This deliciously rich, fudgy, and secretly healthy chocolate cake recipe includes one ingredient you will absolutely never guess!

The best healthy chocolate cake

Multiple friends and family members have proclaimed this to be the best chocolate cake recipe they’ve ever tasted.

And that is saying something, because none of them are on a vegan, gluten free, weight loss, or low calorie diet. They simply appreciate good food.

It’s so much fun to test the cake out on people who do not know the secret beforehand. Look for their shocked reactions when you reveal the hidden ingredient.

Serve the moist healthy cake at your next party or event, and guests of all ages will be begging you for the recipe!

Also make this Vegan Carrot Cake

Chocolate cake health benefits

While no cake will ever be the healthiest food you can choose, this one does have a surprising amount of nutrition.

Each fudgy slice packs in over five grams of protein and more than 15% of the RDA for fiber. and it can be both cholesterol free and oil free.

The cake is low fat, low in saturated fat, and just 100 calories a slice!

It is high in iron thanks to the cocoa powder and can be sugar free, egg free, dairy free, gluten free, vegan, cholesterol free, and oil free.

Superfood cauliflower is a good source of heart healthy vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. The low sodium and low carb cruciferous vegetable contains vitamin C, vitamin K, pantothenic acid, manganese, fiber, and folate.

Try topping the cake with Homemade Nutella

Ingredients for the healthy dessert

The easy chocolate cake calls for just ten ingredients. You may already own most of them in your kitchen pantry.

These ingredients include flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, pure vanilla extract, salt, sugar, optional stevia and eggs or flax seeds, mini chocolate chips, optional oil or milk of choice, and frozen cauliflower.

My favorite flour choice is whole grain spelt flour, because it adds fiber and gives the cake a light, fluffy texture. All purpose white flour and some brands of gluten free flour blends work as well.

While you can technically use oat flour, pastry flour, or whole wheat flour, these options yield a denser result. We recommend against coconut flour and almond flour.

For a keto and flourless version, try this Chocolate Almond Flour Cake.

Go with a high quality cocoa powder for the richest chocolate flavor. You may also substitute raw cacao powder. If you try Dutch cocoa, let us know how it goes.

The chocolate chips are not optional, because they impart a deep chocolatey taste into each bite of cake. Use dairy free chocolate chips for a vegan cake.

Feel free to choose regular sugar or a granulated unrefined sugar like coconut sugar. In our opinion, uncut stevia powder is the healthiest alternative sweetener because its only ingredient is stevia leaf, with no erythritol or other sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners added. If you wish to omit the stevia, simply replace it with additional sugar or no sugar xylitol.

Raw or fresh steamed cauliflower have a strong taste and should therefore be avoided in this recipe. We have not yet tried cauliflower rice.

For the best results, use frozen cauliflower and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter instead of in the microwave. Or try one of the substitutions for cauliflower listed in the next paragraph.

Leftover cauliflower? Make Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Healthy chocolate cake recipe video

Above – watch the step by step recipe video

Substitutions and flavors

If cauliflower is too unusual for you, substitute three fourths cup of canned pumpkin puree, roasted sweet potato, mashed banana, or Greek yogurt.

Turn it into a mocha cake by using brewed coffee instead of the milk or stirring a teaspoon of instant coffee granules in with the dry ingredients.

Add the zest of two oranges to the food processor for a chocolate orange cake.

Create a fancy chocolate peanut butter cake by swapping the three tablespoons of oil for a fourth cup of softened peanut butter or almond butter.

For black forest cake, top the recipe with Coconut Whipped Cream and fresh cherries or cherry jam. Garnish the sides with shaved dark chocolate.

Add half a teaspoon of pure peppermint extract for a mint chocolate chip cake.

Or top the finished dessert with date caramel frosting, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans to get a German chocolate cake.

For a healthy ice cream cake, top with Avocado Ice Cream or Banana Ice Cream.

Finally, you can make a yummy healthy birthday cake by decorating with a variety of fresh sliced fruit or natural rainbow sprinkles. Remember the birthday candles!

How to make a healthy chocolate cake

Thaw the cauliflower in the refrigerator or in a bowl on the counter.

When ready to bake the cake, start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and gathering all of your ingredients.

Grease a round or square eight inch baking pan, or line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Set this pan aside.

Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, chocolate chips, and sweetener in a large mixing bowl. Stir until evenly incorporated.

Blend all liquid ingredients with the cauliflower in a high quality food processor until the mixture is completely smooth.

Pour the liquid mixture into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients, and stir until just combined. Do not overmix, which could result in a tough or gummy cake.

Spread the chocolate cake batter into the prepared baking pan, then place the pan on the center rack of the preheated oven.

Bake for thirty minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out mostly clean.

Let the pan cool completely before frosting. If you can wait, I recommend very loosely covering the cooled cake with a towel and refrigerating overnight. The taste and texture are ten times better the next day.

After a day, store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for freshness. Or slice and freeze in an airtight container for up to three months.

Readers also like Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Chocolate frosting ideas and tips

For the healthiest option, top your cake with fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, or sliced bananas.

Or frost it with a thick layer of decadent Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.

Dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar, or add chocolate sprinkles, diced walnuts, or chocolate ganache and fresh or frozen fruits of choice.

We spread on a four ingredient Healthy Chocolate Frosting and plant based mini chocolate chips for the chocolate cake in the photos.

To ensure whatever toppings you add do not melt upon touching a hot cake, make sure to let the recipe cool fully before decorating.

More Healthy Dessert Recipes

Deep Dish Cookie Pie

Black Bean Brownies

Or these Vegan Brownies

Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars