The Yellowstone cake with steak scene is one of the most beloved moments in the entire series. John Dutton gives Carter permission to eat cake along with his steak dinner. Carter digs a massive spoonful straight out of the center. This Yellowstone cake with steak recipe comes from my Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook. It’s a triple chocolate flourless chocolate cake baked in a 10-inch cast iron skillet and finished with a rich fudge buttercream frosting. It’s gluten-free, grain-free, and completely over the top in the best possible way. Serve it with a big spoon.
What Makes This the Perfect Yellowstone Cake with Steak?
Three forms of chocolate work together in this flourless chocolate cake recipe. Chocolate chips, Dutch-processed cocoa powder, and fudge chocolate buttercream frosting. Baking it in a cast iron skillet gives the edges a slightly crispier texture while keeping the center dense and molten-adjacent. It looks rustic and dramatic on the table, exactly the way a Dutton family dessert should.Â
Servings: 8 servings
Equipment
- 1 10-inch cast-iron skillet
- 1 large serving spoon as shown
Recipe for flourless triple chocolate flourless chocolate cake with fudge frosting baked in a cast-iron skillet. A delicious, gluten-free and grain-free dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chocolate chips divided
- 1 stick ½ cup butter, plus more for greasing the pan
- Âľ cup granulated cane sugar
- ÂĽ tsp salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- ½ cup unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder, such as King Arthur’s Burgundy Cocoa
For the Fudge Frosting
- 1 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 3 cups Confectioners’ sugar sifted
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet.
- Put 1 cup of chocolate chips along with the butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl, and heat at 50% power until the butter is melted and the chips are soft, about 1 minute. Stir with a butter knife until the chips melt.
- Stir in the sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla and eggs. Then add the cocoa powder and mix to combine.
- Transfer the batter to the skillet and bake for 25 minutes. The top should have a thin crust. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- While the cake is cooling, prepare the frosting. Put the remaining cup of chocolate chips and the cream in a microwave safe mixing bowl and heat on 50% power until the chips are soft, about 1 minute.
- Beat the butter with an electric mixer on low speed until light and creamy, about two minutes. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar ½ cup at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition, then pour in the chocolate mixture and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes more.
- Frost the cooled cake with the buttercream and serve with a big spoon.
Video
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a flourless chocolate cake? A flourless chocolate cake contains no wheat flour or other grain-based flour, making it naturally gluten-free and grain-free. The structure comes from eggs and melted chocolate rather than flour. The result is denser, richer, and more intensely chocolate-flavored than a standard cake. This recipe uses Dutch-processed cocoa powder and two full cups of chocolate chips for maximum chocolate depth.
Can I make this cake ahead of time? Yes. The cake keeps well covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 5 days. The fudge frosting actually improves after a few hours as it sets and the flavors meld. Bring it to room temperature before serving for the best texture. The cake also freezes well unfrosted for up to 3 months.
What cast iron skillet size do I need? This recipe uses a 10-inch cast iron skillet. A 9-inch skillet will produce a slightly thicker cake with a longer baking time (check at 28-30 minutes). A 12-inch skillet will produce a thinner cake that bakes faster (check at 20-22 minutes). Lodge and Le Creuset both make excellent cast iron skillets that work beautifully for this recipe.
Is this cake gluten free? Yes. This triple chocolate flourless cake is naturally gluten-free and grain-free. There is no flour of any kind in the recipe. Always check that your chocolate chips and cocoa powder are certified gluten-free if baking for someone with celiac disease, as some brands process on shared equipment.
What other Yellowstone recipes are in the cookbook? The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook by Jackie Alpers contains over 85 recipes inspired by the Dutton family ranch and the Yellowstone TV series. Other fan favorites include the Yellowstone Fire & Fury spicy bourbon whiskey cocktail, Beth Dutton's breakfast smoothie, watermelon moonshine, and funeral potatoes.
Hungry for More? Buy the Unofficial Elf Cookbook, The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook and the Taste of Tucson Cookbook!
