Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake is the Perfect Valentine’s Day Dessert!
I fell in love with this recipe when preparing for a Valentine’s Day cooking class at Con’ Olio Olive Oils and Vinegars. I thought it would be the perfect way to introduce a new way to use their high quality extra-virgin olive oils – use olive oil instead of butter in this fabulous dark chocolate gluten free cake!
This Chocolate Cake is Gluten Free, Grain Free, and Low Glycemic
I love Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Cake recipe because:
- It is super easy to make! Only a handful of ingredients, you don’t have to separate the eggs, and it is only one layer.
- It is lower glycemic (doesn’t taste super sweet) when you use coconut sugar instead of cane sugar.
- It is gluten free and grain free because it is made with almond flour (sorry to my friends that can’t have almonds!).
- It is so delicious! It has a nice dark chocolate taste and is super moist. I like to top the cake with a thin layer of raspberry jam and then garnish each slices with a few fresh raspberries.
The real reason why I love this cake is that is so easy to make, it is super moist, and it has a rich dark chocolate flavor!
Chocolate on Valentine’s Day?
Why does chocolate say “I love you” so well?
Components of chocolate (theobromine, tryptophan, phenylethylalanine, and anandamide) contribute to the production of dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin – all of which give you feelings of pleasure – like feeling in love, being happy, and generally feeling high.
So that could explain why we often grab for chocolate when we are stressed, when we feel low, or when we generally need a boost. And it just makes sense to make a delicious chocolate dessert for yourself or a loved one on Valentine’s Day!
Are There Really Health Benefits of Chocolate?
Assuming we are talking about good quality cocoa or dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa (70% or more), scientific studies back up the claim that chocolate has many health benefits.
A 2018 Healthline article outlines the 7 Proven Benefits of Dark Chocolate. Some benefits include: nutrients, antioxidants, increased blood flow and lower blood pressure, increased HDL and protecting LDL from oxidation, lowered risk of heart disease, protection from sun damage, and improved brain function!
Moderation is Key
Like almost everything, moderation is key. Small amounts of dark chocolate are better for you than large amounts. If you eat chocolate daily or too much in general, you could be getting too much sugar, fat, and caffeine.
Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons fair-trade cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups almond meal
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (plus extra for oiling pan)
- 3 eggs
- 1–2 tablespoons raspberry or mixed berry jam
- 1 pint fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan (or round cake pan) with parchment paper and brush parchment and sides of pan with olive oil or butter. Preheat oven to 325 °F
- Whisk together cocoa and boiling water in a glass measuring cup or mixing bowl. Add the vanilla.
- In another small bowl, combine the almond meal, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine sugar, olive oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high for about 3 minutes, or until the mixture thick and well combined. You can also mix by hand using a heavy-duty whisk.
- Reduce the mixer speed and add the cocoa mixture. Then add the almond meal mixture. Mix until combined. If mixing by hand, so this step with a wooden spoon.
- Pour the batter into prepared pan. Bake for 40 minutes (check at 30 minutes in case your oven is running hot). The cake should be pulling away from the sides and the center will look slightly damp but should not be jiggly. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the ring and let cool completely.
- When cool, spread the top with jam. Cut into 8 or 10 slices. Serve each slice with a few raspberries.
More Valentine’s Day Recipes
Here are some more Cook Love Heal Recipes that I think would be great for a Valentine’s menu. Enjoy!
