Chocolate Chia Cake

This is a recipe I have made for a little while, it is probably my favorite healthy chocolate cake recipe, and its pretty amazing for all that is in it!!  I made this cake for mother's day last weekend.  I topped it with a healthy date frosting, but you could top it with a variety of frostings, or do without (but, I would never/could never do this...Cake is just a vehicle for the frosting, right?)The recipe is modified from a recipe from a blog I love, Healthy Indulgences--here is the link for the recipe that I modified:

http://healthyindulgences.net/2009/05/healthy-chocolate-cake-with-a-secret/

Enjoy! And here is the recipe (important note--a food processor/blended is highly recommended; you could probably do without but would have to do some serious bean mashing):

The missing slice that is is my tummy

The finished cake and frosting waiting to be spread!

- 1 (15oz) can black beans (any beans including white beans will work, I prefer black beans though for this recipe)
- 5 eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 tbsp chia gel (prepare by soaking 2 tbsp chia seeds in 4 tbsp water)
- 1/2 cup truvia (or use 1/2 cup honey, or 1/2 cup of another sweetener--though you might want a little more than 1/2 cup if you use a dry sweetener like coconut sugar or granulated sugar--they are a little less sweet than truvia or honey)
- 6 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder

1.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Oil your pan of choice: muffin tin, 9-inch circle pan, 8-inch square pan
2.) Mix everything in blender/food processor, in the order given in the recipe.  First put in the beans and eggs for a minute or so, until very smooth and no bean bits hanging around--you don't really want those in your cake.
3.) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, approximately*
*Depends on pan and probably sweetener as well (liquid vs dry).  I don't remember how long it took to bake when I made these in cupcake form, but I would check them at 15-20 minutes.  Will be ready when a toothpick--or knife--or whatever you stab it with--comes out clean.

Date Frosting:
So, I don't have a specific recipe, but here are the ingredient approximates.  The beauty of this recipe is that you can adjust the different parts to how you like it

- 1-1.5 cups of dates + 1 cup of boiling water (pour the boiling water over the dates and let stand for 10-15 minutes to soften)
- 1 tbsp melted coconut oil (optional, helps frosting harden when chilled)
- 1/2 cup cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat--maybe you could even use really thick Greek yogurt?)
- A good amount of cocoa powder--as in at least 1/2 cup, depends on how thick you want your frosting
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp of salt (it enhances the chocolate flavor, but is optional)

1.) Place softened dates in food processor and process till smooth.  Add coconut oil, then cream cheese.  Add cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt and process till smooth.  spread on cake and enjoy!!!