Best Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe that is perfect for sharing with others or enjoying alone.
This simple no added dairy cake recipe features a moist and tender cake with a rich deep cocoa flavor topped with a creamy three ingredient chocolate frosting.

What you will read about in this recipe.
- What is a vegan chocolate cake?
- Why we love this recipe for chocolate cake made without dairy.
- Ingredients needed to make this recipe for vegan chocolate cake.
- Tips for making the best vegan cake.
- How to make a Best Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe.
- How to store leftover vegan cake.
- Print the recipe for a Best Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe.
What is a vegan chocolate cake?
A vegan chocolate cake is a cake that is just like a regular chocolate cake only it has no added dairy, such as eggs or milk.
I like that you can make a great tasting cake using vegan ingredients!
Have you tried my Quick Double Chocolate Loaf Cake recipe?
Those moist and chocolatey loaf can be served at about any time of the day as a dessert or as part of a meal such as breakfast. Both this recipe for cake and that recipe for loaf bread are delicious chocolate recipe made with no added dairy.
To make this recipe you will need vegan unsweetened cocoa powder. You can find a selection of unsweetened cocoa powder here.
Why we love this recipe for chocolate cake made without dairy.
This is a basic chocolate cake recipe that tastes just as good as a cake with added dairy. The creamy 'buttercream' frosting is the perfect match to the moist and flavorful cake.
Here is what else we like about this recipe.
- This is a quick cake recipe that can be made in less than an hour.
- Basic pantry ingredients that you may already have on hand are used in this recipe.
- You can serve this cake as an after dinner dessert or as part of a celebration such as a birthday or holiday.
- This is a decadent chocolate cake idea that is sure to impress.
- Personalizing this cake is as easy as swapping out your extract for another flavor or making the frosting without the added cocoa.
- About everyone likes a good chocolate cake.
Ingredients needed to make this recipe for vegan chocolate cake.
- All Purpose Flour. Your flour should be measured and leveled for better accuracy.
- Light Brown Sugar. Make sure that your light brown sugar is also vegan.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. Using a good quality cocoa powder can make your cake even better tasting.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda. Both are used for leavening.
- Oil. Use a neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil.
- Oat Milk. This is the recommended vegan milk for this recipe as it is moist and dense. You can learn more about Oat Milk Here.
- Vanilla Extract. Added for a bit of flavor balance.
- For the vegan chocolate frosting you will need vegan butter (softened), powdered sugar, and unsweetened cocoa.
- You can find vegan sprinkles here.
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Tips for making the best vegan cake.
To make this recipe fully vegan, make sure that you are using ingredients that are fully vegan friendly.
This is for both your wet and dry ingredients.
More helpful tips for you.
- Whisking or sifting your dry ingredients will help give this cake a light and airy crumb as well as even distribution of ingredients.
- Adding a teaspoon or two of espresso or coffee will help to enhance the flavor of the chocolate.
- When selecting a vegan butter for the frosting, select one with an oil base rather than a water base. This will make the structure of the frosting easier to spread and more stable.
- Add some orange zest or extract to the frosting for extra citrus flavour.
- Make sure that your cake has fully cooled before frosting it. If the cake is still warm it can melt the frosting.
How to make a Best Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes .
Bake Time: 35 minutes .
Servings: 10, depending on how it is sliced.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Also, prep a square baking pan for nonstick. I like to line my pan with parchment paper that overhangs the sides of the pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, us a whisk to combine together the flour, light brown sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and leaveners. Then carefully make a well in the center of the ingredients.
- Using another bowl, combine together the oat milk, oil, and vanilla extract. You can use a fork or a clean whisk to do this. Then pour these wet ingredients into the well you just made in your dry ingredients.
- Mix the ingredients until just combined and then transfer the ingredients to your prepared baking pan.
- Tap the bottom of the baking pan on your countertop to level the cake batter. Then bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- After removing the cake from your oven let it sit in the pan for 10 minutes before lifting it from the pan (using your parchment paper) and transferring the cake to a cooling rack to fully cool.
- To make the frosting, beat together the ingredients on low speed for for one minute as you slowly add the powdered sugar. Then increase the the speed and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy (about three to five minutes).
- To frost your cooled cake, use an offset spatula to evenly spread the frosting over the cake. You can top this with sprinkles, fruit, or the topping of your choice.
Expert Tip 👉 An 8” x 8” baking pan was used to make my cake. For a thinner cake with more slices, you can use a large pan or for larger slices you can use a smaller pan.
How to store leftover vegan cake.
This cake is best when served soon after adding the frosting. Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to three days. Individual slices can be stored for up to a month.
You may also be interested in these ideas.
- Lemon Blueberry Cake For 2 (vegan, MedDiet)
- Chia Seed Pudding with Blueberry Compote
- Homemade Vegan Trail Mix
- Vegan Fruit Crumble Bars
- 4 Ingredient Date Bars (vegan)
- 3 Ingredient Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream
Print the recipe for a Best Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe.
Best Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe,
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1¾ cup Flour
- 1¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
- ¾ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Baking Soda
- ½ cup Oil -neutral such as canola.
- 1¼ Oat Milk
- 1 Vanilla Extract
Frosting
- ¾ cup Vegan Butter - softened
- 2½ cups Powdered Sugar
- 6 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Also, prep a square baking pan for nonstick.
- In a medium mixing bowl, us a whisk to combine together the flour, light brown sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and leaveners. Then carefully make a well in the center of the ingredients.
- Using another bowl, combine together the oat milk, oil, and vanilla extract. You can use a fork or a clean whisk to do this. Then pour these wet ingredients into the well you just made in your dry ingredients. Mix the ingredients until just combined and then transfer the ingredients to your prepared baking pan.
- Tap the bottom of the baking pan on your countertop to level the cake batter. Then bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- After removing the cake from your oven let it sit in the pan for 10 minutes before lifting it from the pan (using your parchment paper) and transferring the cake to a cooling rack to fully cool.
- To make the frosting, beat together the ingredients on low speed for for one minute as you slowly add the powdered sugar. Then increase the the speed and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy (about three to five minutes).
- To frost your cooled cake, use an offset spatula to evenly spread the frosting over the cake. You can top this with sprinkles, fruit, or the topping of your choice.
Recipe Notes
Also, please see the actual recipe post for further details on this recipe. Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used. To make this recipe fully vegan, please make sure that you are using fully vegan ingredients.
See Foodwineandlove.com for details on this recipe.
originally posted:
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Nutrition
Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!
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Best Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe, a simple dessert recipe for a moist and tender frosted cake made with no added dairy.
Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.