Today’s post and this gluten-free Polka Dot Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting recipe comes from Starlene over at GAPS: A Diet Journey. Starlene writes about her journey on the GAPS diet at her blog, but on occasion comes up with a recipe that isn’t fully “GAPS legal” as she says.
So she asked me if I would host this gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free recipe here at gfe. I’m so happy to oblige, especially when the recipe featured is as gorgeous and mouth watering as this one! Note that this cake might also be considered paleo and/or primal by those who include butter in those diets.
![Grain-Free Polka Dot Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Almond Butter Frosting. From Starlene Stewart. [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Starlene-chocolate-cake-3.jpg "Grain-Free Polka Dot Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Almond Butter Frosting. From Starlene Stewart. [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]")
My husband loves chocolate and I wanted to make him a special treat for Father’s Day. I could cheat a little and enjoy it as well. (Baking soda and cocoa powder are not allowed on GAPS.)
More Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Recipes
~ Flourless Chocolate Quinoa Cake
~ Double Chocolate Clementine Cake
~ Mediterranean Chocolate Cake
~ No-Joke Paleo Dark Chocolate Layer Cake
~ Simple and Good Chocolate Cake
Gluten-Free Polka Dot Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting Recipe
![Grain-Free Polka Dot Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Almond Butter Frosting. You can even consider this paleo/primal if you eat butter on your version of those diets. From Starlene Stewart. [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/chocolatecake_whole-1.jpg "Grain-Free Polka Dot Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Almond Butter Frosting. You can even consider this paleo/primal if you eat butter on your version of those diets. From Starlene Stewart. [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]")
Paleo Polka-Dot Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Who doesn't love polka dots? This delicious gluten-free chocolate cake recipe uses a super easy and natural way to add polka dots to this treat. Such fun for a special occasion! The texture of the cake will be brownie-like. YUM!
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Ingredients:
- 2 cups and 1 Tablespoon blanched almond flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup raw almond butter, at room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons softened butter (or dairy-free equivalent)
- 2 Tablespoons and 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- pinch salt
- sliced almonds as garnish, optional
Instructions
Cake Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Gently whisk cocoa into the almond flour, then add the salt and baking soda, whisking again.
- In a different bowl, mix the wet ingredients together: honey, eggs and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet into the dry and stir just until fully mixed.
- Butter an 8-inch cake pan (the kind with the little piece that goes around to help release the cake works best) and flour lightly with almond flour. Don't forget to flour with almond flour as this cake will stick.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes. .
Frosting Instructions:
- Mix the frosting ingredients together.
- Frost the cake after it has cooled for about fifteen minutes, no longer. Frosting it while warm helps the frosting spread easily. The frosting is just enough for a one-layer cake IF you frost the cake while still very warm.
Notes
This cake is very rich and decadent. It also tastes great after being frozen for twelve hours.
The cake portion of this recipe is adapted from Elana Amsterdam's The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook.
The frosting recipe is an original recipe from Starlene.
The ice cream shown in the photo is Elana's Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream.
Originally published June 21, 2010; updated July 8, 2024.
Starlene says
Shirley, thank you for hosting my “illegal” recipe. 🙂 It was delicious and my husband raved about it. And he’s not one to rave! His favorite saying is “Food’s food, just eat it!” 🙂
Shirley says
Starlene–It was my pleasure! It’s such an amazing recipe … I, like others, LOVE it. Yep, I understand … when a non-raving husband raves, that’s phenomenal!
Thanks so much for sharing your recipe with me and the gfe readers. 🙂
Shirley
Jayme says
*drool* this looks fabulous! I can’t wait to make it.
Shirley says
Hey Jayme–I know I’ve visited your blog before, but it looks like you are new to commenting here–welcome! 🙂 I couldn’t agree more … *drool* indeed, or maybe *DROOL*. LOL Can’t wait to hear your report!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
Shirley
Sophie says
waw,..I am truly gobsmacked here!! what a stunning cake & just look at those georgous polka dots!!
MMMMMMMMMMMM,…and gluten free & easy to make too!
Shirley says
Sophie–I know exactly what you mean. Starlene has stunned us all with this beauty. And, who can resist polka dots? And, healthy ones at that! 🙂
Hugs,
Shirley
Aubree Cherie says
Ooooooh my, does this look good! I’m also pretty ecstatic that there isn’t any refined sugar! I could make this almost as is (easily to sub out the dairy.) Can’t wait to try this 😀
~Aubree Cherie
Shirley says
Hi Aubree–Yes, I love the recipes without refined sugar, too. And, I agree on subbing for the dairy. Beam me a piece when you make this one, okay? I’m scared to make it and be home alone with it! Not kidding … As others have said, keeping it in the freezer would certainly not be safe … 😉
Shirley
glutenfreeforgood says
Yum! That does look rich and decadent! It’s more “torte-like” than cake-ish. GFE for sure! Simple ingredients, simple instructions. I love it.
Oh, and Shirley, I laughed out loud at your “also tastes great frozen” comment. I try to “save” myself from temptation by freezing goodies like this — only to find they taste better frozen. Darn! =)
Melissa
xo
Shirley says
Hey Melissa–Those were Starlene’s words, but they could have easily been mine. I raided the freezer a couple of weeks ago and hit up a failed PB and chocolate recipe. It certainly didn’t take like a failed recipe as I was eaten those frozen bits! There is no safe haven for these types of treats!
I agree that Starlene did a beautiful and amazing job with this cake! 🙂
Shirley
Zoe @ Z's Cup of Tea says
Oh my! This looks delicious – I’d make it right now if not for the fact that I have to get more cocoa powder still, plus almond flour. I have it on my “things to make” list. My family would love it! I like the idea of an almond butter frosting, too. Well done!
Shirley says
Hey Zoe–I just discovered that I’m out of cocoa, too. Now that is worth a trip to the grocery store! A girl must have her chocolate treats. Luckily, I still have a good supply of almond flour. Hope you and your family enjoy it when you have all the ingredients and the timing is right. 🙂 Bravo to Starlene, huh?
BTW, I added a reminder to my latest post on the GAHIGF roundup. Hope it helps!
Shirley
Alea says
This cake looks wonderful! Almonds and chocolate are one of my favorite combinations. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe.
Shirley says
Hi Alea–I know Starlene will appreciate your compliment. I think many of us are hooked on the chocolate and almonds combo. After all, isn’t that what’s behind the success of the Hershey bar with almond? 😉 But, this cake of Starlene’s … much better for you and far more luscious. 🙂
Shirley
Erin Elberson says
This looks lovely! Will be putting it on my list of recipes for special treat days. I also have been known to have a frozen treat along with Melissa-the black bean GF brownies are fabulous out of the freezer!
Shirley says
Hey Erin–Yes, special treat day worthy for sure! If we all lived close together, it would be safe to make this and cut it into about 16 smallish slices. But for an every day indulgence with just our home peeps, it’s probably not a wise idea. 😉 I love Starlene for sharing it with us though.
Oh, and we all love our frozen gf treats, don’t we? Black bean brownies rock in any form IMHO!
Shirley
Starlene says
Thank you everyone for all the lovely compliments! I decided to check today and see if anyone else commented and wow, I am just sitting here grinning. I feel so honored! Thanks again Shirley for hosting my recipe! I have banned myself from making it until another special holiday, it is so delicious!
Shirley says
Hi Starlene–We’ll keep getting the word out about your fabulous cake! 🙂 It was my pleasure to share it with all. And, you can enjoy it vicariously through all the other people who are sure to be making it. 😉 Well, at least until the next special occasion that merits this delicious beauty. 🙂
Shirley
Linda says
I don’t remember seeing this one before, Shirley. I love the polka dots, and of course that it’s grain free.
Shirley says
Linda–I’ve found quite a few recipes recently that seemed to go under the radar when they were first published. 😉 I was happy to share this one on Gluten-Free Wednesdays this week to ensure that you and others would see it. Yes, those are my kind of polka dots and I love the grain-free factor in this recipe, too. 🙂 I’d also like to make the frosting and it would be easy to make it dairy free.
Shirley
vegetarianmamma (Cindy) says
This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
-Cindy
Shirley says
Starlene created a great recipe with this cake for sure. 🙂 Thanks for hosting Gluten-Free Fridays, dear!
The Ninja Baker says
Bless you Shirley for sharing Starlene’s recipe <3 My husband is sensitive to grains and does his best to eat paleo. I'm quite certain he'll love this chocolate cake =) P.s. Visiting via April's party. Tweeting and pinning =)
Shirley Braden says
Ninja Baker–Yay!! I’m so happy to give you a recipe that will work for your husband. 🙂 I also really appreciate you sharing this post on Twitter and Pinterest!
Have a good week!
Shirley
April J Harris says
Shirley, I’m so glad you hosted Starlene’s recipe – what a delicious cake! It looks so moist and tasty and I love the frosting. Sharing! Thank you so much for being a part of Hearth and Soul.
Shirley Braden says
Thanks so much, April! I agree that Starlene’s recipe is fantastic! I’m always happy to participate in Hearth and Soul when I have my act together. 🙂
Shirley