Double Chocolate Paleo Gooey Cake

As you can guess from the title, this recipe is all things good in the world: chocolate, gooey, cake, yes. They’re also grain-free and accidentally egg-free. I went to add in the egg and we were OUT OF EGGS. Emergency crisis. I ended up giving them a whirl anyway, and the result is dense, fudge-y and glorious. The texture is a little different than a cake -they don’t really “set” until you allow them to cool and can place in the fridge for a while, too- and they’re dense and gooey. Basically they’re nuts and chocolate; so pretty much like eating trail mix, right? Right.

Paleo chocolate cake

I’ll stop trying to explain it and just say you should try it. 

Paleo gooey cake

These brownies/cakes/bars/things are a little more labor-intensive than the usual holiday cookie, but I PROMISE they are worth it. I mentioned this idea to the Pilot, and I’m pretty sure he asked me twice if I had made them yet. And then we ate half the pan and high-fived each other repeatedly.

Paleo chocolate cake

Paleo Chocolate Gooey Cake

These gooey cakes were inspired by the beloved Paula Deen versions (which if you haven’t tried, you need to at least once in your life). I wanted to try creating layers, with a chocolate layer on the bottom, and a lighter, chocolate chip cookie layer on the top.

This is what happened: fudge brownies,

Paleo brownies

 

topped with light and sweet cookie dough,

with chocolate chips throughout.

Paleo gooey cake

Make these as a gift (or a gift for yourself) or for your holiday cookie tray, and watch them disappear.

Print

Double chocolate Paleo Gooey Cake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

It’s like a brownie, a cake, and a pan of hot chocolate-y almond butter all in one. Just go for it.

  • Prep Time: 10
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the brownie layer

  • 1 cup almond meal
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted in the microwave or a double boiler
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds

For the cookie dough layer

  • 1 cup almond meal
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 3 oz plain applesauce
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)

Instructions

  1. 1. Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a small baking dish (I used 8×8) with coconut oil.
  2. 2. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the brownie layer. I like to mix the melted chocolate chips with the coconut oil and honey before adding to the dry ingredients.
  3. 3. Spread the brownie layer on the bottom of the dish, and place the dish in the freezer while you prepare the cookie dough layer.
  4. 4. Combine all of the ingredients for the cookie dough layer in a large bowl. Gently spread on top of the brownie layer.
  5. 5. Bake at 350 for 28-30 minutes until fluffy and golden.
  6. 6. Allow to cool before serving. If you like a softer texture, enjoy straight out of the oven with ice cream. If you’d like these to set a bit more, allow to cool completely and place in the fridge for an hour or so.

Notes

  • For dairy-free chocolate chips, check out the Enjoy Life brand.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8

Enjoy!

xoxo

Gina 

Any fave healthy recipes to share?? Feel free to link away below! It will help everyone out who may be looking for last-minute ideas.

Some more ideas:

Molten almond butter cakes

Avocado chocolate chia pudding

My favorite chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate orange goji berry clusters

Berry crumble in a jar

The famous dump cake

 

Post Navigation:

33 Comments

  1. Nikki on December 22, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    Those look yummy! Will be sure to try them out! Hope you and your family have a fabulous Christmas! <3

  2. Jessie on December 22, 2014 at 1:55 pm

    Looks amazing! Thanks! Have a wonderful Christmas:)

  3. clare @ fitting it all in on December 22, 2014 at 1:55 pm

    i die. on the baking list!

  4. Linda @ TheFitty on December 22, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Do you think you can put the nutrition facts for recipes. too? 🙂

  5. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine on December 22, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    Yay for not using eggs and making it vegan too!

  6. Les @ The Balanced Berry on December 22, 2014 at 2:16 pm

    Yes. Just yes. Must make immediately. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  7. Kara H. on December 22, 2014 at 2:19 pm

    This sounds like heaven in a dish. I’ve made the Paula Deen recipe one time, took them into work, and turned around to try a little during lunch and they were GONE! Haha eaten by my co-workers. Needless to say I will be trying this recipe though.

  8. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West on December 22, 2014 at 2:51 pm

    Sounds good! It’s funny how some times you discover a new recipe unintentionally. 🙂

  9. Nicole @ Runs & WODs on December 22, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    Adding this to my list of your recipes I need to make!

  10. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on December 22, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    I’ve made a similar recipe with pumpkin added. It’s amazing so I can image how delicious this must be.

  11. Hillary | Nutrition Nut on the Run on December 22, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    This is a genius recipe. Can’t wait to try it!! I typically have all the ingredients in my kitchen, too.

  12. Lizzie @ The Magic Tree on December 22, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    Whoa! I’m salivating!

  13. Christina @ The Beautiful Balance on December 22, 2014 at 5:45 pm

    Almond meal is one of my favorite flours to use in baking and I love the texture it gives! These look awesome and it looks like that egg mistake did not even matter because these held together nicely!

  14. RachelG on December 22, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    Yea, this is so happening on Wednesday morning. 🙂

  15. Hannah on December 22, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    If you had eggs, how many would you use and how would it affect the final product?

    • Fitnessista on December 22, 2014 at 8:36 pm

      i think it would give it a fluffier texture. i don’t want to give amounts or ideas for the eggs since i didn’t get to test that one, yet! if i do, i will definitely update the recipe

  16. Karissa on December 22, 2014 at 6:42 pm

    Oh my gosh cannot WAIT to try this!!!

  17. Heather Cory on December 22, 2014 at 7:03 pm

    I have all the ingredients to make this…except for the chocolate!!! Fail!!

  18. Giselle on December 22, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    Yum! This looks so good but in a dangerous way!

  19. Jill @ Champagne for Everyday on December 22, 2014 at 8:38 pm

    Honestly, this is a fantastic replacement for my go-to black bean brownie that I have been getting soooo sick of, but lazy to test replacements for. Thank you!! Trying this tomorrow.
    🙂
    Jill
    Latest Post – The Secret Meaning of Red + My Party Dress

  20. Emily Miner on December 23, 2014 at 7:09 am

    “Fudge brownies, topped with light and sweet cookie dough, with chocolate chips throughout.” Nom nom! #idienow #moderation365

  21. Tracy on December 23, 2014 at 8:48 am

    You had me at “gooey”!! Yum! And since they’re healthy and all…. definitely want to make these!!

  22. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment on December 24, 2014 at 4:37 am

    Can’t wait to recreate this at home! Sometimes those happy accidents happen in the kitchen and the creation turns out even better. 🙂

  23. AJ @ NutriFitMama on December 24, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    These look awesome! Definitely going to be making these soon!

  24. Teffy on December 28, 2014 at 11:43 pm

    They sound soo delicious!!
    I’m always up for something that says double chocolate… can’t go wrong with that!

    {Teffy’s Perks} X

  25. Stacey on January 5, 2015 at 10:42 am

    Do you think cashew meal would work? My husband is allergic to almond. Thanks!!

    • Fitnessista on January 5, 2015 at 3:00 pm

      i think it would!

  26. Matea on January 13, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    This looks so delicious! And the fact that it’s healthy means I can have two slices, right?? 🙂

  27. Tamara @ A Side Of Dessert on January 19, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    I just put it in the oven and sat to look through some tweets and realized you tweeted this blog post! Talk about smart minds thinking alike 😉

    • Fitnessista on January 19, 2015 at 3:56 pm

      i was reading your brain 😉

  28. masala girl on March 14, 2016 at 7:43 pm

    omg gina this sounds so good, and still healthy!! i dont remember you posting this.. but saving for a special occasion 😀
    (i was looking for your almond butter chocolate chip cookies and stumbled upon this haha)

  29. Maggie on April 1, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    I made this tonight to distract myself from eating the other super sugary desserts I’ve been making for my friend’s birthday party tomorrow. Holy YUM!! I won’t tell you how much of the pan I demolished by myself – the dangers of living alone! Thanks for a keeper of a recipe!!

Leave a Comment

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.