Before I share my new favorite healthy indulgence (in the form of chocolate cake…mmm), I want to share with you my favorite 9-year old daughter. This girl…I will tell you, she is as sweet as they come. There isn’t a day that goes by that Marley isn’t trying to do whatever she can to put a smile on our faces and show us love. She is incredibly thoughtful, and truly the best sister to her siblings. She is mama’s little helper and works hard to accomplish greatness in all that she does: school, gymnastics, piano, and many more things. She is beautiful on the inside and the outside and is kind to everyone. I love her to pieces and couldn’t ask for a better oldest daughter. Happy birthday, Marley!!
Now time to share a chocoholic’s dream! Around here, we believe in indulgences now and then, especially for special occasions like birthdays. Anyone remember the dozen Red Velvet Birthday Cupcakes I was caught with in my What’s in Our Fridge video? Everything in moderation, right?! However, if I can find a recipe that’s both yummy enough for the kiddos to love and healthy enough to fit my in plan, I will opt for that every time. This year, Marley’s birthday cake was exactly that. My dear friend made it for us a few months back, and I was FLOORED to learn the cake was dairy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free… it tasted exactly like any calorie, sugar, gluten-loaded, rich and decadent chocolate cake! Now, don’t be turned off by the way-too-healthy-to-be-delicious looking ingredient list. It may not seem like a typical cake, but I promise you, it tastes amazing!
Guilt-Free Chocolate Indulgence Cake
Chocolate Cake
2 cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
10 large eggs
2 tablespoons vanilla
3/4 cup coconut oil (melted)
1 cup honey
2 teaspoon stevia extract
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 325?. Spray 2 round cake pans and dust with unsweetened cocoa. Line bottom only with parchment paper and spray lightly. Set aside.
Combine wet ingredients (including beans) in a blender and blend on high until a smooth liquid is achieved. Mix dry ingredients together, add to the liquid and then blend again until mixed well. Divide into cake pans evenly and smooth the tops. Then tap them on the counter a few times to allow any air bubbles to pop. Bake for 40-45 min. The top should be round and feel fairly dense. After 10 to 15 minutes, flip onto a cooling rack. Once cool, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit out on counter. This cake tastes best when made the night before.
Chocolate Frosting?
6 avocados
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 scoops chocolate veggie protein powder
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoon liquid stevia extract
2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
Blend all ingredients together with a hand mixer until smooth. Spread over cake in layers before serving. Enjoy!
Nutritional information (makes 24 servings): Calories: 293.5, protein: 8.3g, carbs: 32.6g, fiber: 7.3g, fat: 17.1g, sodium: 324.4.
Xoxo,
Heidi
49 Responses
Thank you for sharing your tips with everyone. My husband and I have started your carb cycling and he has lost almost 15 pounds. Just wanted to say thanks.
Awesome! You both can do this! 🙂
Can’t wait to try this!
I use all your recipes you have shared. Banana pancakes are my family favorite.
Would love to see some more healthy chocolate recipes or sweet snacks !
When is your show to get people jacked like Heidi? 😉
If I wanted to cut this recipe in half would I need to adjust the baking temperature or time? Or is there maybe an option to make this recipe into cupcakes? Would the baking duration change there too? This recipe looks so delicious you should do it in other flavours too! Like maybe strawberry, or caramel, or who knows 😉 Thanks Heidi!
Hi Lauren: To be honest, I don’t know how that would work. For cupcakes, you’d definitely need to cut the baking time. If you half the recipe and do just one 9″ round, you might need to decrease the baking time only a bit? I’m so sorry…I wish could be of more help. Good luck!
The time will not be reduced because you are halving the recipe, but it will be reduced because you are baking cupcakes. You’ll want to check on them 10 minutes early. My rule in baking is when I can smell it, it’s done. Since this isn’t the typical recipe for a cake, I wouldn’t totally trust that. They are done when they spring back when you touch them. Of course, a tooth pick test will work too. The tooth pick shouldn’t have anything wet on it (excluding a little moisture of course, but no wet batter).
Okay, so I want to make this for a friend but she can’t have eggs. Is there anything I can use to substitute for the 10 eggs the recipe calls for?
Hi Holly: Here’s a link I found that might give you some good ideas: http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/page/egg-allergy-recipe-substitutions.aspx. Hope it helps! 🙂
Apple sauce. .. ive used applesauce in place of eggs in a regular cake recipe idk if it works the same.
chia seeds are good to use as an egg substitute
If you replace more than 2 eggs in a recipe you will change the consistency entirely.
How big is one can of black beans? I don’t live in the US and we have different options here
About 15 to 15.5 ounces. Hope that helps! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing. My sister is turning 40 next month and she is gluten and dairy free and I have trying to find something worth trying!
I love everything about this!! I’ve searched awhile for protein powders that my whole family (we range from 4 years old to 37 years old) can all use safely. Any recommendations?? I’d love to only have to buy one for the fam! Happy birthday to Marley and we adore your family and the amazing work you and Chris do!!
Hi Lori: Have you chatted with your family’s healthcare team and see what they recommend for your whole family? If not, that would be a good place to start. 🙂
Hey Lori,
Have you ever tried Arbonne’s vegan, gluten free, soy free protein? My kids (2,4,7) all love it and so do my husband and I. Feel free to email me at [email protected] and I can get you more info if you’d like. I’m excited to try out this cake recipe! 🙂
Wow! That cake sounds heavenly!! By the way, Marley is your twin in the top right pic, what a truly lovely young lady she has become:) You all have set a tremendous example for her, and I just know she’ll be some type of coach/mentor as she gets older, with that genuine kindness in her soul:) Blessings!!
Hi Heidi, what specific choc. Veggie protein powder do you use?
That looks great! One question: is the calorie count per serving, per 100 grams or for the entire thing?
The calorie count is per serving. Enjoy!