This Mini Keto Ding Dong Cake is a fun sugar-free treat to satisfy those chocolate cravings. It’s easy to make and serves just two to four people. Perfect portion control!
Who doesn’t love a big, fluffy keto chocolate cake? But sometimes, a big full size cake is just too… big. If you’re the only one eating keto in your house, a full size cake can be overwhelming.
Well, you are in luck, because I took a shrink ray to my famous full size Ding Dong Cake! Okay, I didn’t really take a shrink ray to it, although that would certainly be cool.
Instead, I sat there with my calculator, and figured out the amounts needed to make a mini 4-inch version. And then I tested it out in my mini cake pans. And then I ate it and loved it.
I did share some of this little Keto Ding Dong Cake with my husband but it was a struggle, let me tell you!
Small Batch Keto Desserts
Even with a household of hungry teenagers, I love making mini keto desserts. For one thing, everything is just more adorable and appealing when it’s miniature.
But I love them for another reason too. I am baking obsessed and I want to do it almost daily. Mini keto recipes help me bake more often without having too many leftover sweets around.
And I even have a Keto Cookbook For Two! It’s a little ebook (no hard copy) that’s perfect for small households and anyone who is doing keto by themselves. Check it out!
And when I was poking around Pinterest and spotted these mini tuxedo cakes from Feed Me I’m Hungry, it put me in mind of Ding Dong Cake. So you know I had to make it!
How to make mini keto ding dong cake
This little cake really is a mini version of my Keto Ding Dong Cake. I used my favorite keto chocolate cupcake recipe, but scaled it down to fit.
For the cake layers
You will need some 4 inch cake pans to make this recipe. I like these mini springform pans as it’s easy to get the cakes out. You can also use 8 ounce ramekins but make sure that they are 4 inches in diameter. Grease your pans well.
Whisk the dry ingredients together and then stir in the wet ingredients. How much water you need will depend on how absorbent your coconut flour is.
Divide the batter evenly between the two pans and bake until just firm to the touch.
For the cream filling
The cream filling for this little cake is stabilized with collagen powder. Normally I would stabilize the cream with gelatin but for this small amount, it was awkward to do. Thankfully collagen also provides structure for a whipped cream filling like this.
Make sure you spread the filling all the way to the edges of the bottom layer, so you don’t have any gaps after you frost the cake. Press the top layer down lightly to make the cream filling push out a bit, then use a knife to make it flush with the cake.
For the chocolate glaze
This is my classic keto chocolate ganache recipe, which I’ve used for any number of cakes and sweets like my Keto Boston Cream Pie. But again, making this tiny amount takes some care. It’s easiest to do in a microwave, as a pan may overheat the cream and cause your chocolate to seize.
Do make sure you are using unsweetened chocolate, rather than sugar-free chocolate like ChocZero. It won’t thicken properly if you do.
You can simply pour it over the cake and let it drip down the sides, or you can spread it around the sides. I like the look of the glazed sides, but it’s much easier to do the drips!
You’re going to love this little Keto Ding Dong Cake, my friends. Even if you have to fight off your honey for the last bite…
More mini keto dessert recipes
- Keto Yellow Cake for Two
- Mini No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake
- Easy Keto Banana Pudding
- Mini Keto Pecan Pie
- Victoria Sponge Cake for Two
- Peanut Butter Cookies for Two
Mini Keto Ding Dong Cake
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
- 3 tablespoon coconut flour
- 3 tablespoon Swerve Granular
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch salt
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 2 tablespoon butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 tablespoon water or leftover coffee
Cream Filling
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 ½ tablespoon powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1 tablespoon grassfed collagen
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Glaze
- 3 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate finely chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoon powdered Swerve Sweetener
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Chocolate Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease two 4-inch springform pans or 4 inch diameter ramekins.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, Swerve, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
- Add 2 tablespoons of the coffee or water until well combined. If the batter is very thick, add the additional water.
- Divide the batter between the two pans and spread to the edges. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until they have risen and are firm to the touch.
- Remove and let cool in the pans, then run a sharp knife around the pan sides. If using springform pans, just release the pan sides to remove the cakes.
Cream Filling
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream with the sweetener, collagen, and vanilla until it holds stiff peaks. Reserve a tablespoon of the mixture for the top of the cake.
- Place one cake layer on a small plate and spread with the remaining filling. Place the other cake layer on top of the filling.
Chocolate Glaze
- In a small microwave safe bowl, heat the cream on high until it bubbles. Quickly add the chopped chocolate and let sit for a few minutes to melt.
- Add the powdered sweetener and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. Let cool a few minutes to thicken and then pour over the top of the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Spread over the sides if desired.
- Refrigerate 30 minutes to set, then pipe or dollop the reserved cream filling on top.
Kristin Mccabe says
Want to make this so bad but I’m allergic to coconut and can’t use coconut flour. Can I use almond flour?
Carolyn says
Use the cakes from this recipe: https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/low-carb-chocolate-ganache-layer-cake/
Sophie says
Excited to try this out. Any advice/tips/experience on how to store the cake?
Carolyn says
On the counter, covered up, or in the fridge.
KC says
While I tend more toward savory (and definitely away from chocolate cake), I made this mini keto ding dong cake for my hubby and wound up eating half myself!!
We live on a boat with limited space, so I only have an 8” round springform pan. I poured all the batter into it, but not all the way to the edge of the pan on one side (maybe 3/4 the way across). I baked for exactly 15 min, and when cooled, I cut in half so I could have 2 layers. Not pretty like yours, but really good!
Carolyn says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Catherine says
I tried this recipe and it looked pale and grainy. I baked it anyway. It fell apart and looked nothing like the picture. I thought maybe it was the coconut flour. What do you think?
Carolyn says
What brand did you use? and what cocoa powder did you use?
Catherine says
I used a coconut flour available in Australia (McKenzie’s). The cocoa powder is Callebaut. Thanks for your thoughts.
Carolyn says
Okay, the cocoa powder is fine but I think it’s probably the coconut flour. I obviously don’t know what’s available in Australia, but it sounds like you had too much flour and not enough moisture.
Meri Anne says
Oh. My goodness!!! I made this for my husband and I tonight. It was so easy to make and the taste and texture were so close to those sugar filled treats that my husband didn’t really believe me at first that it was sugar free. Thank you for sharing so many recipes for free here and on Facebook. I’ve bought several of your cookbooks and would love a hard copy of a Cookbook for 2. Maybe your next project?!
Michele Dubois says
What does the collagen in the cream filling do?
Carolyn says
Gives it structure and makes it less likely to squish out. In future, please read the blog post when you have questions like this because I answer them right in the write-up.
Leanne says
In response to one readers comment what is the difference between collagen and gelatin. Collagen comes from the same area of the bones where gelatin comes from so it binds in a similar way but Collagen powder generally has a milk protein in it as well so it provides an additional binder to help stabilize the whipping cream, plus if you use vanilla flavoured collagen it will provide a boost of flavour! Plus with the milk protein it will help keep the creamy filling creamy without accidentally turning it to jello. Hope this helps.
Suzanne Appezzato says
Hi, making for my son who is not a coconut fan, can you substitute almond flour for coconut flour? If so, what is the measurement. Thank you for all your care and recipes and satisfying a 10 year old!
Carolyn says
There is no easy formula here, sorry. But use the search box on my blog and look for my mini chocolate cake with whipped ganache, as that is almond flour.
Casey says
If I were to make thes as cupcakes, would the nutritional information be consistent with 1 cupcake?
Carolyn says
No idea… how many cupcakes do you hope to make?
Victoria Sylvestre says
I don’t have little pans ????so how would I make this regular sized? Your other recipe uses a cake mix, but I’d love to try this from scratch. Thanks!
Carolyn says
My other recipe also provides a recommendation for making it from scratch…
Peter says
Can I use beef gelatin instead of collagen?
Carolyn says
It’s hard to stabilize this small amount of cream with gelatin… it could make it very thick and too gelled.
May says
I beat it till death and cannot get stiff peaks for the cream filling followed it to the T i wonder what went wrong…
Carolyn says
Hi May… then something is wrong with your cream. Is it heavy whipping cream? Is it chilled when you try to beat it?
I had this happen once recently and it was non-homogenized cream. We finally realized that someone had not shaken the bottle when they used it earlier and most of the fat had poured off. You need a high fat % (at lease 35%) to whip cream. But other things can affect it too, like temperature.
Toni says
Hi there! I am making this right now and remembered your comment. The filling just stayed like liquid for me too, so I tossed it and started again, whipping the cream almost all the way first before I added the other ingredients. It helped, but I may not have whipped it enough before adding the other things because it is still a bit soft. Next time I may try to whip it all the way before adding the other ingredients. I am using brand new Darigold 40% heavy cream.
Toni says
I decided to just go ahead and do a third attempt, and that was the trick! I had it fully whipped first, and then added the sweetener, collagen, and vanilla. Turned out perfect!
Amber says
Could I use swerve’s chocolate cake in place of the from scratch recipe? I realize I wouldn’t need to use the entire amount of prepared cake batter.
Carolyn says
Sure.
MIchelle says
Is it possible to substitute whey protein powder for the collagen?
Carolyn says
No, that’s not a good sub at all, it will make the filling gritty as it doesn’t dissolve as easily and it won’t really help thicken it. You can skip the collagen if you need to but your filling may be on the thin side and a bit goopy.
Pam Handrow says
I made it this weekend – it’s great. The chocolate cake is really moist. I do believe that you meant 1 1/2 Tbl. of sweetener in the glaze? I looked at the glaze from the mini chocolate peanut butter cake and that seemed about right. Would love a whole baking for 2 cookbook. I have your other for 2 book and love it. Thanks for all you do.
Carolyn says
Oh NOOOOOO! Oh my goodness, I am heartbroken that I made that error. I hope too many people haven’t made it yet, because that would be quite bitter. Yes, it should read tablespoons…
Pam says
I guess my taste as I go strategy paid off! Justifies poking my finger in and licking it! Thanks again.
Barbara Jefferis says
Your recipes are so delicious my family has asked me to make enough for them also. Thank you for designing the recipes
Karen Johansen says
Thank you Carolyn for always remembering your small households! Miss you bunches xoxo
Kat Rogers says
Okay, while I’m being One Of THOSE People who writes reviews Without Even Making/Using IT… I find it a bit Annoying! Oh well, today I Must Be THAT Purrson, Mostly because I have a few questions… But first I definitely need to make a statement: OMG~ WHO IS THE GENIUS WHO CREATED THIS BRILLIANT RECIPE?? IT’S FABULOUS And looks Just Like The Original Ding Dong~ Only A Bit Larger… My theory is Cook/Bake Large Amounts because it takes The Same Amount Time For Prepping and Cooking, sadly I currently have been feeling like ???? so I haven’t been in the kitchen much lately.
⭐ A Suggestion For Cocoa Powder, I’ve been using A Raw, Organic, cacao powder Made By TERRASOUL… When THEY Say Dark Chocolate Is Healthy, THIS IS THE KIND OF DARK CHOCOLATE THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT!
Lastly, I think… in the instructions for the Chocolate Glaze You Say To Use UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE CHOPPED UP, AND THEN ADD SWERVE… Can I use Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips and Skip The Swerve?
STUPENDOUSLY ADORABLE CAKE????????????
Thank You So Much For All Of The Amazing Recipes That You Kreate and Share! ????
Ann says
Wonder if I could make this in one 6 inch springform pan and extend the cook time a bit?
Anu says
Yes you absolutely can! 🙂 I made this yesterday to use up some leftover baking bits, and I doubled the recipe, baking it in a 6-inch round tin (just one, for a single layer cake) and it baked perfectly in 20 minutes. Delicious, moist, light and a fantastic treat, with or without frosting. I was experimenting with modifying a different frosting recipe (cream cheese, 100% chocolate, erythritol, vanilla and cream) so my final result was different to this recipe as written, but I’m sure the Ding Dong filling and frosting recipe here will scale easily too. All the best!
Patti Weyers says
I only have 1 4in pan so using 1 6in pan would be great!!! Would you have to double it for a 6in pan??? You could just torte the 6in cake when cooled and add the filling 🙂
Valarie Mayfield says
Can the mini Ding Dong cake be made with almond flour? If so, how much would I use? My system can’t tolerate coconut flour. Thanks.
Roberta says
I have the same question for possible substitutions instead of coconut flour here… let’s see what Carolyn will say; meanwhile I laso ask: can these mini-cakes be frozen? Thanks!
Debbie Archibald says
I am actually making your Ding Dong cake today for a friend. I told him, if he didn’t pick it up today, I couldn’t guarantee there wouldn’t be a piece missing lol. Now I can make a small one for me to enjoy. It tastes just like a real Ding Dong! Thank you so much for all your hard work making keto sweets that actually taste wonderful! I know when I make one of your recipes, I won’t be wasting my money on the ingredients!