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Light Chocolate Cake without Butter

17/11/2023

Here is a lighter version of Chocolate Cake without butter for a healthier choice. This version uses oil instead of butter, resulting in a lighter yet still delicious dessert.

Ingredients

  • 200 g of all-purpose flour
  • 200 g of brown sugar
  • 40 g of unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 100 ml of seed oil or coconut oil
  • 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk or plant-based drink of choice (millet, soy, rice, etc.)
  • 3 eggs
  • 16 g of baking powder
  • A pinch of salt
  • (Optional) Vanilla flavoring or grated orange/lemon zest

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C and butter and flour (or line with parchment paper) a cake tin.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder to avoid lumps.
  3. In another bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until you have a light and fluffy cream. You can add vanilla flavoring or citrus zest here if you want an additional fragrance.
  4. Gently incorporate the oil into the egg and sugar mixture, mixing gently to avoid deflating the mix.
  5. At this point, add the dry ingredients mixture (flour, cocoa, baking powder) alternately with the milk or plant-based drink, continuing to mix gently until you have a smooth batter.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and level the surface with a spatula.
  7. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  8. Allow the cake to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

You can serve it as is, or dust it with powdered sugar or accompany with a light chocolate sauce. Another option is to fill it with jam or light custard to make it more delicious without weighing it down too much.

Curiosity

The choice to use oil instead of butter in a cake can be dictated by health reasons as well as taste preferences. Oil gives the dough a particular moisture and can make the cake softer and lighter. Remember that seed oil tends to have a more neutral flavor compared to coconut oil, which will give a distinct aroma to your cake.