Two Ingredient Cake
on May 24, 2024
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Call it magic, call it a miracle, this no-bake recipe uses just two ordinary ingredients to create an otherworldly cake! 🪄(And no, water does not count as an ingredient. 😉) Apples 🍎 work double time in this recipe to add natural sweetness, heft, and texture. Obviously chocolate 🍫 is a must in any great dessert (am I right or am I right?) and I recommend a bold, fruity dark chocolate, but really you can use any kind of chocolate you like.
Why You’ll Love My Two Ingredient Cake
Vegan? Gluten-free? Dairy-free? Just want an easy, delicious dessert that requires no baking? I got you! 👊 This cake is a dream come true for anyone with food allergies or dietary restrictions. 🚫 There is no added sugar or gluten included, just apples and chocolate! 🍎🍫 Baking or steaming the apples brings out their natural sweetness and softens the texture. Then, they’re blended with your favorite chocolate and the batter sits in the fridge, where it transforms into a rich, pudding-like texture, similar to the consistency of a chocolate cheesecake.
How to Prepare My Two Ingredient Cake
🔥 Preheat oven to 400F (200C).
🍏 Peel, core, and cube or quarter the apples. Place them in a parchment-lined baking dish.
🍎 Add a cup of water to the baking dish and bake the apples until soft.
🧊 Remove apples from the oven and set aside.
💦 Optionally, boil the apples for 15 minutes until soft, instead of baking.
🍫 While the apples are cooling, melt chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave with periodic stirring.
🥣 Blend the apples with the melted chocolate until smooth.
❄️ Pour the mixture into a parchment-lined 7-inch springform pan, distribute evenly, and refrigerate until set.
🤎 Once set, top the Two Ingredient Cake with chocolate shavings and enjoy!
Nonna’s Tip 🍰
You can boil the apples until tender or bake them in the oven with a little bit of water at the bottom until soft.
Variations and Substitutions for Two Ingredient Cake
By experimenting with these variations and substitutions, you can customize the cake to suit your taste preferences or dietary needs. Remember if you are changing or adding ingredients you may have to experiment and adjust the quantities.
- Add spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger to the apples for a 🔥 warm flavor.
- Mix in chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds into the batter after blending for a crunchy texture.
- Sprinkle seeds on top such as chia or flaxseeds for added nutrition.
- Top the cake with whipped cream, caramel sauce, or 🍓 fresh berries instead of or in addition to chocolate shavings.
- Dust My Two Ingredient Cake with powdered sugar or cocoa powder.
- If you don’t have a blender, use another appliance such as a food processor or an immersion blender to get a smooth consistency.
- Make a vegan version of this cake with dairy-free chocolate.
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Best Served With
- Coffee or tea 🫖
- Some vanilla, caramel, or cinnamon ice cream
- A dollop of freshly whipped cream or a warm 🍓berry or apple compote
- A sprig of fresh 🌿 mint on top
- More desserts, such as my Baked Apples
Common Questions
Dark chocolate is ideal for a rich flavor, but you can use milk or white chocolate if you prefer a sweeter or creamier taste. Dairy-free chocolate can be used for a vegan version.
I would recommend using firm and balanced apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, or Pink Lady because these varieties hold their shape well and provide a good mix of sweetness and tartness.
Yes, you can prepare the cake in advance and refrigerate it. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add any toppings just before serving.
Yes, peeling the apples is recommended for a smoother texture in the final cake.
You can use a regular cake pan lined with parchment paper. Ensure it is well-lined so you can lift the cake out easily after setting.
Two Ingredient Cake
Ingredients
- 4 apples , peeled and quartered
- 1 cup water, for the bottom of the baking dish
- 225 grams dark chocolate, or any you like
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
- Peel and core the apples. Cube or quarter the apples and place them in a baking dish lined with parchment paper.
- Note: you can also boil the apples on the stove for 15 minutes (until soft) if you don't want to bake them.
- Add a cup of water to the bottom of the baking dish and bake until soft.
- Mine took 1 hour and 15 minutes but this will depend on the apples and oven so please keep an eye on them. They are ready when soft and a knife can easily go through.
- Take the apples out of the oven and set aside.
- Now, melt the chocolate over a double boiler on the stove OR melt it in intervals in the microwave as you stir periodically.
- How to melt over a double boiler: A double boiler is when you simmer water in a pot, add a heat-proof glass bowl over the top, then add in the chocolate chips as you stir over low-heat until the chocolate has fully melted.
- Add the apples to a blender along with the melted chocolate. Blend until smooth .
- Pour the chocolate cake batter into a 7-inch springform pan lined with parchment paper. Shake the pan to distribute the batter evenly and and let it set in the fridge.
- Once set, add extra chocolate shavings on top and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was DELICIOUS!! I am so impressed that just two ingredients can make such a great dessert. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Thank you Mary! So happy you loved the cake! 💕
Without the weight or amount by cup the apples vary to greatly in size. It never firmed up but the apples were larger. May try again.
Hello! I can’t wait to try this recipe! I noticed in the video that you blend the apples and chocolate together, but when pouring into the baking dish, the blended apples seem separate from the melted chocolate. Do I need to set aside some melted chocolate, or blend some apples separately with the chocolate? Thank you!
Hi Helena! The apples get baked first (alternatively, you can boil them). Then the chocolate is melted and the cooked apples and melted chocolate are combined. I garnished my cake with chocolate shavings.
It would be good if you could put how much in cups for the apples. I found my end product a bit wet. Its in the fridge now so hopefully it will firm up somewhat to be a mousse like texture. Otherwise it may end up being more of a pudding like texture. I will see.
Hi Christiane! A rich, pudding-like texture is the goal here. Hope you like it!
Looking forward to trying this interesting and seemingly easy, chocolate!
Thank you
I hope you love it! Let us know how it comes out!
Does one drain the water from the apples before blending with the chocolate?
Hi Bob, if the apples do not absorb all the water, then I would drain off any excess water before blending.
i made this and the taste is so great, but mine turned out more like a mousse. how do you make it harder? did you squeeze the water out of the apples?
Hi Sanah, the consistency can vary depending on what kind of apples and chocolate you use. I used a SugarBee apple and I have not experimented with other varieties.
How long to bake Honey Crisp apples at 400? (I see to boil for 15 min’s, but no timing for baking)
Mine took 1 hour and 15 minutes but this will depend on the apples and oven so please keep an eye on them. They are ready when soft and a knife can easily go through.
Can I use applesauce? I have disabilities and would like to do this on my own. Thank you for the recipes and advice. Truly appreciate you.
Hi Kimber, I have not made this with applesauce, so I don’t want to lead you in the wrong direction. Maybe you could make a half recipe and experiment with applesauce. My only concern is the applesauce may be thinner than freshly baked apples. Let us know if you make it!
Thank you for letting me know, I updated the directions 😍