Lightened Up Nothing But Bundt Cake with Chocolate Chips

If you've been craving a cozy, chocolate-studded dessert that feels special but doesn't weigh you down, this Lightened Up Nothing But Bundt Cake with Chocolate Chips might just become one of your new favorite recipes.

Whether you're baking for a happy birthday, a special occasion, or it's your first time experimenting with a bundt cake pan, this recipe is designed to be simple, light, and full of chocolatey joy.

I use ingredients like Greek yogurt, a touch of unsweetened applesauce, and a generous sprinkle of mini chocolate chips to create a moist crumb that still feels totally indulgent - the kind of dessert chocolate lovers dream about.

And here's a fun fact you may not know: the iconic Bundt cake pan actually skyrocketed in popularity after a Bundt cake won second place in a national baking contest in the 1960s - suddenly, everyone wanted the beautifully curved surface of the cake that only this pan could create.

Before that, Bundt pans were relatively unknown! So every time you bake a Bundt cake (whether in a classic 12-cup Bundt pan, a mini Bundt pan, or even a pan coated with Baker's Joy or cooking spray), you're participating in a little piece of American baking history.

This lightened-up chocolate chip cake starts with whisked dry ingredients like all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and a little bit of sugar, then blends together beautifully with the wet mixture - cake batter enriched with vanilla extract, room-temperature eggs, and the creamy lift of Greek yogurt.

Whether you use a homemade base or a convenient boxed cake mix, the goal is the same: best results with the easiest way possible. A hand mixer, Kitchenaid or rubber spatula works wonderfully to pull everything together without creating too many air pockets, which helps the bottom of the cake bake evenly.

After baking for 40-50 minutes, let the cake cool on a wire rack or cooling rack before lifting it gently from the sides of the pan and placing it on a serving plate.

From there, the fun begins! You can drizzle a rich chocolate glaze, swirl on a lighter cream cheese frosting, dust with powdered sugar, or even try a combination of white chocolate chips and dark chocolate chips melted together. And if you're working with gluten-free ingredients or want to store leftovers in an airtight container, this cake recipe adapts easily.

Even if you don't bake this decadent cake today, I hope you enjoyed learning a little something about the history of Nothing Bundt Cakes and the surprising origin of the pan that inspired them. Food is always more meaningful when there's a good reason - or a good story - behind it.

Now let's make a Bundt cake that might just become your new best friend in the kitchen.

Make sure try some of my other popular healthy Weight Watcher recipes.  Low Calorie Wendy's Frosty, 3 Ingredient Cinnamon Muffins , Mini DASH Chaffles, Air Fryer Beignets and The WW Zero Point Apple Crisp Chips.

Why You'll Love This Lightened-Up Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

Weight Watcher Friendly - This light and Nothing But the Bundt Cake recipe is only 7 WW points on my WW app for one chocolate chilled filled slice.

Now, before you panic about the 7 WW points per slice talk strategy. Yes, 7 points may feel like a lot when you're working with a daily budget of 23, but that's the beauty of Weight Watchers: you're not restricted-you're empowered. 

Yes, this Bundt cake contains sugar-and can still be Weight Watchers friendly.

The whole point of WW is flexibility: no food is "off limits." It's about tracking your Points, making choices you feel good about, and budgeting in a way that fits your goals. If you really want a pice of cake (same!), you can absolutely plan for it-maybe pair one slice with fruit, adjust portion size, or balance your day with a zero-point dinner.

That's real-life healthy eating: enjoying treats mindfully, without guilt, and without feeling like you "blew it" just because you had dessert.

3 More Bonus Reasons you Need to Make this Cake...

It's a lighter take on "Nothing Bundt Cakes" flavor. This chocolate chip Bundt cake uses Greek yogurt, a touch of butter, and all purpose flour to create a moist crumb that feels like a decadent cake, but with a lightened-up ingredient list you can feel good about serving.

Easy enough for a weeknight, special enough for any celebration. With simple cake batter ingredients and a 12-cup Bundt cake pan this cake recipe comes together quickly for a happy birthday, special occasion, or "just because" chocolate lovers' dessert.

Moist, chocolate-studded, and endlessly customizable. Mini chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or even white chocolate chips can be baked into every slice, and you can finish it with powdered sugar, cream cheese frosting, or a rich chocolate glaze for best results your whole family will love.

Ingredients & Healthy Swaps for This Lightened-Up Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

Even though this is a lightened-up Nothing but the Bundt style cake, we're still using real, recognizable ingredients. Here's how you can tweak a few key ones to make it a bit lighter or more nutrient-dense without losing that rich, dessert feel.

All-Purpose Flour (Easy Whole Grain Upgrade)

What it does:
All-purpose flour keeps the crumb tender and soft, which is important in a Bundt cake so it doesn't turn out dense or dry.

Healthier swap ideas:

• 50/50 blend: Replace half of the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat flour for extra fiber with a very similar texture.
• Oat flour boost: Swap ¼ of the flour for oat flour (homemade or store-bought) to add a little more whole grain without making the cake heavy.
• If you go beyond 50% whole grain, just know the cake may be a bit denser-great with coffee, but less "bakery-fluffy."

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Butter (Lighten It Up Without Losing Flavor)

What it does:
Butter adds flavor, tenderness, and that classic Bundt cake richness.

Healthier swap ideas:

• Half butter, half Greek yogurt: Use 50% melted or softened butter and 50% plain Greek yogurt to cut some saturated fat and add a little protein while keeping moisture.
• Partial applesauce: Swap up to ⅓ of the butter for unsweetened applesauce; the cake will be slightly softer and more moist.
• Light stick butter: If you prefer, you can use a light butter for some or all of the butter, but avoid margarine-style spreads that aren't meant for baking.

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Sugar (A Little Less Sweet Still Tastes Like Dessert)

What it does:
Sugar sweetens the cake and also helps with moisture and browning-especially in a Bundt where you want a soft crumb and a nice golden exterior.

Healthier swap ideas:

• Reduce by 2-4 tablespoons: Most cakes can handle a small sugar reduction without a big impact on texture.
• Try coconut sugar: Swap some or all of the white sugar for coconut sugar for a deeper, caramel-like flavor and a more "wholesome" vibe (the cake may be slightly darker in color).
• Balance sweetness elsewhere: If you're adding a glaze, you can reduce the sugar in the cake a bit more and let the glaze carry some of the sweetness.

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Mini Chocolate Chips (More Chocolate in Every Bite)

What they do:
Mini chocolate chips give you chocolate in every slice without needing as large a quantity as full-size chips. They also distribute more evenly in the Bundt.

Healthier swap ideas:

• Dark chocolate minis: Use 60-70% dark mini chips or finely chopped dark chocolate for a richer taste with a little less sugar.
• Use a little less: You can often cut the chips by ¼-⅓ cup and still get plenty of chocolate flecks in every bite, thanks to the minis.
• Nutty add-ins: If you like some crunch, swap part of the chips for chopped walnuts or pecans to add healthy fats and texture.

How to Make a Lightened Up Bundt Cake

1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a bundt pan well.

2: In a large mixing bowl whisk your dry ingredients together - flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and sugar.

3: In a separate bowl mix your wet ingredients - softened butter, unsweetened applesauce, eggs, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract and milk. I used my Kitchenaid mixer but if you don't have a power mixer you can mix by hand with a large spoon or spatula.

4: Add your dry ingredients with your wet ingredients and mix until combined.

5: Add the chocolate chips into your batter and mix gently.

6: Pour batter into your greased Bundt Cake Pan and bake for 40-50 minutes until golden.

7: When baking is complete remove from oven let cool. Once cooled flip upside down on a plate and add icing as desired, fruit, powdered sugar or all of the above.

How to Make the Signature Nothing Bundt Cake Icing Stripes

One of the most recognizable parts of a Nothing Bundt Cake is the dramatic, thick icing stripes that flow from the center toward the base of the cake. Luckily, you can recreate that classic look at home with a simple light cream cheese icing-or even a store-bought shortcut if you want to keep it extra easy or lower in calories.

Light Cream Cheese Icing (Perfect for Piping Stripes)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz light cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ½-1 cup powdered sugar (start with ½ cup and adjust)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 teaspoons milk, only if needed for piping consistency

Instructions:

1. Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
2. Add powdered sugar gradually until thick but pipeable.
3. Mix in vanilla.
4. If the icing is too thick to pipe, add ½ teaspoon of milk at a time until it flows slowly from the piping bag.

This makes a lighter, less sugary version of the classic icing, but still firm enough to create those gorgeous stripes.

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How to Pipe the Signature Striped Look

1. Fill a piping bag (or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped).
2. Start at the center hole of the Bundt cake.
3. Slowly squeeze a thick line of icing outward toward the bottom edge.
4. Stop squeezing right before you reach the base so the stripe looks clean.
5. Repeat all the way around, spacing the stripes evenly-you can do 12-16 stripes depending on how bold you want the look.
6. For a more calorie-friendly option, pipe fewer stripes and let the cake show through-it still looks beautiful and saves points/calories.
7. Want even more visual appeal? Add fresh berries, orange slices, cherries, or chocolate shavings on top for a polished finish.

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Shortcut Option (Super Easy!)

You can also grab a store-bought squeezable vanilla icing bag (the kind made for cookie decorating). It pipes beautifully with zero prep and is great if you're short on time.

Watch the How to Make a Healthy Bundt Cake Video Here...

Best Kitchen Tools for This Lightened-Up Nothing Bundt Cake

Having the right tools makes this lightened-up Nothing Bundt-style chocolate chip cake easier, prettier, and way more reliable. Here are the two MVPs I use every time:

1. 9.5-Inch Bundt Cake Pan

A good-quality 9.5-inch Bundt cake pan is essential for getting that classic shape and beautiful ridges.

• It helps the cake bake evenly with a moist center and lightly crisp edges.
• Nonstick or well-greased metal pans release the cake cleanly so you don't lose any detail.
• Look for a sturdy pan with defined grooves so your icing stripes have a gorgeous place to drip and cling.

2. KitchenAid Stand Mixer

My KitchenAid stand mixer is the real workhorse in this recipe.

• It creams the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (key for a soft, tender crumb).
• Makes it easy to mix in the wet and dry ingredients without overworking the batter.
• The paddle attachment handles thick cake batter and mini chocolate chips like a pro-no tired arms, no uneven mixing.

If you're ready to invest in just a couple of tools that will upgrade all your baking (not just this cake), a solid Bundt pan and a stand mixer are at the top of the list.

10 Expert Tips for the Best Lightened-Up Nothing Bundt Cake with Chocolate Chips

Whether you're making this healthier Bundt cake for a special occasion or an everyday treat, these pro tips will help you get the perfect texture, flavor, and signature presentation every time.

1. Use room-temperature ingredients for a smoother batter.

Softened butter, cream cheese, and eggs blend more evenly and help the cake rise without tunneling or dense spots.

2. Measure flour the right way for a lighter crumb.

Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off. Packing flour leads to a heavy, dry Bundt cake.

3. Mix the dry ingredients separately first.

Whisking flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl guarantees even distribution and avoids overmixing once combined.

4. Fold in the mini chocolate chips gently.

Mini chips distribute more evenly, but overmixing can sink them. Fold with a rubber spatula for the best placement.

5. Tap the pan to remove air bubbles.

A few light taps on the counter smooth the batter and prevent large holes once baked.

6. Don't skip greasing every nook of your Bundt pan.

Use baking spray with flour or a thin butter + flour coating. Bundt pans are notorious for sticking if not coated well.

7. Let the cake cool in the pan before removing.

Cool 10-15 minutes, then invert. Removing it too early can cause breakage, but waiting too long can cause sticking.

8. Chill your icing slightly before piping.

A firmer icing makes it easier to create those classic thick, beautiful Bundt stripes without them melting or sliding.

9. Pipe fewer stripes for a lighter, WW-friendly version.

Fewer icing stripes = fewer calories while still keeping the iconic Nothing Bundt Cake look.

10. Freeze slices or the whole cake for quick treats later.

Bundt cakes freeze exceptionally well. Wrap individual slices or the entire cake tightly, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for a freshly baked taste.

Top 3 FAQs for the Lightened-Up Nothing Bundt Cake with Chocolate Chips

Are you a Weight Watcher?

If you follow my Blog you probably already know I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers and I like to point all of my Recipes with the WW Points System.

This Weight Watchers friendly Nothing But the Bundt Cake with Chocolate Chips recipe is only 7 Points on my app for 1 slice when you slice your Bundt Cake into 16 slices.

Weight Watchers has a new individualized program right now to make it easier to enjoy the foods you love and still lose weight.

Just plug the ingredients into your WW app to confirm the points for your individual program.

If you want to see the old Purple, Blue and Green WW Food Lists for each plan just click Here… For a list of the 2025 Free WW Food list click here..

Make sure you check out my Newbie WW Tips and Tricks Guide if you are just getting started.

If you are planning to travel soon make sure you check out my 100 Tips for healthy eating on the go.

I used to go back and forth between the Purple Plan and the Blue Plan prior to the new program and whenever I hit a plateau I did my own 30 Day Low Carb Meal Plan which jumpstarts the Fat Burning again, so if you feel stuck try it!

If you are impatient like me... blog visitors can get instant access to the digital download version today for only $8.97 just click here...

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If you're looking for fresh new ideas for breakfast, snacks, or lighter desserts (including WW-friendly inspiration), this book was made for you. Tap the button below to grab your copy on Amazon and start baking your way through the coziest season!

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