A delicious low sugar chocolate cake made extra healthy with hidden sweet potatoes! A great way to get some extra veggies into kids!
Lets be honest… nothing beats a delicious slice of chocolate cake right?! It’s not always the healthiest of foods but there is a way to make a lower sugar version yourself at home that is also packed full of nutritious sweet potato! Let me show you how….
My kids are absolute cake-fiends. They love nothing more than a massive slice of chocolate cake but with the amount of sugar in shop-bought cakes, not to mention the artificial colours and flavourings, I often opt to make my own if I have time. This recipe is super easy. I am no star baker but even I can make this fool-proof cake perfect every time!
You may be a bit surprised to see sweet potato on the list of ingredients but I promise you that it works! As well as being as providing an excellent nutritional boost to the cake, it also helps to add moisture.
There is nothing worse than a dry chocolate cake! You can either make and mash the sweet potato fresh (just be sure to cool it to room temperature) or use leftover sweet potato mash that you made earlier.
This recipe is egg free and it can also be made dairy free by using non-dairy chocolate chips, so it’s perfect for families dealing with allergies.
If you’d like to see another delicious treat recipe that’s perfect for a family dessert then check out this Puff Puff recipe from my friend Bintu.
If you try this recipe please do let me know what you think. Or tag me in a picture on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #myfussyeater. I love seeing all your pictures!
PrintSweet Potato Chocolate Cake
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: European
Description
A delicious low sugar chocolate cake made extra healthy with hidden sweet potatoes! A great way to get some extra veggies into kids!
Ingredients
- 200g (1 cup) mashed sweet potato (room temperature)
- 100g (½ cup) apple sauce
- 80ml (⅓ cup) melted coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 60g (½ cup) plain flour
- 60g (½ cup) wholemeal flour
- 30g (¼ cup) light brown sugar
- 25g (½ cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 50g (¼ cup) chocolate chips
- To serve: greek yogurt, raspberries, blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180c / 350f. Grease and line a 9 inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl add the mashed sweet potato, apple sauce, melted coconut oil and vanilla extract and mix well.
- In a second larger bowl add the plain and wholemeal flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Mix well and then stir in the chocolate chips.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until all the ingredients have combined.
- Pour the cake mixture into the pan and bake in the oven for 20 -25 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve with greek yogurt and berries.
Emily says
Can I use 1 cup of all purpose flour instead of the 1/2 plain and 1/2 whole wheat?
Vicky says
Hi Emily, using one cup of plain flour should be absolutely fine, we just use 1/2 plain and 1/2 whole wheat to make the recipe a little healthier. please let us know how it turns out. Enjoy !
Elsie says
What do you mean by wholemeal? Are you referring to whole wheat flour?
Bianca Carey Spencer says
Hi Elsie, yes whole wheat flour is the same. x
Brinal Petrovic says
This is such a good recipe for sweet potatoe cake, and so healthy as well! A great way to get a source of iron into your toddler or even for adults.
I try and avoid the sugar – it tastes great and my grandson loves it.
★★★★★
NIkky says
I don’t know what happened. I thought this had the potential to be really yummy and sweet. I used a purple sweet potato because they are slightly sweet and with the addition of apple and sugar! (coconut and only 2 table spoons). It was terribly blank which means it was terrible. It was moist however. I was able to save it by adding chocolate xylitol icing sugar on top. Now its delicious.
★
Orson says
Super tasty and you would never know there was veg in there!
★★★★★
Cara says
Really delicious. Kids had no idea it had vegetables in it!
★★★★★
Shaz says
Can i use gluten free flour?
Ciara Attwell says
Yes!
julie says
Hi.i don’t have a round cake tin.could I use a small loaf tin?
Ciara Attwell says
Yes although you may have to adjust the cooking times
Melanie Jackson says
Hi can I use frozen sweet potato chunks and defrost mash and then cook. Can you freeze the cake after please?
Barbara says
Hello, I have a sugar and fruit-free diet due to health reasons and am wondering if i could omit the sugar or would i need to replace it it with something for the recipe to work?
Ciara Attwell says
Hi, the sugar is needed for the consistency but you might be able to replace it with a natural sweetener like stevia? Im not sure on the quantity though as I haven’t tried it myself.
Midge @Peachicks' Bakery says
I LOVE the look of this – I have to try this out with the Peachicks. I love using wholemeal flour in bakes, just gives a really nice flavour to everything (and is a little bit healthier too!)
Ciara Attwell says
Thanks Midge! I hope you like it!
Jennifer says
What can I use instead of applesauce?
Ciara Attwell says
Apple sauce is a key ingredient in this cake so I wouldn’t replace it.
Jennifer FItzsimmons says
That’s a shame, we are low fructose so can’t have apples. Thanks anyways
Fernanda says
What is this apple sauce? Can we buy it? Or replace it? Thanks
Ciara Attwell says
Yes you can buy it in jars or make it at home yourself
Caroline says
Sounds yummy! Do you think I could use butter or another oil as an alternative to coconut?
Ciara Attwell says
Hi Caroline, yes you can use melted butter or oil instead!
Charlie @ The Kitchen Shed says
The only thing I love better than cake is a cake that has added nutrients in it! This looks super lush.
Ciara Attwell says
Thank you Charlie, its really good if I do say so myself!!