Ultra-rich, deeply chocolatey dark chocolate eclipse cake is a fun and memorable dessert for a solar eclipse watch party, a themed gathering, or any day that calls for serious chocolate.
Looking for a dramatic dessert to serve during an eclipse celebration? This dark chocolate eclipse cake is a simple homemade recipe with an intense cocoa flavor, a soft fudgy crumb, and a strikingly dark color that makes it feel perfectly suited to the occasion.
If you have ever needed an excuse to bake a chocolate cake, a solar eclipse is a pretty good one. This cake is darker, richer, and more decadent than many classic chocolate cakes because it uses dark Dutch cocoa powder. The result is a bold chocolate dessert that looks impressive but is still easy enough to make in a regular home kitchen.
For even more chocolate flavor, you can finish the cake with a thick layer of Chocolate Avocado Frosting or any favorite chocolate frosting. The combination of dark chocolate cake and creamy chocolate frosting makes every slice taste extra luxurious.
Chocolate on chocolate is always a good idea, especially when the cake is this rich.
Watch the video above for a closer look at the cake.
This recipe was adapted from a Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe, with one important change. Because this version uses Dutch cocoa powder, it calls for baking powder instead of baking soda.
Dutch cocoa, which may also be labeled as dark cocoa or black cocoa, is processed differently from regular natural cocoa powder. Since it is not acidic in the same way, it will not react properly with baking soda. That is why baking powder is the right leavening ingredient for this dark chocolate cake recipe.
You can usually find Dutch cocoa powder in many grocery stores. Check the ingredient label for the word “alkali,” which indicates that the cocoa has been alkalized. This is the ingredient that gives the cake its signature deep color and intense chocolate flavor.
If you only have regular cocoa powder, you can still make the cake. Simply replace the baking powder with an equal amount of baking soda. The finished cake will be lighter in color, but it will still be soft, chocolatey, and delicious.
The August 21 solar eclipse was scheduled to pass through Washington, DC at around 2:42 in the afternoon on Monday, which makes this cake a fun idea for an afternoon watch party. Of course, depending on where you are and what time your local eclipse viewing happens, this dessert could just as easily become a morning treat, an after-work celebration, or a chocolate-filled weekend baking project.
Most people may not be able to pause the workday for cake, but it is tempting to imagine gathering friends, setting out eclipse glasses, and serving slices of glossy dark chocolate cake while everyone waits for the sky to change.
If the eclipse reaches your area early in the day, you could even make the argument for chocolate cake for breakfast. It might not be your everyday morning meal, but for a rare celestial event, a slice of homemade dark chocolate cake feels more than acceptable.
This cake is also a good choice beyond eclipse day. Serve it for birthdays, movie nights, Halloween parties, dinner guests, or whenever you want a simple one-pan chocolate cake that tastes much more impressive than the effort required. The recipe is easy to prepare, uses basic ingredients, and can be made with oil, almond butter, applesauce, or yogurt depending on what you have on hand.
Chocolate Eclipse Cake
Dark Chocolate Eclipse Cake
25m
8-10 slices
Ingredients
- 1 cup spelt or white flour
- 6 tbsp dark cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar of choice or xylitol
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, optional
- 1/3 cup applesauce or yogurt of choice, such as coconut milk yogurt
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/4 cup oil or almond butter, or an allergy-friendly substitute
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
If you would like to make a double-layer chocolate eclipse cake, simply double all of the ingredients and bake the batter in two pans.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease an 8-inch square or round baking pan and set it aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, dark cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, optional mini chocolate chips, and sweetener. Stir very well so the dry ingredients are evenly mixed and there are no large clumps of cocoa powder.
If using almond butter or another nut butter and it is too thick to stir, gently warm it until soft. In a separate bowl, whisk together the applesauce or yogurt, water, oil or almond butter, and pure vanilla extract until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir only until the batter is just combined. Do not overmix, as this can make the cake less tender.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cake has risen and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. For an extra fudgy texture, remove the cake when it is still slightly underbaked in the center, let it cool completely, and then refrigerate it overnight. The cake will firm up as it rests, and the chocolate flavor becomes richer and sweeter the next day.
Once cooled, frost with your favorite frosting. Chocolate frosting is especially good with this recipe. You will need about 3/4 cup of frosting to cover the entire cake.
View Nutrition Facts
More Dark Chocolate Recipes:
The Ultimate Unbaked Brownies
Healthy Chocolate Pudding
Mint Chocolate Workout Brownies