The Most Fudgy Aubergine Chocolate Cake

An aubergine chocolate cake that tastes surprisingly delicious (and not a bit of aubergine/eggplant)! Fudgy, rich, flourless, gluten free, dairy free, and more-ish.

We all know how difficult kids can be about vegetables. Do you have one or more children who are picky over a certain veggie (or lots of them)?

I’ve been working with Veg Power for a couple of years now, and one of the best bits is getting access to some of the UK’s leading experts in cooking, nutrition, child psychology and more.

I’ve learned so many amazing tips from these guys, and all of them have been super helpful when I am trying to gently coerce a 4-year-old into taking “just one bite” of roasted squash as they prod it suspiciously with a fork and declare it officially “yucky”.

One thing I have learned over the years that has been reiterated to me by experts is the need to avoid using “hidden vegetables” as the only technique to get veg into children.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s an excellent way to get a little more veg into a fussy easter’s diet. And many of my recipes include it for exactly that reason.

But 90% of the time, when I’m blitzing a vegetable into a recipe where it won’t be recognised, I have my kids make it with me, or I am really upfront about the fact that it is in there.

Why?

Because of the experts’ top tips I’ve gathered over the years, tips that include:

1. Don’t hide veg – or if you do, also include it in a different, visible form in their diet so they also know they are eating it, otherwise they are not being exposed to the veggie for more long-term benefits. Which leads me to…
2. Exposure is key – the more a child experiences a vegetable, the more likely they are to eat it. This can include…
3. Cook together – encourage the child to see, hold, touch, chop, taste, smell and generally be involved with the vegetable as they prepare a meal with you. It also increases their positive associations with it as they enjoy spending time with you.
4. Eat it together – kids’ learn by watching us. Eating together at mealtimes not only strengthens family bonds, but it also gives them an opportunity to see us enjoying the vegetable, which makes it more likely they will try it themselves. The healthy choices you make will pass on to them!
5. Grow together – whether you have a massive garden or just a small windowsill, you can grow something. Herbs, small veg, large veg… pick one or two together and give it a go. The exposure to the veg and the care they take over it will build a positive relationship with it.

Still, there’s a time and place for hidden veg – and this cake is definitely it! This is not a cake to make to get your kid to like aubergine. I prefer to think of it as a way to add depth of flavour, texture and denser nutrients to a cake to make it ever so slightly healthier when you are going to be making cake anyway.

And I love kids’ faces when you make it with them!

You’d never guess there’s aubergine in there, it just makes it fudgy and rich.

So enjoy this flourless, dairy free, low sugar veg-containing aubergine chocolate cake – just don’t let it be the only way your kids are exposed to aubergine! My daughter hates the vegetable, but will eat an entire bowlful of baba ganoush (aubergine dip). There’s a way for your child to love it that doesn’t involves chocolate and sweetener, it might just take time for you to figure it out.

And in the meantime, this is a great treat with a little more nutrition!

Looking for more veg and fruit packed desserts? Check out my dessert recipes here.