There are many common misconceptions that desserts have to be unhealthy. People think of the chocolate treats, refined sugared products, and processed foods. The truth is you can make your own healthy desserts. You can use healthy ingredients without changing too much.
Kale is one of the most versatile ingredients. It can be bitter on its own, but when mixed with other ingredients you can create something delicious that curbs sweet cravings, fills you up, and leaves you feeling like you’ve had something naughty but nice.
Now you just need to find the best options to start. These kale cake recipes are easy to make and you’ll likely already have many of the ingredients needed in your cupboards or fridge. If you don’t want the kids to realise, make the cake yourself first and let them try it. You can then share the ingredients and get them to help the next time.
Here are six kale cake recipes you need to try for your next dessert.
Apple and Kale Cake with Apple Icing
Photo Credits: Veggie Desserts
Let’s start with a slight variation to the popular apple cake. This is made with a yummy apple icing. It does use some packaged sugar, but not too much to cause major health problems. Most of the sweetness is natural.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of kale leaves, stalk removed and torn into bite-sized pieces
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup of oil of choice
- 2tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup of applesauce
- ¾ cup of sugar
- 2 apples, peeled and grated
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2tsp baking powder
- 1/2tsp salt
Ingredients for the Icing:
- 1 ¼ cups of powdered icing sugar
- 2tbsp butter, room temperature
- 2tbsp applesauce
- 1/2tsp vanilla extract
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease two cake tins
- Place the kale in a pan of water and boil for 2 minutes
- Rinse with cold water, drain the leaves and then puree in a blender; put aside
- Whisk the oil, eggs, applesauce, vanilla extract, and sugar well
- Add in the kale puree and the grated apple, beating to combine everything
- Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture and add the salt, combining gently
- Pour the mixture into the tins and then bake for 30 minutes, until a knife comes out clean in the middle
- Cool for 2 minutes and then remove from the tins and allow to cool completely
- Meanwhile, sift the icing sugar into a bowl and add the rest of the icing ingredients, combining until smooth
- Store in the fridge until the cakes are completely cooled
Ice the two cakes separately. You can also choose to add the icing to the middle and sandwich the cakes. Alternatively, add some applesauce in the middle of the two layers and ice the whole cake. Serve with some ice cream or whipped cream on the side and don’t forget some berries!
If you don’t want to use applesauce, you can create your own. Peel, slice, and puree apples. Regularly eating apples will be good.
Kale and Chocolate Cake with Fudge Frosting
Photo Credits: Reformation Acres
Chocolate cake doesn’t have to be unhealthy. Opting for a healthy diet doesn’t mean you have to forgo the chocolate. It’s time to create a healthy, chocolate kale cake. The fudge icing is the unhealthiest part and you can skip it if you want, but the kids will love it!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
- 4oz chocolate, semi sweet
- ¼ cup of cocoa powder
- ¾ cup of sour cream
- 1 cup of butter, room temperature
- 1 ¾ cups of sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2tsp baking powder
- 3/4tsp baking soda
- 1tsp salt
- Ingredients for the frosting:
- 2 sticks of butter, room temperature
- 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar, sifted
- ½ cup of cocoa powder, sifted
- 1/2tsp salt
- 2tsp vanilla extract
- 4tbsp cream
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 350F; grease two cake pans with butter and dust with cocoa powder
- Melt the chocolate with the double broiler method or in the microwave
- In the boiling water, once the chocolate is melted, add the kale and cook for 2 minutes
- Scoop the kale from the water and put it in a blender, adding a bit of the water, and puree until smooth
- Strain the kale to remove the fibres
- Place ¾ cup of the kale into the melted chocolate and add the cocoa powder
- Add in the sour cream and whisk to combine
- Cream the butter and sugar in a separate bowl until light and fluffy
- In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and soda, and salt into a bowl to combine
- Add the eggs into the butter mixture one at a time, beating each one to fully combine
- Add the butter mixture and flour mixture to the kale bowl alternating between the two to fully combine the batter
- Pour the batter into the two cake tins and bake for 30-035 minutes; the cake will spring back in the middle once done
- Cool for 10 minutes and then remove from the pans and place on a wire rack, allowing to fully cool before frosting
- Meanwhile, sift the sugar and cocoa powder from the frosting together
- Cream the butter and then add the sugar mixture, vanilla extract, and salt, combining fully
- Beat for about 3 minutes to create the frosting
You can store the frosting in the fridge until you’re ready to add it to the cake. Use the frosting in the middle of the two layers of cake to sandwich them together and then top with the left over. You can always make more if you want.
Sea Salt, Kale, and Chocolate Cake
Photo Credits: Live Strong
This is similar to the cake above, but without the frosting. It’s also a gluten friendly option, as it uses rice and almond flour. If you are allergic to almonds, you’ll need to find your own alternative. If you can’t find almond flour, grind up your own almonds instead.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of rice flour
- ¾ cup of almond flour
- 2 eggs
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- 1tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup of sugar
- ¼ cup of cocoa powder
- 3 kale leaves, large ones
- 1/8 cup of olive oil
- Ingredients for the topping:
- ¼ cup of dark chocolate chips
- Coarse sea salt to taste
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a cake pan, dusting with some of the almond flour
- Boil the kale leaves in water for 2 minutes, before draining the water apart from 2tbsp
- Place the kale leaves and water into a blender and puree until smooth
- Whisk the eggs, vanilla extract, and sugar together and then mix in the cocoa powder
- Add in the oil and kale puree, and fully combine
- Add the two flours and the sea salt, blending together well
- Bake for 10 minutes and then turn the oven off
- While still hot, sprinkle with the chocolate chips and place back in the oven for a couple of minutes to melt the chocolate over the top
- Spread the chocolate with a knife and then sprinkle the sea salt over the top
This is a quick and easy dessert to make after a day at the office. You can also store this in airtight containers and use later if you want to.
Feta Cheese and Kale Cake
Photo Credits: Cook for Your Life
Sometimes cakes don’t sound that appetizing. You look at the main ingredients used and wonder how they could possibly make a dessert. This is definitely the case when it comes to this cake. Feta cheese and kale are amazing when put together, especially with the rest of the ingredients. It is more of a savoury cake, rather than sweet.
Ingredients:
- 2tbsp oil of choice, divided
- 1 shallot, sliced
- 1 garlic clove, sliced
- 1 bunch of kale leaves, stemmed, washed, and sliced
- 1/2tsp smoked paprika
- 2tbsp chopped parsley
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup of feta cheese, crumbled and divided
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
- Heat 1tbsp of the oil in a skillet and fry the shallot and garlic together
- Add the kale and cook for about 8 minutes
- Add in the paprika and parsley, cooking for another minute; turn off the heat
- Beat the eggs in a large bowl, seasoning with the salt and pepper
- Add the kale mixture into the eggs, combining everything
- Heat the remaining oil in an oven-safe skillet and pour in half the kale mixture and sprinkle half the cheese
- Add in the rest of the kale mixture and top with the rest of the cheese
- Cook until the eggs start to finish and then put in the grill for 8-10 minutes to brown
Serve this “cake” in wedges. It’s more of an omelette and will make an excellent snack during the day.
Blueberry Frosted Kale Cake
Photo Credits: Vegan Bristol
How about something a little sweeter for dessert? This is an excellent option when you want the antioxidants, along with all the nutrients kale offers. Blueberry frosting always goes down well and will help to remove some of the bitterness of the kale.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of kale, stripped, chopped, and cooked
- 1 cup of maple syrup
- 2tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup of applesauce
- 2tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup of water
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2tsp baking soda
Ingredients for the Frosting:
- 1 cup of blueberries (or raspberries if you’d like a change)
- ¼ cup of orange juice
- 24oz of silken and firm tofu
- ½ cup of maple syrup
- 2tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup of berries of choice for garnishing
Note: the tofu must be silken and firm for the texture. Anything else will leave a runny mess that you just won’t want on your cake
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line two cake pans with parchment paper
- Cook the cake in 1-2in of water, drain, and then add to a food processor
- Add in the maple syrup with the vanilla, vinegar, applesauce, and water and combine everything until the texture of a green smoothie
- Transfer the smoothie into a bowl and then add in the flour and baking soda, stirring to combine
- Pour the batter into the cake pans and then bake for about 30 minutes
- Allow the cakes to cool slightly in the pan and then remove onto a wire rack
- Once cool, top with your blueberry frosting
Blueberry Frosting:
- Boil your berries and orange juice together for 5 minutes on high, until it becomes syrupy
- Pour into your food processor and blend until just a few bits of fruit are visible
- Add the rest of the ingredients (not for garnishing) and blend until completely smooth
Not feeling the blueberry frosting? You can also choose to create a lime frosting instead.
Ingredients for lime Frosting:
- 12oz silken and firm tofu
- ¼ cup of lime juice
- 1/3 cup of maple syrup
- Zest of a lime
- 1tbsp chia seeds
Method:
- Combine everything except the chia seeds in a food processor, until all completely blended
- Add in the chia seeds and pulse until mixed in
You’re ready to top your cake with the lime frosting. It’s got a bit of a zing to it, which is great for balancing the bitterness of the kale.
Vegan Friendly Blood Orange and Kale Cake
Photo Credits: Veggie Desserts
Finally, you can create cake that is kale with blood orange. This is completely vegan friendly, giving you something that will help to cut out all the dairy and animal products. Are you ready to go? If you’re not bothered about vegan friendly, you can replace the flaxseed meal with eggs and be on your way.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of kale leaves, stripped
- 1tbsp flaxseed meal, mixed with 7.5tbsp water
- ½ cup of oil of choice
- 2tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup of applesauce
- ¾ cup of sugar
- ½ blood orange, juiced
- 1 blood orange, zested
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2tsp baking powder
- 1/2tsp salt
Ingredients for the Icing:
- 1 ¼ cups of powdered icing sugar
- 4tbsp vegan spread (butter if you’re not bothered about vegan friendly)
- 2tbsp blood orange juice
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a square cake tin with parchment paper
- Tear the kale leaves and boil until tender
- Drain the water and rinse the kale with cold water, draining and then transferring the kale to a blender
- Pure the vegetable, adding a little water if necessary, and then put aside
- In a bowl, combine the flax eggs, oil, applesauce, vanilla extract, and sugar together
- Add in the kale, orange zest, and juice into the vegan eggs, combining fully
- Sift in the flour, baking powder, and the salt, and then combine gently
- Pour the batter into your cake tin and then bake for 25-30 minutes
- Cool for 10 minutes and then remove from the tin onto a wire rack, cooling completely
- Meanwhile, sift the icing sugar in a bowl and add in the rest of the frosting ingredients, combining until smooth
- Store the frosting in the fridge until you’re ready for it
If you don’t want to use applesauce, you can peel and slice apples and blend them to create your own. You’ll likely need to boil the apples to make them soft before blending
Sprinkle your cake with a bit of cinnamon or grind some nuts to finish it off.
Create Your Own Healthy Dessert
It’s time to enjoy a healthy dessert. There’s something for all needs, whether you want a savoury dessert, something to curb your sweet cravings, or a vegan friendly option. You can have something for dessert without completely ruining your diet or change your lifestyle!
Check out more info on kale dessert here:
All You Need To Know About Kale Chips
6 Nutritional Benefits Of Drinking Kale Juice
How to Eat Right for Your Kidneys?
7 Alkaline Foods To Include In Your Weekly Diet
