Chocolate and Avocado Cake (Paleo, Vegan)
GLUTEN FREE II DAIRY FREE II SOY FREE II SESAME FREE II VEGAN II PALEO II EGG FREE II SHELLFISH FREE II FISH FREE
This decadent flourless chocolate cake is a delightful treat that ticks all the boxes: it's gluten-free, vegan, and oh-so-deliciously chocolatey. You might think it's a bit bonkers, avocado in a cake? Trust me, it creates an incredibly smooth and moist texture. This avocado chocolate cake uses almond flour and tastes just like decadent brownies.
I first whipped up this recipe a few years ago, and it's been a staple ever since. The rich, chocolatey flavour is divine, yet it's made with wholesome ingredients. A guilt-free indulgence! What more could we ask for?
This cake is perfect for dessert. It can be served with coconut cream and fresh berries or enjoyed on its own with a cuppa.
Notes on ingredients
Coconut whipping cream
I found some coconut whipping cream at a local health food shop. You can whip it and use it as a cream alternative. It’s quite dense and coconutty, not as light and fluffy as regular whipped cream, but still yummy.
If you cannot get hold of this, please use regular coconut milk. Keep the tin in the fridge and use the creamy part and not the watery liquid that’s left.You could use this water to make your flax eggs so they don’t go to waste.
Almond flour - What's the difference between almond flour and ground almonds?
Almond flour is made from blanched, peeled almonds with their skins removed. It's fine in texture and light in colour, lacking the darker specks from the skins. Ground almonds, on the other hand, are the same thing as almond meal—they're just ground, skin-on, unpeeled almonds.
If you can’t have almonds, a great nut to substitute would be hazelnuts. Do not use cashews. I tried that before, and it makes the cake really dense and waxy; it tasted awful, so I threw it out.
Sweetener
I used raw honey in this recipe, but if you are vegan, you can use agave, coconut blossom nectar,r or maple syrup instead.
Dairy-free chocolate
I like to use chocolate with a 70% cocoa content, meaning that 70% of the chocolate has been made from ingredients in the cocoa bean. The remaining 30% will consist predominantly of other ingredients, such as sugar, but may also include tiny percentages of vanilla flavouring. The higher the percentage, the stronger the cocoa flavour, which means it will be more bitter and less sweet.
Use whatever chocolate you find palatable. Sometimes, I use 70/80% of my cooking ingredients and add a little extra sweetener like honey, agave, or maple syrup. Dark chocolate is almost always dairy free unless it’s a cheap brand where they will add crappy fillers. My fave brands to eat and use in cooking are ( also allergy-friendly)
Green & blacks - Click here to go to the website.
Ombar - Click here for more info. Buy this online at Well Easy OR at Waitrose or health food shops.
Raw chocolate - Click here for more information.
Plamil chocolate - Click here for more info
If you have a soy allergy, always choose raw chocolate, as this will not have any soy ingredients added. (Always check on the label, though.)
Nuts
You can use walnuts instead of pecans if you wish, as they have a similar texture.
Look at this video clip if you would like to see how to ice a cake that looks really neat and clean.
Cacao powder
Due to its health benefits, I always use cacao powder instead of cocoa powder in my cooking. Learn more about the advantages of cacao powder here. You can buy cacao powder cheaply at the Grapetree in the UK. If you want to use cocoa powder, use half the quantity stated in this recipe, as cocoa powder has a drying effect in baking, so don’t go overboard with it.
Ingredients
Faq’s
Can I taste avocado in the cake?
No, you can't. It just adds creaminess and moisture to the avocado chocolate cake without altering the rich chocolate flavour.
What's the best way to store this cake?
Keep it in the fridge. It'll stay fresh for up to 5 days. Loosely cover with cling film or in a large airtight container.
Is it necessary to use ripe avocados?
Yes, ripe avocados blend smoothly into the mixture, ensuring no lumps and contributing to the creamy texture.
Is this cake vegan?
This is a vegan chocolate cake, swap the honey for agave instead.
Is cacao powder the same as cocoa powder?
Cacao is the raw, unprocessed cousin of cocoa. Cocoa powder is roasted; however, it does have health benefits, but cacao powder is better for you. Raw cacao can take some getting used to. It tastes a little different than cocoa products and can be slightly bitter. Cacao powder is packed with flavonoids, which have been shown to help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to your brain and heart, and help prevent blood clots.
Other similar recipes you might like to try;
5 - hrs prep and baking time - 8 portions
Step by step
Recipe
Wet ingredients
290 g ripe avocado
2 flax eggs (2 tbsp linseeds/ flaxseeds with double the amount of water added leave to thicken for 10 minutes before use)
1 tsp vanilla extract
115 g honey/agave
3 tbsp/ 28 g melted coconut oil
80 g coconut cream or coconut milk (from a tin)
Dry ingredients
50 g chopped pecans
150 g almond flour
25 g cacao powder
1tsp baking powder
30 g DF chocolate chips (see notes)
Icing
145 g coconut whipping cream or coconut milk ( see notes)
170g melted coconut oil
100g honey/agave
85 g cacao powder
Method
Turn on your oven and preheat it at 180 degrees, line an 8-inch baking tin with greaseproof paper and leave to one side.
Blend all the wet ingredients in a Nutri bullet or similar.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well (do not beat like a regular cake).
The batter is very thick so spoon into the baking tin and smooth over.
Bake for 45 minutes to an hour in the oven's middle shelf once baked leave to cool.
To make the icing mix all the ingredients and leave to one side until the cake is cooled.
Ice the cake and top with fruit or drizzled chocolate and leave in the fridge to set for a couple of hours.
Food shopping tips
Are you looking to save money on your FREE FROM ingredients without shopping in several places just to save a buck? Take a look at well easy they have made it well easy to shop for healthy free from allergy-specific ingredients. Find everything you need all in 1 place with over 50 filters. You will be sure to find food for your dietary restrictions that are healthy too!
And it’s cheaper than the health stores or supermarkets, don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself here. Check out my curated shopping list of all my recommended healthier ingredients that I love to cook with. Here’s the link. Use my code KAM10 for £10 off your first order ( £50 minimum order for the first shop).
This blog contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links. I have personally vetted and used all the products that I recommend.
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