Treat yourself to a slice of this delicious Chocolate Cherry Kefir Cake made with Organic Whole Milk Lifeway Kefir and Lifeway Farmer Cheese. Each layer of this naturally gluten-free chocolate cake is packed with protein and has a divine dark chocolate flavor enhanced with the sweetness of dark cherries.
Our kefir is an excellent ingredient to use in baked goods similar to how you would use buttermilk, as our kefir helps tenderize the batter in baked goods beautifully due to the culturing process we use. Even better, its natural protein and low-lactose content make it a healthy choice you can feel good about baking with and serving to others in a variety of recipes ranging from sweet to savory.
In this Chocolate Cherry Kefir Layer, we use Lifeway Kefir in the batter and our deliciously creamy Lifeway Farmer Cheese in the frosting. To make the frosting, we combined our farmer cheese with vanilla and raw honey that comes together in just minutes to create a mildly sweet, fluffy frosting that spreads seamlessly thanks to our cheese’s smooth, yet thick texture.
Other star ingredients in this cake are dark cocoa powder, chocolate chips, dark sweet cherries, and chocolate protein powder that boosts the protein content while also reducing the amount of flour needed. Since this gluten-free cake is made with almond flour, it’s packed with fiber, natural protein, and healthy fats and has a delicious nutty flavor.
Take a bite of better, and enjoy a slice of this Chocolate Cherry Kefir Layer Cake on us!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes Servings: 10-12Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup raw honey
- 1 cup (or more as needed) Organic Whole Milk Black Cherry Kefir
- **or use our Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 3/4 cup dark cocoa powder (Dutch-processed)
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 2 scoops (60 grams) chocolate protein powder (we used whey)
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 - 1 cup frozen dark sweet cherries, thawed to room temp
- 1/2 cup dark mini chocolate chips
For the Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups Farmer Cheese
- 2 tbsp. raw honey
- 1 tbsp. additional Lifeway Kefir
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Garnish:
- fresh cherries, sliced in half or whole
- optional: sliced almonds and additional mini dark chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray 2 round cake pans with nonstick spray or lightly coat with a thin layer of butter or coconut oil.
- Make the cake: In the bowl of a stand-alone mixer or blender, combine the eggs, 1/3 cup raw honey, 1 cup Lifeway Kefir, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 1 tsp. almond extract. Add in almond flour, dark cocoa powder, chocolate protein powder, baking powder, and salt, and mix until a batter forms.Add more kefir to get it to the right consistency since some types of protein powder and almond flour can vary in density. It should be the consistency of regular cake or cupcake batter. Either fold in the dark sweet cherries whole, or you can pulse them in a food processor to purée them, then stir them into the mixture into the batter thoroughly. Fold in the mini dark chocolate chips last. At this point, the batter should be thick, but you should be able to scoop into the pans easily; if not, add a little more kefir until you reach that point.
- Transfer the cake batter to the prepared pans, distributing the batter evenly between the two pans, and bake for 35-45 minutes a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.
- Let the layers cool completely and prepare the frosting as they cool. To make the frosting: Whip Lifeway Farmer Cheese, 2 tbsp. raw honey, 1 tbsp. additional Lifeway Kefir, and vanilla in a food processor or stand mixer until combined and it becomes slightly fluffy. Put this in the fridge in a bowl to set while the cake finishes cooling, about 30-45 minutes.
- Once the cake layers are completely cool, assemble the cake. Place the first layer on a cake stand or flat plate. Layer with 1/2 the amount of frosting, then place the other cake layer on top, and spread the rest of the frosting on top of the cake. Garnish with fresh cherries, if desired. You can also add chocolate chips on top, sliced almonds, or anything else you want. Slice into 10-12 pieces and enjoy!
- Store leftover cake in the fridge and consume within 1 week for best texture and taste.
