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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Chocolate Blender Cake

Makes one 9-inch cake

1½ hours 20 minutes active, plus cooling

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Thanks to a countertop blender, this moist chocolate cake—which happens to be gluten-free—and its thick, rich glaze come together easily, speedily and with only a few dishes to clean. We start by blitzing whole almonds (either skin-on or blanched work, but be sure they’re raw, not roasted) until powdery, essentially making our own almond flour, then throw in the rest of the batter ingredients and blend for a couple minutes more. We prefer Dutch-processed cocoa powder in this cake, as it gives the crumb a deep, dark color, but lighter-hued natural cocoa works fine, too, if that’s what you have. A sprinkle of flaky salt is a simple, elegant way to garnish this dessert. Or, for a fun, festive finish, top the glazed cake with a smattering of crunchy bits. We especially love crushed pretzels, chopped toasted nuts, even mini marshmallows—or a combination of the three. And if you’ve used marshamallows, consider toasting them with a kitchen torch.

Makes one

9-inch cake

Tip

Don’t blend the glaze until the chocolate chips have had a couple minutes to soften after the hot cream as been poured onto them. This ensures a smooth, shiny consistency without lumps. It’s best to use the glaze immediately after blending, as it sets up rather quickly.

1½ hours

20 minutes active, plus cooling

For the cake:

  • 110

    grams (¾ cup) raw almonds (see headnote)

Directions

Reviews
VIRGINIA C.
August 18, 2026
How much almond flour?
I would like to make this cake but am wondering if I replace the almonds with 110 g. of almond flour. Thanks in advance!
KELLI H.
August 15, 2026
Super yummy
I’ve made this cake a few times. Following the comments below, I use almond meal as it’s quite easy. I’ve made the cake part of the recipe with the blender (as directed) and with a normal mixer (per comments below). Both tasted fine, but the blender was much easier, and I think the “waste” was the same in both methods. For the frosting, I always use a double boiler because it just seems easiest. Despite a fearsome sweet tooth, I use less sugar than directed (only 150g) and find it’s more than satisfying enough. Cake is always a huge hit, and even people that claim to not like cake go back for 2nd and 3rd helpings. Super easy as a birthday cake.
ANDREA W.
April 11, 2026
Really good but suggest some changes
This is easy and delicious. As others have suggested, almond flour would be easier and you wouldn't need the blender at all, but the raw sliced almonds I had worked just fine. As for the ganache, most of it was lodged around the blades of my blender (I can't remove the bottom to reach the blades). It would be easier, neater and more efficient just to whisk it by hand. I also heated the cream in the microwave. There's no need to dirty a pot for 1/3 cup of cream. I'll definitely make this again with these changes.
Pamela T.
October 7, 2025
No blender needed / Use almond flour
I did not use a blender. That is a waste of ingredients! Just mix everything in a bowl. And use almond flour instead. Easier to clean, no waste. And I used almond flour because it is available and easy to buy. It turned out wonderful! Very tasty, good chocolate flavor!
Susan G.
October 23, 2024
An easy dessert
I made this with almond flour because that was all I had while visiting my Mom in Alaska and needed a dessert. I also didn't have a springform pan so made it in a square baking pan. However it was suppose to turn out, everyone loved it. Instead of the ganache, I served it with berries that I cooked down with a little sugar along with a side of old-fashioned vanilla ice cream; I've made and served it this way twice now and both times it was a hit. Next time I will follow the recipe as is, but it's nice to know I can make an easy, delicious dessert with ingredients I always have on hand.

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