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    Home Β» Recipes Β» Desserts

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    Quinoa Chocolate Cake: You'd Never Know it is Gluten Free

    Published: Jan 15, 2015 Β· Modified: May 18, 2024 by Audrey Β· This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Quinoa Chocolate Cake is a dark moist grain free cake bursting with chocolate flavor.

    Are you looking for a gluten free chocolate cake that is moist and bursting with chocolate flavor?

    Well, look no further because I have a delicious solution for you. This Quinoa Chocolate Cake combines the richness of chocolate with the health benefits of quinoa in a rich delicious cake.

    gluten free chocolate cake

    I am not going to tell you thisΒ recipe is "healthy", because that depends on your own dietary requirements. It is gluten free since the flour is replaced with cooked quinoa, but it still contains a fair amount of sugar.

    This Quinoa Chocolate Cake is dark and moist and lightly sweet. Doubled it would make a great layer cake with your choice of frosting or other topping.

    I went with some chocolate syrup, because that's how I roll (translation, that's what was in the house).

    Ingredients for Quinoa Chocolate Cake

    If you are following a specific diet, feel free to alter this recipe and any others on the site to suit your needs, because that's what any recipe should be: an inspiration to make something you and your family will enjoy.

    • quinoa
    • milk (dairy or dairy free)
    • eggs (or egg substitute)
    • coconut oilΒ (or other neutral vegetable oil or butter)
    • espresso powderΒ (optional - see note below)
    • granulated sugar
    • cocoa powder
    • vanilla extract
    • baking powder, baking soda,Β salt

    This is not a mocha flavored cake. The pinch of espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor. The cake does not taste or smell like coffee at all My boys wouldn't have devoured it if it even hinted of coffee.

    gluten free chocolate cake

    Recipe

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ingredients
     

    • β…“ cup uncooked quinoa
    • β…” cups water
    • 3 tablespoons milk
    • 2 large eggs
    • Β½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 6 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
    • β…› teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
    • ΒΎ cups sugar
    • Β½ cup cocoa
    • ΒΎ teaspoon baking powder
    • ΒΌ teaspoon baking soda
    • ΒΌ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Bring water to a boil, add quinoa. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until quinoa is completely cooked, about 20 minutes.
    • Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease an 8 inch round cake pan.
    • In blender, pulse milk, eggs and vanilla until combined.
    • Add quinoa, coconut oil and espresso powder. Blend until smooth, 3-5 minutes.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk dry ingredients.
    • Add wet ingredients to the bowl and stir until combined. Pour into prepared pan.
    • Bake at 350℉ until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

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    Until next time, happy eating.
    ~Audrey

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai

      January 15, 2015 at 11:39 pm

      Your cake looks moist and delicious! And the, "because I wanted to," made me laugh out loud. Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We'd love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN. http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/01/15/home-matters-linky-party-20/ πŸ™‚

      ~Lorelai
      Life With Lorelai

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 18, 2015 at 1:53 pm

        It is on my link up list every week, Lorelai! Always get great ideas from the people that link up.

    2. Tricia the Good Mama

      January 16, 2015 at 3:07 pm

      Hey, I totally agree with you! I think the best thing (unless you have allergies of course) is to eat everything in moderation, including chocolate & sugar (yum!). I do like quinoa a lot, so I would really like to give this a try. It may not be super healthy, but at least it has the extra protein in there! Pinned.

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 18, 2015 at 1:56 pm

        I have a lot of friends that have kids with allergies (corn, egg, gluten, peanuts, PKO, dairy,....) . One of them even commented on FB when I shared this, that they know how to adjust the recipes and I don't need to stress out trying to do it for them.

    3. Winnie

      January 17, 2015 at 3:18 pm

      It's a wonderful cake! I've made Quinoa chocolate cake before (have a post on my blog) and it was a great success
      I recommend everyone to try this recipe πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 18, 2015 at 1:58 pm

        Thanks Winnie, I really enjoyed it and so did the guys and they had no idea it wasn't "regular cake".

    4. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai

      January 18, 2015 at 10:50 am

      Thanks so much for stopping the #HomeMattersParty for a visit! We love having you share with us, and hope you will be back again next week. πŸ™‚

      ~Lorelai
      Life With Lorelai

      Reply
    5. Lois

      January 18, 2015 at 2:20 pm

      Thank you for sharing your recipe with Foodie Friends Friday! Hope to see you again next week!

      Reply
    6. Kirsten @ Treat Yourself Sweeter

      January 18, 2015 at 5:31 pm

      I LOVE quinoa! I never thought of using it like this in a cake...I might have to do some cooking this afternoon!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 20, 2015 at 4:43 pm

        Honestly, if you didn't know it was made with quinoa you'd never guess it wasn't traditional wheat flour.

    7. KC the Kitchen Chopper

      January 19, 2015 at 12:07 pm

      Quinoa, Chocolate and Coconut. Wow! I'll take two pieces please. Thanks for sharing at The Weekend Social. This is my last week as cohost of TWS. Please stop by http://www.KitchenDreaming to link up Thursday 9:00 PM EST. Pinned.

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 20, 2015 at 4:43 pm

        Thanks for stopping by.

    8. jennifer Abel

      January 20, 2015 at 4:45 pm

      So lovely to see quinoa being used more often and in cakes, wonderful! I must give it a try, thanks so much for sharing on #Mum-bo Mondays, I cannot wait to see what you bring us next week, have a great day!

      Reply
    9. Sarah @ GlamGranolaGeek

      January 20, 2015 at 5:31 pm

      This looks so yummy!! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    10. Amberjane

      January 21, 2015 at 12:53 am

      Yep sometimes you just have to please yourself but it still looks amazing - Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board.

      Reply
    11. Leesha @ Living Contently

      January 21, 2015 at 7:27 am

      Wow! I knew quinoa was a wonder ingredient, but I had no idea it would make such a delicious looking cake! Thanks for sharing. I will definitely be trying this one!

      Reply
    12. Deborah Davis

      January 21, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      It is so innovative and surprising to learn that you can make such a moist and delicious cake using quinoa. I look forward to trying this soon. I am pinning and sharing, of course. Just visited from Pinworthy!

      Reply
    13. Simple Hacks Living

      January 21, 2015 at 5:20 pm

      I can't wait to make this! Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays!

      Reply
    14. Paula

      January 21, 2015 at 6:29 pm

      Are you kidding me right now? Quninoa? I am sooooo trying this amazing recipe. I would love it if you would share this delicious post at our WIW Linky party. I hope you can join us.

      Paula
      ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

      Reply
    15. Megan Kubasch

      January 23, 2015 at 8:46 am

      Shut The front door. This sounds amazing!!!!! I have all of the ingredients too.... I think this might be made this afternoon.... Thanks so much for linking up at Come Along Ponds!

      Reply
    16. Kelly @ Mum-bo-Jumbo

      January 24, 2015 at 3:38 am

      It never occurred to me to use Quinoa in a cake, what a great idea! Thanks for linking up at Mum-bo Monday

      Reply

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    audrey humaciu in kitchen

    Welcome, I'm Audrey, an avid "maker" that believes home made is better.

    Whether it's cooking, crafting, gardening, home dΓ©cor, even blog design, I love getting my hands dirty and trying new things... even if I make a mess in the process.

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