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Ultimate Keto Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

Are you doing a keto diet and missing Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” cake recipe? You know the one that’s on the back of Hershey’s cocoa powder box.

Well, this keto Hershey’s chocolate cake, is the best keto chocolate cake recipe to silence that craving!

Having grown up making Hershey’s chocolate cake, I was bound to start craving this rich chocolatey recipe.

Needless to say, a keto Hershey’s Chocolate Cake recipe would become a must for this girl. This recipe is like the majority of the keto ones I share; it usually starts with an intense craving for the high-carb version.

It’s what fuels me to find a way to bring it back into my world without the need to cheat, and then share it with you all.

I love the idea of creating Hershey’s cocoa keto recipes that will help keep the keto community on track.

If you’re a fan of chocolate cakes, you might also want to try our Keto Chocolate Cream Cheese Pound Cake recipe.

It’s another rich dark chocolate cake that will silence your chocolate cravings.

I also have a keto chocolate coconut flour pound cake that uses Hershey’s cocoa powder. This makes it a nut-free option.

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In case you don’t know, I have a complete list of Keto Cakes that any cake lover doing keto would enjoy exploring. 

Keto Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

Low carb Hershey's chocolate cake
Low carb Hershey’s chocolate cake

I am thrilled to be able to share my easy low-carb chocolate cake with you today. This keto chocolate cake is moist with a perfect rich chocolate flavor and the same smooth crumb you love from Hershey’s original. 

If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.

Because, let’s face it, you can’t enjoy Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” cake recipe while on a low-carb diet. Not if you want to stay in ketosis that is.

Wait, I take that back since this recipe for Keto Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake will singlehandedly allow you to enjoy this classic while doing the keto diet. Yay!

Is Hershey’s Cocoa Powder Keto-friendly?

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Keto Hershey's chocolate cake served on a small white plate with a fork standing in the center of the slice
Keto Hershey’s chocolate cake served on a small white plate with a fork standing in the center of the slice

If you are wondering if Hershey’s cocoa powder is keto-friendly, rest assured it is.

The good news is that cocoa powder has zero sweeteners and can, therefore, be used in keto baking.

This means you have the green light to use Hershey’s cocoa powder while doing keto.

Let me start off by saying that my love for Hershey’s Chocolate cake is two-fold.

One is the fact that it’s a super easy recipe to execute, and two is that it boasts a rich chocolate flavor. It’s a winner, for sure!

I can’t tell you with certainty, but I’m pretty sure that the recipe on the back of the cocoa box was probably the first chocolate cake I made from scratch a kazillion moons ago. 

Don’t get me wrong, I know there are some fancier brands of chocolate out there, but here’s the thing: Hershey’s brand of chocolate has never disappointed me. Not even once. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Ingredients Needed To Make A Keto Chocolate Cake With Hershey’s Cocoa Powder

Ingredients needed to make a Hershey's keto chocolate cake easy
Ingredients needed to make a Hershey’s keto chocolate cake easy

Keto Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting 

keto Hershey's chocolate cake being frosted with sugar-free chocolate buttercream frosting
keto Hershey’s chocolate cake being frosted with sugar-free chocolate buttercream frosting

I have also included a low-carb chocolate buttercream frosting as an option that only slightly increases the net carbs from 3.4 to 4.2 net carbs. 

It’s a great chocolate frosting to include for special occasions, even as a chocolate keto birthday cake. 

I’ve also shared in the recipe card how to make this a layer cake or cupcakes, depending on your choice of pans. 

  • Unsalted butter, room temperature​ softened
  • Cream cheese softened at room temperature
  • Sugar substitute confectioner’s sugar
  • Hershey’s unsweetened natural cocoa powder
  • Sea salt
  • Heavy cream
  • Vanilla extract

How To Make A Keto Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Cake 

keto Hershey's chocolate cake process pictures
keto Hershey’s chocolate cake process pictures

I’ll admit that at first, I thought that my attempt to convert this classic recipe into a keto-friendly option was going to be impossible.

Thankfully, that was not the case. A little prayer before attempting to convert a recipe is the secret to my success.

Thankfully, the keto-friendly version of the classic Hershey’s cake produced a moist cake that is also flat-out delicious. 

It’s now one of our family’s favorite cake recipes!

Just like the original recipe, you will start by mixing the dry and wet ingredients in two separate bowls. 

I did, however, replace the vegetable oil that’s called for in the original with melted, cooled butter. Because butter is always a good idea. Don’t you agree?

You can also use melted refined coconut oil or ghee in place of the butter. If you opt to use coconut oil, I suggest you use refined coconut oil so that the coconut flavor doesn’t overpower the recipe.

Instead of the 1 cup of milk, I used 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream and 1/2 cup of water. The milk is way too high in carbs.

This cream and water combo works as a great substitute. 

I also used three large eggs instead of the two that the original recipe called for to ensure the cake would be moist and have the perfect crumb.

Of course, in order to make this a true Keto Hershey’s Chocolate Cake, I also swapped out the sugar for a sugar substitute and the all-purpose flour for a finely milled almond and coconut flour combination.

Then, it was just a matter of combining the wet ingredients with the dry and then stirring in the cup of boiling water at the end.

Don’t be surprised by the fact that this recipe has a thin batter; this is exactly the consistency you want and mimics the traditional Hershey’s cake. 

A Keto Chocolate Cake For A Magnesium Boost

Keto Hershey's Chocolate cake Pinterest Pin
Keto Hershey’s Chocolate cake, frosted

Usually, when I find myself craving chocolate, it’s an indicator that my magnesium levels may be a little low.

At that point, I make sure I take some magnesium and then proceed to the kitchen to find some chocolate, and that usually translates into a low-carb chocolate cake.

It’s pretty incredible how our bodies can tell us what we need if we learn to tune in.

My keto cake recipe is a great alternative to the original recipe. It is just as rich-tasting and easy to make.

Having the ability to enjoy a classic chocolate cake without the worry of it causing you to slip is why I am so passionate about creating keto recipes.

Sugar-Substitutes That Work With This Keto Chocolate Cake

Keto Hershey's chocolate cake being served
Keto Hershey’s chocolate cake slice being served

When it comes to choosing which sugar substitute to use for what our family considers the best keto chocolate cake, I have several for you to choose from. 

My first choice is Lakanto Monk FruitThis is because it really behaves the most like regular sugar, as far as I am concerned. It is a monk fruit and erythritol blend.

Lakanto Monk Fruit gets its sweetness from antioxidants called mogrosides, instead of fructose or sucrose. That’s why it’s a great all-natural sugar substitute and has zero calories and zero glycemic index.

I’m, however, also partial to Swerve, which is an erythritol blend. Swerve is made from ingredients found in select fruits and starchy root vegetables and contains no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or flavors.

Swerve is the name brand of Erythritol. It’s unlike other sugar alcohols that have a 0 % impact on blood sugar.

You could also use the stevia and erythritol-based brand Pyure for most of my baked goods.

But I personally am not a fan of stevia-based sweeteners because I find that I am quite sensitive to bitter aftertastes. And in chocolate recipes, this seems to be magnified. 

Having said this if you are accustomed to using it and don’t have an issue, then I recommend using the Pyure brand. However, you will want to use half the amount called for in this recipe since it’s much sweeter.

Lastly, if you can easily find a more natural sugar substitute, you can also use Splenda with great success. 

You will want to use Splenda, which has a bulking agent. It’s the one that comes in larger bags. I don’t recommend Splenda Bake because it’s actually a half-sugar, half-sucralose product and will be too high in carbs to be considered keto-friendly.

Tag Us

keto-friendly chocolate cake frosted with sugar-free chocolate buttercream
keto-friendly chocolate cake frosted with sugar-free chocolate buttercream

I sure hope you will give this keto-friendly chocolate cake recipe a try. Once you do, make sure you remember to tag us on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s what keeps this girl encouraged to keep sharing and perfecting her recipes.

Grab Our Books & Recipe APP

In case you don’t know, we have authored two books for you, Essential Keto Bread and Essential Keto Desserts, both inspired by your requests over the years.

I pray these keto cookbooks will help make keto a delicious breeze for you.

Gain access to simple and delicious recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even desserts with our FITTOSERVEGROUP APP.

Join Our Jesus And Keto Movement 

Looking for an online support system to help you stay the course on keto? As a family, we came to the keto diet, looking at it from a Christian perspective. As believers, we live our lives supported by God’s grace.

Knowing firsthand the benefits of this decision, we have created a closed Christian group that is using the keto diet to transform their lives. We invite you to join our Private Facebook Group and see if it’s not the key you’ve been missing.

Be sure to request our FREE Jesus and Keto E-Book (First 7 Days). We hope it blesses you.

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Keto Hershey's chocolate cake being served

Keto Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

Yield: 16 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

It's a recipe for a low carb keto-friendly version of the classic Hershey's chocolate cake recipe found on the back of the Hershey's cocoa powder box.

Ingredients

Keto Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting (Optional)

  • 1 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature​ softened
  • 2 ounces of cream cheese room temperature softened
  • 2 cups of sugar substitute confectioner’s sugar, divided
  • 2/3 cup of Hershey's unsweetened natural cocoa powder, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon of sea salt
  • 2/3 cup of heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease with butter a 10x10 inch baking pan or two 9-inch round pans. Refer to notes for pan sizes and baking times.
  3. Boil one cup of water and set aside.
  4. Melt 1/4 cup of butter and set aside.
  5. Combine the heavy whipping cream with the water and set aside, this will be added at the end of the recipe. Do note this is not the boiling water listed in the ingredients.
  6. In a large mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients, almond flour, coconut flour, sugar substitute, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine well.
  7. To the dry ingredients add the eggs, heavy cream & water combo, melted butter, and vanilla extract, and mix until combined using an electric mixer at medium speed.
  8. Once everything is combined add the cup of boiling water and mix until well blended.
  9. Pour the batter into the prepared pan (s).
  10. Bake for 35 minutes to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  11. Proceed to make the frosting as the cake cools.
  12. Once the cake is allowed to fully cool, frost with the chocolate buttercream.
  13. Store any leftover cakes for 5 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 weeks.


Sugar-Free Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

  1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese using an electric mixer at a high setting.
  2. Reduce the speed of the electric mixer to low and add 1 cup of confectioners sugar substitute and 1/3 cup of cocoa powder and salt to the cream cheese and butter mixture.
  3. Add the reserved confectioner's sugar substitute and cocoa powder and continue to process with the electric mixer.
  4. Next, add 2/3 cup of heavy cream and beat on high till fully combined.
  5. Add the frosting to a fully-cooled cake.
  6. Refrigerate any leftover frosting in the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature before using it as frosting.
  7. This recipe makes enough frosting to generously frost one 10x10 inch cake, or two 9- inch layer cakes, a three-layer 8-inch cake, or 12 cupcakes.

Notes

Note that just like the original Hershey's chocolate recipe this cake batter will be thin.

You can also use melted refined coconut oil or ghee in place of the melted butter. If you opt to use coconut oil I suggest you use refined coconut oil so that the coconut flavor doesn't overpower the recipe.

Keto Hershey's Chocolate Cake Pan Variations And Baking Times

ONE-PAN CAKE:

Grease 10x10-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350 degrees Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes.

THREE-LAYER CAKE:

Grease three 8-inch round pans and pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes.

BUNDT CAKE:

Grease and a 6-cup bundt pan. Heat oven to 350 degrees Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 50-55 minutes. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes before removing it from the pan to the wire baking rack.

CUPCAKES:

Line muffin 12 cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper cups. Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 23-25 minutes.

Cake With Frosting Nutritional Facts

Serving Size: 1   Number of Servings: 16  Calories: 275 grams Total Fat: 16.9 grams Saturated Fat: 6.3 grams Cholesterol: 120 milligrams Sodium: 86 milligrams Carbohydrates: 5.9 grams Fiber: 1.7 grams Sugar: 0.7 grams Protein: 6.3 grams Net Carbs: 4.2 grams

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 205Total Fat: 15.2gSaturated Fat: 5.3gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 75mgCarbohydrates: 4.9gNet Carbohydrates: 3.4gFiber: 1.5gSugar: 0.5gProtein: 5.7g

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