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Chocolate lovers…this one is for you.
There really are no words for this cake other than incredible.
The base is like a brownie, the center is the silkiest, creamiest, chocolate mousse, and the top is pure chocolate heaven. And as if all that wasn’t awesome enough, this cake is one hundred percent HEALTHY! Not only is it loaded with PROTEIN and ANTIOXIDANTS, but it’s EASY to create. I mean, really could it get better? I am thinking no.
As you may or may not know, my mom’s Birthday was Wednesday. We actually did the main celebration a week ago, while my family was all in town still, but we never did cake. This meant that for her actual birthday we definitely needed cake. Now, my mom is a serious, serious chocoholic. If you’ve been reading a while than you’ve heard me say she drinks hot chocolate in the morning like most people drink coffee, and pretty much always has chocolate after every meal…actually sometimes it is her meal. <–Truth, she told me she had this cake as her lunch yesterday!
This last year or so however, she’s decided to drastically cut down on the processed sugar. She has been doing a lot of cacao based desserts and sweetening things with raw, organic honey or pure maple syrup. SO for her birthday cake this year, I decided to take one of her favorite desserts, chocolate mousse, and turn it into a super healthy and delicious cake!
The timing worked out really well, seeing as we are in the middle of Healthy January, which by the way, I am foreseeing these super healthy recipes flowing over into February. Most of the comments I am receiving seem to express that you guys are really liking the healthy, quick and easy eats? yes? no?
Anyway, I think my mom’s favorite dessert is my chocolate birthday cake, and I’m not going to lie to you guys, pretty sure she still likes that cake better than this one, BUT she loved this Greek Yogurt Chocolate Mousse Cake as well. This one just feels a little lighter, and it’s definitely much less sweet. Still completely delicious though, I promise!
The first layer of the cake literally tastes like a fudgey chocolate brownie. It’s insanely good and insanely good for us! Made up of heart healthy walnuts, coconut, antioxidant and fiber packed dates, cacao powder (or use unsweetened cocoa powder), and a pinch of flaky sea salt (my fav). Basically, healthy food, but in chocolate form. Also, if you’re looking for an easy to make, easy to eat, healthy dessert, you could make just this base and roll them into balls for little bite size snacks. That would be awesome!
The second layer is the mousse! Around here, we love chocolate mousse. Whenever I make chocolate mousse, I pretty much always make it the super simple way, meaning no eggs and lots of heavy cream. When I was sitting (on the ground in front of my oven cause I am always cold) thinking about this recipe, I wondered how greek yogurt would work in place of the cream. I love greek yogurt, so I was thinking it might be a good combo. I think the key is to use whole milk greek yogurt. It’s thick and creamy and has a consistency very similar to mousse. But…one, it’s so good for us, and two, it’s as easy as mixing cacao powder and yogurt together in a bowl and calling it a day. Ahh, yes please. I used a little raw honey to sweeten it up, but not a lot. If you like a sweeter mousse, just use more honey to your liking.
For the third layer, I went pretty much all chocolate (very dark chocolate). After all, I was making this with my mom in mind, so heavy on the chocolate was obviously a must!
This is hands down one of my favorite cakes. Honestly, you would never know how healthy it is if I didn’t tell you. The bottom tastes like a chocolate brownie, the center is light and creamy, and the top is chocolate heaven.
I finished the cake with a pop of color in the form of roasted pistachios and a few dried roses for fun. Perfect birthday cake…or Friday night treat!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
The most perfect bite. For real.
This is something I will try.
Since you asked, I prefer your Fall comfort food.
Thanks
I hope you enjoy this cake, Bob! Thank you!
This looks absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to try it! In replying to what you mentioned re: getting good feedback about the healthy recipes, I would have to agree I appreciate them as well. I absolutely adore most of the regular recipes you post, but I have to be careful & not serve them all the time or my pants would definitely complain, lol. Your desserts are pretty much always drool-worthy. Keep it up & thank you for sharing your culinary genius!
I hope you love this cake, Liana! Thank you so much!
This looks amazing Tieghan and I will defiantly make it soon. I don’t have a microwave and was wondering if I could use a double boiler for the ganache. Love to look at how you express your creativity through food! Bravo!
Layering chocolate on chocolate is always the right choice. Nice work!
Agreed! Thank you Kevin!
I just can not get over how gorgeous this cake is. Love this blog and your recipes!!
Thank you Jen!!
Your mom is a lucky woman…this sounds amazing! Happy Birthday to her!
Thank you Deb!
Wow, this is so gorgeous!
Thank you Kate!
UGH I WANT THIS RIGHT NOW!
Haha thank you Sara!!
Wow! That looks so decadent!
Thank you Kari!!
Do you ever put your recipes through a calorie counter before you say they’re “HEALTHY”?
This recipe is high in saturated fat and sugar. If you cut this “cake” into 8 servings and made it with coconut milk, each serving would have 530 calories. If you use heavy cream; 513 calories.
Hi Gigi, No I do not. I go by the ingredients I use and their health benefits, not by calories and the amount of fat. Dates, greek yogurt, honey and dark chocolate are all good things for us. Or at least that us my way of thinking. I also have no problem with coconut milk and see it as healthy as well. Sorry if you feel differently.
Wow! What an incredible dessert! Perfect for all of those of us trying to be a little, ahem, healthier right about now 🙂
A great healthy treat! Thank you Melissa!
Another gorgeous recipe I’ll have to try, but first I’m heading to Amazon to pre-order your cookbook. I can’t wait! Sometime could you share secrets on how you stock your pantry/ fridge? I’m intrigued about how you get inspired on your hikes & come home and create! I live 10 miles from a grocery store & could REALLY use some tips. Thamks!!
This looks awesome! And YES PLEASE to more healthy recipes in February!!
Thank you Rhian!
Bookmarking this for my own mom’s birthday! Thank you!
Awh, that is awesome! I hope she loves it, Marian! Thank you!
When I first saw this my initial reaction was “common! It’s January!” But now that I have read your ingredient list I am super happy because I have been specifically looking for some healthy sweet options as I craving them, badly. Sorry for getting mad!
Haha no worries! I am glad you are liking it now that you saw the ingredients! Thank you Stacy!