Instant Pot Chocolate Cake Recipe

This Instant Pot chocolate cake recipe is a wonderful way to enjoy a smaller, homemade cake without turning on the oven. It has tons of chocolate flavor and pairs well with a cup of tea or coffee.

If your got chocolate cravings but it’s too hot to heat up the oven, or you just don’t feel like wasting the gas using your oven, an Instant Pot is a great way to “bake” a cake on your countertop.

A single slice of this Instant Pot Chocolate Cake sits on a white plate with the rest of the cake in the background.

Can You Bake In An Instant Pot?

Yes and no. I don’t recommend it for things like cookies or delicate desserts, but a few things that can bake in a small cake pan, can most likely “bake” in an Instant Pot. Cakes are a classic choice. If it can “bake” in a moist environment, it should do well in an Instant Pot.

Which Instant Pot Has A Cake Setting?

The DUO EVO Plus Instant Pot has a cake setting. Many other versions of the Instant Pot do not. It’s a more recent addition.

An overhead view shows one slice removed from the cake and some of the fruit spread filling in the center. The cake is topped with sliced strawberries.

What Is The Cake Setting On An Instant Pot?

This function does not stop the moisture of a pressure cooker. Instead, it uses the steam to do the “baking”. Cake handles moist environments pretty well, so it’s a great dessert option for Instant Pots.

What If My Instant Pot Doesn’t Have A Cake Function?

Not to worry! A pressure cooker cooks the same way, no matter what function you use. The difference is in the timing. So if you don’t have a cake function, all you have to do is follow the temperature and timing recommendations of the recipe below to properly bake your cake. (My Instant Pot does not have a cake setting either).

Can You Use Any Cake Pan In And Instant Pot?

If it fits, yes. The trick is to ensure that there is plenty of room around the cake pan. It should not be a tight fit. It should also have a tall edge, no less than 1-inch. A 6-inch cake pan is a perfect size cake pan for an Instant Pot.

Can You Make This Cake Gluten-Free?

I do not recommend switching the flour in this recipe for anything gluten-free. I am working on a gluten-free version however and will add the link here when it’s done. In fact, I may just make it a flourless chocolate cake altogether. Yum!

An up close shot of an Instant Pot chocolate cake sitting on a white platter, topped with fresh strawberry slices.

Different Sweeteners And Their Effects

I made this several times and discovered that the texture could be greatly affected by the sweetener used.

With liquid sweetener, I purposely gave an amount that was on the low side in order to keep the sugar content down. The cake will not be overly sweet with these measurements. If you too want to keep the sugar on the low side, you could add 1 tsp. of pure liquid stevia to make the cake a bit sweeter. But if you add any type of frosting or filling, it should be plenty sweet. You can always add a bit more liquid sweetener, but if you add too much, you’ll have a hard time getting your cake to cook completely. So don’t overdo it.

  • Dry sugar, such as xylitol (which technically isn’t clean, but which I use because of my blood sugar) or an unprocessed sugar such as Sucanat give a much more dense cake. More like a brownie.
  • Honey will affect the flavor slightly, but will give you a much sweeter cake with a more crumbly texture.
  • Maple syrup will give you a less sweet cake (which I preferred out of all of them) and definitely a far more dry and crumbly texture.

Amounts Of Sweetener

  • Dry sugars – ½ cup
  • Fluid sugars – ⅓ cup

Instant Pot Chocolate Cake Topping Ideas

  • Strawberries were excellent on this cake!
  • Other berries will work too.
  • Nut butter frosting.
  • Make a simple chocolate ganache using coconut cream and dark chocolate chips in a double boiler.
A front view of this Instant Pot chocolate cake on a white platter, topped with strawberries.

Instant Pot Chocolate Cake Filling Ideas

Ingredient Checklist

White whole wheat flour – You can also use whole wheat pastry flour.

Unprocessed sugar – see notes on what type to use, above.

Unsweetened cocoa powder – Use a ¼ cup if using maple syrup for sweetener.

Baking powder – Make sure it’s fresh. Old baking powder won’t work well here. Also, make sure it’s baking powder. Not baking soda.

Salt – I used pink Himalayan salt, but use whatever you would normally use in cooking or baking.

Unsweetened almond milk – + 2 tbsp. if necessary for consistency – Use ⅓ cup if using liquid sweetener.

Oil – Use any light-flavored oil. Grapeseed or safflower are good options. But any vegetable oil you are comfortable using will work.

Pure vanilla extract – Don’t use vanilla flavoring. You want real extract. Bourbon vanilla is my favorite.

Apple cider vinegar – I use the stuff labeled “with the mother”. But any type will work.

How To Make Instant Pot Chocolate Cake

Instant Pot Chocolate Cake Recipe ingredients sitting together in individual bowls on a gray surface.

Gather All The Instant Pot Chocolate Cake Ingredients

This recipe goes quickest and easiest if you pre-measure everything and have it ready to go.

A dry flour mixture in a white mixing bowl. A whisk sits in the bowl.

Combine The Dry Ingredients

Combine all dry ingredients. Whisk well to work out any clumps in the cocoa powder.

A thick, chocolate batter sits mixed in a white mixing bowl.

Stir In The Wet Ingredients

Add in the wet ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. The batter will be on the thicker side.

A spatula pushes chocolate batter from a mixing bowl into a small cake pan.

Pour The Cake Batter Into Your Cake Pan

Pour the mixture into a greased, 6-inch cake pan. It should have a minimum of 1-inch tall sides. More is better if you can find it.

Water being poured into an Instant Pot.

Place The Trivet & Pour The Water Into The Instant Pot

Place a trivet in the bottom of the pot (the Instant Pot insert) and then add 2 cups of water.

A small cake pan with cake batter in it rests on a trivet inside an Instant Pot.

Bake The Cake In The Instant Pot

Place the cake pan on the trivet. Seal the lid and the vent. Press the Manual button and adjust the time to 12 minutes. Allow a 10-minute natural release after baking time is done. Release any remaining steam by opening the vent. Carefully remove the lid. 

TIP: Hold the lid straight (horizontal) instead of tipping to avoid water on the lid dripping on your cake.

A chocolate cake in a silver cake pan cools on a black wire rack.

Cool The Cake

Lift the cake pan out and allow it to cool completely. A wire rack is your best option for this.

Running a small, plastic spatula around the edges of the cake inside the pan to loose the cake from the edges.

Release The Sides

Run a spatula or plastic knife around the edge of the cake to release it from the pan and turn the cake out onto a platter or again, on the cooling rack.

Two hands slice a chocolate cake with dental floss.

Cut The Cake

If you want to fill your cake, you’ll need to slice it. To do this quickly and easily, simply line up a long piece of dental floss at the middle of the cake. Cross over the end, and pull tight until the sting pulls all the way through the cake. You can see how this works in the video below.

A spatula spreading fruit spread over one layer of a chocolate cake.

Fill Or Frost The Cake

Slice and decorate as desired. I cut mine in half using dental floss to fill the cake with jam or frosting. Then I cut and serve.

A slice of Instant Pot Chocolate Cake sits on a white plate with a fork resting at it's side.

How To Store Chocolate Cake

This cake is best stored in a cake container or some other airtight container. Keep this cake in the fridge once it’s cooled after baking. It will last up to about 3 or 4 days if stored in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Chocolate Cake?

This recipe freezes… okay. It’s not a great option for this recipe. It will definitely freeze, but if you do go that route, I don’t recommend freezing it for very long. Maybe a month at most.

How To Cut Cake With Dental Floss – Video

Tools For Making Cake In An Instant Pot

Need supplies for this Instant Pot chocolate cake? Here’s what I used:

More Healthy Cake Recipes

More Instant Pot Desserts

Instant Pot Chocolate Cake Recipe Card + Video

Recipe adapted from Carve Your Craving.

Copyright Information For The Gracious Pantry
A front view of this Instant Pot chocolate cake on a white platter, topped with strawberries.

Instant Pot Chocolate Cake Recipe

This delicious cake offers a small yield perfect for one or two people and you never have to turn on your oven!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 32 minutes
Total Time: 42 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 168kcal

CLICK TO WATCH THIS RECIPE IN ACTION!

Equipment

  • 1 Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup white whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup unprocessed sugar (see notes above)
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ¼ cup if using maple syrup for sweetener)
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk (+ 2 tbsp. if necessary for consistency – Use ⅓ cup if using liquid sweetener)
  • ¼ cup oil
  • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  • Combine all dry ingredients, whisking well to work out any clumps in the cocoa powder.
    A dry flour mixture in a white mixing bowl. A whisk sits in the bowl.
  • Add in the wet ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. The batter will be on the thicker side.
    A thick, chocolate batter sits mixed in a white mixing bowl.
  • Oil a 6-inch cake pan.
    Spraying a 6-inch cake pan with an oil sprayer.
  • Pour the batter into the cake pan.
    A spatula pushes chocolate batter from a mixing bowl into a small cake pan.
  • Place a trivet in your Instant Pot insert and add 2 cups water.
    Water being poured into an Instant Pot.
  • Place the cake pan on the trivet.
    A small cake pan with cake batter in it rests on a trivet inside an Instant Pot.
  • Close the lid and the vent.
    A hand closes the steam valve on an Instant Pot.
  • Press the Manual button and adjust the timer to 12 minutes. Allow a 10-minute natural release after baking time is done. Release any remaining steam by opening the vent.
    TIP: Hold the lid straight (horizontal) instead of tipping to avoid water on the lid dripping on your cake.
    An Instant Pot time display shows 12 minutes of cooking time.
  • Lift the cake pan out and allow it to cool on a cooling rack.
    A chocolate cake in a silver cake pan cools on a black wire rack.
  • Run a spatula or plastic knife around the edge of the cake to release it from the pan and turn the cake out onto a platter or cooling rack.
    Running a small, plastic spatula around the edges of the cake inside the pan to loose the cake from the edges.
  • Slice and decorate as desired.
    Two hands slice a chocolate cake with dental floss.
  • Strawberry fruit spread (no sugar added) is really exceptional on this cake.
    A spatula spreading fruit spread over one layer of a chocolate cake.
  • Cut and serve!
    A slice of Instant Pot Chocolate Cake sits on a white plate with a fork resting at it's side.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 1.2mg

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry® archives, originally posted 9/9/18.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

4 Comments

  1. Would adding an egg make it more fudge like?

    1. Lynn – You could try it, but the “fudge effect” usually comes with added fat. While a yolk does have more fat, I’m not sure if that alone would do it. Worth a shot though! It certainly wouldn’t hurt it. 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    I liked this recipe for two reasons; one it’s a chocolate cake and the second it’s a short method to make in a jiffy. Must try thanks for the recipe.
    Farhat.