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It's relatively easy to sneak some calorie-reducing ingredients - like applesauce, Greek yogurt and egg whites - into a gooey chocolate cake.
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I dare anyone to pick this cake out of a healthy desserts lineup!
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Note that the icing must be prepared in advance so the layers don't slide off each other.
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Prepare icing: In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or in a bowl using a whisk, combine yogurt, cocoa powder, melted chocolate and icing sugar until smooth.
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Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours, to firm up.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease and flour two 10-inch cake pans.
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Prepare cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
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In a food processor, pulse applesauce, yogurt, honey, sugar, butter and vanilla until smooth.
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Gradually mix into dry ingredients until just combined; do not overmix.
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In a separate dry bowl, using an electric beater on high speed, whisk egg whites until soft peaks form.
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Using a spatula, fold egg whites into batter.
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(Batter should seem a little lumpy; do not overmix.)
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Pour batter into prepared cake pans.
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Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out almost clean.
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Transfer pans to wire racks to cool for 20 minutes, then turn out cakes onto wire racks to cool completely.
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Remove icing from the fridge and allow to warm at room temperature until easily spreadable, about 1 hour.
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Using a serrated knife, slice a small portion off the top of each cake so that the top is flat.
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Place 1 cake on a stand or flat plate; using an offset or regular spatula, spread a layer of icing over cut side.
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Place remaining cake cut side down on top of iced cake.
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Thinly spread about one-third of remaining icing all over cake to form a crumb coat (see Note).
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Refrigerate for about 1 hour until set, leaving remaining icing at room temperature.
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Once crumb coat has set, cover cake with remainder of icing.
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Serve immediately or refrigerate, bringing cake to room temperature before serving.
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Nutrition
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Note: What is a crumb coat?
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This is a thin preliminary layer of icing that traps all the loose crumbs, so the final layer of icing glides on smoothly.
