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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.
Have you got any suggestions to make the mousse vegan? Thanks
Hi Elisabeth,
Here are two recipes that are vegan that you might enjoy:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/vegan-triple-chocolate-mousse-cake/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/6-ingredient-vegan-chocolate-chia-mousse/
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I’m guna make this for my own birthday cake!!!
I hope you love the recipe Tara!! xTieghan
What can you substitute for the coconut I’m not a fan of the coconut flavour or texture?
Hey Morgan,
Try using extra walnuts in place of the coconut! I hope you love the recipe! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I made this for one of my daughters for her birthday cake as she had requested chocolate and I was trying to avoid refined sugar and flour. This was delicious, enjoyed by all. The ganache didn’t come out as smooth looking as yours did but tasted fine. Also, it didn’t run down the side of the cake but was completely set on the top as I had chilled it in the springform pan as the recipe says to do. We recently moved and the food processor is buried somewhere so I just used a sharp knife and a cutting board, then mixed up the crust in the Kitchenaid mixer. We will keep this recipe for future special occasions.
I am so glad this turned out amazing for you! Thank you so much for trying it! Also, Happy Birthday to your daughter! xTieghan
Made it, really was disappointing. Love all the INGREDIENTS, but didn’t trip my trigger..
Hi Sharon! I am sorry to hear that! I hope you love some other recipes on my blog!
Made this for dessert last night. What an easy, no-bake recipe that looks and tastes fabulous!
Thank you Maureen!
wow, the pancakes are amazing.
Wow, nice recipes. I want to try it. Thanks for sharing
Thank you Cara!
Can I substitute something else for coconut flakes?
Sure! Use an equal amount of nuts. Please. Let me know if you have questions. Hope you love this cake!
I want you to thank for your time of this wonderful read!!! I definately enjoy every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff of your blog a must read blog!
Awh thank you! This is so sweet!
Not only is this recipe exciting because it’s a mostly raw dessert, but the ingredients are all kosher-friendly for Passover! My S/O’s birthday will occasionally fall right in the middle of it, and while I have a fool-proof recipe for him during that, sometimes it’s nice to shake things up. I’ll definitely be trying out this recipe! 😀
So excited your going to make it Angelina! Sounds like a fun time and I hope he enjoys it (: Thank you!
Really? Honestly, you would never know how healthy it is if I didn’t tell you.
look at delicous
Thanks !
Hi do you know the macro nutrient breakdown for this? Carbs, fats and protein? Sugar? Anyway you can email me the break down (bodybuilder here). Thank you!
Skestvold@yahoo.com
Hi! I am sorry, I don’t know the nutrient break down.
This looks fun! My SO isn’t a cake person, so this might be a perfect dessert for a fancier dinner. Thanks for sharing!
Ah bummer, hope you get to try it at some point! Thanks!