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Home » Recipes » Protein Powder

Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake - Flourless & Sugar Free

by Haylee Jane Monteiro · Modified: Jul 2, 2021 · Published: Jun 30, 2021
This post may contain affiliate links.

A rich and indulgent Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake with the perfect flavor and texture, but flourless, sugar free and oil free. This healthy black bean chocolate cake uses canned beans, is sweetened with protein powder and monk fruit, and tastes like a decadent brownie. Vegan option too!

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A rich and indulgent Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake with the perfect flavor and texture, but flourless, sugar free and oil free. This healthy black bean chocolate cake uses canned beans, is sweetened with protein powder and monk fruit, and tastes like a decadent brownie. Vegan option too!

Okay ya'all I was beyond impressed with how this chocolate black bean cake cake turned out.

No black bean taste at all, and so low calorie and low fat that even ¼ cake had too few carbs for a post workout meal. Such a great dessert for breakfast here.

Ingredients for Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake Recipe:

This high protein healthy black bean chocolate cake is made with just a few simple and clean ingredients - no flour, no sugar, no oil and no butter - but still has that moist texture you want from a cake.

  • Black Beans - Either canned or cooked from fresh (I recommend the low sodium canned)
  • Chocolate Protein Powder - this replaces the sugar in this recipe and is the key to what makes it a high protein cake. I used the Quest Nutrition Chocolate protein powder - it's a whey-caesin blend that works best for baking and is sugar free too.
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder or Cacao Powder
  • Egg Whites - another protein packed ingredient
  • Almond Milk for a slightly low calorie and healthy recipe; No buttermilk needed here
  • Unsweetened Applesauce (see the alternatives below) 
  • 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Substitute - I use Lakanto, to keep this recipe sugar free;  (code HAYLSKITCHEN gets you a discount here)
  • Some Sugar free Maple Syrup for low calorie recipe with no sugar! I use the sugar free monk fruit maple syrup from Lakanto (code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here too)
  • Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Instant Coffee; This is optional, but it really complements the chocolate flavor in this raw brownie batter
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda
A rich and indulgent Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake with the perfect flavor and texture, but flourless, sugar free and oil free. This healthy black bean chocolate cake uses canned beans, is sweetened with protein powder and monk fruit, and tastes like a decadent brownie. Vegan option too!

Tips for this Flourless Black Bean Chocolate Cake

  • Process black beans first so they break down and form a smoother mixture
  • Don't over-mix the batter!
    Process until just smooth and combined; The protein powder might make the cake tough, dense and gummy.
  • Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener. I'd recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have sugar free protein chocolate cake.
  • Let the black bean chocolate cake cool before removing from pan, and cool completely before slicing; It's quite delicate.
A rich and indulgent Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake with the perfect flavor and texture, but flourless, sugar free and oil free. This healthy black bean chocolate cake uses canned beans, is sweetened with protein powder and monk fruit, and tastes like a decadent brownie. Vegan option too!

Make ahead and Store Black Bean Protein Cake:

Another great part about this black bean protein cake recipe is that you can make in advance for a party, and even store leftovers!

You can keep the protein powder black bean cake out at room temperature (on the countertop) for 1-2 days.

Store any leftover flourless protein cake in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

To freeze his protein black bean cake, slice it, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and place the pieces in a freezer-safe zipper bag. They keep in the freezer for a few months.
You can even store the whole cake itself!

A rich and indulgent Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake with the perfect flavor and texture, but flourless, sugar free and oil free. This healthy black bean chocolate cake uses canned beans, is sweetened with protein powder and monk fruit, and tastes like a decadent brownie. Vegan option too!

Alternate ingredients for Healthy Black Bean Chocolate Cake

I recommend making this healthy protein powder black bean cake using the ingredients and products listed - especially the since it gives the best results with a low calorie number too.

If you need other options for the flours and such, here's some alternatives:

  • Black Beans: Chickpeas aka garbanzo beans work well too
  • Chocolate Protein Powder: Use a vanilla; I recommend Quest Nutrition here as well
  • Applesauce: Mashed banana or pumpkin puree
  • Almond Milk: Regular non-dairy milk
  • 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Replacement: Regular confectioners sugar or coconut sugar (this won't be sugar free though)
  • Sugar free Maple Syrup: Regular maple syrup or honey, but again this won't be sugar free

For a Vegan Black Bean Cake:

For a Vegan protein black bean cake, make sure you use a plant based protein powder and replace the egg whites with aquafaba (chickpea cooking liquid).

ProteinWorld has a Vegan protein blend that might work here (code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here too).

More Healthy Protein Chocolate Cake Recipes:

  • Matcha Protein Cake
  • Protein Red Velvet Cake
  • (Better than Others') Oreo Protein Cake

More Black Bean Protein Powder Desserts Recipes:

  • Protein Black Bean Brownie Batter
  • Black Bean Protein Brownies

Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake - Flourless & Sugar Free

5 from 3 votes
Print recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: 62kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
A rich and indulgent Black Bean Chocolate Protein Cake with the perfect flavor and texture, but flourless, sugar free and oil free. This healthy black bean chocolate cake uses canned beans, is sweetened with protein powder and monk fruit, and tastes like a decadent brownie. Vegan option too!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Black Beans, Drained can (250g) or Cooked from dry (72g)
  • 3 tablespoon Unsweetened Applesauce, 45g
  • ¼ cup Almond Milk, 60ml
  • 2 Egg Whites, about ¼ cup, 61g
  • 2 teaspoon Maple Syrup, Sugar Free recommended below
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ⅓ cup Chocolate Protein Powder, 30g, 1 scoop
  • 3 tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 15g
  • 2 tablespoon Zero Calorie 1:1 Sugar Replacement, 24g
  • 1 teaspoon Instant Coffee, optional
  • ⅓ teaspoon Baking Powder
  • ⅓ teaspoon Baking Soda
Are you Making This?

Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ comment below letting me know what you think! This supports my page so I can continue to give you free recipes. Even 1 sentence is enough 🙂

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a round 8" baking pan with parchment paper; Spray sides with cooking spray.
  • Place black beans in a food processor or blender, process until roughly broken down.
  • Add remaining wet ingredients and process until smooth - applesauce, almond milk, egg whites, maple syrup and vanilla.
  • Add dry ingredients and process again until just combined and smooth (scrape down sides if required); Chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, sugar replacement, instant coffee, baking powder and baking soda.
    DO NOT OVER-MIX or the cake will be tough because of the protein powder.
  • Pour cake batter into prepared pan.
  • Bake on center rack for 30 minutes (cover with foil tent after 20 minutes). Tester inserted into the center should come out clean and edges should be coming off pan sides of pan.
  • Let cool in pan for 15 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Do not over mix the batter or it will be tough because of the protein powder.
  • Nutritional information is calculated using products recommended below.
  • See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
Product Recommendations:
  • Quest Nutrition Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
  • Lakanto 1:1 Sugar Substitute
    • Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 15% off your order
  • Lakanto Maple Flavored Syrup
    • Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 15% off your order
Nutrition:
  • Servings: 8 slices | Serving size: 1
  • Calories: 62kcal
  • Fat: 0.5g | Saturated fat: 0.1g
  • Carbohydrates: 11.2g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 0.7g
  • Protein: 6g
Posting your remake? Tag me on IG @hayls.kitchen!

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Comments

  1. Alyson says

    January 24, 2025 at 11:20 am

    5 stars
    I absolutely love this cake! Curious if you have tried using a can of white beans and vanilla protein powder (and maybe double the vanilla extract) for a vanilla cake? I love that it’s flourless, oil free, nut free and sugar free.

    Reply
    • Haylee Jane Monteiro says

      February 07, 2025 at 4:06 pm

      Oh I LOVE the idea Alyson!

      SO happy you liked this black bean one!
      The oil free and sugar free and nut free and flour free really is the best part! Along with the taste, haha.

      I've got a white bean cake recipe on my website as well, but it doesn't use protein powder.
      Definitely something I want to consider making now~

      Reply
      • Edie says

        June 02, 2026 at 9:51 am

        Hi,
        I've made this recipe several times and really enjoy it. I even make it into brownies rather than cake.
        My question is, could I substitute lentils for the beans in the recipe?
        I think it would work. Would you recommend any changes in the rest of the ingredients if I did this? Thanks in advance.

        Reply
        • Haylee Jane Monteiro says

          July 10, 2026 at 11:17 pm

          Hi Edie, soo glad this recipe works for you!
          The lentils sub will definitely work with the ingredients as is! I actually would love to know how it turned out 🙂

          Reply
  2. Jevay Aggarwal says

    January 08, 2023 at 12:56 am

    5 stars
    Omg this was soooooo delish. I usually don’t mind black beans but as a cake my mind is BLOWN. I can’t taste the black beans but I do taste delicious, rich chocolate cake. Time to use up those stocked black bean cans haha ?

    Reply
    • Haylee Jane Monteiro says

      January 26, 2023 at 12:27 am

      You got that right! Only a rich chocolate cake flavor here; No black-bean taste. Super happy you loved it!

      This would be a real lifesaver to finish all that COVID stock-up leftover.

      Reply
  3. Lisa says

    October 13, 2021 at 8:16 pm

    Do you Need to beat the Aquafaba?

    Reply
    • Haylee Jane Monteiro says

      January 15, 2022 at 11:31 pm

      Hi Lisa!
      Sorry for taking so long to get back here.
      You can use the aquafaba as is. I'd love to know how it tuned out if you give it a go.

      Reply
  4. Phoenix says

    July 08, 2021 at 9:37 pm

    5 stars
    AMAZING RECIPE!! The cake is definitely worth trying out there’s no weird bean tastes at all!!

    Reply
    • Haylee Jane Monteiro says

      July 12, 2021 at 12:05 am

      Absolutely! The no-black-bean-taste, just rich chocolate flavor is my favorite part – so good! I'm really glad you loved this one!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Haylee!

I use my passion for baking (and my sweet tooth) to create healthy, high protein, low fat and sugar free desserts and sweet treats that are actually delicious.

Come join me in Hayl's Kitchen and let's eat high protein, sweet and guilt free!

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