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    Recipes » Recipes » Baking & Desserts

    Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

    Last updated - July 11, 2021; Published - January 25, 2020 By Rhian Williams 14 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Two slices of sweet potato chocolate cake next to the loaf

    This Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake is seriously moist, super chocolatey and definitely doesn't taste like vegetables! It's secretly healthy, perfectly sweet, and super easy to make. It's vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar free.

    Two slices of sweet potato chocolate cake next to the loaf

    My Chocolate Banana Bread recipe has been super popular, but I've had a lot of people asking me how to replace the bananas...so I decided to make a similar recipe using sweet potatoes instead of bananas.

    Sweet potatoes work as an excellent alternative to bananas as they have a similarly naturally creamy texture and high natural sugar content. Plus I know from making recipes like my Sweet Potato Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, Chocolate Sweet Potato Ice Cream, Sweet Potato Brownies and Chocolate Pie that sweet potatoes can absolutely be used in desserts, and chocolate definitely masks the taste!

    How to make this recipe

    Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.

    • Place the cooked sweet potatoes and plant-based milk in a food processor.

    Tip: Use a measuring jug to measure out the plant-based milk.

    Cooked sweet potato and almond milk in a food processor
    • Whizz until completely smooth.
    Blended cooked sweet potatoes in a food processor
    • Mix with all the other ingredients in a glass mixing bowl.
    Raw sweet potato chocolate cake batter with chocolate chips in a bowl
    • Transfer the mixture into a one-pound loaf tin.

    Tip: Line the tin with greased baking paper to make it easier to remove the cake afterwards.

    • Scatter over more chocolate chips to decorate, if desired.
    Raw sweet potato chocolate cake batter topped with chocolate chips in a loaf tin lined with baking paper
    • Bake in the oven for around 45 minutes, until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
    Sweet potato chocolate cake loaf topped with chocolate chips in a loaf tin lined with baking paper

    Tip: Leave the cake to cool down on a cooling rack before putting it away to store, to make sure it doesn't get soggy!

    Sweet potato chocolate cake loaf topped with chocolate chips on a wire rack

    How long does this keep for?

    It does taste best when fresh, but keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days.

    Substitutions you can make

    • You can use any type of oil: coconut oil, olive oil or vegetable oil.
    • You can use any type of plant-based milk: almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, cashew milk, oat milk etc.
    • You can use any type of liquid sweetener: maple syrup, agave syrup, brown rice syrup etc.
    • You can replace the ground almonds (almond meal/almond flour) with ground walnuts.
    • For a nut-free version: replace the ground almonds (almond meal/almond flour) with ground sunflower seeds and use a nut-free plant-based milk.
    • You can use plain flour, wholemeal (whole wheat) flour or spelt flour instead of the gluten-free flour if you’re not gluten-free.
    • You can omit the chocolate chips. 
    • For a refined sugar free version, omit the chocolate chips or use refined sugar free chocolate chips or chunks.
    • You can replace the sweet potatoes with pumpkin.
    • To make a more decadent cake, don’t scatter over the chocolate chips before baking, and instead cover the cake with my Vegan Sweet Potato Chocolate Buttercream Frosting!
    Sliced sweet potato chocolate loaf cake with chocolate chips against a grey background

    More vegan chocolate treats

    • Chocolate Lava Cake
    • Chocolate Cookies
    • Chocolate Brownies
    • Chocolate Cake
    • Chocolate Donuts

    If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog, I’d really love to hear any feedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes on Instagram! Thank you.

    Watch how to make it

    Two slices of sweet potato chocolate cake next to the loaf

    Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

    This Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake is seriously moist, super chocolatey and definitely doesn't taste like vegetables! It's also vegan and gluten-free.
    3.91 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: gluten-free chocolate cake, sweet potato cake, sweet potato chocolate cake
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    Servings: 10 slices
    Calories: 309kcal
    Author: Rhian Williams

    Ingredients

    • 250 g (8.8 oz) raw sweet potatoes (about 1 medium-sized sweet potato)
    • 175 ml (¾ cup) unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)
    • 60 g (¼ cup) coconut oil (or sub olive or vegetable oil)
    • 12 tablespoons maple syrup (or sub any other sweetener)
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
    • Pinch salt
    • 150 g (1 ¼ cup) ground almonds (almond meal) *
    • 150 g (1 ¼ cup) gluten-free flour blend (or sub plain flour if not gluten-free)
    • 50 g (½ cup) cocoa powder
    • 4 teaspoons baking powder (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
    • ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
    • 50 g (â…“ cup) dark chocolate chips ** (optional - ensure vegan/gluten-free if necessary)

    To decorate (optional):

    • Dark chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).
    • Cook sweet potatoes by boiling, steaming or roasting them until very soft and tender.
    • Discard any skins, and add to a food processor with the milk.
    • Whizz until completely smooth - you might have to mix it around a few times.
    • Place the coconut oil in a large bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave (skip this step if using any other oil).
    • Once melted, add the blended sweet potato mixture to the same bowl along with the maple syrup, vinegar, salt and ground almonds.
    • Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
    • If using, add the chocolate chips and stir in carefully.
    • Transfer the mixture into a loaf tin lined with greased baking paper (use a one-pound loaf tin).
    • Scatter over more chocolate chips to decorate, if desired.
    • Bake in oven for around 45 minutes until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
    • Once out the oven, transfer onto a wire rack to leave to cool completely before slicing.
    • Tastes best when fresh, but keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days.

    Video

    Notes

    *You can alternatively use almond flour.
    **For a refined sugar free version, omit the chocolate chips or use refined sugar free chocolate chips or chunks.
    To make a more decadent cake, don’t scatter over the chocolate chips before baking, and instead cover the cake with my Vegan Sweet Potato Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.
    Nutrition Facts
    Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 309 Calories from Fat 144
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 16g25%
    Saturated Fat 8g40%
    Cholesterol 1mg0%
    Sodium 74mg3%
    Potassium 408mg12%
    Carbohydrates 41g14%
    Fiber 6g24%
    Sugar 18g20%
    Protein 6g12%
    Vitamin A 3547IU71%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 186mg19%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Made the recipe?Tag @rhiansrecipes on instagram and use the hashtag #rhiansrecipes!

    Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog – thank you.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Naomi

      May 21, 2021 at 2:07 pm

      I'm just curious, the recipe calls for almond 'meal' as opposed to flour - but the link leads to almond flour. I have both, which should I use? Love your recipes. Looking forward to making this one, too.

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        May 21, 2021 at 7:53 pm

        You can use either!

    2. Bridget

      July 18, 2021 at 8:20 am

      Hi Rhian,
      I am going to try this for my sons 3rd Birthday party and am going to do a test run ahead of time for his actual birthday rather than the party. I am wondering if I can make it on Sunday for Thursday night, and if I should freeze it?
      I'll make it again nice and fresh for the party.
      It was actually recommended to me by a friend who made it and loved it so I am excited to try.
      Thanks, Bridget

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        July 18, 2021 at 9:23 pm

        Thank you so much! You can make it on Sunday for Thursday night and freeze it as soon as it's cool then defrost before eating. I hope you'll like it, please let me know if you have any more questions!

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    Photo of Rhian Williams from Rhian's Recipes

    Hi, I'm Rhian! I make easy, undetectably vegan + gluten-free recipes, including healthy comfort food and naturally sweetened desserts using plant-based ingredients.

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