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Explore the joys of making a Mini Flourless Chocolate Cake, a decadent delight that’s as flavorful as it is simple to whip up. Fans of brownies will find this small cake offers a similar chocolaty indulgence, but with a smoother and silkier texture. This mini cake recipe, a downsized version of the classic flourless chocolate cake, is perfect for serving one or two. With just a few key ingredients, it’s a breeze to prepare in under 30 minutes. Whether for a special occasion or as a personal treat, this gluten-free recipe is always a hit.
Explore our range of chocolate mini cake recipes: indulgent German Chocolate Cake, magical Chocolate Lava Cake, decadent Devil’s Food Cake, and classic Texas Sheet Cake.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe
- Perfect Size: This small cake is scaled down to serve one or two.
- Rich Chocolate Flavor: Combines both chocolate and cocoa for a deep taste.
- Easy to Make: Simple steps ensure a hassle-free baking experience.
- Gluten-Free: Ideal for those on a gluten-free diet.
- Versatile Dessert: Great for birthdays, special occasions, or any day.
What Is Flourless Chocolate Cake?
Often referred to as a chocolate torte, a flourless chocolate cake is a simple yet sophisticated dessert. This classic treat is made without flour, making it a great option for those following a gluten-free diet.
Despite its elegant appearance and rich flavor, it’s surprisingly easy to prepare. This restaurant-style dessert utilizes basic pantry items like eggs and cocoa powder.
It’s the perfect go-to recipe when you’re out of flour and other leavening agents, ensuring a luxurious dessert experience with minimal ingredients.
RELATED: 15 Easy Dessert Recipes For One
Ingredients
This section provides a quick rundown of the ingredients used in this small flourless chocolate cake recipe. For complete measurements and step-by-step instructions, please scroll to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
- Chocolate: Opt for high-quality chocolate like Guittard, Ghirardelli, or Hershey’s chocolate chips, or Baker’s brand semi-sweet chocolate, as it’s the main ingredient.
- Butter: Salted butter is preferred, though unsalted works too.
- Oil: Use vegetable, canola, or avocado oil. Either of these oils mixed with melted butter, enhances the chocolate’s silkiness and smoothness.
- Egg: Incorporate 1 large egg and 1 egg white for a moist, fudgy texture. Save the extra egg yolk and use it in any of our egg yolk recipes like a small batch of Chocolate Scones or Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Cocoa powder helps take the place of flour in this recipe. Consider using leftover cocoa powder in a mini Chocolate Pie, a small batch of rum balls, or Chocolate Banana Bread.
- Vanilla extract, salt, and sugar: Sugar and vanilla sweeten the cake and add flavor. Sugar also adds moisture and helps give the cake a great texture. Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
If you have any ingredients leftover from this flourless chocolate cake recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
How To Make A Flourless Chocolate Cake
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a mini flourless chocolate cake. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly butter a 5×7-inch baking dish, a 5×5-inch baking dish, or a 4×6-inch baking dish, and set the dish aside.
- Combine chocolate chips, butter, and oil in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water and heat, stirring often, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and set it aside to cool.
Pro Tip: Melting chocolate using a double boiler, which is a bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water, is highly effective. This method lets you monitor the melting process, preventing burning. The steam gently melts the chocolate, and the addition of oil and butter ensures it melts smoothly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Gradually whisk into the cooled melted chocolate. Set the bowl aside.
- In another small bowl, beat the egg white and sugar together until stiff peaks form.
Pro Tip: Stiff peaks occur when you lift your beater and observe a peak that stands upright in the bowl without collapsing.
- Fold the egg white into the chocolate mixture.
- Pour the batter into the buttered baking dish and sprinkle the top with 1/4 teaspoon of sugar. Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Pro Tip: While baking, the cake will rise, but due to the lack of gluten, it lacks the structure to maintain that rise after being removed from the oven. As it cools, the air bubbles inside contract, causing the cake to sink back down. It’s normal for the top to crack slightly, as you can see in the recipe’s accompanying photographs.
- Transfer the baking dish to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy the cake as-is, or add a dollop of whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or chocolate ganache (see recipe below).
Simple Ganache Recipe (Optional Topping)
Ganache, a blend of chocolate and warm cream, is surprisingly simple to make and a delightful yet optional topping for the flourless chocolate cake. Here’s how to make it:
- Place 1/4 cup of high-quality chocolate chips or chopped chocolate in a small bowl.
- Heat 1/4 cup of heavy cream in a saucepan on medium-low until it simmers, or in the microwave until it bubbles. Avoid boiling over.
- Let the hot cream sit over the chocolate for 2-3 minutes, then gently stir until smooth.
- Drizzle the ganache over your cake for an extra touch of richness.
Tip: Double the recipe for more ganache.
Expert Tips
- Choose the Right Baking Dish: Success hinges on using the correct baking dish. Recommended sizes are a 5×7-inch dish, a 4×6-inch dish, or a 5×5-inch dish.
- Use a Rimmed Baking Sheet: Since the cake rises significantly, placing the baking dish on a baking sheet helps catch any spills.
- Avoid Overbaking: Typically, it bakes in 25-30 minutes. It’s ready when the top has a matte crust and the center is just set. A toothpick test (clean removal indicates doneness) can also be used.
- Enhance Your Topping: Beyond a simple powdered sugar dusting, try adding a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg to the sugar for extra flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep it refrigerated, covered. It becomes denser and more fudgy as it cools.
Ideally, consume this small cake soon. If needed, it stays good in the fridge for up to four days.
Yes, wrap it tightly and use a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge before enjoying. It lasts in the freezer for up to three months.
The recipe’s success depends on the dish size. Recommended are 5×7-inch, 4×6-inch, or 5×5-inch dishes.
Cut and serve directly from the pan, or invert the cooled cake onto a plate for removal. A springform pan eases this process. Toppings like whipped cream or ganache disguise any imperfections from inverting.
RELATED: The Best Cookie Recipes For One
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this small flourless chocolate cake or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Mini Flourless Chocolate Cake
Equipment
- 5×7 inch baking dish , or use a 5×5-inch baking dish or a 4×6-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 ½ teaspoons vegetable oil , canola oil, or avocado oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg white
- 1 ½ teaspoons cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar , plus 1/4 teaspoon for dusting the top of the cake
- whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly butter a 5×7-inch baking dish, a 5×5-inch baking dish, or a 4×6-inch baking dish, and set the dish aside.
- Combine chocolate chips, butter, and oil in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water and heat, stirring often, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and set it aside to cool.Pro Tip: Melting chocolate using a double boiler, which is a bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water, is highly effective. This method lets you monitor the melting process, preventing burning. The steam gently melts the chocolate, and the addition of oil and butter ensures it melts smoothly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Gradually whisk into the cooled melted chocolate. Set the bowl aside.
- In another small bowl, beat the egg white and sugar together until stiff peaks form.Pro Tip: Stiff peaks occur when you lift your beater and observe a peak that stands upright in the bowl without collapsing.
- Fold the whipped egg white into the chocolate mixture.
- Pour the batter into the buttered baking dish and sprinkle the top with ¼ teaspoon of sugar. Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes.Pro Tip: While baking, the cake will rise, but due to the lack of gluten, it lacks the structure to maintain that rise after being removed from the oven. As it cools, the air bubbles inside contract, causing the cake to sink back down. It's normal for the top to crack slightly, as you can see in the recipe's accompanying photographs.
- Transfer the baking dish to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy the cake as-is, or add a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Video
Notes
- Choose the Right Baking Dish: Success hinges on using the correct baking dish. Recommended sizes are a 5×7-inch dish, a 4×6-inch dish, or a 5×5-inch dish.
- Use a Rimmed Baking Sheet: Since the cake rises significantly, placing the baking dish on a baking sheet helps catch any spills.
- Avoid Overbaking: Typically, it bakes in 25-30 minutes. It’s ready when the top has a matte crust and the center is just set. A toothpick test (clean removal indicates doneness) can also be used.
- Enhance Your Topping: Beyond a simple powdered sugar dusting, try adding a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg to the sugar for extra flavor.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Delicious cake – loved it and easy to make.
So moist and rich. I love that this is for ONE person! yum!
Now this is my kind of dessert! Easy and delicious too!
I’ve always been curious about a flourless chocolate cake but I love how you walk us through the steps to make it. I used a 5×7 inch dish which was perfect.
Thank you, Michelle!
Made this for my husband and me to enjoy. We ate it all in one sitting – delicious!!!
This looks soo yummy! Pinning it for later 🙂
I’m loving all of your mini desserts and this cake has become my new favorite.
Oh my goodness this looks yummy! I love that this is gluten free and personal sized… I hate sharing!
These would be perfect for my husband and I. We love us some chocolate!
Joanie this looks so good! Does it have the consistency/texture of a brownie?
Yes, but more like a cake brownie.