Whole Wheat Cake Recipe
This whole wheat cake is perfect for special occasions such as birthdays, graduations or other celebrations.
I’ve been trying to find a way to make a good birthday cake for a long time. I’ve tried many recipes and I’ve had to throw several of them right into the trash.
But I finally did it!
I should warn you, this cake is addictive. But if it’s your birthday, at least eating a lot of cake won’t be so bad if the cake you’re eating is clean!
I’m still trying to develop a good frosting recipe. That white frosting that makes any cake look like a birthday celebration. You know what I’m talking about… that stuff you can’t help but dip your finger into a few times while decorating the cake. Ya, that one. I need a clean version of that. And I’ll get it! Yes I will!
But in the mean time, I don’t want to leave you high and dry either. So if you don’t mind putting some chocolate pumpkin frosting on your cake, you can try the frosting I did for my Halloween cupcakes. It’s yummy stuff! A second option would be to try my Homemade Nutella, and lastly, here is a Nut Butter Frosting.
SUBSCRIBE:
Remember to subscribe to my free, Gracious Pantry Newsletter to receive all my latest recipes in your inbox! Click here to sign up!
HEALTHY CAKE RECIPES:
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Cake
- Instant Pot Chocolate Cake
- Cranberry Upside Down Cake
- Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Crazy Cake
WHOLE WHEAT CAKE RECIPE
Whole Wheat Cake
Equipment
- 9 inch cake pan (2 pans if you want a layered cake)
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (affiliate link)
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 tbsp. grapeseed oil (or any light flavored oil)
- ¾ cup unsweetened apple sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9 inch cake pan with parchment paper. Then spray the inside of the pan, including the parchment with a light coat of oil from an oil sprayer.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder until well combined.
- Whisk in all other ingredients.
- Pour batter in to cake pan and bake for 26-30 minutes. A knife or cake tester should pull our clean.
- Allow to cool. Run a plastic knife around the edge to separate cake from pan and then remove.
- If you made a second layer, cover one cake with filling or frosting and place the second cake on top.
This looks delicious. I have a carrot cake recipe that is clean, but it usually is heavy. This looks lighter, and I’m sure it is delish! Thanks:)
Anna – This is definitely a lighter cake. Hope you enjoy it!
ooooh I can’t wait to try this. I think I’ll try it with your chocolate pumpkin frosting. We’re chocolate lovers around here. LOL
“Would you rather enjoy a clean cake like this, or just splurge on the not-so-clean variety on your birthday?” As long as I like the clean cake I wouldn’t mind at all to eat that instead of the not clean cake!
Katrina – You can try my nutella recipe too! Yum!
Yum, yum, yum! I can’t wait to try this! I bet it would be good with a bit of no-sugar strawberry preserves. I am all for having a clean birthday cake so I don’t undo all of my hard work with one cake – because if it’s in the house, it *will* be eaten, every last crumb! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Christine – Yes, it would! Enjoy!
This sounds yummy! Will definitely have to try it! What about a simple fruit glaze over top instead of icing? Oh, and to answer your question…I’d WAY rather enjoy a clean treat over the ‘unclean’ version!
Love your blog! Thanks for all of the fabulous recipies!
Kimber – Fruit glaze would be good! I used a 100% fruit spread in the middle on mine. It was yummy!
Thanks Tiffany, this looks good. Curious on what filling you used in the picture?
Jen – It was a raspberry 100% fruit spread. Yum!
Looks good! I’d love a cake like that for my birthday! The single layer size would make a nice treat for dessert on occasion too!
Lynn – Yes it would! Enjoy!
Baking powder or soda? It has baking powder listed as ingredient, but baking soda listed as with flower?
JandT – Sorry, it’s Powder. I’ll fix it.
I cannot seem to find whole wheat PASTRY flour. Is it in the regular baking aisle?
Csnb99 – I get mine in the bulk section at Whole Foods. It’s something you would find at a health food store. The most common brand is Bob’s Redmill.
Thank you! I’ll see if I can find it. Carole
I made it 10 minutes after receiving it. It’s almost gone already between just my husband and me! Soooo moist!!
Wonderful.
Linda – Hahaha!!! Ya, that was pretty much the story here too….
Have you thought about plain greek yogurt mixed with chocolate protein powder and maybe a little honey for the frosting! It may be close to that yummy cream cheese frosting my mom always does. I’m addicted to it as a snack, but I do choc protein powder, a little natural peanut butter & the plain greek ~ so yummy!
Shanfun11 – I would love to, but I can’t have the dairy. 🙁 Others here may like the idea though, so thank you for sharing!
Thanks for this simply sounding delicious cake recipe!! Do you think this would be enough ingredients for a bundt cake pan, too? That way I don’t need an icing.
In answer to the question, I would rather splurge on a clean eating cake!!! And thanks to you, I will!!!! BTW, I love your new photo of you!!!!
Laurie – Thanks so much! Honestly, I’m not sure about the bundt cake. I’d have to try it and see if it bakes well when the batter is thicker (as in, more of it). These cake layers are only about 1 inch high, so they bake pretty easily. I’ll give it a try and see what I can come up with for you.
That would be great. If you don’t have time, please just give me the changes for the recipe and I’ll try it.
I’ll see what I can do!
Hmmm…. I’m not sure about that “Better than milk” powder. Not sure what that is. But the idea is intriguing! Thanks!
Hey Tiffany I made this yesterday as an apple cake – I just threw in some chopped apple pieces and some cinnamon. It was amazing. Such a simple recipe – I love it!
Lisa – Fantastic!! Might have to try that myself!
Awwww, just a tad too late for my birthday, but I’ll definately give this a try one of these days. I was bad and just made a boxed mix cake for my birthday. Too much to do and didn’t have enough time to hunt down a clean or healthier recipe. Can’t wait to give this a try though!
Now, I need a substitute for that sickeningly sweet buttercream frosting I love so much!
Anon – Ya, that’s what I want to “clean up” to use with this cake. I’ll get it. It’ll just take me some time to figure it out.
One of my girlfriends is doing a fitness competition on 2 weeks and today was her birthday. I made this cake, double layer, with the Halloween Icing suggestion. The only thing I substituted was flax meal for the egg whites, cause I only had one egg white. This cake smells great in the oven. Looks great on the cake plate. The best part was watching the whole thing get eaten with smiles all around. Great Recipe!
Raegan – That is soooooo awesome!!! And what a great way to support your friend!
Jane – Sounds great! thanks for sharing!
Jane – Yum! Thank you! This sounds wonderful! I don’t have much experience with making custard, but that may have to change here shortly. Thanks!
Marybeth – Oh my! 1 cup would be FAAAAAR too much! Perhaps 2-3 tablespoons would be more than enough. You could even remove a tablespoon or two of flour so you are replacing instead of adding.
Lori – if it doesn’t work, make 2 layers and bake them separately.