Skip to Content

Easy Chocolate Instant Pot Cake

This easy chocolate Instant Pot cake is so delicious and moist! It really is this easy to make a moist Ninja Foodi pressure cooker cake for a birthday or just dessert after dinner.

Chocolate Instant Pot Cake

This Instant Pot cake was kind of an experiment I did in my kitchen and it surprisingly came out so good!! It was almost Valentine’s Day so I was all about baking something sweet. Now this is officially a favorite dessert on our long list of easy Instant Pot recipes. (affiliate links present)

Homemade Instant Pot Cake

We made this Instant Pot dump cake quite a while back and it was yummy so this is along those same lines but I used a different ingredient to make this pressure cooker dessert more fluffy and more like cake than the traditional dump cake texture.

  • I only used ingredients I had in my cupboard and fridge for ease. 

I will tell you this cake cooked in the Instant Pot is VERY moist so it doesn’t have the super duper spring back a normal oven baked cake has. I mean essentially you are steaming it so that makes sense. We love ooey gooey moist desserts so it was a real winner at our house.

chocolate cake recipe

Can you bake a cake pan in an Instant Pot?

Yes, I have made many delicious homemade desserts in my pressure cooker. This is probably the most decadent with the richest flavors, made from scratch. Our Instant Pot coffee cake is a fabulous treat too. If you haven’t baked in your pressure cooker yet I’d give it a whirl.

Can I bake directly in the Instant Pot?

Not really. You can make treats right in the pot like baked apples and things but if you want to “bake” in a pressure cooker you are essentially steaming it. To keep together in a round shape as you would expect you need an Instant Pot 7″ springform pan accessory to pour the batter into.

Instant Pot Chocolate Cake Ingredients

  1. Large bowl to whisk ingredients, and mixer is very helpful
  2. Cup of water
  3. Unsweetened chocolate and cocoa
  4. All purpose flour
  5. Butter
  6. Coffee
  7. Soda, beer – or other liquid
  8. Baking soda
  9. Sour cream
  10. Sugar
  11. Eggs
  12. Vanilla frosting – if you want it on top
instant pot dessert

You start just like when making our Instant Pot brownies. Prep your cake pan by spraying liberally with non-stick baking spray, then a light dusting with cocoa powder. Set to the side.

Can I melt chocolate in an Instant Pot?

You could make the ganache right in the pot using the saute function. Downside to that is you’ll have to remove when done, wait to cool, wash, and then use to bake. If you use your IP you will; heat your cream to a light bubble. Place your chocolate in a double boiler (use a metal bowl set on a trivet in a pressure cooker). Pour heated cream over chocolate pieces and let sit for 1 minute, then stir to combine.

How to bake a cake using a pressure cooker

You can do this in a medium saucepan over medium heat too. Make sure to stir often until chocolate melts. Stir in Whiskey if using, and salt to taste.Set ganache aside to cool to room temperature.

  • In a medium saucepan add the stout, coffee, and butter. Heat over medium, stirring often until butter melts. Add in the cocoa powder and mix until smooth. Set the mixture to the side and allow to cool to room temperature.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.In a stand mixer, add your eggs and sour cream.
  • Beat on medium until combined. Then reduce the speed to low and add the chocolate beer mixture.
  • Mix until well combined. Begin to add flour mixture in thirds. Beat on low until combined. Pour the batter into your springform pan.
  • Place a trivet in your Instant Pot. Add 3/4 cup water to the Instant Pot. Lower the cake into the Instant Pot on the trivet.
  • Seal and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes, then quick release the pressure release valve when done.
  • Let the cake cool for a good 15 minutes. Place the ganache you made in the microwave for 45 seconds, heat until melted.
  • Pour the chocolate sauce over the top of the cake. Set to the side.

Prepare your frosting = Add softened sticks of butter to the mixer. Add Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur. Mix until butter and liqueur are completely blended. Add powdered sugar. Beat on low until well combined and stiff peaks begin to form.

Then move the mixer up to medium-high speed.Blend for 1 minute. Spread the frosting on top of the cake.Enjoy!

pressure cooker cake

How to Make an Instant Pot Cake with Cake Mix

There is another way to make an Instant Pot bundt cake using cake mix. You can get the same moist texture if you don’t want to go all out and do homemade from scratch.

  • Spray inside of a 7″ springform pan
  • Mix together cake mix with necessary ingredients on box.
  • Pour into bundt pan, cover with foil.
  • Put trivet inside pressure cooker with 1.5 c. water.
  • Lower bundt pan on to trivet.
  • Close lid and steam valve and set to high pressure for 50 minutes
  • Do a natural release and lift out.
  • Cool, flip out of the cake pan (that’s where the cooking spray helps) and add whipped cream or frosting. Sprinkled 1/2 cup chocolate chips on top is great too.

Save any leftovers by placing aluminum foil on top. You can leave it on the counter and should because it will stay more moist if kept out of the fridge. It will be just fine as is as long as it is covered tightly. Warming in the microwave for 45 sec. is great when you’re ready to enjoy again. It’s a great 30 minute cooking time cake recipe you can make quickly.

What type of pan do I use to bake in an Instant Pot?

Unfortunately all “regular” sizes for the oven won’t fit inside this machine. You can find mini versions online though. We link to the 7 inch springform pan we use to make chocolate cake this way, you can use a small bundt pan specially made for these machines too which work great.

Instant Pot Carrot Cake 3

What can you bake in an Instant Pot?

Want more options for making a pressure cooker cake? Try our Instant Pot angel food cake too! Super sweet, fluffy, and fat free too. It is probably one of my favorite easy dessert recipes ever.

  • Like I said before, this method of “baking” does create a different consistency than you’re probably used to.
  • If you like really airy and fluffy cakes, this probably isn’t how you want to bake a cake.

As far as breads, it makes them really moist too. I did this with our pressure cooker cornbread and loved how it turned out.

Can you bake a chocolate cake in a Ninja Foodi?

Yes, you would use the lid that isn’t attached and the pressure cook button to make this one. For more Instant Pot desserts refer to this pot, they all work for this pot too. Now jump to recipe below and get going. There is nutritional information listed with calories, saturated fat, etc…. if you’d like that too but just enjoy.

instant pot angel food cake 2

Before you go I want you to sign up for my free newsletter!! You will get all my new recipes emailed to you a few times a week that will help with meal planning for the week.

Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!

Looking for more easy family recipes and tips? LIKE The Typical Mom Facebook page because we share all our new creations there every single day. And follow me on Pinterest for more inspirations! 😉

***** If you LOVED this recipe give it 5 Stars below and let everyone know what you thought about it. 😉

the typical mom
Chocolate Instant Pot Cake
Print Pin
5 from 2 votes

Chocolate Instant Pot Cake

Chocolate Instant Pot cake is so delicious and moist! Really easy pressure cooker cake with chocolate! Whether you want to make a birthday cake or just a fun dessert after dinner this turns out great.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword cake, chocolate, instant pot, pressure cooker
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 1245kcal
Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Prep your cake pan by spraying liberally with non-stick baking spray, then a light dusting with cocoa powder. Set to the side. Make ganache = In a  medium saucepan heat your cream to a light bubble. Place your chocolate in a double boiler.Pour heated cream over chocolate pieces and let sit for 1 minute, then stir to combine. Make sure to stir often until chocolate melts. Stir in Whiskey if using, and salt to taste.Set ganache aside to cool to room temperature.
  • In a medium saucepan add the stout, coffee, and butter. Heat over medium, stirring often until butter melts. Add in the cocoa powder and mix until smooth. Set the mixture to the side and allow to cool to room temperature.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.In a stand mixer, add your eggs and sour cream. Beat on medium until combined.Reduce the speed to low and add the chocolate beer mixture.
  • Mix until well combined. Begin to add flour mixture in thirds. Beat on low until combined. Pour the batter into your springform pan.
  • Place a trivet in your Instant Pot. Add 3/4 cup water to the Instant Pot. Lower the cake into the Instant Pot on the trivet. Seal and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes, then vent immediately.
  • Let the cake cool. Place the ganache you made in the microwave for 45 seconds, heat until melted. Pour the ganache over the top of the cake. Set to the side.
  • Prepare your frosting = Add softened sticks of butter to the mixer. Add Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur. Mix until butter and liqueur are completely blended. Add powdered sugar. Beat on low until well combined and stiff peaks begin to form.
  • Then move the mixer up to medium-high speed.Blend for 1 minute. Spread the frosting on top of the cake.Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Instant Pot Cake
Amount Per Serving (2 oz)
Calories 1245 Calories from Fat 621
% Daily Value*
Fat 69g106%
Saturated Fat 42g263%
Cholesterol 195mg65%
Sodium 1049mg46%
Potassium 389mg11%
Carbohydrates 155g52%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 120g133%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 1830IU37%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 83mg8%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
instant pot cake
instant pot cake 2
5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Glenn

Sunday 11th of August 2019

Did a photo get overwritten? The "slice of Instant Pot cake you ate for lunch" looks like a DEEEELICIOUS bowl of Spaghetti Bolognese. ?

Aurora

Wednesday 2nd of January 2019

Is there any change for a bundt pan?

The Typical Mom

Wednesday 2nd of January 2019

Probably not but unsure.

Melinda

Friday 12th of October 2018

If I want to make this in a bundt pan, would I need to reduce the cooking time?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.