Healthy fall chocolate cake like this reminds me of special events I planned. These type of individual cakes were always a hit!
The gooey oozing middle gluten-free chocolate cakes were served individually (as in no sharing!) in their own ceramic baking cups. They were called fallen chocolate souffles.
And they were made while guests were enjoying dinner, so there was a timing component. Luckily… for this decadent dessert, you can make them anytime to put smiles on faces whether it’s a wedding or a relaxing weekend. Most likely it’s the latter. 😊
The recipe below is a low-sugar, healthy chocolate cake made with gluten-free flour. 🧡
It’s a simple to make recipe and not complicated considering how satisfying they are.
And to show how relaxed you can be, I was in yoga Corpse pose waiting for the baking to finish… that almost never happens as I’m busy in the kitchen with my hands.
And in catering, we never got off our feet… good shoes were a must as some events, we walked miles within our venue.
So the great cake turn out and mini yoga session in between was a nice surprise… we used to say “kill two birds with one stone.” Not sure who came up with that proverb as it sounds violent when the intent is you’re being productive and multi-tasking. 😊
And Corpse pose (or Shavasana) is a great Hatha yoga way to be productive to reset new intentions for the rest of this year, so you can enter your new year with a bang! 🎉
So while making this healthy fall chocolate cake, I was reminded how often we stand stationary with some kind of tool in front of us, whether it’s a standing desk computer or a kitchen tool like a mixer. Or we’re sitting all day. It’s often all or nothing.
If we measure our standing time vs. our sitting time, one day can be too much of either. And we often forget to add in some calming awake resting time.
So Corpse Pose is a good balancing pose for this that’s relaxing and restorative and you can do on a daytime mat to get calm and peaceful.
Taking a few extra minutes to not rush around can revive your entire day. Those moments are enhanced when there’s no distraction like a computer or a television. Be in calm silence until your cake buzzer goes off.
Laying down, you’re looking at the ceiling or sky above you, or optionally you have your eyes closed.
The Corpse pose benefits are:
You’re almost like a frozen angel in the snow but not moving your arm wings up and down.
You notice any normal body twitches and sensations. You’re sensitized to your being and body.
Rested, your heart is also rested and your blood pressure drops in the seconds and minutes you’re in this pose.
Not being in a hurry, all the tension is left behind at least for the minutes you’re in this calming pose.
You can eliminate temporary headaches as you think calm, positive, and happy thoughts.
And as more minutes go by, you’ll also feel your body temperature drops especially if you’re the Vata or Kapha body type. Or if you’re leaning into Vata season and your Vata-ness!
This Shavasana pose is commonly done as an ending close in an in-person Hatha or more relaxed yoga class.
And maybe even the teacher came around spritzing with a light lavender spray mist to get you in the mood of laying still and quieting the mind. How nice especially for the Pitta mind still running lists in the mind!
The lavender scent calms your mind and the fine mist feels like a refreshing soft touch. It’s a nice way to bring special joy to your day.
Laying stretched out without moving on a mat, you can do this pose anywhere that helps melt the stress away.
It gives you a few moments of peace (that can’t be emphasized enough) to gain your second wind and ground you for the rest of the day.
It’s good to remind yourself to slow it down.
And when your healthy fall chocolate cake baking timer goes off, you’re refreshed and ready!
A few Corpse Pose tips:
🌱Have a folded blanket near near you if you’re using props. Your body temperature drops, so you’ll want the comfort of a blanket or thin yoga top layer you peeled off earlier, especially if it’s typical fall or cooler season weather.
🌱Remember to breathe normally. You can pinpoint if your breath through your nose is naturally shallow or deep and could you use some sinus tips.
🌱Keep your phone off your mat! 😉 That’s one of the rules that will help with your balance of 80/20 real life vs. virtual world digital life.
Slowing down our tempo gives us advantages so we can keep up in the world with the all the busy chaos.
That’s what Corpse Pose can do as a good reset reminder.
We can make better lifestyle choices to live longer, happy quality lives.
And baking healthy chocolate cake can be one of those changes. 😋
And with that thought, I’ll leave you with two questions to think about:
At this point, what would make your year optimal? Idea: you can make an appointment with yourself in Shavasana Corpse pose to think about this.
And, what would help you to make your next year (or the rest of the year) brighter? Think of what change or improvements in you would make things different and better.
And in between noodling self-thoughts, you can make this healthy fall chocolate cake,
It’s simple to make and the timing will determine an oozy middle or a gooey center where either are good. The center is a good metaphor for centering yourself with new positive perspectives.
And if the first one flops, you can always (no sweat) make this again.
Gluten-Free Flour Chocolate Cake
Equipment
- muffin tin
Ingredients
- 2 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa for antioxidant-rich), melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/8 cup monk fruit sugar (low glycemic index optional) or sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp almond flour
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together except gently fold in flour last. No leavening agents needed.
- Bake at 350°F for about 12 minutes. Don't overbake for a gooey chocolate center!