Tofu Chocolate Cake

This Valentine’s Day, treat yourself (and your loved ones) to something extra special—a rich, decadent Tofu Chocolate Cake.

I love adding tofu to my meals like this smoothie, tofu Bolognese and this tofu toast. Tofu offers plant based protein that is an important food in the portfolio diet, a diet designed to lower cholesterol.

But honestly, my favorite reason I love this recipe is because not only do I get to enjoy a heart-healthy dessert, but my kids and husband love it too! Try it for yourself, you’ll see!

This recipe was developed in sponsorship with Soy Connection, but this blog post was written on my own without their review.

Why Tofu?

Let’s start off with some of the basics. What is tofu?

Tofu is made from soybeans. The process involves cooking soybeans for a period of time until they are in a liquid state, or made into soy milk. To solidify or coagulate the liquid, the most traditional additive is often calcium sulphate (1).

Tofu is a plant-based source of protein and contains many nutrients, making it a healthy option to include in your diet. 

Nutrients In Tofu

Soybeans contain minerals like iron, zinc and calcium, as well as a variety of B vitamins (1). This makes tofu a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Plant-Based

Tofu is made from legumes and therefore contains plant based protein. Replacing some animal-based protein sources with high-quality plant-based protein will reduce the amount of saturated fat you eat.  

High Protein

Now that you know tofu is plant-based, you might be wondering if it contains a lot of protein.

Soy is high in protein (1). In fact, when it’s compared to other legumes, soybeans have one of the highest protein content (2).

This makes it a great replacement to animal-based protein, as found in the portfolio diet.

Soy Protein

Soybeans contain soy protein (1). Soy protein offers health benefits.

Soy protein can lower bad cholesterol, also known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (3). In fact, eating, on average 25 grams of soy protein per day, can lower LDL levels by about 3% -4% which is a small but still significant amount (4).  Lowering your LDL cholesterol can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (3). This makes including tofu in your diet a heart-healthy choice.

Source Of Iron And Calcium

As mentioned earlier, soybeans contain many minerals like iron and calcium (1). During the process of making tofu, calcium salt can be added which results in a high calcium end product, making tofu a good source of calcium (2). Iron and calcium are often two minerals that can be difficult for vegans and vegetarians to consume in adequate amounts as they are more commonly found in animal-based products.

Since tofu contains these minerals, it can be a good choice to include especially in vegan or vegetarian dietary patterns.

Heart Health Benefits Of Tofu

Animal based protein often contains saturated fatty acids. Eating too much saturated fatty acids can increase ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol levels in the body (4,5). Adding tofu into the diet as a protein source will likely reduce the consumption of animal-based protein, therefore reducing saturated fat intake.

Foods made from soy contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (2). Many studies have shown that polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease (5). When polyunsaturated fatty acids replace saturated fatty acids, it lowers the level of bad cholesterol which is beneficial for heart health (5). In fact, tofu is one of 39 foods that can help unclog arteries.

Additionally, eating enough soy protein is a pillar component of the Portfolio dietary pattern, a way of eating that can significantly reduce LDL cholesterol (6).

Tofu is rich in polyunsaturated fats and low in saturated fats, which can have a beneficial impact on heart health.

Ingredients in Tofu Chocolate Cake

The ingredients in this fudgy tofu chocolate cake follow a traditional chocolate cake recipe, but replace some of the fat with tofu.

Wet ingredients – soft or silken tofu, a neutral oil like soybean oil, sweetener of choice like maple syrup, vanilla extract and dark chocolate chips for taste.

Dry ingredients – I chose to use whole wheat flour here, and baking soda to help it rise.

Toppings – I think berries and powered sugar go nicely with this dessert, but you choose what works best for your family!

How To Buy Soft Tofu

When it comes to baking, not all tofu is created equal. For this Fudgy Tofu Chocolate Cake, I recommend using soft or silken tofu for the best texture.

Soft tofu blends seamlessly into batters, creating that rich, creamy consistency without any tofu taste. Silken tofu, which is even smoother, works wonders if you’re aiming for an ultra-decadent, mousse-like texture.

Just make sure to avoid firm or extra-firm tofu—they’re great for savory dishes but can leave your dessert with a grainy feel. When in doubt, check the packaging: soft or silken tofu is usually found in the refrigerated section, and some brands even label it specifically for desserts.

How To Make This Fudgy Cake

Step 1: Start by preheating your oven to 325°F and prepping your baking pan with a little oil or parchment paper. While the oven warms up, mix your cocoa powder with hot water until it’s smooth and glossy. Then, toss your tofu, soybean oil, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and that cocoa mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until it’s silky smooth.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Gently fold this into your wet mixture until just combined—don’t overdo it! Stir in those dark chocolate chips for an extra fudgy treat.

Step 3: Pour the batter into your prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 25–30 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack.

Step 4: Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar, add some fresh berries if you’re feeling fancy, and dig in! Whether you’re sharing with loved ones or treating yourself, this cake is sure to impress.

Watch How it’s Done In This Video Tutorial

I’ve captured this over on my Instagram account, click to take a look.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Veronica 💛 Heart Dietitian + Nutritionist (@the.heart.dietitian)

Other Tofu Recipes

Final Thoughts

This Fudgy Tofu Chocolate Cake isn’t just a decadent Valentine’s Day treat—it’s a heart-healthy dessert you can feel good about eating any time of year. Plus, it’s so easy to make that you might just find yourself whipping it up more often than you think.

And if you LOVE this recipe and want more heart-healthy inspiration, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE 7-day heart-healthy meal plan. Let’s make heart health delicious and simple!