A rich, fluffy, LEGIT paleo chocolate cake infused with almond extract, filled with dairy-free vanilla buttercream, and chock-full of fresh berries.
I just had my 16th birthday! When I turned twelve, I made a tradition where I’d make my own birthday cake every year. I could just buy a gluten-free cake, but I LOVE baking my own cakes, so that’s what I do! This year’s birthday cake was the best I’ve ever made.
Imagine this: 3 layers of fluffy, rich chocolate cake with Simple Mills buttercream frosting sandwiched in between, and a massive amount of fresh berries throughout. Yup, this was by far the most amazing birthday cake I’ve ever made myself! It was just so delicious, and none if my party guests could believe it was actually healthy.
Pro tip: make the cakes the night before the birthday. Then, in the morning, they will be completely cool for frosting.
I hope you all enjoy this delightful cake as much as my friends, family and I did. If you make it, make sure to leave a comment below the recipe or use #goodiesagainstthegrain on social media 🙂
3-Layer Dark Chocolate-Almond Cake
Description
Dairy-free, paleo cake
Ingredients
Wet
- 12 eggs
- 1 ½ cups almond milk
- 1 cup butter or coconut oil
- 1 cup chopped dark chocolate
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp almond extract
Dry
- 4½ cups blanched almond flour
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp coconut flour
- ½ cup + 1 Tbsp tapioca starch or arrowroot flour/starch
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp granulated monk fruit+erythritol sweetener
- ¾ cup cacao powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp sea salt
Frosting
- 3–4 canisters Simple Mills dairy-free vanilla buttercream
- 4–5 cups blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
- cornflowers and roses, for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and line three 9” springform cake pans with a round piece of parchment. I also recommend greasing the sides with a bit of butter or coconut oil.
- Using a double boiler or a small saucepan on low heat, melt together the butter and chocolate. Then let it cool for 10 minutes.
- In a stand mixer or a handheld mix, whisk together the eggs until frothy. Add in the other wet ingredients and mix until smooth.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Slowly, whisk the dry into the wet and stir until smooth.
- Divide batter evenly between the cake pans. Each should have about 730 grams of batter in it. Bake for 25 minutes each. Let cakes completely cool before frosting and topping with fruit. (See note).
- To frost: place one cake on a cake pan and top with 1 canister frosting. Place chopped berries on top. Add another cake and repeat this process. After adding the last cake and topping with frosting, swirl a little extra frosting around the edges of the cake.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
14 Responses to “3-Layer Chocolate Almond Cake”
This cake looks amazing, well done!! Is there another brand of frosting you are aware of that would work as well that is refined sugar free, as I follow paleo & we do not eat it.
Hi! I would just make your own. I like this recipe: https://www.primalpalate.com/paleo-recipe/vanilla-buttercream-frosting
This looks beautiful! Is there any way you know of to sub out the almond flour for another gf option? There are nut allergies in my family. Or would it change everything?
Hi Sarah, I have not tried it with anything other than almond flour, but maybe sunflower seed flour would work? However, it might turn green because sunflower does that. Tell me how it goes!
Could I do this with homemade buttercream- add fresh fruit?? And do you have a recipe that would work with that? 🙂
Looks so good and planning on making for mothers day!
Yes, you could make your own! I like this recipe from Primal Palate: https://www.primalpalate.com/paleo-recipe/vanilla-buttercream-frosting. Enjoy!
I made this cake this weekend for my granddaughters birthday. It is delicious! I really like the texture and the taste. It also held up well to all the fruit and frosting between the layers. I’m so glad I found this recipe, I will definitely be making this again. Thanks for posting this.
YAY! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hola… it’s there any substitute for granulated monk fruit+erythritol sweetener? I don’t see to find it at the supermarket.
I buy it online here! https://www.lakanto.com/collections/sales-title/products/lakanto-classic-sugar-free-sweetener-family-size-800g
Or you can sub coconut sugar.
Can I use liquid stevia instead of the monk fruit sugar?
No, it’s a different consistency :/
This cake is fit for a magical fairy tea party. I’m so glad I found you gorgeous blog. Most importantly Happy Birthday. in your next revolve around the sun, a year full of joy, harmony and just a little bit of mischief.
Aww, thank you so much!