I celebrated 29 trips around the sun last week! Hubby is gone, as usual, for the third year in a row but he spoiled me from even half-way around the world with flowers and a cookbook. I’m such a sucker for beautiful cookbooks. Being a pilot wife to a man who is gone more than 6 months out of the year, I find a lot of comfort in my community. It truly takes a village and this village can be so strong! Thankful to the women in my life who gather around me to make these days extra special. And a delicious paleo chocolate cake when its time to celebrate!
Anyways,when all the store bought cakes include at least one of those it can be difficult to find one that fits my requests. So, I usually always end up making my own with great pleasure and delight. I tell people I made my own birthday cake and they look at me all sad and they say, “I’m sorry. That’s so sad.” What they don’t understand is that being in the kitchen creating is my love language. It fills my cup being able to create something you can enjoy with all five senses. The melting of chocolate, the sizzle of onions caramelizing in a pan, the slow roasting of vegetables in the oven. I mean, what smell is better than the smell of bacon wafting through the house.
Maybe a bacon and paleo chocolate cake? Hmm… That’s not this recipe but maybe in the future!
After a full weekend of Birthdaying I am going to take today to relax, catch up on some fast approaching deadlines, and finish up this cake! I’ll be sad when its all done and probably want to make another one. You would not know the difference if you bit into this cake versus mainstream ingredient one. The cake is light, fluffy and moist. The ganache is creamy and doesn’t run. Keep the birthday cakes, lose the unhealthy ingredients! I can’t wait to hear about your adventures trying out this recipe! Please come back and tell me how it goes . . .
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- 2 cups almond flour balanced, superfine ground
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp espresso powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 2/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup almond milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
- 4 tbsp coconut oil
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- 3/4 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup almond milk
Ingredients
For the cake:
For the chocolate ganache:
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- For the cake: Preheat oven to 350. Trace and cut parchment rounds to cover the bottom of two 6-inch round cake pans. Sift almond flour, cocoa, espresso powder, baking soda and salt through a small mesh sieve/colander into a medium-sized bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, maple syrup, almond milk and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir to incorporate. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. For the chocolate ganache: Melt chocolate and coconut oil in thick bottomed sauce pan or double broiler. Stir and remove from heat when melted. Slowly add maple syrup while staring. Allow to cool. Transfer mixture to mixing bowl and beat in almond butter until a thick, creamy frosting. If too thick add almond milk as needed for consistency. Test with a back of spoon by covering it with the ganache. If you clear a path with your finger and the ganache doesn't return to cover the entire back of the spoon it is are good to go! To assemble the cake: Allow cakes to cool completely (I allowed mine to cool over night). Remove parchment rounds. Drop a small amount of the melted ganache on serving plate and smear around the diameter of the cake. This will help it from sliding around. Place one cake layer on the plate. Place a dollop of chocolate ganache on top of cake and smooth over the cake. Layer the second cake over the layer of ganache and top with more ganache. Store in refrigerator until serving time.
Rebecca
These photos (and that cake) are lovely! And I like to make my own birthday desserts, too! I enjoy baking and it’s fun to make something special that I know I’ll like 🙂
herheartandtable
Thanks so much! And exactly on your cake making comment!
Winnie
So glad I came across your page! Serious drools over here…and your food/flatlay photography is amazing- love it!
herheartandtable
Oh gosh, thanks so much! I’m still learning a lot but it is such a joy!
Victoria
Ok, I will 100% have to try this!! <3
herheartandtable
Yes!! And please let me know what you think! I’d love to know.
Raquelle Loraine
Now seriously… this looks so good!!!
herheartandtable
Haha thanks so much girl! It tastes even better than it looks!
Laura
Goodness, that looks divine! Now I totally want cake!
herheartandtable
Girl, I always want chocolate cake! I guess that’s a good problem to have.
Kira
This looks so delicious. I have to try this recipe some time. Thanks so much for sharing!
herheartandtable
You bet! Thanks for stopping by! Let me know what you think when you try it.
Nicki Hasler
Oh man. This looks delicious! I need to try and make it. Also, beautiful images to go along with it.
herheartandtable
Thank you so much Nicki. I hope you love it if you try it! Let me know what you think when you do 🙂
Idowed
Yummy!!! I love a good chocolate cake recipe! This looks beautiful. Very nice presentation!
herheartandtable
Thank you so much! I adore chocolate so much!
Alexandra Bagley
This looks DELICIOUS! Happy birthday to you! My birthday is coming up in May, so that might be the perfect time to try out a new recipe!
herheartandtable
Thanks so much! Happy Birthday to you too. I hope you love the cake 🙂
Brittany Slaughter
Wow! What a beautiful presentation! This looks so yummy!
herheartandtable
Thank you so much! I had fun decorating it with flowers.
Amy
Well this looks heavenly and its grain and diary free it almost sounds healthy!
herheartandtable
Thanks so much! It is the best cake I have made to date!
Andrea
Holy smokes this looks delicious, definitely bookmarking this so I can try it out myself. I can’t believe this is GF, DF and Paleo- its the trifecta of desserts!!!
herheartandtable
Exactly! A birthday paleo treat for the ages!!
Sharee Davenport
Sweet. baby. Jesus. My body is so ready! This looks super delicious.
herheartandtable
hahaha it IS super delicious!!
Ashley
This recipe is definitely a must try! I love love it! Now all I am thinking about is chocolate cake. The images though, I could almost lick the screen!
herheartandtable
I dream about chocolate cake and waffles daily! I’m going to be making this again just because soon.
Melissa Johnson
Happy Birthday!! That cake looks amazing!
herheartandtable
Thanks so much name twin! It tasted even better than it looks.
Emma Rose
Ummm this looks amazing and the photos are just beautiful!
herheartandtable
Thanks so much Emma!
Lauren
This looks delish!! I’m making it this weekend 🙂
herheartandtable
So good! Did you make it?!? What did you think?
Ouan Copeland
Pardon me, how much maple syrup in the cake part please? Want to make this for my daughter. It looks scrumptious
herheartandtable
Hi! So sorry that wasn’t clear. Its 2/3 cup maple syrup in the cake and 4 tbsp maple syrup in the ganache! Let me know how it comes out or if you have any other questions.