Description
Chocolate Cake (No Sugar) is a rich and moist dessert made without refined sugar, relying on cocoa powder, applesauce, and a zero calorie sweetener for balanced sweetness. This cake delivers deep chocolate flavor with a soft crumb and simple preparation, making it ideal for everyday baking or special moments. It uses pantry friendly ingredients and works well with gluten free flour if needed, while staying light, tender, and satisfying.
Ingredients
One and a half cups all purpose flour or gluten free all purpose flour if needed
One cup granulated zero calorie sweetener such as monk fruit sweetener or erythritol
One quarter cup unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
One teaspoon baking soda
One half teaspoon salt
One tablespoon apple cider vinegar
One teaspoon Simply Organic Vanilla Flavor or Watkins Clear Vanilla Flavor
Six tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
One cup water at room temperature
Instructions
Preheat the oven to three hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit and line the bottom of an eight inch springform pan with parchment paper, then set it aside
Add the flour, granulated sweetener, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to a large mixing bowl and whisk until evenly combined
Add the vanilla flavor, apple cider vinegar, and unsweetened applesauce to the bowl and mix gently until the mixture is evenly moistened
Pour the water into the bowl and stir until a smooth batter forms with no dry pockets
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and gently tap the pan to release air bubbles
Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out just clean
Remove the cake from the oven and let it rest in the pan briefly before releasing and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely
Allow the cake to cool fully before slicing or adding any frosting
Notes
Use a granulated sweetener that measures cup for cup like sugar for the best texture and sweetness balance
Monk fruit sweetener and erythritol both work well and pair smoothly with cocoa powder
Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cake tender and soft
This recipe can be doubled or tripled to create layered cakes without changing the baking time significantly
Let the cake cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices and proper structure
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for short storage or refrigerate for longer freshness
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American