Rich, delicious, sourdough chocolate cake is a healthier, more nutritious take on your classic dessert. Start the night before to ferment the grains, develop the flavors, and make the cake easier to digest.
Somehow, Daniel turned one year old a few days ago. I’m not quite sure how that happened. It feels like just yesterday I was holding my newborn baby in my arms (read his home birth story here).
After six children, I can tell you with all my heart that babies don’t keep. You blink and they are one year old, they’ve learned to walk around the house, and they’re convinced they can do most things on their own.
Although it hurts my heart to move past the precious baby stage and into toddlerhood, watching Daniel become a toddler has its own set of blessings.
I love watching them learn: learning about the world, how to communicate, and developing that curious personality. It’s a really fun stage. Soon enough, he will be running around barefoot on the farm playing with the goats and climbing trees.
It goes too fast.
This sourdough cake was the perfect way to celebrate Daniel. Light, fluffy, and boasting my favorite sourdough tang, this cake has so much flavor. Layers of rich, chocolate cake smothered with chocolate frosting.
Tips For Making Sourdough Chocolate Cake
- Ferment this recipe overnight to increase the nutritional value of the grains and make them more digestible.
- If you are in a pinch for time, skip the fermentation and use sourdough discard. You can use active sourdough starter or sourdough discard. Learn how to create your own sourdough starter here.
- Add finely ground coffee to give this a deeper and richer chocolate flavor. Coffee and chocolate go together perfectly in baked goods.
Why you will love this recipe:
- Start this recipe the night before (or even up to 24 hours before) to allow it to ferment. Starting the night before removes a few steps the next day, making it easier to whip together.
- Delicious, rich flavors that are light and fluffy with each bite will have your family asking you to make this recipe over and over again.
- It is healthier and easier to digest than a standard chocolate cake.
- It’s the perfect cake for a birthday, holiday, or even just a weekend.
- You can easily turn this into a sourdough discard chocolate cake by just using sourdough discard, mix the cake batter together, and bake.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Tools you may need:
Large bowl
Measuring cups and spoons
How To Make Sourdough Chocolate Cake
The Night Before:
In a bowl, mix together flour, coconut oil, sourdough starter, and water. Cover and allow to sit overnight or up to 24 hours.
The Next Day:
In a large bowl, mix together sucanat or rapadura (regular sugar would work, as well), salt, and finely ground coffee (optional).
To the dry ingredients, add eggs, vanilla, cocoa powder, and whole milk.
Next, add the sourdough mixture into the rest of the ingredients. Whisk to incorporate until smooth. Use a stand mixer for easier mixing.
Lastly, add baking soda and incorporate well.
Preheat the oven to 350º F.
Prepare two, 9-inch cake pans with butter.
Divide cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove from the oven. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and allow to cool.
Find More Sourdough Desserts
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Sourdough Chocolate Cake
Rich, delicious, sourdough chocolate cake is a healthier, more nutritious take on your classic dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup sourdough starter
- 1 cup water
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups sucanat or rapadura (regular sugar would work also)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon finely ground coffee (optional)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 1 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
Instructions
In a bowl, mix together flour, coconut oil, sourdough starter, and water. Cover and allow to sit overnight or up to 24 hours.
The Next Day
In a large bowl, mix together sucanat or rapadura, salt, and finely ground coffee (optional).
To the dry ingredients, add eggs, vanilla, cocoa powder, and whole milk.
Next, add the sourdough mixture into the rest of the ingredients. Whisk to incorporate until smooth.
Lastly, add baking soda and incorporate well.
Preheat the oven to 350º F.
Prepare two, 9-inch cake pans with butter.
Divide cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove from the oven. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and allow to cool completely before frosting.
Notes
- Ferment this recipe overnight to increase the nutritional value of the grains and make them more digestible.
- If you are in a pinch for time, skip the fermentation and use sourdough discard. You can use active sourdough starter or sourdough discard.
- Add finely ground coffee to give this a deeper and richer chocolate flavor.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 222Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 408mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 5g
Pin It For Later
Sydney says
Happy Birthday to Daniel!!! That is so exciting!!!!!
Victoria says
And the fillling and icing? It felt like you only told us half the story 😜
Lisa says
Sounds delicious! Did I miss the recipe for the chocolate frosting? Excited to give this a try! Thanks for sharing
Christa says
I was hoping for the frosting recipe too. The cake recipe and pic look delicious!
Mary Odom says
I was hoping for the frosting recipe too. thanks ! this looks delicious. I am planning on using Einkorn flour… we’ll see
Erin says
I was looking for a sourdough chocolate cake recipe for my son, Daniel, on his 6th birthday. This recipe is perfect; it was meant to be!
Lisa Moran says
Can’t wait to make this! Do you have a recipe for the icing?
Love your youtube channel, the cooking segments are my favorite :0)
Sydney says
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DANIEL!!!! WOOHOO!!!
Carrie says
Where’s the frosting recipe? I’d like to try it soon!
Shaana says
I would love the frosting recipe as well!!
Ashley Lisa says
Yes Lisa please share the frosting I have a Halloween baby’s birthday coming up and would love to use this
Lori says
this cake is awesome. I made it last Sunday!!!
Lauren says
Please share the frosting recipe!
Nicolle says
This looks delicious, Lisa.
What kind of flour do you use for the cake?
Kelly says
Can I use honey instead of sugar? I haven’t heard of the sugars you mentioned before. What are they? Why do you use them
Michelle says
Do you put the mix in the fridge overnight or just on the counter? Doesn’t seem to specify where to let it ferment.
Looks amazing!!
Lisa says
I do room temp!
Kari Vanhoozer says
This cake baked perfectly in a 9×13 pan. I replaced the flour, water and milk all with sourdough discard.
Kristin says
Would it work to bake this up as a cupcake? Have you tried that?
Brooke says
I just made these as cupcakes- baked for 15 min. They turned out great!
I also substituted half coco sugar and regular sugar. Would love to try substituting honey next but I’m not sure if it’s an equal amount…
Sandy says
Love this cake! I made a half recipe for the two of us and substituted coconut sugar for the sucanat. It’s delicious, and going fast. Thank you!
Kirsten says
I wish you included the frosting recipe you used!
Michelle Hertzler says
If I use active starter or discard… How much do I put in? Is it replacing the 2 c. flour, 1 c. water and 1/2 c. starter? So 3 1/2 c.??
Frank says
I baked the cake this morning using two cups of dark brown sugar and a bunt pan. It’s probably the best chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten or baked. And Lord knows I’ve eaten plenty. Wow. I opted not to make frosting. It’s perfect as is! Thank you!
Jane says
This is so good! I was afraid my family may pick up the slight fermented taste of sourdough but not at all! I made a half recipe which gave up 12 good size cupcakes. They rose great and the top has a shiny appearance similar to a brownie. Great texture. Im an older baker and my standby was the Betty Crocker chocolate cake for the past 45 years. To note another comment…a keeper! Thank you
Mikayla says
This recipe sounds wonderful! My baby girl turns 1 in a couple of weeks, and I’d like to try a vanilla/almond version of this. Any recommendations on this substitution? I realize there would be less dry ingredients and more wet, so I’m wondering if I should add some flour to get the right consistency?
Lolly says
I made this as a birthday cake yesterday and it was delicious! I replaced the whole milk with rice milk (about 3/4 cup) and made a buttercream frosting (butter, creamed coconut, icing sugar and cocoa powder) and it worked perfectly. Thanks for sharing your recipe!