Best Low Carb Keto Chocolate Cake Recipe (2024)

This is the best low carb keto chocolate cake recipe ever! Shredded zucchini makes it moist and nutritious. The kids will never know you are sneaking in a vegetable.

If you’re looking for a keto chocolate cake recipe, this is for you. There are lots of recipes for low-carb and keto desserts out there, but this one is a hidden gem.

It doesn’t need a ton of ingredients, you can prep it and bake it in less than an hour, and everyone will love it (even those who aren’t low-carb fans).

If you’ve tried this german chocolate zucchini cake, you know what I’m talking about! But if the idea of zucchini and chocolate is new to you, you’re in for a treat.

With this updated adaptation of that reader favorite, you can bake a decadent chocolate layer cake using two 9-inch round cake pans, make a 9×13-inch sheet cake, or even serve up 24 cupcakes.

Why I Love This Recipe

This recipe is a healthy, low-carb treat that tastes better than any boxed cake mix you’ve tried (and even many of the recipes from scratch!). You could even make the cupcakes without frosting and call them a keto breakfast muffin.

Do you know the best way to get a moist cake when you’re following a keto diet and need to keep gluten at bay? Add zucchini!

If you’ve never baked with it before, just wait and see. It adds the moistness that all good cakes have...plus it tastes ah-mazing!This keto chocolate cake is about to become your new favorite dessert.

Recipe Ingredients

This keto chocolate cake recipe is really the best option for a gluten-free, sugar-free birthday cake because the texture is so traditional none of your guests will realize it’s a “diet” cake.

And if you’ve been eating low carb for a while, you probably have everything you need on hand. So what ingredients do you need to make this chocolate keto cake recipe?

Coconut Flour

Coconut flour is a thirsty gluten-free flour, so the added moisture from the zucchini is important. While many low-carb cakes use blends of coconut and almond flour, this one uses only coconut flour.It’s so easy!

Coconut flour is perfect for gluten-free and keto baking recipes that use very wet ingredients, as it’s quite dry.

And, since there’s no milk or whipping cream, or butter in this recipe, it can also be a dairy-free cake if you need one (just make sure to use dairy-free frosting, too).

I would not substitute with almond flour or almond meal. If you try to use only almond flour in this sugar-free chocolate cake, the entire balance of dry and wet ingredients will be altered, and the cake will be almost soggy.

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is what gives the deep chocolate flavor to this keto chocolate cake. Always make sure you are using unsweetened cocoa powder!

Low Carb Sugar Substitute

In order to make keto chocolate cake, you need to sweeten it with a sugar substitute - any type will work.

Then, add some stevia concentrated powderto it too. Monk fruit sweetener is my favorite.

Misc. Baking Ingredients

You'll also need the common ingredients that you might use in other keto cake recipes. Namely - cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, and vanilla extract!

Fats

I used a combination of coconut oil and eggs as emulsifiers and healthy fats for this easy keto chocolate cake.

Zucchini

It takes about one large or two small zucchini to get 4 cups shredded. There’s no need to be exact, so just get as close as you can.

Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips

You can use homemade chocolate like my stevia chocolate, cut up a low-carb chocolate bar, or use sugar-free chips like Lily’s or Good Chocolate! The chips are optional but will give the cake a richer chocolate flavor than without.

Please note:Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low-carb recipe.

Recipe Tips

• Shred the zucchini finely. This is key for this recipe. Use a box grater or food processor to shred - whichever you prefer.
• Don't drain the zucchini. Unlike other zucchini recipes, you shouldn't drain the shredded zucchini for this ake very much, if at all. You want the cake to be moist.
• Add chocolate chips. Now, this next part is completely optional, but if you’re looking for an extra chocolatey cake with just the right amount of decadent fudgy goodness, you’re going to want to include those optional chocolate chips!
• Make muffins. Bake in muffins tins and enjoy as chocolate breakfast muffins.

Recipe Instructions

Making a keto birthday cake is so easy! Here's a bit more information about each step so you can make your own keto chocolate cake.

1. Mix The Chocolate Batter

First, combine coconut flour, cocoa, granular low carb sweetener, stevia, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt.

Then, mix in the eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla until well combined.

2. Shred The Zucchini

The shredded zucchini is going to add a lot of moisture and that light texture that’s often missing in low-carb cakes. But, there are also a few other factors that will make a big difference.

3. Add Zucchini to the Chocolate Batter

After the zucchini is prepped, add it to the chocolate batter that you prepped.

4. Bake The Cake Until Done

Finally, spread the batter out in the 9x13 pan. Alternatively, you can bake it in two round 9-inch pans too. Bake for about 40 minutes at 350°F.

Make It Ahead Of Time!

Did you know that making your low-carb baked goods a day early helps with the taste? It’s true! When you let them sit, any cooling flavor from the low-carb sweeteners disappears.

While this cake’s combo of sweeteners and other ingredients will make that barely noticeable, if you’ve got sensitive taste buds, just make this cake one day early.

This is a general rule that will apply to nearly all your low-carb baked goods. If this has been something you’ve noticed in the past, this simple tip will be game-changing for you!

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve other low-carb desserts with the easy keto birthday cake. Add a scoop of your favorite keto vanilla ice cream on the side.

Since this is such a decadent dessert, I also like to enjoy it with a cup of coffee. Or, for the best of both worlds, make some coffee ice cream. It's delicious!

Common Recipe FAQs

Before we get to the printable recipe card, here are some questions people often ask about how to make it.

This is the most requested cake from those in my family who avoid sugar and gluten, and I’m sure your family will enjoy it, too!

Looking for other sugar-free treats to make for special occasions? Be sure to check out these gluten-freeketo desserts. They are some of my favorite cake recipes.

• Keto Carrot Cake is also made with grated zucchini to give it a moist and authentic texture.
• Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake is delightfully refreshing and the perfect thing to serve at parties.
• Keto Birthday Cake In A Mug is easy to bake in just a few minutes.
• Keto Chocolate Molten Lava Cake is rich and fudgy with the best filling.
• Keto Oreo Cookies and Cream Cheesecake has 5g net carbs in each slice and is worth every carb.

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