Treat yourself to a slice of this deliciously dairy free Chocolate Mint Cake. It’s made with healthy ingredients while still tasting rich and decadent.
Is there ever a bad time for chocolate cake? I don’t think so! It’s why I’m always making this Chocolate Mint Cake for special occasions, birthdays, or when I’m simply craving that refreshing, chocolatey goodness.
This peppermint chocolate cake features a refreshing hint of mint without skipping the rich chocolate flavors that you know and love.
I wanted to keep things on the lighter side so I substituted a few of the typical ingredients you would find in chocolate cake recipes for healthier options (like applesauce instead of vegetable oil and almond milk instead of regular milk). Bonus: the dessert is entirely dairy free!
I decorated the cake with a luscious mint chocolate buttercream frosting on top, but you could take it up a notch by dying the icing green (perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!) or adding chocolate shavings on top. This cake may look like a regular chocolate cake on the outside but offers the perfect pairing of mint and chocolate together in every bite!
Recipe features
- Chocolate + mint = love!
- I swapped a few of the traditional chocolate cake ingredients out for healthier alternatives. Plus, it’s completely dairy free!
- It’s a simple one-layer cake, so adding the chocolate frosting on top is super easy.
Ingredient notes:
- Applesauce - The applesauce adds to the moisture to the cake but won’t affect the flavor. If you don’t have applesauce at home, you can substitute it for more coconut oil or replace the coconut oil with more applesauce to make an oil free cake.
- Almond milk - Any dairy free milk will work. My favorite alternative is oat milk!
- Maple syrup - I like the natural sweetness and warmth the maple syrup adds, but you can always replace it with honey or more cane sugar if you want.
- Peppermint extract - For that refreshing mint flavor of course!
- Chocolate mint buttercream - This easy buttercream recipe is made with butter, milk, powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and cocoa powder. It looks like your everyday chocolate icing but has a burst of refreshment from the mint. To keep the entire decorated cake dairy free, feel free to replace this with my vegan chocolate buttercream.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients. Whisk the eggs, applesauce, milk, oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and peppermint together in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl.
Step 3: Finish the batter. Pour the dry mixture into the wet and stir to combine. Pour it into your prepared cake pan.
Step 4: Bake the cake. Place the cake pan in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the baked cake cool while you make the icing.
Step 5: Make the chocolate icing. Mix the butter, milk, and peppermint together. Next, add the cocoa powder and powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
Step 6: Decorate the cake. Place a big dollop of icing on the cooled cake, spread it along the top, then serve and enjoy!
Expert tips and FAQs
- Prepare your cake pans by lightly greasing the sides with coconut oil and a light dusting of flour, then add a round piece of parchment paper to the bottom.
- To enhance the chocolate flavor, add ½ cup of brewed coffee or espresso to the cake batter.
Can mint chocolate cake be made vegan?
Simply swap the eggs for 2 flax eggs (2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed mixed with 6 tablespoons of water) to make this chocolate cake vegan. You could also use vegan butter and dairy free milk instead of the regular butter and milk in the frosting, or use my vegan chocolate buttercream or vegan vanilla buttercream recipes instead.
Can it be made gluten free?
I haven’t tested it but the all purpose flour could possibly be swapped for a 1:1 gluten free flour blend. Want to use almond flour or coconut flour instead? Be sure to check out my almond flour chocolate cake and coconut flour chocolate cake recipes.
How do you decorate mint chocolate cake?
Are you making the cake for a crowd or a St. Patrick’s Day celebration? To give it that true “minty” look, you can omit the cocoa powder from the icing and add 1 or 2 drops of green gel food coloring. Or, if you’re serving it for Christmas, add red food coloring instead! From there, add chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, fresh mint, chocolate shavings, or ganache on top.
How do you make this into a 2 or 3 layer cake?
Simply double or triple the recipe and bake the batter in two or three 9-inch cake pans.
Storage
Refrigerator: The baked cake can be wrapped in plastic and stored whole or sliced in the fridge for up to 5 days. The chocolate buttercream can also be made ahead of time and kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 week.
Freezer: Bake the cake, wrap it in plastic, and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. The icing can also be frozen for about 3 or 4 months.
More delicious cake recipes
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Chocolate Mint Cake
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup applesauce
- ½ cup almond milk
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup coconut oil melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup cane sugar
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Icing:
- 1 tablespoon butter softened
- 2 tablespoon almond milk plus more as needed
- ½ teaspoon peppermint
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ⅓ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and line a round 9" cake pan with parchment paper (or grease with coconut oil); set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, applesauce, milk, oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and peppermint together.
- In a separate bowl, stir the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and stir to combine using a rubber spatula. It's ok if there are some lumps in the batter! Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake the cake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Leave the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a cooling rack. Wait for the cake to cool before icing it.
- For the icing: whisk the butter, milk and peppermint together with an electric mixer, then add the cocoa and powdered sugar and continue mixing until the icing is smooth. If it seems too thick, add 1 more tablespoon of milk. If it seems too thin, add ¼ cup powdered sugar.
- Place a large dollop of icing on top of the cooled cake, then use an offset knife to stir until the top of the cake is coated. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published in March 2016. It was updated with new text and photos in March 2022.
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
I haven't made cake in quite some time. That needs to change. And this frosting - omg yum!!! Maybe I'll do a mug cake with this frosting! I can't be trusted with an entire cake lol I'll eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says
OMG, I can NOT wait to try this!! Chocolate and peppermint?! Can you get any better than that? And it's a healthier version!!
ACKTIVE LIFE says
OMG I LOVE cake and I LOVE cookies! I honestly do not bake at all...It just does not appeal to me, but I am more than happy to be a taste tester for all sweet treats! 🙂
Georgie @ Healthy Pears says
Holy Moly - this cake looks amazing!!! I've had so many disasterous attempt at baking healthified chocolate brownies lately, but I figured out it was to do with the flour I was using which was making it too dense! Love the flavour combo of mint and chocolate!
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen says
You're totally inspiring me to whip out my round cake pans! I haven't used them yet and got them as a wedding gift. Definitely all about these wholesome cakes <3 That frosting though....
GiGi Eats says
The only way I really like chocolate with is MINT so um, THANK YOU for this!
Jenn - a traveling Wife says
I am TOTALLY craving cake! Mint and chocolate are two of my favorite items to put together. This looks amazing!
Christina says
ERIN WTF THESE PHOTOS ARE AMAZEEEE. I was just thinking about how I need to make a cake because its my sisters birthday on Wed. And I know what you mean about cookies. All of the cookie recipes on my blog I had to make at least twice before I got it right.
Erin says
THANK YOU--the lighting was on my side this day. And yeahhhh put your cake baking skillz to the test and then put it on the blog so I can drool over it.
Alexa [fooduzzi.com] says
These photos!! Teach me your ways, girl! I'm going completely crazy over this recipe - mint + chocolate is one of my favorite food duos 🙂
Erin says
Thanks!! Uhhh but can we talk about your photos from yesterday?! So dreamy.
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
This cake is STUNNING!! You did an amazing job making your daydream a reality. I'll take the whole thing for myself, please and thank you. Also I love that you're deeming it a St. Patty's Day recipe because of the mint, lol. That totally counts! 😉
Erin says
Haha! I'm glad you think so too 😀
rachel @ athletic avocado says
The combo of mint and chocolate will always have my heart. I'm obsessed with making smoothies right now with my mocha mint protein powder so I can only imagine how amazing this tastes!
Erin says
Uhhhh that sounds DELICIOUS
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Haha - I choked on my gum when I read "that’s literally what my life has become. I daydream about food but I also daydream about food photos." - MEEEEE TOOO, Lady! But I sure am glad you needed to take a pic of a cake on a cakestand - because - just look at this creation - it's just plain GORGEOUS! Simply get-in-ma-belly STUNNING! Think I'm gonna invite myself over, I'll even bring the coffee 🙂
Erin says
Now THAT'S my kinda deal! Thank you 🙂
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food says
I love chocolate and mint combos! I also haven't baked a cake or cookies in....I actually don't know, it's been that long lol. But you can certainly ship this pretty cake right to my house!
I never watched Downton Abbey, but people who watch it rave about it. Guess I'll have to add it to my list of shows to binge-watch.
Erin says
Yes it's definitely binge watchable!
Beverley @ Born to Sweat says
its seriously been ages since i have had cake! and i love how this one is themed for St Pattys which is coming up SO. SOON! I'll probably be drinking green beer all day 😉
Erin says
So will I... but then afterward I know I'll be wanting this cake back in my life!
Christine@ Apple of My Eye says
Erin I am sitting at my laptop DROOLING because this looks so good! While I'm not usually a huge mint person, I literally want to face-dive into this 😯 . That cake stand is so cute and I think these are my favorite photos of yours to date! Did you get a macro lens?
Erin says
Thank you thank you thank you! And no I wish.... still using my Canon Rebel with 50 mm f/1.8 lens 🙂
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
My Mom loves that show. I still have yet to see it though. She says its addicting! Speaking of addicting, this chocolate cake looks addicting.
Erin says
It's addicting in a soap opera kind of way sooo yeah....pretty addicting ha. Thanks Megan!
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday says
I definitely find cookies harder (and more time-consuming), but I also often enjoy making them more than cake. Your pictures are STUNNING and this cake sounds delicious. Mint and chocolate is one of my favorite flavor combos!
Erin says
Me too! Thanks Ellen 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Chocolate mint = life! My favorite chocolate combo hands down! I just love how FRESH it makes your mouth feel 😛
Melanie @ Gather for Bread says
THat is perfect! I'm craving mint and chocolate together.
Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It says
Oh I'm loving this recipe! This is definitely in my future for St. Patty's Day. 🙂 And YES Downton Abbey it's one of my favorite shows ever...I cried at the end because I'm so sad it's over. I'm such a sap! Thank GOD Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes are happily married!
Erin says
I cried too... haha I couldn't help it!! It was such a "happily ever after" type ending and I loved it.