Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Orange Mascarpone Frosting

Layers of low carb dark chocolate topped with creamy orange mascarpone frosting. This healthy grain-free cake is a journey for the senses.

I am no cake decorator, but I truly love creating eye-catching, delicious low carb cakes. I lack the patience and the talent for elaborate frosting creations, those hombre, rainbow, or rose studded cakes you might see in a bakery store window (or online by some of my talented food blogger friends!). I have no illusions about being truly good at cake decorating and I don’t really care to become so. But I flatter myself that I do a pretty great job at making homemade cakes that delight and entice, even without all the fancy decorating techniques. While some cakes are true works of art that you don’t want to ruin by cutting into, mine scream “Eat me! Eat me now!”. I don’t know about you, but for me the eating part is very important. Very, very important.

So let me give you a few tips on how to make a cake look luscious and inviting, even when you are seriously lacking in the decorating department. First of all, start with deep, dark chocolate layers. And don’t make a single layer, that’s just laziness. Even two layers really isn’t enough. It’s getting there, but you need three or more to really stun your friends and family. Don’t worry that it’s more effort, because it’s not. If, like me, you only own two round cake pans, you simply wait for the first two to be done so that you can empty a pan and bake the third. And don’t worry that it makes for a bigger cake, because you simply divide the same amount of batter into thirds. Thin layers look best anyway and have the added advantage of baking faster.

Got those three layers? Good. Now you need to make a thick, luscious frosting. Your flavour options are wide open here but I recommend something that contrasts sharply with the dark chocolate, like a cream cheese based concoction. Ooooh, or mascarpone! Yup, definitely a mascarpone because it just sounds fancier. And more luscious, of course. Now, don’t feel you have to cover the whole cake. It significantly cuts down on the work you have to put in by just slathering each layer with a thick coating of frosting while leaving the sides bare. Then, on that final layer of frosting, swirl it around with the back your spoon to leave an interesting texture. Finally, find something to sprinkle it with, like chocolate shavings or orange zest.

Voila. Perfectly luscious, mouthwatering low carb cake with minimal skill. I knew you could do it!

Please see my low carb Chocolate Cake with Orange Mascarpone Frosting on Swerve Sweetener.

Nutritional Information: Serves 16. Each serving has 3.89g NET CARBS.

Food energy: 362kcal
Total fat: 33.51g
Calories from fat: 301
Cholesterol: 121mg
Carbohydrate: 7.44g
Total dietary fiber: 3.55g
Protein: 9.67g

Erythritol: 22.5g