Vegan Chickpea Flour Chocolate Cake {Grain-Free, 1-bowl}

The recipe you need for upcoming spring and summer celebrations: my vegan chickpea flour chocolate cake! Made in one bowl, it is grain-free, gluten-free and vegan. It’s not a miracle, but it is most definitely marvelous!

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope this post finds you well and (wishful thinking for all) enjoying the first glimpses of spring.

But enough about spring. Let’s talk cake.

Namely, deep, dark, chocolate layer cake, with an equally decadent, velvety-smooth chocolate frosting.

With all kinds of spring celebrations just around the corner, this is just the cake you need for gatherings big and small, especially because it is:

*Made in 1-Bowl
*Made without an electric mixer
*Vegan (no eggs, no dairy)
*Grain-free
*Gluten-free
*Nut-free
*Easy!

The Star Ingredient: Chickpea Flour

Chickpea flour is the solo flour in this recipe, adding perfect structure, height and texture without the addition of any other egg replacements or starches. A combination of full fat coconut milk and coconut oil produces lush layers that are all about the chocolate (i.e., no hint of chickpea at all, and no coconut flavor for that matter, either).

All of the ingredients for the cake are added to one bowl, and then beaten or whisked until completely smooth. Within minutes, the layers are ready to go into the oven to bake.

Chill the Layers Before Frosting Them

Once the layers (which rise high and even) have cooled, wrap them up and give them a chill in the refrigerator. This will make for easier frosting, especially the middle layer of frosting (it will not immediately squish out of the sides when the second cake layer is placed on top–pet peeve number 5 million and 73).

You can use plastic wrap or wax paper, but I prefer wrapping each layer in a clean dish towel (easy & eco-friendly).

Easy Vegan & Paleo Chocolate Frosting

And oh my heavens, the frosting! Make it in minutes with either a food processor or high speed blender using ingredients you most likely have on hand (e.g., coconut oil, cocoa powder, maple syrup). It is also naturally vegan, Paleo, grain-free & gluten-free.

Bonus: no advanced chilling is required for the frosting! Make it and use it immediately.

If you do not want to make the cake in layers, make one big 13×9 sheet cake, or 24 cupcakes (see my notes in the recipe).

Most of all, make it yours!

Happy baking!

More Delectable Vegan Cakes to Try:

1. Vanilla Almond Flour Cake {oil-free}
2. Vegan & Grain-Free Vanilla Layer Cake
3. Easy Cashew Cheesecake
4. Vegan Coconut Flour Cupcakes
5. Gluten-Free & Vegan Vanilla Bundt Cake
6. Vegan Red Velvet Cake
7. Chickpea Flour Gingerbread Bundt Cake
8. Pumpkin Hemp Heart Cheesecake

Continue to Content

Yield: 12 servings

Vegan Chickpea Flour Chocolate Cake {Grain-Free, 1-Bowl}

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Amazing chickpea flour chocolate cake that is grain-free, vegan and gluten-free! In addition, a simple cocoa-powder frosting that is paleo, vegan, grain-free and easy.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

Cake Layers:

• 2 and 2/3 cups (320 g) chickpea flour
• 1 and 1/2 cups (375 mL) coconut palm sugar
• 1 cup (80 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 and 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 13.5 ounce can full fat coconut milk (at room temperature)

full fat

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) hot (not boiling) water
• 1/3 cup (75 mL) virgin coconut oil, melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Chocolate Frosting:

• 1 and 1/3 cups (325 mL) virgin coconut oil, solid (not melted)
• 2/3 cup (150 mL) maple syrup (or honey, if not vegan)
• 2/3 cup (54 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) nondairy milk (more, if needed)
• pinch of fine sea salt
• Optional: large pinch of sea salt and/or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 350F. Oil or spray the bottom and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans (with 2-inch sides).
2. In a large bowl, whisk the chickpea flour, coconut sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until no lumps remain.
3. Add the coconut milk, hot water, coconut oil and vanilla to bowl. Vigorously whisk until completely smooth. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Transfer cakes to cooling racks and cool 15 minutes before inverting onto racks. Cool completely. Wrap cakes in clean dish towels and refrigerate until cold.
5. Chocolate Frosting: Place the coconut oil, maple syrup, cocoa powder, milk and salt in a food processor or high speed blender. Process, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl several times, until completely blended, thick and smooth, adding a bit more milk, if needed.
6. Place one chilled cake layer on a cake plate or stand and spread with half of frosting. Top with second cake layer and spread top with remaining frosting. Serve, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Chickpea Flour: Note that other grain-free flours (especially coconut flour) will not work in place of the chickpea flour in this recipe without significant reworking of the ingredient (proportions and other added ingredients) and re-testing.
Frosting: The frosting will hold in a cool room for about 1 hour. If the temperature is warm, keep the frosted cake in the refrigerator until just before serving.

Cupcakes: The cake batter can also be made into 24 cupcakes. Bake at 350F for about 13 to 17 minutes.

13x9 Cake: The cake batter can be made into one 13x9-inch sheet cake. Bake at 350F for about 35 to 40 minutes.

Nutrition Information

Amount Per Serving Calories 0Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 0mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g

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