Recipe Redux: Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!

This month’s Recipe Redux theme was a combo of chocolate and something else. So naturally, I decided to make a chocolate and peanut butter cake! You can never beat that combo!

I always loved making birthday cakes ever since I knew how to turn on an oven.  I’ve made all my friends cakes, my uncles, my aunts, my grandparents, my parents and my siblings. This year my mom requested a chocolate peanut butter cake, and since she is on a clean eating diet, I’d figure I would make it with all-naturak ingredients.  I did, and it turned out fabulous! Its not too sweet like cake normally is, and its super duper moist!  A little sliver goes a long way!

Clean-Eating Gluten-free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

• 2 cups brown rice flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. instant coffee granules
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 2 eggs, beaten (or two flax eggs for vegan option)
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
• 3/4 cup coffee, cooled
• 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 oz. dark chocolate, melted (or semi-sweet)

Filling (adapted from Minimalist Baker)

• 1/3 cup coconut cream
• 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. agave nectar/honey/ maple syrup

Chocolate drizzle

• 3 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp. maple syrup/agave/honey

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix well.
3. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients except melted chocolate.  Mix well and add to dry ingredients.  Scrape sides of the bowl while mixing to ensure all ingredients are evenly mixed.
4. Add melted chocolate to batter and stir well.
5. Spray cooking spray in two circle layer cake pans.  Add batter evenly between two pans and bake for about 45 minutes, or until done.
6. For filling, use a hand mixer to beat coconut cream until smooth and fluffy.  Add in peanut butter and agave and beat for another 15 minutes or until evenly mixed.
7. Once cake is cooled, take out of pans carefully and spread filling on top of bottom layer and place other layer on top.

Health Benefits Peanut Butter:

•  Healthy fats
• Protein
• Vitamin E
• Magnesium

Cocoa Powder:

• High in antioxidants
• Low in calories
• Fiber
• Magnesium

Recipe as a whole:

• Clean Ingredients
• Healthy fats
• Gluten-free
• High in fiber
• Protein
• Refined sugar-free
• Can be vegan