A delicious gluten free, vegan and diabetic friendly, fudgey chocolate orange cake made with real ingredients, dates, almond flour, orangejuice, coconut oil and apple sauce
I never thought I will make a cake that is egg free, butter free and even gluten free. Yes, finally I did it, I made this Chocolate Orange Cake. Again, I changed the recipe slightly and added semisweet chocolate chips in the sauce as my kids love it. This cake has all the good ingredients, so give it a try, I am sure you will love it.
This recipe is from a book “Simply Vibrant: All-Day Vegetarian Recipes for Colorful Plant-Based Cooking” by Anya Kassoff. I decide to halve the recipe as I was not very sure whether my kids would love it. As usual son did not care as he wants only chocolate chip cookie. I did bake it in between while making the cake. Daughter was very enthusiastic to try the new chocolate cake. She was happy with the cake, and even asked me to give this cake to her for her breakfast.
I was planning to bake a cake with dates, but never did it. So, when this recipe has it, I decided to go for it. This recipe has no refined sugar, only dates is used as sweetener, along with gluten free flour (I used Bob mill’s Gluten free) and then almond meal. It has apple sauce and coconut oil along with balsamic vinegar. Cake is fudgy with less sweetness.
I also read and interesting facts about dates, These sweet, bite-sized, wrinkly fruits are classified with a low glycemic index, according to a study published in the Nutrition Journal. The consumption of dates by healthy or diabetic individuals, the study concluded, does not result in “significant postprandial glucose excursion,” otherwise known as blood sugar spikes. Medjool variety of dates found to have a low glycemic index, one that’s about half of that of sugar or brown sugar. They are great eaten as-is or thrown in a salad, but they can also be turned into a sugar substitute in the form of a date puree that can be used instead of white or brown sugar. The date puree can replace sugar using a 1:1 ratio, or it can be used in combination with a reduced amount of sugar in a recipe.
I like the part that this cake is moist and still has the lift without any egg or egg substitute. I think as a baker I should experiment with everything that looks interesting, if I didn’t try plant-based baking how can I interpret the results. Also, I am not fan of egg free cake, dumping tons of condensed milk. For me that sounds like sugary danger in waiting. I have tried with yogurt or sour cream alone that didn’t give the lift to the cake as I expected.
Give it a try, and you will like this mildly sweetened cake that goes well with coffee or tea. After all everything used in the recipe is good so why wait.
Chocolate Orange Cake: Gluten Free and Vegan
Ingredients
- ½ cup 100g Majdool dates pitted
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ cup 90g gluten free flour
- ¼ cup 25g almond flour
- ¼ cup 22g cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 orange zest
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Half of ⅓ cup apple sauce
- ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- For chocolate sauce
- ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips if you want use dark chocolate
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Zest of one orange
- Handful of crushed pistachios
Instructions
- Soak pitted dates with ½ cup warm water and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375F and Grease and flour bundt pan with coconut oil. You can only grease them if you want darker color.
- In large bowl combine the flours, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt and orange zest and mix well and set aside.
- In a blender add, dates along with soaking water, orange juice, coconut oil, apple sauce and balsamic vinegar and process everything into fine puree .
- Add this dates orange puree into dry ingredients and mix well.
- Transfer the batter into prepared pan and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the tooth pick in the center comes out clean.
- While cake is baking make chocolate sauce in double boiler and when you are ready to serve drizzle the chocolate sauce, sprinkle orange zest and pistachios. Enjoy.
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This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Porsche says
We have a nut allergy in our family. Is there a substitute for the almond flour?
Swathi says
Use coconut flour if you don't have allergy with it, otherwise use gluten free oat flour.
Mohsin says
Hi Swathi
wumma,I like chocolate orange cake. Thanks for the Sharing
Jeff Shft says
We shared this chocolate orange cake this week. Everyone in the family loves it! Every bite burst with happiness, it’s like the heaven opened its gates. This is so good, so thumbs up!
Rita C. Donnell says
Hi..
Delicious combination of Chocolate and orange really amazing!!. I have followed this presentation today. We are all habit to gluten-free. All we enjoy this wonderful item. Thanks for vague less Sharing.
Swapna says
Hi
Tanku so much for such a great recipe demonstration, Can u please tell the size of the pan u used.
Thanks
Mommy Sigrid says
Wow this cake looks good and sounds healthy. Though I haven't really tried the orange and chocolate combination in cakes. I wonder how this tastes..
Binge on Basics says
This chocolate orange cake looks so delicious and the fact that it is gluten free and vegan makes it more favourable. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us
Kristie Cirak says
Oh my goodness my mouth is watering!!!! Think I will give this a go this weekend it looks devine!
Princess Quinn says
Who wouldn't want to get a recipe like this? It looks like a delightful cake, I am sure kids will love it.
Hannah MArie says
We all must give it a try, this is perfect for those people who are health conscious.
bestiesnotepad says
I love vegan recipes and this sounds just so perfect. I am sure my 2 year old will love this. Great post, thanks for sharing.
Cherri Megasko says
That looks so pretty! I can imagine it tasting just like those Lindor chocolate-orange truffles! Now my mouth is watering!
Wanda Lopez says
You had me at chocolate and orange cake. The fact that it's gluten and vegan free makes it a recipe I definitely want to try.
Gladys Nava says
This is tempting! I will save this yummy recipe and should try this. Thanks for sharing your recipe with us ♥
April says
That was quite an effort but so much worth it! Egg free, butter free and gluten free? I am in - no questions asked!
Farrah Less says
This cake looks so mouthwatering I love that it is gluten free. My sister and I will enjoy this desert I will surely share this recipe to her. this week.
Terri Steffes says
That cake is beautiful. I am a big fan of the chocolate/orange combination. I think I enjoy it more now that I am older. Ha!
Chad says
The cake pic!!! I died! Definitely trying this over the weekend, will let you know how it goes.
Chad
http://www.mosaicslab.com
Laura Dove says
Oh wow this sounds delicious and I LOVE that it's gluten free!! I struggle to find GF desserts, this looks amazing!
Marisa Franca says
The cake looks absolutely beautiful, Jo!! I can't believe it's gluten free - what a great dessert for those who are gluten intolerant. The combination of orange and chocolate is classic. I'd love to make this and serve it at my bookclub. There are several ladies there that have to watch their gluten intake. I really like the finish of the pistachios. Perfect!
Chubskulit Rose says
My son and hubby would jump for joy with this. That looks absolutely divine and delicious, yum!
Catalina says
I can't believe that this cake is vegan. Looks fabulous! And has a perfect texture!
Melissa Dixon says
I love how the flavors of orange and chocolate come together. This cake sounds perfect!
kumamonjeng says
My god, this is mouthwatering. Love how you also include a video as I am a visual person. Look so fun to make this dessert. I am thinking of doing it for our Chinese new year in early Feb.
Mahy Elamin says
Thank you, I made it today and it was a big hit with my whole family, including with my husband who doesn’t like dessert! I always love the combination orange/ chocolate and finding a gluten free vegan recipe with ingredients that are not impossible to find was such a treat! Thank you!!!
Alvern @ Success Unscrambled says
Oh wow! This looks very yummy and so easy to make plus it is vegan. I love the fact that it is a combination of orange and chocolate.
berlin | Momi berlin says
i always love the combination of chocolate and orange. I love your recipe and will try it. I am certain my boys will love it
Dhemz says
Wow, vegan and gluten free cake? I would love to try this for sure. Looks really tasty. Thanks for sharing!
Emily says
Woah, this cake looks delicious! I have a few friends that are gluten free and I always struggle with good recipe and dessert options for them. This looks like a great one to try, thank you for the idea!
Pam says
This looks like such an awesome cake. My daughter is gluten free and she would love this.
Lauren Vavala | DeliciousLittleBites says
Oh goodness! My mouth is watering looking at your gorgeous photos! I'm not eating sweets at the moment, but the next time I "cheat" I am making this cake - such amazing flavors!
Tasheena says
This recipe sounds like a pretty amazing combination. Love the combination of chocolate and oranges.
Jessica Joachim says
This looks absolutely amazing! I love chocolate and orange together so this is something I really need to try making.
Tara Pittman says
I really need to start buying dates. I am seeing so many recipes that use dates that are so healthy like this one.
Danielle Wolter says
I do love the combo of orange and chocolate together. And the fact that this doesn't have refined sugar is awesome!
Jessica says
This looks delicious! Going to have to give it a try. I can’t believe how fluffy it is with no eggs!
Candy says
Now your talking my sweet tooth language. Chocolate heck yes I’m always in for chocolate cake
Terryn says
This look amazing! Half my family is gluten free, so this is helpful!
Jeanette says
That looks absolutely amazing! It's hard to believe that that is the gluten-free cake. It is so fluffy and soft and whenever I make a cake gluten-free it does not turn out nearly as well LOL. I can't wait to try this.
Veena says
wow! I am going to try this for sure! super recipe
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says
That surely sounds like a very interesting cake! I would love to try this with normal flour, maybe wholewheat or oat flour, because it sounds too good to be ignored... pinning it up!
Alexandra says
Chocolate and orange is such a delicious combination, isn't it!? This cake just looks so wonderful, and I look forward to trying it soon!
Candace says
Yaasss!! Definitely appreciate very vegan and gluten free recipe. Specially if its dessert lol I need to try this at home.
XO
Candace
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
Supermompicks says
I love that this is lower GI and wish I had the recipe when I was pregnant with gestational diabetes. I am sure this is absolutely delicious!
Amber Myers says
Ooo yes please. I am all about chocolate desserts. This one looks fantastic. My MIL is gluten free so she'll love that she can eat this.