Black Bean Chocolate Cake with Honey – Sweet & Healthy

Black Bean Chocolate Cake is a yummy and guilt-free dessert that is as healthy as it is sinful. It’s made with black beans, making it naturally gluten-free. It’s also high in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. In short, this cake is a healthier version of traditional chocolate cakes.

It’s wonderfully moist, with a dense crumb and rich chocolate flavours. Plus, it’s easy to prepare using just a few pantry staples like eggs, cocoa powder, and maple syrup.

You can customise it with chocolate chips, nuts, or spices, making it the perfect treat for any occasion!

Once we finish, we’ll explain why using black beans creates such a delicious dessert and how you can adjust the recipe to suit your dietary needs.

Why make black bean chocolate cake?

This Black Bean Chocolate Cake is indeed groundbreaking! And here’s why you’re going to try to make the lemon blueberry cake as soon as possible

1. Naturally Moist and Fudgy: This cake is incredibly moist, rich, dense, and fudgy, thanks to the black beans. I appreciate that it isn’t overly sweet. Instead, it features a pleasant, soft, cakey texture paired with a rich chocolate flavour that many other cakes do not possess. It even has a delightful, moist, and slightly gooey quality that is simply lovely!

2. Perfect for Special Diets: If you’re following a gluten-free, vegan, or low-carb diet, this cake easily meets your dietary needs without sacrificing taste. It’s versatile, allowing you to substitute sweeteners for a sugar-free option if you’re reducing sugar intake. This cake is also an excellent choice for anyone who requires or prefers a gluten-free dessert!

3. Delicious Chocolate flavour: The black beans are a surprising ingredient! This cake is rich and dark, and it has a chocolate flavour. You won’t even realise the beans are there—they serve as an excellent foundation for the cocoa powder, allowing the chocolate flavour to shine.

4. Perfect for Any Occasion: Slap it on with some frosting and no one would even KNOW that you used a can of black beans in chocolate cake! Whether it’s a birthday, a family reunion, or just a special treat, this cake is yummy. It’s easy enough to eat every day but also fancy enough for birthdays, or whenever there’s something to celebrate.

How To Make Black Bean Chocolate Cake Recipe?

Recipe Overview

This Black Bean Chocolate Cake Recipe is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping it light. It’s easy to make, requires no fancy equipment, and is a great dessert for any occasion, whether it’s a casual family gathering or a special celebration. If you’re looking for a cake that’s rich in chocolate flavor but doesn’t come with the heaviness of a traditional cake, you’re in the right place.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Cuisine: Dessert
Course: Cake, Dessert
Difficulty Level: Easy
Yield: 8-10 servings
Calories per Serving: 180 kcal (approx.)

Equipment Needed

Food processor or blender
8-inch round cake pan
Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing bowl
Frosting Knife or Spatula (Optional)
Cooling rack
Toothpick or Cake Tester
Whisk

Ingredients

1 can of black beans (rinsed and drained)
3 large eggs
1/2 cup avocado oil (or any neutral oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup coconut sugar (or any sugar substitute)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (or regular flour if preferred)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp instant coffee granules
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips (dairy-free if vegan)
Sweet Potato Chocolate Frosting (optional, recipe below)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°(175°C). Line an 8-inch-round cake pan with parchment paper, grease with cooking spray and line with another layer of parchment paper for easy removal.
Blend the black beans. Blend the black beans. In a food processor or blender, puree the rinsed and drained black beans until smooth. This will be your cake base so make sure it’s 100 percent smooth and free of lumps.
Mix the wet ingredients. Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, avocado oil, vanilla, and coconut sugar. When it is all mixed together add the pureed black beans and stir until everything is combined.
Add the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients. Place a sieve over the bowl and add the cocoa powder, gluten-free flour, baking powder, coffee granules and sea salt. Mix until you have a smooth, thick batter.
Add the chocolate chips. Add the chocolate chips. Add in the chocolate chips for a little extra gooeyness.
Pour into the pan. Pour into the pan. Pour the mixture into your prepared cake pan, smoothing it out.
Bake! Bake! Transfer the cake to the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If a toothpick comes out clean from the center, your cake is done!
Cool and frost. Cool and frost. Allow it to cool in the pan completely before inverting it onto a cooling rack. Once it’s cool, you can frost it with optional Sweet Potato Chocolate Frosting (or eat it plain for a more modest indulgence

My Secret Tips for the Perfect Black Bean Chocolate Cake

Don’t skip the coffee granules! The coffee accentuates the deep chocolate flavour, making the cake even richer and more intense. You can’t taste the coffee, but it will bring the chocolate up an honorific notch.
Experiment with sweeteners. If you want to cut the sugar (pun intended), the best would be coconut sugar, but feel free to substitute with maple syrup, honey, or a sugar substitute to your taste.
Vegan options. This cake is inherently free of gluten, but if you need it to be entirely vegan, swap the eggs out with flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds + 3 tablespoons water, allow to sit for 5 minutes). You can use vegan chocolate chips instead.
Storage tips: The J bars keep in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days. You can also freeze slices (for up to 2 months.

Exciting Variations and Serving Ideas

Vegan Black Bean Chocolate Cake: Simply swap the eggs for flax eggs and use dairy-free chocolate chips for a fully vegan cake.
Add a crunchy topping. For extra texture, try topping the cake with chopped nuts like almonds or walnuts before baking. It adds a nice contrast to the soft, fudgy texture of the cake.
Serve with fruit. This cake is rich enough to stand on its own, but pairing it with some fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream can elevate it to a whole new level!

More Desserts Made With Chocolate

Chocolate Banana Cake

Chocolate Roll Cake Recipe

Chocolate Strawberry Cake Recipe

Tips & Tricks

For a smoother texture, use cooked or canned beans

If you’re using canned black beans, be sure to rinse and drain them thoroughly. This helps remove excess liquid and the canning liquid, which can affect the texture of your cake.

Avoid Ignoring the Coffee Granules

It may seem unusual to add coffee granules, but it truly makes a significant difference! The coffee enhances the depth of the chocolate flavour without imparting a coffee taste.

Use a toothpick to check for doneness

To ensure your cake is baked to perfection, use a toothpick or cake tester, as every oven varies in temperature. If you find any batter sticking to the toothpick, bake the cake for another five minutes and check again.

Let the cake cool before frosting

When the cake comes out of the oven, it can be tempting to frost it immediately, but doing so may lead to a messy situation (think melted frosting!). To avoid this, allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Adjust the Sweetness Level

You can adjust the amount of sugar if you prefer your cake to be less sweet. The coconut sugar has a pleasant caramel flavour, but you can reduce the quantity or opt for a lower-calorie sweetener.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this cake without black beans?

Although black beans are a standard ingredient in this recipe, you can substitute them for other beans (like kidney beans), but the consistency, color, and taste of the dish will be a little bit different.

Can I use a different sweetener instead of coconut sugar?

Yes! You can replace coconut sugar with maple syrup, agave, or another sweetener of your choice. Keep in mind that liquid sweeteners will change the texture slightly.

Is this cake gluten-free?

Yes, you can use gluten-free flour for this recipe; of course, it’s ideal for you if you have gluten intolerance. Regular flour works for my non-gluten-free friends as well; you’ll just need to use a bit more.

How can I make this cake more chocolatey?

If you are looking for a more intense chocolate flavor, add a bit more cocoa powder or add more chocolate chips to the batter.

Video Tutorial

Black Bean Chocolate Cake

Final Thought

To make the Black Bean Chocolate Cake, this recipe offers a fantastic way to enjoy chocolate without the heavy ingredients typically found in traditional cakes.

With the addition of black beans, this cake is as good for you as it is delicious. Whether you’re preparing a vegan black bean chocolate cake or savouring a slice of it sweetened with honey, this version is just as decadent as the traditional variety.

You can even transform it into a black bean chocolate cake with no sugar for a lighter yet sweet treat. Whatever its form, it remains a wonderful chocolate cake that everyone seems to enjoy!

Olivia