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Treat yourself to a delicious Gluten Free Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting. The almond flour and cocoa powder made cake tastes delicious with a butter and peanut butter frosting and a rich chocolate drizzle!
A drool-worthy chocolate cake with peanut butter icing
There’s nothing like a fresh-out-of-the-oven piece of warm chocolate cake. And when it’s topped with peanut butter icing, things are looking even better.
Today we’re baking the most delicious fluffy cake and creating a butter and powdered sugar frosting for on top. The flavor combinations create a cake that’s just downright drool-worthy! I like going the three-tier route with this one, but you can also go with two pans or a sheet cake version!
Ingredients in peanut butter chocolate cake
Chocolate peanut butter cake uses 8 ingredients for the cake base and 4 for the frosting. Together, these ingredients create a flavorful cake that’s made complete with a yummy chocolate drizzle!
Chocolate Cake
- Almond flour: To begin, you will need 3 cups of almond flour. This will be a delicious base for the chocolate cake!
- Cocoa powder: From there we’ll add the chocolate component with 2/3 cup of cocoa powder.
- Baking soda: Add 1 tsp of baking soda to help the cake cook properly.
- Salt: Include 1/2 tsp of salt for flavor!
- Eggs: Next, use 5 eggs to create a fluffy cake and to help the ingredients bind together well.
- Coconut oil: 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil will serve as the oil component of this recipe.
- Maple syrup: To create a sweet flavor naturally, include 1 cup of maple syrup. This ingredient also contributes to the texture!
- Vanilla: The final ingredient of the cake consists of 1 tbsp of vanilla.
Peanut Butter Frosting
- Butter: 1 cup of softened butter makes up the base of the peanut butter frosting. It’s such a tasty way to create the icing!
- Peanut butter: Use 3/4 cup of natural peanut butter to achieve the proper flavor.
- Powdered sugar: 4 cups of powdered sugar helps us create the correct frosting consistency, and it adds sweet flavor.
- Almond milk: Throw in 3-6 tbsp of almond milk as needed.
For a delicious chocolate drizzle, melt 1/3 cup of chocolate chips and 1 tsp of coconut oil together and drizzle on top of the frosted cake.
Kitchen tools you’ll need for this recipe
To make this gluten free chocolate cake, you’ll need a few cooking items. Grab your cake pans, mixing bowls, and measuring cups, and let’s get rolling!
- Cake pans – either three 2 inch or two 6 inch
- Medium mixing bowl
- Stirring utensil
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Handheld mixer
For measuring, you will need 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 2/3 cup, 3/4 cup, and 1 cup
How to make gluten free chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting
We’ll start off with the cake, and then we’ll create the frosting while it bakes. Add everything together, and voila! A rich and fluffy chocolate cake.
To begin, preheat the oven to 350ยบF and grease three 6 inch cake pans. You can also use two 8 inch pans if preferred.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix together the almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
Whisk the eggs and coconut oil in a large mixing bowl. Then, add the maple syrup and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredietns to the wet and stir until combined. Divide the batter evenly among the cake pans.
Bake the batter for 26-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
While the cakes are baking, use a handheld mixer to beat together the butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. Add the powdered sugar slowly, cup by cup.
Then, add the almond milk as needed until the frosting is fluffy.
Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool for ten minutes, and then remove them from the pans and let them continue cooling on a wire rack.
Once cool, add the frosting. Optionally add chocolate drizzle.
How this cake is healthier
When it comes to baking, it is so simple to make things healthy. With a few ingredients swaps, you have a healthier sweet treat at your fingertips! For this recipe, I used 6 healthier items.
Almond flour
First, I skipped all purpose flour and went with almond instead. This is a usual occurrence in my baking, and it’s an easy swap to make! The flavor change isn’t noticeable.
Cocoa powder
Next, I added chocolate the natural way by using cocoa powder. Rather than using a regular chocolate cake mix, use cocoa powder for a healthier result and a rich flavor.
Coconut oil
Skip the vegetable and canola oils and opt for coconut โ a simple, healthy swap! Use refined for undetectable flavor.
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is the perfect way to add sweet flavor naturally. It tastes amazing in baked goods! Two more natural options are honey and molasses.
Natural peanut butter
Skip the processed nut butters and use a natural option instead. Less processed ingredients is always the healthier way!
Almond milk
Finally, I skipped regular milk and opted for almond milk instead. I love this plant-based option. It tastes great and makes for a fluffy cake!
Substitution Tip
Wondering about ingredient substitutions? This recipe allows for a few!
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil can be easily swapped with any baking oil like vegetable or canola.
- Maple syrup: For an equally natural option, you can use honey or molasses in place of maple syrup. Because each of these have a different level of sweetness, I recommend starting with a small amount and adding to taste.
- Peanut butter: Any nut butter will work well in this recipe which means you can use almond, cashew, or whatever you’d like!
- Almond milk: Finally, you can sub almond milk with any milk whether regular or plant based.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
If you loved this chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, its’ definitely worth diving into some more delicious peanut buttery recipes!
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Bars with Pretzels
- Healthy Peanut Butter Brownie Bites
- Protein Peanut Butter Cups
- Healthy Peanut Butter Pie (Dairy-Free)
Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
Treat yourself to a delicious Gluten Free Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting. The almond flour and cocoa powder made cake tastes delicious with a butter and peanut butter frosting and a rich chocolate drizzle!
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
- 3 cups almond flour
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 5 eggs
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp vanilla
Peanut Butter Frosting
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3–6 tbsp almond milk
- optional: 1/3 cup chocolate chips melted with 1 tsp coconut oil for drizzle
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease 3 6-inch cake pans. Alternatively use 2 8-inch pans.
- In a medium sized bowl, mix together almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and coconut oil. Add in maple syrup and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until combined. Divide evenly among cake pans.
- Bake for 26-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- While cakes are baking, use a handheld mixer to beat together butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. Add the powdered sugar slowly, cup by cup. Add almond milk as needed until frosting is fluffy.
- Let cakes cool ten minutes in pans then take them out and cool on wire rack.
- Once totally cool, frost cake. Add the optional chocolate drizzle.
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Cassie says
Hi, planning to make this this weekend. Can you substitute coconut milk for almond milk?
Erin says
Hi Cassie, yes, of course. Let me know how your cake comes out!
Tatyana says
So it came out really dry but it does taste good. I did follow instructions very well so idk what happened.
★★
Erin says
Hi Tatyana, I’m sorry that you did not like the recipe! I’ve heard tons of good things about this one, bummed it didn’t work out for you.
Ali Chorley says
This was delicious! The frosting was amazing. Took it to some family and they ate it all in one night!
★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ali, so glad you all loved it! ๐
Emily says
This was absolutely delicious. Couldnโt tell it was almond flour at all. The texture and taste was just like regular chocolate cake.
Added a shot of espresso because I love how coffee complements chocolate. Thank you for such amazing, healthy dessert recipes!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emily, so happy you loved it! ๐
Laura says
Hi Erin! Under Kitchen Tools description section, I think you meant it to be 3 6โ pans instead of 3 2โ pans; also maybe 2 8โ pans instead of 2 6โ pans?
Erin says
Hi Laura, thanks for letting me know. Follow the recipe card for best results!
Carrie A Powell says
Is the batter supposed to be really thick?
Erin says
Hi Carrie, it will be thick, but nothing you canโt spread.
Katie says
Any substitute for butter in the frosting to make this vegan? Thanks!
Erin says
Hi Katie, yep, you can use vegan butter. Let me know how your cake comes out!
Christina says
Made this today for my husbands bday. He LOVED it, so did I;-) loved the simple ingredients with all my pantry staples.
Erin says
Hi Christina, so glad he loved it and happy belated birthday to him!!
Katie H. says
Very good and not too sweet! I would also say, this is an easy recipe, just time consuming of course. I will be making this again! If you love peanut butter I highly recommend.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katie, so happy you loved the cake! ๐