Why You’ll Love This Healthy Chocolate Cake

Having a reliable chocolate cake recipe is essential for any home cook! For family gatherings, holidays, and birthdays, you can’t go wrong with chocolate cake! It always pleases the crowd and is easy to serve. Your search ends here; you’ve just found your go-to recipe! This cake is rich, moist, fluffy, and incredibly chocolatey, all while supporting your healthy eating goals.

Recipe Highlights

• 100% whole grain
• Uses applesauce for lower fat and ultra moist texture
• No butter
• All-natural ingredients (no additives, boxed mixes, flavorings, or colorings)
• Perfect for serving a crowd
• Easy assembly with no layers!
• The frosting is a delightful whipped chocolate ganache—just a little goes a long way!

Healthy Seasonal Recipes Chocolate Cake: 309 calories, 21 g sugar
Traditional Chocolate Cake: 424 calories, 44 g sugar

Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake Ingredients

• Whole wheat flour: Use whole wheat flour, or opt for white whole-wheat flour for a lighter flavor.
• Cocoa powder: I recommend Ghirardelli cocoa powder for its rich flavor and deep color.
• Baking essentials: baking powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, and salt.
• Granulated sugar: Choose granulated white sugar (organic sugar is a great alternative).
• Oil: Select a neutral oil like avocado or canola; adequate oil is key for optimal cake texture.
• Eggs: Three large eggs help maintain fluffiness and lighten the whole wheat flour.
• Unsweetened applesauce: A fantastic swap for some of the fat, allowing just 3/4 cup of oil total!
• Espresso powder: A bit of espresso enhances the chocolate flavor without adding calories.
• Chocolate: You’ll need about 12 ounces of dark chocolate chips; use high-quality brands for the best results.
• Milk: Use milk to lighten the cake crumb; buttermilk is an excellent option as well.
• Half and half: Required for the ganache frosting—1/2 cup needed.
• Agave: Add a bit of agave or corn syrup to stabilize the ganache frosting for quicker setting.

How To Make This Chocolate Cake Healthy

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 325°F. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Line it with parchment, leaving an overhang to help lift the cake out once baked.

Step 2: Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl to remove lumps and ensure thorough mixing.

Step 3: In another bowl, mix together sugar, oil, eggs, applesauce, vanilla extract, and espresso powder until smooth. Melt 5 ounces of chocolate in a microwave until smooth and add it to the mixture, beating on low until blended.

Step 4: Gradually fold in half of the flour mixture, then add milk and combine. Finish mixing in the rest of the flour until just smooth.

Step 5: Spread the batter evenly in the pan and bake for 27 to 29 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Step 6: For the ganache frosting, heat half-and-half and agave (or corn syrup) until simmering, then pour over chocolate chips in a bowl, stirring until smooth.

Step 7: Place the ganache bowl over ice water, beating with a hand mixer until it lightens in color and becomes fluffy.

Step 8: Spread the ganache over the cooled cake and refrigerate until set. Allow the cake to reach room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture.

Make Ahead, Storage And Freezing

• Make Ahead: The frosted cake can be prepared up to 12 hours in advance and kept at room temperature (70°F). However, don’t expose it to direct sunlight. Refrigerate it if necessary, but allow it to sit at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
• Freezing: You can freeze the unfrosted cake. After lifting it from the pan, freeze on a baking sheet until firm, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap. It will stay good for up to 8 weeks.

Ways To Decorate Chocolate Cake

Endless ideas exist for decorating a chocolate cake, but here are a few fun suggestions:

• Create colorful icing in your team colors and pipe it across the top—perfect for a bake sale or team event!
• Add colorful sprinkles and candies (check for naturally colored options).
• Chocolate curls for a festive touch.
• Utilize edible flowers when in season for a low-calorie decoration.
• Top the cake with fresh berries or even crushed freeze-dried berries for an attractive pop of color.
• Crush chocolate wafer cookies and sprinkle them around the edges of the cake.

Variations To Try

• Make it Dairy-Free: Use plant-based milk for the batter and opt for a different frosting like our 7-Minute Maple Frosting.
• Make it Gluten-Free: Swap in a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, like King Arthur Measure-for-Measure.
• Peppermint Chocolate Cake: Incorporate 2 teaspoons of peppermint extract and decorate with crushed candy canes or Mint Junior Mints.
• Use Pumpkin Instead of Applesauce: Replace applesauce with pumpkin puree and enhance the flavor with pumpkin spice and fall-themed sprinkles.