This easy Almond Flour Chocolate Cake is a showstopper! It's incredibly moist, made with almond flour and topped with the most delicious chocolate buttercream.
You know I love a good cake recipe. This almond flour chocolate cake is kinda sorta like my vegan chocolate cake (because they're both topped with buttercream), but it's gluten free!
Lately, I've been really into using almond flour in baked goods. Like in these almond flour blueberry muffins and of course my paleo waffles, too. It's versatile and provides a light, fluffy texture that will make you forget all about all purpose flour.
Recipe features
- The cake can be made in one 9" cake pan or in two 6" cake pans, making it the perfect smaller-sized cake
- It's moist and covered in the most delicious chocolate buttercream
- I pinky promise your friends and family will never know it's gluten free!
Ingredient notes
Almond flour: This cake has been tested with almond flour, not almond meal, though I do believe you can use almond meal if you're in a pinch.
Sugar: I always have a bag of cane sugar on hand, so that tends to be my preferred sugar in baking. Substitutions include: granulated sugar or coconut sugar.
Eggs: No substitutions here. I haven't tested this cake with flax eggs, so if you can, I say stick with regular eggs.
Maple syrup: I would NOT sub honey -- maple syrup is richer in flavor, and pairs better with chocolate in this cake.
Butter: I used grass-fed butter, but you can use dairy free butter if you prefer.
Chocolate: Go for your favorite kind of chocolate. If you love 85% dark, go for it, just know that the icing may be a little more bitter tasting. I used a 60% chocolate bar and thought it was perfect.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: In one bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, maple syrup and vanilla together.
Step 2: Combine the wet and dry ingredients by hand. Since we're using almond flour, we really don't want to over-mix the batter, so I recommend doing this by hand with a spatula.
Step 3: Line your cake pan(s) with parchment rounds (see "tips" section below), then distribute the cake batter evenly. Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean, then wait at least 10 minutes before carefully inverting the cake onto a cooling rack.
Step 4: Make the icing. Start by melting the chocolate, then pour the warm chocolate over the softened butter and wait a few minutes for the butter to melt a bit. Then, add the powdered sugar and, if needed, a little milk and whisk with an electric mixer until everything is combined.
Tips and FAQs
- Be sure to stir the cake batter by hand with a spatula rather than with a stand mixer -- we want to gently fold everything together so the cake stays nice and moist.
- How to make your own cake pan liners: Place your cake pans on top of parchment paper, then trace the pans. Cut the round paper out with scissors, then place the parchment round in the bottom of your cake pans. Be sure to add a little coconut oil to the paper as well so it sticks to the bottom.
- If you're more of a visual learner, Eat the Love has a nice post on how to make parchment rounds.
- For the chocolate: I mentioned this above, but the chocolate is the main component of the icing, so choose your favorite kind! I like using 60-70% dark chocolate, because it still tastes like dark chocolate but it isn't bitter.
Can I use different size cake pans?
Yes! I've tested this recipe using one round 9" cake pan, and also using two round 6" cake pans, and both ways worked.
Alternatively, you can use a muffin tin and make cupcakes if you don't have the correct size pans. If you're making cupcakes, I recommend checking them after 20 minutes.
How long will this cake last?
This cake will stay fresh for 1-2 days at room temperature, or 2-4 days in the refrigerator. I always prefer fresh cakes, so I wouldn't make this too far in advance if possible.
Can I make this vegan?
I've never tested this cake recipe without the eggs, but you're more than welcome to try it with flax eggs. With that said, you can easily make it dairy free by using dairy-free butter and milk in the icing.
Related recipes
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Almond Flour Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour
- ⅓ cup cane sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
for the icing:
- 3.5 oz. dark chocolate chopped
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 ½ tablespoon milk optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs together and then add syrup and vanilla.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix with an electric mixer.
- Line one 9" or two 6" round cake pans with parchment paper (see notes) and then pour batter evenly into the pan.
- Place cake in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Leave cake in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a cooling rack. Wait until cakes have completely cooled before icing them.
for the icing:
- Combine chocolate and oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until chocolate has melted; set aside.
- Add butter to a bowl and then pour the melted chocolate overtop; let this sit for 3-5 minutes, then mix with an electric mixer before adding the powdered sugar. Continue mixing until icing has formed--icing should be fairly thick. If it seems too thick, add the milk.
to assemble:
- Once the cake has cooled, place a large dollop of icing on top, then use an offset knife or spatula to smooth icing overtop. Cut and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published in May 2017. It was updated with new text and photos in January 2021.
Romeo Elizabeth says
Great to use up almond meal with the husk (the brown flecky one). You can’t notice them in the chocolate.
Gracie says
Can I replace the cocoa powder in the recipe with more almond flour to make this a vanilla cake?
Thanks in advance!
Erin says
I haven't tried it myself, but I do think that should work. Let me know how it turns out!
Marge says
Diabetic. Which artificial sweetener works best?
Erin says
Hi! I'd try either coconut sugar or Monkfruit (or possibly even Stevia) in place of the cane sugar, and then if you need to replace the maple syrup, honey or agave should work.