Some days, I still can’t believe that although I am on a grain-free diet, I still get to eat something as scrumptious as this Paleo Chocolate Cake.
Like many of you, chocolate cake and I have a long history.
My baking career started at the age of four, where on my outdoor patio, at my family’s house on Long Island, I mixed up batter from store bought packages and then baked it in my cherished Easy Bake Oven.
The next few years brought friends’ birthday parties with the requisite pin the tail on the donkey, pizza, and party favors of troll dolls, mood rings or silly putty.
Soon after I was baking real cakes. And, during these years I fulfilled my lifetime quota of marble bundt cakes.
Just about every celebration or milestone has cake.
A Grain Free Diet And Paleo Chocolate Cake:
Three years ago, my doctor asked me to try a gluten and dairy free diet (then, eventually grain free). I said yes, but not without tears. So many changes. So much to learn.
And the ultimate question? Would it work?
The diet has been amazing for me and turned out to be the best thing.
One reason? This Paleo Chocolate Cake. The every day, not just for special occasions, decadent chocolate cake.
It has gotten much easier to love a gluten free diet now.
This easy paleo cake is intensely chocolate, fudgy, and moist. Spread a little chocolate ganache icing on it. This also makes the most amazing chocolate birthday cake.
Making Your Paleo Chocolate Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- For an 8 inch round cast iron skillet, press some parchment paper inside. If you place something like a few potatoes on the parchment paper, it will usually keep it down in the skillet until you are ready to add your batter.
- It can probably be made in other size cake pans, but I have not tried this. I am attached to the easy throw the parchment paper away method. 🙂
- Add all of the ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer and mix on medium for about 2 minutes.
- Pour batter into the cast iron skillet and bake for 25-27 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and cake looks done.
- Let cool completely before frosting or icing the cake.
- You will love this easy dairy free chocolate icing that is shown in the photos.
Related:
Paleo Double Chocolate Muffins
Make Your Own Homemade Almond Butter
What You Will Love About This Paleo Chocolate Cake:
- No baking pan to clean – if you use the parchment paper and cast iron skillet method
- Less sugar/sweetener than traditional chocolate cakes
- Easy, two ingredients, dairy free chocolate ganache icing
- Can all be mixed in one bowl
- Make ahead, store in fridge
- Grain, gluten, and dairy free, but everyone will love
- Is fresh and homemade, make any time you choose
Storing Your Grain-Free Chocolate Cake:
I find storing in an airtight container (such as these) works the best for me. For best results, consume within a day or two of baking. But realize this cake has amazing disappearing powers.
Bonus: This recipe also makes amazing cupcakes!
Chocolate lovers will want to try these Coconut Flour Chocolate Donuts!
Thank you for using my affiliate links, which at no extra cost to you, provides me with a small commission that helps with the running of this site. I look forward to creating and posting many more delicious recipes for you.
I hope this will become your favorite grain free chocolate cake for birthdays, celebrations or just an everyday chocolate fix!
Please feel free to share this with anyone you think would love a delicious paleo flourless chocolate cake!
Enjoy!
This is my go-to decadent paleo chocolate cake. It is easy to make, grain, gluten and dairy free. I love to make it in a parchment paper lined skillet for easy clean up. It's a winner all around!
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 1/2 cup almond butter (try my recipe on the site or a creamy store bought brand)
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 cup organic pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup organic raw cacao powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using parchment paper, line an 8" cast iron skillet.
-
Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl, and using an electric mixer, mix for several minutes in well mixed.
You can also mix in a bowl with a wooden spoon or spatula if desired. If you go this route, you should probably whisk the almond flour to get out all the lumps and then add the remaining ingredients.
-
Pour batter into prepared cast iron skillet and smooth batter.
-
Bake for 25-27 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before icing/frosting.
Consider using the Paleo Chocolate Ganache Icing on the site for this cake. Yum!
Easy to Pin It Strip:
I'm Christine and this is where I share my favorite recipes using the freshest ingredients possible. 
This cake looks super yummy! I’m a little jealous that you had an easy bake oven. I’d always wanted one as a child. Though my best friend had one so I used to get some fun with it. Great recipe. Especially as an alternative to using normal flour!
Thanks Elaine! Yes, the easy bake oven was fun!
A chocolate lovers dream!
Thanks Suzy!
This cake looks absolutely amazing, so moist and full of chocolate flavour. And just look at that chocolate glaze on top!! Oh my… Can’t wait to try this. Super easy, you’re right 😉
Thanks Natalie!
I’m on a gluten free diet too and this is a must try for me. It looks incredibly moist and full of flavor!
Thanks Karen!
This recipe worked well and the cake was delicious
Thanks – so glad to hear that!!
Would banana or applesauce or mashed sweet potato work instead of the pumpkin?
Hi Leanne! I have not tried any of those, so I am not sure. However, since I have made the recipe many times, my guess is that mashed sweet potato would work well.
This looks yummy. Have you tried other flours for this recipe my grandson is allergic to nuts
Hi Louise! I have not tried other flours in this recipe yet. Have you tried my Coconut Flour Chocolate Glazed Donuts recipe?
Can you post a link to the frosting please!
Hi Karen – yes, just added the link! Enjoy!
This looks wonderful! You would never know that it is paleo and not “standard” by looking at it. Yum!
Hi Kim! I hope you love it if you try it!
Thank you for explaining paleo, I never really knew what it was. This looks so delicious!
Thanks Angela!
GF or not, this cake looks and sounds super! Love the creaminess!
Thanks so much! 🙂
Ahh, the Easy Bake Oven! Great memories lol! This Paleo Chocolate Cake is calling my name! It looks so decadent and delicious! Great tip for lining the pan with parchment paper! Love easy cleanup so I can get to eating a slice of this cake faster! hehe
Lindsay Cotter recently posted…Gluten-Free Panko Crusted Paprika Chicken
Thanks Lindsay!
Hmmm, totally understand the difficulties of adapting to a new diet as I am currently going through a few (too many) changes myself. However, this Paleo Chocolate Cake looks scrumptious, and if we can make delicious food that’s better of us… why not right?? I am a couple ingredients short (probably just the pumpkin puree) but will make this soon, can’t wait!
Hi Silvia – I can’t wait to hear how you like it! 🙂
Can you use a different pan for this?
Hey Sarah – Yes you can, but you will need to adjust the baking time depending on the pan size. 🙂
I love chocolate cake!!!!! This looks sooooooooo yummy!
Deanna recently posted…#RecipeMakeover Welcome
Yes, Deanna – Isn’t chocolate cake the best thing ever? Thank you for your kind comment!
I love how you can’t even tell anything is different about this chocolate cake? Paleo, sure – but still looks like a delicious, scrumptious chocolate dessert to me!
Yes, so true Kelly!
Wow! It looks so delicious I wouldn’t expect it to be so easy! I’ll definitely have to try this!
That’s awesome Liz! Hope you love it!
Paleo cooking has come so far! That cake looks like it has the perfect texture. Amazing!
Thanks Linda! It is very rich and delicious!
Besides being easy this cake looks insanely delicious. It’s beautiful and I love the fact that it’s paleo.
I have been trying to eat less grains but I love my chocolate. This recipe is up my alley. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Edyta, if you have to give up grains, just know there are many great recipes available. 🙂 psst. – start with this one!
I can’t even believe that this is Paleo! This is certainly the most delicious looking paleo cake I’ve ever seen. Thanks for sharing! Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Thanks Luci – you are so sweet!
This looks so insanely gooey and delicious! It’s making me crave some chocolate cake RIGHT NOW!
Thanks Mary! Yes!!
That looks so moist and decadent! I just want to grab a piece and take a big bite! I am amazed to know that you started baking at the age of 4! Well, here I am still trying to bake a decent cake in my thirties 😅
Thanks Sia! With baking, it sometimes takes awhile to get a recipe great, and once you do, it’s awesome!
This looks so luscious and chocolatey! And I absolutely love that you made it in a skillet 🙂
Dawn – Girl Heart Food recently posted…Monthly Favourites May 2017
Thanks Dawn! Yes, so good!
Hi,
I was going to make this today but I cannot find the recipe anywhere on the page. please help.
Hello Carrie – Thank you for letting me know about this issue. It has been fixed and you should be able to access the recipe. If not, please let me know. Enjoy!!
Yes, I have spent the last 30 minutes looking for the recipe on here for this cake and all there is to see are the comments for it what happened? Where is it ? Help please !
Hello Francheska, thank you for your patience. There was an issue that has been fixed and you should be able to access the recipe. Please let me know if this is not the case. Enjoy!!
What’s better than enjoying chocolate cake that’s also low carb. It certainly is easy to make. I can make this without my wifes help lol.
Leo Tat recently posted…6 Best Healthy Oils to Cook, Deep Frying With, and Oils to Avoid
Yes, Leo, I so agree. Enjoy!
What is the nutrition facts? Great cake for my low carb son & my gluten intolerant husband!
Hi Brenda! I do not currently list the nutrition facts, but there are on line tools that will assist you with this. So glad this recipe works for your son and husband!
This tastes AMAZING!! I didn’t have any pumpkin on hand so I used banana. Also, I used raw cows milk. We do a primal/whole food diet so I know ours isn’t actually paleo with those changes but oh was it delicious! I used my own icing recipe as I didn’t have coconut milk on hand so I can’t say how delicious yours is (though I’m certain it is awesome!!). But I can say, this is a huge hit with my 3 kiddos and the hubby so it going to become our go to cake recipe!
Sorry – forgot to specify. I added a small splash of milk to make up for the lost moisture with the pumpkin to banana switch.
Thanks Nina! So glad to hear this! I always love to hear how substitutes work out with recipes and the banana sounds delicious!
Made this and it was delicious! It was moist and brownie-like. Really happy to have found this recipe!
Thank you Maggie! So glad you liked it and I appreciate you letting me know!