This is the ultimate keto chocolate cake recipe! It’s moist and rich, with a deep chocolate flavor and perfect texture. Dairy free options too.
You want the best keto chocolate cake? Okay fine, you asked for it! At the request of many readers, I am finally sharing the chocolate cake from The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking.
This is the recipe that people rave about most after they purchase my book. This is the keto chocolate cake that wins everyone over, even the harshest keto critics.
This is the chocolate cake that no one can believe is low carb, sugar-free, and even dairy-free.
The secret to its fabulosity? Mayonnaise! Read on to find out more.
The Ultimate Keto Chocolate Cake
I have developed any number of low carb chocolate cake recipes in my day. There are so many wonderful ways to make it, all with little variations. Like Keto Texas Sheet Cake, or my low carb Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake.
But sometimes you want just want the classics. And what’s more classic than a moist two layer chocolate cake with creamy chocolate frosting?
When I wrote my book, I aimed for a good mix of both the classics and more unique recipes. I wanted to show people how amazing and versatile keto baking really can be. And I flatter myself that I achieved that goal.
So creating a really good keto chocolate cake was of the utmost importance. You can’t have a baking book that calls itself “The Ultimate Guide” without that, now can you?
But the response to this cake blew my mind. My readers and fans have gone nuts for it, have shared it with friends and family, and have sung its praises far and wide. And for that I am ever so grateful.
How to make Keto Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Don’t be intimidated by this cake, as it’s actually quite easy to make. Be sure to check out the video in my recipe card for all the tips and tricks!
Grease and line your cake pans
Grease two 8 inch cake pans and then line them with parchment paper circles. You can buy pre-cut circles like these ones (very useful!), or you can simply cut them out yourself. This helps keep your cake from sticking, no matter how good, or not, your cake pans are.
Whisk the dry ingredients
This is an almond-flour based recipe, but you can try substituting sunflower seed flour if you need to be nut free. And the espresso powder is optional, but it does help deepen the chocolate flavor. I promise it won’t taste like coffee in the end.
Stir in the mayonnaise
Mayonnaise takes the place of butter and creates an unbelievably moist cake. It also makes the cake easier than many, because there is no need to cream the fat with the sweetener. One less step and one less bowl to clean!
Whisk in the other wet ingredients
The only other additions are eggs, water, and vanilla. Because it’s made with mayonnaise, this keto chocolate cake it totally dairy free.
Bake until just firm
Baking is said to be a science, but knowing when your cakes are done is more of an art, in my opinion. Every oven is different, and that’s why my recipes give you a range of bake time.
Tactile and visual cues are much more accurate. So in this case, you want the cake to feel firm to the touch, and spring back when lightly pressed.
How to frost keto chocolate cake
You have lots of options here and you are not limited to the dairy free frosting recipe I included. The sky’s the limit! Here are some other delicious ideas:
- Best Keto Chocolate Frosting
- Keto Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- Chantilly Cream Frosting
- Sugar Free Peanut Butter Frosting
- Caramel Frosting (you will need to make 1.5 times the amount for a two layer cake).
- Cookies and Cream Frosting
Can you make keto chocolate cake in advance?
This is a great recipe for making ahead by a day or two. I think keto frosting are always best fresh, so I recommend making the cakes and frosting it on the day you plan to serve it.
The cake layers can be frozen, tightly wrapped, for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the finished cake, but the frosting may change consistency somewhat after it thaws.
More amazing keto cake recipes
- Keto Black Forest Cake
- Brownie Bottom Keto Cheesecake
- Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake
- Keto Devil’s Food Cake
- The Best Coconut Flour Cupcakes
Keto Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups (224 g) almond flour
- 3/4 cup (136.5 g) Swerve Sweetener
- 2/3 cup (57.33 g) cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp espresso powder, (optional)
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
- 1 cup (224 g) mayonnaise
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup (78.86 g) water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dairy Free Chocolate Frosting
- 2 ounces (56.7 g) unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup plus 1 tbsp coconut oil, divided
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) dairy free cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (182 g) powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup (75.33 g) full fat coconut milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease two 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment and grease the parchment.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, cocoa powder, baking powder, espresso powder, and salt.
- Stir in the mayonnaise, eggs, water, and vanilla extract until well combined. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and spread to the edges and smooth the tops.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the cakes are just firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for at least 20 minutes, then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Peel off the parchment paper.
Dairy Free Frosting
- Place the chocolate and 1 tbsp of the coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl. Melt on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until smooth. Allow to cool to lukewarm. Alternatively, you can melt in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water.
- Place the remaining coconut oil in a large bowl. If it is very hard, microwave it for 15 seconds or so. It should be softe enough to beat without being melted. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth. Add the sweetener and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
- Drizzle in the melted chocolate and beat again until smooth. Add the coconut milk a few tablespoons at a time until a spreadable consistency is achieved.
To assemble
- Place one layer of cake on a large plate or cake platter. Top with one third of the frosting, spreading to the edges.
- Gently place the second layer of cake on top and spread the top with another third of the frosting.
- Spread the the sides with the remaining frosting.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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Bless You!
Michelle
Hi, I am allergic to almonds and never know which flour to use to replace almond flour. Suggestions?
Thanks!
There’s alternatives listed in the blurb
Sunflower seed flour would be good.
Yes, this is THE BEST Keto Chocolate cake recipe. My entire non-keto, non-diabetic family LOVE this cake. Even the ones who do not like mayonnaise LOVE this cake. It has become my “go to” cake for just about every occasion.
Mayo is the BEST secret ingredient for chocolate cakes. I can’t believe this is keto, too!
This was by far the best Keto cake recipe I have tried. It had the best flavor and texture.
Oh my goodness, this Keto Chocolate Cake sounds AMAZING! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Cupcakes?
Help! I live on the island of Cyprus- no Swerve to be found here! I want to make this for my 60th birthday cake- can I substitute stevia instead, because I don’t do sugar. Thanks!
Stevia and chocolate together is often very bitter. Plus you need a bulk powdered sweetener for the frosting and I don’t think there are any stevia versions of that. Sorry! Wish I could help more.
You could use erythritol, xylitol and some stevia mixed together to get a similar result. 1c Erythritol, 1C of xylitol and 1 Tsp of Now brand Better Stevia. Mix well and then measure the amount of sweetener for your cake. That is what I used, and it came out awesome!
HI CAN I MAKE THE CAKE WITH HOMEMAKE MAYO? AND HOE CAN I MAKE MAYO WITH COCONUT Oil LIKE SOMEONE SAY IN THE COMMENTS?AND HOW CAN I MAKE MY OWN DAIRY FREE CREAM CHEES? I IN MY COUNTRY I CANT FINT IT
THAK YOU
Fabulous! Didn’t make the icing, just added chopped walnuts and 4 packets of sweet and low. So moist and flavourful….truly decadent, great recipe. Made it in a 9 inch springform pan-added the nuts before cooking; the packets after. ~Lisa
This recipe didn’t do it for me. I liked the texture but i think it was overpowered with the mayo.
I used avocado mayo and could taste it very strongly. Next time i think i will substitute 1/2 of
The mayo with applesauce and see how that works.
Can this be made in a 13×9 pan?
I am sure it could. Baking time will change, obviously.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have been put on a dairy free keto lifestyle and have had trouble finding deserts that I don’t have to totally skip or convert in some way. This recipe reminds me of the wacky cake we use to make in our pre-keto days.
Enjoy!
I’m dying to try this recipe but omitting the almond flour and using the new flour that they have out
The “new flour”, that you have recently referenced here twice now is not new. If you’re not part of their marketing team, then I would urge you to research it as it has a questionable reputation for low carb purposes.
Just buy good avocado or coconut mayo or make your own mayo with a good fat. Most of the mayo in the stores are made with soy or canola oils which are total junk and dangerous.
Hi, can I use Bocha Sweet instead of Swerve ? Thanks for your time
Pam
In the cake, it should be fine. However I have yet to get really good frosting using BochaSweet as it often clumps up.