This super easy stir-together healthy Chocolate Cake is a cinch to make and it has less sugar than traditional cakes. Maybe “healthier” is a better term, but whatever you call it, it’s so darn good! (PS: It happens to be egg-free and vegan, too.)
Healthy Chocolate Cake
I’ve been searching for a “house cake”—you know, one that becomes the traditional cake we make for birthdays and special occasions. One that we’ll think back on fondly.
And also one that’s easy enough to make without much notice because as we all know, sometimes you just need a slice of cake for no good reason! I’m happy to say this cake fills the bill.
This cake is made with less sugar than traditional cakes (which is my personal flavor preference) and has some ingredient options so you can decide how “healthy” to make it. My whole family loves this layer cake recipe–especially as a birthday cake or a holiday dessert—because it delivers on the classic chocolate cake flavor you expect.
(I also have a delicious Vanilla Cake version that’s vegan too. Or you may also like my Funfetti Cake.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make the cake, you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand.
- Flour: You can use whole wheat, all-purpose, or a mixture of the two. I usually use all-purpose flour.
- Vegetable oil: I typically use canola oil or vegetable oil here, but avocado oil would work, too.
- Sugar: A little granulated sugar is the sweetener of choice in this cake because it blends in so well and adds moisture.
- Baking soda: Fresh, active baking soda helps the cake bake through and rise nicely. (This works much better than baking powder, so do be sure to use baking soda.)
- Cocoa powder: I like SACO or Hershey’s Special Dark for the best chocolate flavor.
- Salt: A dash of salt helps enhance the rest of the flavors.
- White vinegar: This works with the other ingredients to deliver the perfect texture you expect in a chocolate cake.
- Vanilla extract: Paired with cocoa powder, vanilla extract is an extra flavor note.
- Quick Chocolate Frosting: Or a frosting of your choice.
TIP: The cake is dairy and egg-free, and there’s not even any butter. You can make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free cup-for-cup flour blend. It’s like a magic cake!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s the basic process of making the cake. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full recipe.
- Preheat the oven and grease two 6-inch round pans very well. I typically spray with nonstick cooking spray and place a round of parchment cut to fit the inside of the pan to ensure the cakes don’t stick. Stir together the ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk. Make sure you get all the lumps out of the cocoa powder.
- Divide batter between the pans evenly.
- Bake until just firm to the touch and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool on a wire rack and frost.
TIP: I like making this cake in two 6-inch pans, as it’s a nice size for a smaller gathering of up to 10 people. It also means you don’t need a ton of any of the ingredients AND is a great size for a smash cake.
Frosting Options
Frost with either my Quick Chocolate Frosting, Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting, or Strawberry Frosting. Or use any other frosting that you enjoy.
Of those options, we almost always use the chocolate cream cheese frosting for a double chocolate cake.
How to Frost a Chocolate Cake
I have a few frosting options for this cake, but the basic method of frosting the cake is the same.
- Place one of the cakes onto a platter or cake stand. Add a big spoonful of frosting and spread to cover the top.
- Add the second cake and the rest of the frosting.
- Spread over the top and sides.
- Add sprinkles if desired. I like to use a cookie cutter to make a star design (imperfect as it is!).
Frequently Asked Questions
I use that word to signify that this cake is lower in sugar than most comparable chocolate cake recipes. I worked hard to make sure it’s plenty sweet, without being too sweet.
We like to use a cookie cutter to form a shape, then fill with sprinkles. We also sometimes just do chocolate frosting and forget any other decorating!
Yes, you can freeze chocolate cake and this one freezes so well. We love to do that if we want half one day and half another day a few weeks ahead. Wrap a section or slices of cake in plastic wrap and place into a freezer bag. Remove as much air as you can and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
How to Store
You can make the cakes the day before you plan to serve. Let cool fully, then place on two separate plates and wrap well with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature. Frost just before serving if possible.
With leftovers, you can store wrapped well in the fridge. I am partial to how this cake tastes when it’s chilled, so we store it in the fridge.
You can also freeze slices for future enjoyment. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap (wrapping slices on small paper plates makes this easy) and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge.
Best Tips for Success
- To make this in a 9-inch cake pan, use just one pan and bake for 16-20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Be sure to grease the pan well to ensure it doesn’t stick. Double the recipe to make a two layer 9-inch cake.
- To bake as cupcakes, use ¼ cup batter in each standard size muffin cup (greased well with nonstick spray) and bake for 14-16 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
- Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend in place of the wheat flour.
- Use a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour or all of one or the other. (All whole wheat will be a smidge more dense.)
- Try to avoid over-baking to ensure the cake is moist and doesn’t crumble too much.
- Be sure to grease the pan well to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
- If you are at all worried about your cakes sticking to the pans, (these 6-inch pans do not tend to stick, but I can’t speak for every other cake pan) trace the pans onto parchment paper. Cut out the rounds, trimming slightly so they fit inside of the cakes. Place each round of parchment paper into the cake pan, then spray the paper and sides of the pan with nonstick spray. Proceed with the recipe.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback if you try this recipe for your family, so please comment below to share!
Healthy Chocolate Cake (Lower Sugar)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour (or whole-wheat flour)
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder (I like Saco or Hershey's Special Dark)
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter or avocado oil)
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 recipe Quick Chocolate Frosting or Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease two 6-inch cake pans very well on the bottom and sides with nonstick spray. (I use classic Pam spray.)
- Add the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk gently to combine. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, using about 1 cup and 2 tablespoons in each pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the middle is firm to a light touch and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Try not to overbake.
- Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then carefully remove the cakes from the pans by running a paring knife around the edges to loosen. Working with one pan at a time, carefully turn the pan over onto a wire rack. The cakes should slide out easily. Let cool completely on the wire rack.
- To frost, place one cake onto a cake stand or plate. Add ⅓ of the frosting to the top of the cake. Spread to the edges. Top with the second layer and the remaining frosting, then spread over the top and the sides. Add sprinkles if desired.
Equipment
Notes
- Store leftovers wrapped well in the fridge. You can also freeze slices for future enjoyment. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap (wrapping slices on small paper plates makes this easy) and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge.
- You can make the cakes the day before you plan to serve. Let cool fully, then place on two separate plates and wrap well with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature. Frost just before serving if possible.
- Frost with my Quick Chocolate Frosting, Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting, or Strawberry Frosting. You could also use classic Cream Cheese Frosting.
- To make this in a 9-inch cake pan, use just one pan and bake for 16-20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Be sure to grease the pan well to ensure it doesn’t stick. Double the recipe to make a two layer 9-inch cake.
- To bake as cupcakes, use ¼ cup batter in each standard size muffin cup (greased well with nonstick spray) and bake for 14-16 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
- Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend in place of the wheat flour.
- Use a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour or all of one or the other. (All whole wheat will be a smidge denser.)
- Try to avoid over-baking to ensure the cake is moist and doesn’t crumble too much.
- Be sure to grease the pan well to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
- If you are at all worried about your cakes sticking to the pans, (these 6-inch pans do not tend to stick, but I can’t speak for every other cake pan) trace the pans onto parchment paper. Cut out the rounds, trimming slightly so they fit inside of the cakes. Place each round of parchment paper into the cake pan, then spray the paper and sides of the pan with nonstick spray. Proceed with the recipe.
Nutrition
This recipe was first published September 2020.
This is absolutely delicious. Moist, tender, perfection. Thank you!!!
Incredible! Tastes the most like my grandmothers chocolate cake as I have ever tried! Now my dairy and egg allergy little girl can have a taste of my childhood but in a recipe that is perfectly safe for her!
Oh yay!!
I love this recipe (as I do all the recipes I’ve tried on this site)! it’s turned out great each time i’ve made it. I’d like to make this for my son’s birthday, though I’ve recently been diagnosed pre diabetic and have been thinking of what substitutions I can make so that I can enjoy some cake, too. I’m planning to substitute monkfruit for the sugar which has worked well in other baking, and I’m wondering if anyone has tried this recipe with almond flour.
This cake was so quick and easy to throw together. It was the perfect sweetness and the texture was good even without eggs. I also really appreciate this recipe being for a 9×9. A 9×13 is too much for our family and we would just end up tossing it. My 2 year old loved it too!
Hy
Is there a substitute for vinegar?
Not that I know it, you need it to react with the baking soda to create the fluffy texture (since there aren’t any eggs).
Maybe I am missing it but I can’t find the baking temp??
It’s 350 as it says in Step 1 in the recipe at the end of the post.
So excited for this! If my husband is chocolate sensitive, would I replace that third cup with flour, and then flavor with extracts?
I honestly haven’t tried it without the cocoa powder. In theory that should work similarly, but I haven’t tested it so I can’t say for sure.
Thank you for this recipe! Hoping to bake it for my toddlers 2nd birthday! Do you have any suggestions for 3 4 inch round pans?
The baking time would likely be closer to 10-12 minutes since there would be less batter in each one. Is that what you were asking?
Can I use white wine vinegar (have it in the cupboard 🙂) instead of white vinegar?
I haven’t tried that and I’m not sure if the flavor or results would differ.
Can you use olive oil or avocado oil instead of the vegetable oil?
I haven’t tried either but I think they would both be options.
Not to my surprise, another WONDERFUL cake recipe!! Previously I’ve made the sweet potato cake, but this year for my husband’s birthday, I wanted to do chocolate with peanut butter frosting (borrowed that part from another blog). But if you created a less sweet peanut butter frosting recipe, I’d be all for trying it! My only negative was my cakes seemed done (baked a 5 or so minutes longer and they came out pretty clean with a toothpick), but not too long later, the centers sunk while cooling on the rack. Any recommendations there? I’ve been using cake strips to help bake flatter layers (works SO well), and I baked longer since I think those strips increase the baking time, but still not a lot of luck with it not sinking in the middle. It still tasted delicious and seemed fully baked, but who knows. I notice in the pictures above, a slight sinking as well. Maybe that’s just normal. Either way, so thankful for all that you share and will be making this again!
Made last night and did not disappoint! My boyfriend and I loved it, I will be making again!!
I love your recipes. Today I had a birthday party and thought I would buy the cupcakes to make it easy. Last minute a guest told me they don’t eat eggs, cupcakes I ordered contained eggs. Was able to whip up a small batch of egg free cupcakes with this recipe in the morning, everyone is included. Thanks for making it easy.
I’m so glad to hear that! And happiest day!
Wondering if I could make a 9×13 sheet cake of this recipe. Would I double? Triple? And any thoughts on how long it would have to bake for? Thanks for any tips!
I would guess double it and bake for maybe 24-26 minutes. Watch the middle since that’s what will take the longest to bake through. Enjoy and let me know how it goes!
I love this recipe!! It is my go to for birthdays! I usually make it in a cake but I’m looking into making it into cupcakes… Can you tell me how long I would bake it for?
I- I think using about 1/4 cup batter in each cup would be in the 12-14 minute range for standard cupcakes. Enjoy!
I made this cake for my sons third birthday this past weekend. It was my first time making a homemade cake!
My son is picky with desserts, so I was nervous, but he LOVED it! My husband and I loved it too! Just the right amount of sweetness and the texture was great too, perfectly moist. I used the recommended icing recipe too, the chocolate cream cheese one, worked really well together. Definitely will make this cake again! 🙂