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Home » Recipes

Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake with Easy Whipped Cream Frosting

Whole-Wheat Chocolate Cake Recipe from 100 Days of Real Food

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Earlier this year my daughter asked me if I could “write” Happy Birthday on top of her homemade cake, and I practically laughed out loud at the thought of what that would look like.  So cake-decorating skills or not…absolutely anyone can make this “tie dye” cake turn out beautifully. And don’t be afraid to switch up the colors. I used peaches and raspberries in the pictured version, but if you want it to be more “boyish” blueberries would add some great color as well.

Before we switched to “real food” I used to make birthday cakes out of a box topped with frosting from a tub mixed with food coloring from little squeeze bottles. I’ve always loved to bake, but I never used to make cakes from scratch because I didn’t have a good “go-to” recipe and I also didn’t know any better! Now that we’ve cut all highly processed food from our diets I prefer a cake made from scratch with only a few simple ingredients when it comes time for those special celebrations. No matter how much we say junk food is okay in moderation I almost never want the highly processed, factory-made, artificial version anymore. So as I mentioned in my previous whole-wheat chocolate chip cookie recipe, this cake “breaks the real food rules” a little, but I would much rather you make this for your next celebration instead of relying on Betty Crocker (or worse – your grocery store bakery)! Feel free to check out the ingredient list for those options if you don’t believe me that this is a much better choice. :)

 

Whole-Wheat Chocolate Cake

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma, this whole-wheat chocolate cake recipe is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to make a cake from scratch without spending days in the kitchen or having the end result look like it was decorated by a 4-year-old. And while this cake does contain sugar, it's so much better made from scratch than the box cake batter.
32 Reviews / 4.7 Average
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 18 minutes mins
Total Time: 28 minutes mins
Course: Treats
Cuisine: American
Method: Freezer Friendly
Diet: Peanut/Tree Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Print Recipe
Servings: 14 slices
Save Recipe Saved!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup whole-wheat flour (organic pastry or white winter wheat recommended)
  • 1 cup all purpose flour ((or cake flour) organic recommended, or can sub whole-wheat flour)
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I recommend Hershey's Special Dark)
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 ¼ cups sugar (organic recommended)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 eggs (organic recommended)
  • ⅔ cup coconut oil (or melted butter (1:1))
  • 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
  • butter (for greasing pans)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease two 9-inch round cake pans or other sized baking dish.
  • In a large bowl whisk together dry ingredients including flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, sugar and salt.
  • Make a well (hole) in the middle of the dry ingredients and drop in the water, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix by hand with whisk until well blended.
  • Distribute batter evenly into the two cake 9-inch pans and bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes clean. Let cool before adding frosting.

Notes

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Whole-Wheat Chocolate Cake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 242 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 23mg8%
Sodium 54mg2%
Potassium 193mg6%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 35IU1%
Calcium 65mg7%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Want weekly REAL FOOD meal plans made for you?→ Check It Out
Round cake with white frosting and tie dye berry sauce

Whipped Cream Frosting and Berry Sauce

Whipped Cream Frosting and Berry Sauce
32 Reviews / 4.7 Average
Prep Time: 25 minutes mins
Total Time: 25 minutes mins
Course: Treats
Cuisine: American
Method: Baked Goods, Freezer Friendly
Diet: Peanut/Tree Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Print Recipe
Servings: 3 cups
Save Recipe Saved!

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups heavy whipping cream (organic recommended)
  • 3 tablespoons sugar (organic recommended, to taste)
  • 1 ½ recipe berry sauce (with water, reduced in half (subbing either frozen or fresh organic fruit for desired topping color for e.g. raspberries = bright red, peach or mango = orange, blueberries = blue, cherries = dark red). See link below.)

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, whip cream and sugar together using an electric mixer.
  • Meanwhile prepare berry sauce(s) with desired fruit for topping. Let sauce(s) cool.
  • Turn out one of the cooled cake rounds onto serving platter. Cover the top (that used to be the bottom) with whipped cream frosting. Lay second round cake layer directly on top of first frosted cake layer. Now cover the entire exposed cake with frosting including sides.
  • Put berry sauce into a squeeze bottle or alternatively you can try to drizzle sauce onto cake with a spoon. I used a “ketchup-style” squeeze bottle with the tip cut off to make the opening at the top a little wider.
  • Make colored circles on top of cake using berry sauce (pictured).

    Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake Recipe from 100 Days of Real Food
  • Using toothpicks start in the center of the cake and drag through the sauce to the edge. Repeat until desired look is achieved.

  • For best results serve within a few hours. Keep leftovers refrigerated.

Notes

Tools needed: squeeze bottle or spoon, and toothpicks.
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Whipped Cream Frosting and Berry Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 869 Calories from Fat 792
% Daily Value*
Fat 88g135%
Saturated Fat 55g344%
Cholesterol 326mg109%
Sodium 91mg4%
Potassium 179mg5%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 3500IU70%
Vitamin C 1.4mg2%
Calcium 155mg16%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Want weekly REAL FOOD meal plans made for you?→ Check It Out

Related Posts: Whole-Wheat Chocolate Cookies

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9.6K shares

About Lisa Leake

Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.

Comments

  1. Heather says

    October 14, 2019 at 3:05 pm

    I think I can use these colors to make my son an Elmo cake for his 2nd birthday! So thankful for you!!

    Reply
  2. Judith Judd says

    February 03, 2018 at 2:26 pm

    The oven temperature is wrong on this cake! What should it be??

    Reply
  3. Jacqueline McIlmoyl says

    March 18, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    5 stars
    This cake is delicious. There is no way to tell that it is mostly whole grain! We ate it without the whipped cream on top and it was fantastic. Obviously, the whipped cream would be amazing, but we couldn't wait that long! :) It was a lovely texture and is nice and moist throughout. We baked it in one 9x11 rectangle pan for 22 minutes.

    Reply
  4. Shibani Chhabria says

    March 07, 2017 at 5:16 am

    Made it.. loved it!
    Used olive oil and even added 2 heaped tablespoons of ground flaxseed. Kids loved it and no complaints on the flaxseed.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  5. teressa says

    February 02, 2017 at 3:09 am

    What could I use as a sugar substitute? 1.25 cups seems like a lot. I am wanting to make my son's first birthday cake. Could I use sweet potato or? Any other ideas?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      March 13, 2017 at 4:22 pm

      Hi. We've not tried adapting this recipe.

      Reply
    • Kasie says

      December 01, 2017 at 2:53 pm

      I am going to attempt to make it with coconut sugar - which is lower on the glycemic scale - and I am going to drop it to 3/4 cups. I always use half the amount of sugar suggested.
      I will let you know how it turns out.

      Reply
  6. Sarah Dickison says

    October 12, 2016 at 11:58 pm

    5 stars
    So wonderful ! Used brown sugar instead, my 14 year old daughter made the cake, the whipped cream frosting and a cherry berry sauce. All 12 kids and 4 adults loved it for Daddy's birthday !

    Reply
  7. Laura says

    June 19, 2016 at 9:58 pm

    Yup - it's a keeper!!! It even worked great in our bunny shaped cake pan! Thanks for a great recipe!! :-D

    Reply
  8. Jaime says

    February 05, 2016 at 10:46 pm

    5 stars
    We absolutely love this cake! I would love to use this recipe for cupcakes - can you give me an idea on baking time? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Caryn says

      May 23, 2016 at 12:28 pm

      I made cupcakes and I cooked them for 20 minutes.

      Reply
      • Michelle says

        May 16, 2017 at 5:02 pm

        How many cupcakes came out of one batch of cake?

  9. sarah oconnell says

    November 25, 2015 at 8:23 am

    How can i make the frosting into chocolate frosting? Just add some cocoa powder?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      November 30, 2015 at 9:16 am

      Hi Sarah. We've not tried that. Let us know if you give it a go.

      Reply
  10. michelle says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    Does the cake recipe really call for 2 tablespoons of vanilla? Just wondering if it should be teaspoons?? I hope you can answer this question fast...am making it right now! : )

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      November 23, 2015 at 6:11 pm

      Hi. Sorry, we can rarely answer in real time. The 2 T is correct.

      Reply
  11. Cara says

    November 17, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    Do you know if this recipe would need to have any high altitude adjustments?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      November 19, 2015 at 2:07 pm

      Hi Cara. Not sure but this might help: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/high-altitude-baking.html.

      Reply
  12. Anna says

    September 28, 2015 at 12:43 am

    4 stars
    Great recipe, thanks!

    Right now I'm on whole wheat, no sugar diet. This is the only recipe for chocolate cake that I was able to find that used any whole wheat flour! Do you have any idea how this would taste fully whole wheat and with a sugar substitute?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      September 30, 2015 at 7:15 am

      Hi Anna. Sorry, we have not tried any substitutes for sugar in this recipe.

      Reply
  13. Meghan Libert says

    August 03, 2015 at 10:41 am

    Can I cut this recipie in half for a smaller cake?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      August 17, 2015 at 9:01 am

      Hi Meghan. We have not tried but some cake recipes might need a bit of adjustment when cut in half. There are numerous threads on various baking/cooking forums. This might help: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/440559.

      Reply
  14. Cara says

    July 30, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    I'm not a baker but want to use this recipe for cup cakes for my daughter's 2nd birthday next week. Can I frost the cup cakes the day before, will the frosting he up?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      August 04, 2015 at 11:15 am

      Hi Cara. I would wait until the day of to frost them.

      Reply
  15. Jenny says

    June 12, 2015 at 9:34 am

    Can I use 1 c of white whole wheat instead of 1 c whole wheat flour?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      June 15, 2015 at 10:11 am

      Hi Jenny. Sure. :)

      Reply
    • Maria says

      October 07, 2015 at 10:27 am

      Hi Jenny,

      What I do when I don't want to use white instead of wholemeal flour is add 20% ground oats or 10% ground flax. That way I'm replacing the good I'm losing from the wholemeal with something as good or better.

      Oats do change the texture though, and generally make something denser. Flax generally keeps things light.

      Reply
  16. Neal says

    May 29, 2015 at 8:37 am

    Any recommendations for a good egg substitute for this recipe? Flax is our go-to usually. Will that work?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      June 15, 2015 at 11:06 am

      Hi Neal. Other readers have used flax in this recipe.

      Reply
  17. Emily says

    January 26, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    Made this this weekend for my son's 2nd birthday. Loved it! I did use 1 cup white whole wheat and 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour. It came out kind of dense so next time I will use all pastry flour. This is my go to recipe for chocolate cake now!

    Reply
  18. Kat says

    January 14, 2015 at 10:40 pm

    This sounds so good! I want to make it for a small birthday celebration. Could I half recipe and just use one 9" cake pan? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      January 15, 2015 at 4:17 pm

      Hi Kat. While that is not something we have tried, I think that should work fine. And since there is an even number of eggs, you will not have to worry about splitting an egg. :)

      Reply
  19. penelope says

    January 02, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    My family loves this cake. Can this cake recipe be used to make cupcakes too?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      January 05, 2015 at 11:16 am

      Hi there. It can. Bake at the same temp and regular size cupcakes are usually cooked within 15-20 minutes.

      Reply
  20. Elizabeth says

    November 25, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Is there really 2 Tablespoons of Vanilla in this cake recipe? Just asking because it seems like a lot. Thank you & I love your book!!!

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      November 29, 2014 at 9:40 am

      Hi Elizabeth. Yep, the recipe is correct. :)

      Reply
  21. Food online says

    November 20, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for the recipe
    http://food-online8.webnode.com/

    Reply
  22. Courtenay says

    September 14, 2014 at 7:11 pm

    5 stars
    This has become our go to recipe for birthday cakes. My kids both love it, and several months ago my daughter asked for this cake with strawberries we picked. We put some in the freezer and I defrosted and drained them. I mashed them and put them in the middle, and used the extra strawberry juice to color the frosting (I actually use frosting from the cupcake recipe on this blog, but only half because it's so sweet for us). The extra strawberry flavor was really delicious and it made my birthday girl very happy! One note for those trying this recipe for the first time, make sure you really grease those cake pans, and then allow them to cool about 30 minutes to get them out easily.

    Reply
  23. Audrey* says

    July 31, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    5 stars
    You might want to edit the recipe to say (for the newbies like me that don't know...) that you have to whip the cream and sugar on HIGH to get anywhere. I tried every speed on my mixer for about 10 minutes, except super, blown-out, all the way, high and all I had was a soupy mess. I finally thought I'd give high a try before I threw it out and it finally started to firm up. (And then it was perfect!) Might seem common place to people who bake, but I had no idea and I saw several comments from others that didn't either.

    Reply
  24. Paulette says

    July 29, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    The cake was good! I tried to make the frosting, but as I
    was mixing it separated and became clumpy and not good.
    Is it because I used cane sugar instead of the refined stuff?

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      July 30, 2014 at 4:20 pm

      I have a similar recipe that I use quite often but this decorating idea will spice it up for a change.

      @Paulette: only mix until the cream is "stiff". If you mix too long it'll turn into butter chunks swimming in butter milk.

      Reply
  25. Lynn says

    June 18, 2014 at 2:10 am

    I made this with strong coffee instead of water and 1/4 coco and used a mascarpone frosting, perfect 'tiramisu' cake!

    Reply
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Meet Lisa! Lisa is a best-selling cookbook author, wife, mother, and passionate home cook. Lisa began blogging in 2010 and has created a community of millions of people who share her love of healthy living, real food ingredients, and family recipes.

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