30 Healthy Cake Recipes for a Guilt-Free Celebration

Looking for some healthier alternatives to your standard cake recipes? There are plenty here! All these healthy cake recipes are nutrient-rich and low on processed ingredients but will still satisfy your sweet tooth. No plain flour, no refined sugars, and no artificial sweeteners!

It’s always a good idea to try and eat a little healthier. Particularly when you have a growing family. We’ve been cutting back on the refined sugars and highly processed flours, opting for some plant-based alternatives to fats, and just taking in more nutrient rich food in general. And it’s amazing how flavorful everything is.

I’m never one to give up flavor for health, or my sweet treats for that matter. Instead, I’ve been bringing healthy components to my treats. My family gets lots of nutrient-rich foods and we still get things like our favorite fruit breads for breakfast and snacks.

Now I’m doing the same with cakes and other treats. Everyone in my house loves dessert, and there would be uproar if we didn’t have it fairly often. Instead of denying everyone, we’re mixing it up with some healthy cakes to satisfy our need for sweets.

How can you make a cake healthy?

I won’t claim that anything I make is 100% healthy, but it is totally possible to trade empty calories for nutrient rich ingredients. Here are some of the substitutions I’ve been making:

• Switching out my white flour with whole grains, rice, or coconut flour.
• Replacing regular sugar with agave syrup, honey, or dates.
• Leaving out the butter and cream and using coconut milk, vegetable oils, or avocados.
• And just embracing the natural sweet flavors of fruits.

But no one wants just one or two cake recipes (especially me)! So, I’ve brought together a bunch of healthy cake recipes so you can indulge your sweet tooth and still get plenty of nutrients. All these recipes will leave you satisfied and feeling better about your dietary choices.

1. Avocado Lime Cheesecake

A nutty, chocolaty crust topped with a creamy and tangy avocado and lime filling. A perfect refreshing dessert for hot summer days!

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

2. Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Ultra rich and decadent chocolate zucchini cake that’s undetectably healthy, vegan, dairy free, Paleo, and gluten free. This is the ultimate healthy zucchini recipe in the form of a moist and chocolatey slice of heaven!

Recipe by: The Banana Diaries

3. Healthy Pumpkin Cheesecake

If you’re looking for something to wow everyone at Thanksgiving this year, this rich, decadent, and tasty pumpkin cheesecake recipe is the one to go for! And unlike most holiday food, this one is actually healthy!

Recipe by: Healthy Kitchen 101

4. Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake

This raw vegan blueberry cheesecake is sweet, tangy and creamy with flavors of blueberry and vanilla. So refreshing and perfect anytime of day!

Recipe by: Plant Well

5. Swedish Chocolate Sticky Cake – Kladdkaka

Kladdkaka, also known as Swedish chocolate sticky cake, is super gooey, delicious and only calls for 8 ingredients. Can be made gluten-free, vegan or whole wheat.

Recipe by: Texan Erin

6. Gluten-Free Funfetti Cake

This gluten-free funfetti cake is also 100% grain-free & has dairy-free & keto options. It is rich, flavourful & has an incredible texture. Whether or not it’s your birthday this is a great treat to whip up any day!

Recipe by: Lau’s Healthy Life

7. Vegan Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcake Cake

This strawberry shortcake cake is vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free yet it’s every bit as delicious as the original! A loaf pan two-tier light and fluffy vanilla cake is layered with naturally sweetened strawberries and an easy homemade coconut whipped cream. This is a stunning and special dessert that everyone will love and yet it is so simple and quick to make.

Recipe by: Eating by Elaine

8. Ricotta Almond Fig Cake

Made with almond and cashew flours, this gluten free fig cake is infused with almond extract and kept super moist thanks to ricotta. It’s subtle sweetness makes it perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

Recipe by: Running to the Kitchen

9. Healthy Red Velvet Cake

This Healthy Red Velvet Cake is incredibly tasty! Made with spelt flour, coconut sugar and beetroot powder it is the perfect nutritious variation of the classic dessert.

Recipe by: Dani’s Cookings

10. Paleo Carrot Cake with a Cashew Cream Frosting

Deliciously moist and simply spiced Paleo Carrot Cake – made with a blend of nut free flours, sweetened with natural sugars and topped with a thick and spreadable maple cashew ‘cream cheese’ frosting! Gluten Free + Grain Free + Dairy Free.

Recipe by: A Saucy Kitchen

11. Apple Blueberry Maple Cake

Apple Blueberry Maple Cake is refined sugar-free and gluten-free and so full of flavor. Filled with a blueberry chia jam and covered in a maple swiss meringue buttercream.

Recipe by: From The Larder

12. Vegan Chocolate Cake

Decadent chocolate cake with chocolate coconut whipped cream frosting. It is vegan and gluten-free.

Recipe by: My Pure Plants

13. Vegan Ice Cream Cake

Creamy, decadant, veganized ice cream cake that will knock your socks off! This Vegan Ice Cream Cake is the perfect way to celebrate with.

Recipe by: Greens, Eggs, and Yams

14. Gluten-Free Vegan Strawberry Cake

This Gluten-Free Vegan Strawberry Cake is fresh and fruity, full of strawberry flavour and naturally coloured! Also refined sugar free.

Recipe by: Rhian’s Recipes

15. No-Bake Mango Mousse Cake

This Mango mousse cake is a no-bake recipe. Its gluten-free and refined-sugar-free. Its a perfect summer treat to enjoy with your loved ones.

Recipe by: Sushma’s Healthy Cooking

16. Vegan Carrot Cake

This delicious Carrot Cake is gluten-free, oil-free, sugar-free and you wouldn’t even know it. It’s a crowd-pleaser with its Cashew Cream Frosting.

Recipe by: Health My Lifestyle

17. Paleo Lemon Blueberry Cake

Paleo Lemon Blueberry Cake is the perfect spring and summer cake recipe. It’s bright, lemony and covered in a heaping amount of fresh blueberries. Made from a blend of almond flour, tapioca flour and coconut flour plus a good amount of fresh lemon juice, this is a paleo cake recipe that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Recipe by: Downshiftology

18. Healthy Olive Oil Cake

Who knew that you can bake fantastic desserts with olive oil! This delicious olive oil layer cake with citrus flavor and mascarpone frosting will impress everyone.

Recipe by: Dani’s Cookings

19. Healthy Brownie Cheesecake

Fudgy brownie meets creamy cheesecake! Delicious, healthy and gluten-free brownie cheesecake with raspberry swirl. Easy 50-min recipe from start to finish!

Recipe by: Happy Kitchen

20. Apple Almond Cake

This apple almond cake is made with just a few simple ingredients and has a very delicate apple and almond flavor. It is paleo and gluten-free too!

Recipe by: Delicious Meets Healthy

21. 1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

Fluffy yet moist and delicious, this 1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Carrot Cake is a DELICIOUS dessert that’s perfect for spring, Easter, or any time of the year! This amazing, HEALTHY cake is free of refined sugars and flour, and is a showstopper at any gathering.

Recipe by: Zardy Plants

22. Cheesecake-Filled Chocolate Cake

This Cheesecake-Filled Chocolate Cake is moist, pretty and even has an Instant Pot option! Filled with cream cheese … is so good!

Recipe by: Eat Beautiful

23. Unicorn Cheesecake

This simple vegan unicorn cheesecake has swirls of pink and blue, coconut whipped cream and golden decoration flakes for the prettiest vegan dessert!

Recipe by: Plant Well

24. Coconut Flour Cake

Sweet and tender Coconut Flour Cake made with a combination of coconut & tapioca flour. You only need one bowl and eight ingredients to make! Gluten Free + Paleo + Nut Free.

Recipe by: A Saucy Kitchen

25. Vegan Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

This indulgent Vegan Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake is perfect to make for your next celebration! It is soft and rich in the center with chewy golden brown edges. It is naturally sweetened and uses all gluten-free and plant-based ingredients. You can decorate it with my homemade vegan chocolate frosting if desired. This recipe is quick and easy to make too!

Recipe by: Eating by Elaine

26. Plant-Based Carrot Cake With Cashew Frosting

Eat more veggies by indulging in our moist plant-based carrot cake! This easy homemade treat is oil-free, featuring whole grain flour, applesauce, flax seeds and carrots along with warming spices and only a small amount of brown sugar.

Recipe by: Nutriciously

27. 3-Ingredient Angel Food Cake

This 3-Ingredient paleo, keto, and GAPS-friendly angel food cake from Raia’s Recipes is an easy and delicious treat! Perfect for a first birthday cake topped with an easy chocolate ganache, or as a healthy shovel for berries and whipped cream… It’s great for any celebration.

Recipe by: Raia’s Recipes

28. Mostly Healthy Cinnamon Blueberry Coffee Cake

The most moist and tender 100% whole wheat vegan coffeecake you will ever eat! A minimal amount of sugar compared to other coffeecake recipes, flax seed, and totally vegan ingredients make this delicious treat a bit more healthy!

Recipe by: Foodal

29. No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake

Gluten-free vegan chocolate cheesecake made silky, creamy, and smooth! This no-bake cheesecake is refined-sugar free, 100% natural and so easy to make!

Recipe by: Nourish Plate

30. Peach Cherry Upside Down Cake

Amazing Gluten Free Peach Cherry Upside Down Cake – So soft and you can use any fruit you like. Delicious and light coffee cake.

Recipe by: Delicious Meets Healthy