixture." Also the cake ingredients show "1/2 cup simple syrup" but the cake instructions do not use that ingredient. Cake looks great and I would like to make it, but am unsure of the instructions. Thank you.
Catherine
Hi Linda,
Melt the "butter" refers to melting the cocoa butter 😉 And I will update the when to add the simple syrup. Thanks for correcting me!
Sarah
Am I missing where you explain how to make simple syrup?
Catherine
It's listed in #2: the simple syrup is made from bringing 1.5 cups cane sugar and 1 cup water to a boil, and then let dissolve and cool. This will of course make more than you need 🙂
Lori
How do you make your simple syrup?
Catherine
The simple syrup is made from bringing 1.5 cups cane sugar and 1 cup water to a boil, and then let dissolve and cool. This will of course make more than you need 🙂
Mandy
This looks great and I would love to try it, but I have sensitivity to honey and just about all artificial sweeteners. Would maple syrup or extra of the simple syrup work to replace it?
Catherine
I would try using maple syrup in place of the honey. Simple syrup has a little higher water content, so best to keep that as is!
Thanks for reading,
Catherine
Lori
Can you use coconut sugar instead of the cane sugar?
Lori
Could you use coconut sugar to make the simple syrup instead of cane sugar?
Jessica
Loving this recipe but before I attempt, can the hot-soluable gelatin be substituted for the cold-soluable gelatin? Also, any substitution for the cocoa butter?
Cynthia
Is there something I could substitute the gelatin with? I do have gelatin but the red canned one :S. thank you for your recipe, can't wait to make it!
Violet
Same question! Any substitutes?...
monika
What does the 2 tb gelatin collagen hydrolysate in the recipe do?
I don't have it (I only have the one in the orange canister, which I know cannot be substituted in here).
Thanks!
Gail
Does the amount of butter crème frosting shown in the recipe just enough to accommodate the single layer cake referenced in the recipe, or is it enough for a two-layer cake as shown in the photo?
Laura
How do you measure the cocoa butter if you just have it in a big block? Do you have weights instead of volume for this recipe? Please answer my question soon bc I really want to make this cake for a loved one's birthday later this week. I would really appreciate it!
Catherine
I melt the cocoa butter and then measure.
Happy baking!
Catherine
Laura
Thank you so much for your prompt reply Catherine! You saved the day!I can't wait to make this cake! 🙂
Taura
Can something be substituted for the simple syrup like additional honey? Trying to stay away from cane and other sugars. I'd like to make this over the weekend so a prompt reply is appreciated. Thanks!
Amanda
Shopping for this cake right now and can't find food grade cocoa butter any where. No time to order it. I need a substitute ASAP.
Mary
This looks wonderful but I won't touch sugar in any form. My idea would be to sub water for the simple syrup...things are usually too sweet anyhow? Also, do I have to buy a $22 bottle of gelatin collagen or can I just use gelatin from Whole Foods?
Catherine
I highly recommend not to make this without the sugar. It will not turn out at all.
Abundantly,
Catherine
Shelly
I ditto the question above...is the frosting in recipe for one layer or more? Thanks!!
Sofia
I just made this last night - the frosting is great for one layer. I doubled it for the second layer.