I’m super happy to say that this post for The Ultimate Vegan Chocolate Cake is sponsored by World Kitchen, who I love for their affordable, non-stick baking pans. I seriously use Baker’s Secret pans all their time. They are perfect for roasting veggies, making muffins, and of course, making The Ultimate Vegan Chocolate Cake! I have been compensated monetarily and with product. Yay!
Can we please just take a minute to drool over that picture? Seriously. I want to lick the screen, why oh why doesn’t my screen taste delicious and like chocolate?
It is time, my friends, for the most ridiculously awesome, ultimate vegan chocolate cake. Applause, please. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you. I’m subtle I know.
I have a secret obsession with chocolate cake that stems back to my early days. Let me explain…
When I was a little kidlet, me and one of my best friends Katherine (hi Kat!), would always save up our loonies (that’s Canadian slang for dollars), then when our parents weren’t looking, we would go and buy a big chocolate cake that they sold in the freezer section of the grocery store. This was a cake intended for a family. We would sneak it back to our rooms and then proceed to eat THE ENTIRE THING. (Mom, shhhhhh, don’t read that, shhhhh).
We were both scrawny little things so I really don’t know how we managed to do that, but kids really seem to have a knack at consuming large amounts of sugar, don’t they?
Yep, serious chocolate addicts were born. So when I say I love chocolate cake, this comes from a place of childhood sugar gluttony.
When I first tasted this cake, it brought back all of those chocolate cake obsessed kid memories. This cake is rich, moist, fudgy, and super… what’s the word…chocolatey. That’s the best word to describe it really. I promise you no one will notice it’s vegan. I wouldn’t be surprised if non-vegans asked for the recipe, then you can be all cool with your sweet self, and pass it along, and wink when you tell them it’s vegan.
I used these awesome red pans to make these cakes. Baker’s Secret are for real my go to pans when it comes to baking. They are very affordable, but the best part is they are very non-stick, so this cake just slid right out of the pan. The last thing you want is half your cake left behind in the pan! (Trust me, been there, done that). So I so appreciate Baker’s Secret for sponsoring this post and giving me these beautiful pans so I could make the chocolate cake of my dreams. Yes, I dream about cake.
To make the Ultimate Vegan Chocolate Cake: Add all of the dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together.
In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients.
Yep, there is apple cider vinegar in there. Yes, that seems weird. The reason it’s in there is to make the cakes rise and get fluffy (remember baking soda and vinegar volcanoes)? It’s a wonderful trick I picked up from Chloe Coscarelli, one of my most favourite cookbook authors. It works like a charm, and trust me, you can’t taste the vinegar at all, only delicious chocolateness.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk together until just combined. Don’t over mix.
One of the many benefits of vegan baking is there are no raw eggs! So go ahead, lick the spoon (and by lick the spoon, I mean drink the batter).
Divide the batter between two 8″ round cake pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely before frosting.
To make the vegan chocolate frosting, use a mixer to beat together all of the ingredients. If your frosting is a little too stiff, add 1 to 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk to soften it up until desired frosting texture is reached.
When you are ready to frost your cakes, run a knife around the edges of the cake pans, and flip the pans over to remove the cakes.
Place the first cake on your cake plate, and spread about half of frosting on top. Place the second cake on top of the frosted cake, and spread the remaining frosting on top of that cake. Add swirl patterns with your spatula to make it pretty. Store the cake in the fridge or a cool place until you are ready to serve.
Prepare to have all of your chocolate needs met for life.
P.S. Can you find the hidden selfie in the pic below? ↓
If you're looking for the chocolate cake of your dreams, this is it. No one will even know it's vegan!
- 2½ cups all-Purpose flour
- 2½ cups white sugar
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2⅔ cups non-dairy milk (such as soy or almond)
- ⅔ cups light oil (such as canola or vegetable)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup vegan butter (such as Earth Balance)
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- 1¼ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 - 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk (if needed)
- To Make the Cake: Preheat your oven to 350F (180C). Prepare two 8" round baking pans by lightly greasing them, and then cutting a circle of parchment paper to fit into the bottom.
- In a large bowl whisk together all of the dry ingredients, then set aside.
In a medium bowl whisk together all of the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Don't over mix. Divide the batter into the prepared pans, then pop them in the oven. Bake for about 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely before frosting.
- To Make the Frosting: Use a mixer to blend all of the frosting ingredients except for the non-dairy milk. Blend until whipped and creamy. If the frosting is a bit too stiff, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of non-dairy milk as needed until desired consistency is reached.
- To Assemble the Cake: Run a knife around the edges of the cake pans, and flip the pans over to remove the cakes. Remove the parchment paper and discard. Place the first cake on your cake plate, and spread about half of the frosting on top. Place the second cake on top of the frosted cake, and spread the remaining frosting on top of that cake. Add swirl patterns with your spatula to make it pretty. Store the cake in the fridge or a cool place until you are ready to serve.
To make cupcakes: Line the wells of cupcake pans with 24 paper liners. Follow directions for the cake recipe, but then divide the batter evenly among the cupcake wells. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
Vegetable shortening is a vegetable fat that is solid at room temperature which is why it's great for frosting as it holds its shape. If you don't have that, you could use more vegan butter, but make sure everything is cold as the butter might be a bit meltier.
Alternative flours: I'm not an expert in alternative flours, so substitute at your own risk. For gluten-free, I have heard good things about Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 flour.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram and hashtag #itdoesnttastelikechicken.
Bon appetegan!
Sam.
If you liked this recipe you might also enjoy:
This looks great, I’m planning on making it for my husband’s birthday in a few weeks! Do you use unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe?
I don’t ever comment on recipe blogs. I usually just use the recipe often if I like it, but I never tell the person how much I loved it. Well, I felt this needed to be said: THIS CAKE IS AWESOME!!!! I am vegan so I was familiar with making baked goods with apple cider vinegar and I always love how they come out. When I made the frosting for this cake, I felt like it was overly sweet when I was tasting it by itself. I was hoping the cake would temper the sweetness and I was right. Once I iced the cake, it was the perfect combination! I made half the recipe because I only have an 8×8 pan, but I can’t wait to buy some new pans and try to make the double layers. I will have to only make it to take to gatherings because I ate it all pretty much in two days. I can’t believe how awesome it is. It will be my go-to chocolate cake now!
Haha! That’s awesome, Amber! I’m so thrilled you love it so much. THanks for the comment 🙂
I’d like to second this review. I made this cake for my sisters 30th birthday! I am vegan but my family are not. Everybody said it’s the best chocolate cake they have ever tasted. What a great recipe. I never search for a recipe again to review but I had to for this as it was such a hit! thank you. I also had all of the ingredients at home already so very impressed. 🙂
I have made this recipe over and over again, everyone I know that has eaten it cannot believe how good it is. Hands down the best chocolate cake recipe I have ever made. I add coffee to both the batter and the frosting which enhances the chocolate flavor.
Aww yay!! Thank you!!
I’m a professional baker from France and I have tried this recipe today for a birthday and I would like to say that this recipe is the best I have ever made, thank you for sharing your recipe with us ! it was so delicious and rich! soooooo yummmy its the matilda vegan cake version and I’m in love <3
Haha! Matilda, amazing. Thrilled you love it so much, Zack!!
“I don’t know what’s wrong with you people.” Well here is what’s wrong…we have to deal with people like you that support the killing of animals just so you can get a piece of meat. Us vegans care enough about the earth and animals to try and save them from people like you. How dare you come into a safe space for vegans and criticize us. Get your life together and stop judging others decisions just because you don’t agree with the way we live. Keep your mouth shut if you are going to criticize. I’m opening my mouth so I can stand up for myself, others, and animals.
Hey Sam!!
I had to compliment you for this amazing recipe!! I changed the frosting for an oreo’s kind of buttercream and it turned out one of the best cakes I’ve ever tasted. It was so chocolaty and fluffy!! Everyone loved it and both vegans and non vegan were shocked how good it was!! Many even asked for the recipe! Thank you a lot for all your work!!
That’s so great, Laura!! THrilled everyone enjoyed it 🙂
Simply delicious again! Followed the recipe exactly and the cake came out super moist. I might add some vegan chocolate chips next time for more chocolate. Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful recipes Sam.
You’re most welcome, Jared! So happy you enjoyed!
“I don’t understand you people” why leave such a backhanded and conniving comment on a recipe. Why be so demeaning? How about not leaving comments on vegan forums next time. And “you people” most of us have deathly allergies. I don’t understand “you” how about that?
A bit off-topic…can you use the vinegar for a boxed cake mix? TIA!
I’ve used this recipe a few times over the years and it’s just the best. My son has dairy and egg allergies, so I always look to vegan recipes. I also use buckwheat flour as my son has a wheat allergy too and it’s a perfectly fine substitute. Thank you so much for sharing.
That’s wonderful, Michelle! Thrilled you love it 🙂
Hi, I’ve been using this recipe for a bit over a year for birthdays and other events, and it is the most amazing recipe, even my nonvegan family loves it 🙂 thank you so much
Aww that’s wonderful! So thrilled you love it so much, Maia 🙂
This is a wonderful recipe. The cake was incredibly moist and delicious. The frosting was also super tasty. I reduced the sugar for both since I usually do that when I bake – I think I used 1 1/2 cups of sugar in the cake and 1 in the frosting, and I bumped up the cocoa to 1/3 cup in the frosting. I used Dutch process cocoa. I also don’t have 8″ pans so I baked in 9″ for 30 minutes exactly. Next time I will double the frosting recipe – with my 9″ pans it was only enough frosting for the middle and the top, and doubling it would also give me plenty for the sides. This recipe is a real winner. Also, I am not vegan and I LOVE to bake, so I made this for my birthday because I wanted to share a cake with my friend who is vegan. This recipe is for a delicious chocolate cake which also happens to be vegan! It’s for everybody!
Gald you enjoyed!
hi Sam, I am thinking to bake this cake but non-vegan version of it. So, can I replace soy milk by regular cow milk and ACV with lemon? Will the cake turn out and taste just as good? Thanks!
I never recommend using non-vegan products and have no experience with them. I think vegan cake is the best cake! Watch this 5-minute video if you want to learn about what’s really in cows milk.
Thanks. Can acv be replaced by regular vinegar?
Yes but acv has a milder taste so the flavour disappears. You might taste white vinegar slightly
I wonder how this recipe has baking powder as opposed to your vanilla cake recipe..wondering when is it required in baking and when it is not? thanks
This chocolate cake is looking so yummy and delicious. It seems like it’s so moist and spongy. Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe, now looking forward to trying it.
You’re most welcome 🙂
Could you use canned coconut milk? Or is that too fatty? My favorite vanilla vegan cake uses canned coconut milk. Making into a Curious George cake for my son’s 2nd birthday next weekend 🙂
I wouldn’t reccomend the canned kind as it might make it too dense, but you could use the coconut milk in a carton that’s intended for drinking. 🙂
This has to be the best vegan chocolate cake i have ever had. It is easy to make and is super moist. I make in a tray pan instead of a round one and it doesnt last very long in my house. I was a bit wary of using the apple cider vinegar but you cant taste it. It is so rich and dark and the batter smells amazing i could eat it raw 🙂 Never mind 5 stars i give it 10/10 absolutely delicious x
Haha!! Amazing!! Thank you so much, Michelle 🙂
Hi Sam.
I am wondering about shortening. I am not American so I looked up what to substitute it for. And I found something like any kind of oil. So I find it strange to add oil to butter. Can you help? Thanks.
Shortening is a vegetable fat that is solid at room temperature which is why it’s great for frosting as it holds its shape. If you don’t have that, you could use more vegan butter but make sure everything is cold as the butter might be a bit meltier.
Can I use gluten-free flour to substitute for the all purpose flour?
I’m not an expert in gluten-free baking so I can’t guarantee results but I have heard good things about Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1.
I have made this my b-day cake recipe to go! always a success (specially non-vegans…but I never tell my secret ;-)! )
which flour could I use if I don’t have enough at home to complement the required measure?? almond / oat / buckwheat ? Aware those might make it a bit more dense though
So happy you enjoy it! Re; flours, I have no idea as alternative flours are not my specialty.
Hi! This is my favorite go to cake! I am making it again the weekend! Can I substitute cake flour for the all purpose? It is what I have on hand. Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Cake flour is weaker than all-purpose so the cake might crumble. I recommend sticking to all-purpose for this recipe. Enjoy!
Oh my god Sam this cake is unbelievable! I cooked the cakes for half an hour only so they’d be super moist. I also did some piping on top and added some green and red mistletoe icing for a christmas dinner and it was a big success! No one could believe it was vegan! I also brought your vegan pumpkin pie and they loved it too, thank you!!
Awww that’s so amazing, Alice!!! Thrilled you enjoyed it so much 🙂
SO GOOD!!!! I made this for my non-vegan friend’s birthday party and everyone LOVED it!!!! Such a good chocolate flavor and not too rich!! Frosting was delicious as well!! Thanks so much for this awesome recipe!
You’re most welcome, Miriam!
Hi,
Would I be able to stack this with another cake of the same type? I want a double stack cake for my son’s 1st birthday and trying to find the perfect recipe.
Thanks
Yes, this recipe makes a 2 layer stacked cake. Enjoy!
Great simple recipe for a crowd-pleasing, classic style chocolate cake. Delicious!
Last time I made two cakes and popped one in the freezer – defrosted it last night and it’s just as good! So I’ve decided to make it for our wedding since it keeps so well 🙂
I’m not a big fan of frosting so usually just make a simple ganache to go with it, but think I’ll try out the frosting for the wedding since I know a lot of people like it. Wish me luck 😉
Wow! That’s amazing, Ella! Congratulations on your wedding, and I hope the cake turns out perfectly for you 🙂
Hello! I made this yummy cake yesterday as a trial for my little nephew’s birthday party! My question is can you freeze it with the frosting already added? Many thanks Sam as ever!
It’s usually best to freeze the cakes and then the frosting separately, so I would recommend that if possible. Enjoy!
Could I use raw sugar instead of white sugar and get the same results? Thank you
Baking with alternative sugars isn’t my expertise, but this article should help you. 🙂
Can i sub out the shortening for another ingredient?
The vegetable shortening helps stabilize the frosting so it doesn’t melt at room temperature. If you prefer you can use all vegan butter but make sure to keep everything cold so the frosting doesn’t melt.
Hi Sam! I’ve tried making this cake twice and both times my batter was quite thin and I had to bake the cakes for about 15 minutes longer than you recommended so that a toothpick would come out clean. The cake is absolutely delicious and I love it I’m just wondering if I’m maybe doing something wrong? Is the batter supposed to be quite thin? Thanks for all of your help and I’m such a huge fan of your recipes!
Hi Eve! Yes it’s a thin batter. If you take a look at the video in this post it will give you an idea of how the batter will look. If you are finding that it takes a little longer in your oven, it’s likely that your oven just runs a little cool (it’s pretty common). You can always grab yourself an oven thermometer to make sure. Enjoy!
I made this cake about a month ago. I only had 5 people over and as it was quite large there was quite a bit leftover. I am trying to lose some weight, I decided to give it to a neighbor. He works nights and said “thanks Irene but I never eat cake, I will take it to work through”. Well, he thought he would try a tiny bit then realized he had eaten the whole piece (about 1/4 Cake). Everyone thought it was delicious. Every dessert I have made from either your book or web site has been incredible!!!!!
Aww that’s wonderful Irene!! So thrilled everyone enjoyed it so much 🙂
Total success! I never comment on recipes but this deserved it
Yay! So happy you loved it so much, Ivonne 🙂
What kind of veg shortening do you use?
My go to is Crisco 🙂
Hi there,
I am going to make this amazing looking cake and am just wondering is it ok to use all dairy free butter in the topping instead of a mix of butter and veg shortening?
Thanks
Hi.
Would this cake be ok to cover in sugar paste/rolled fondant? Want to make a duck themed cake. Thanks. X
Hi, Just wondering if you found a vegan chocolate cake that can be covered in fondant? I’m desperately searching for one. Thank you
The vegetable shortening helps stabilize the frosting so it doesn’t melt at room temperature. If you prefer you can use all vegan butter but make sure to keep everything cold so the frosting doesn’t melt.
I’ve made this cake several times including baking it into cupcakes and haven’t felt the need to write a review until I just read a recent rude comment. Like I said, I’ve baked this cake many times and I’ve fed it to my boyfriends co-workers who are a bunch of vegan food hating men – they all absolutely love it and request I bake it for them often. This recipe is so moist and makes the ULTIMATE cake. The title couldn’t be anymore accurate. Thank you.
Awww thank you so much, Sky! I very much appreciate your support and am so happy you love the recipe so much 🙂
Hi.
Would this cake be ok to cover in sugar paste/rolled fondant? Want to make a duck themed cake. Thanks. X
Absolutely! Enjoy 🙂
Hi Sam, this was possibly the worst cake I have ever tasted. To be fair, the cake itself was not terrible (it is vegan after all). However, the icing was completely inedible and I was very disappointed. I would rate this negative two stars if I could but sadly that is not possible. Overall, the cake was pretty fucking depressing bro and we had to throw it out after one slice, therefore wasting ingredients and money. Have a great day!
Hi Anna, I’m not a bro. It’s difficult to know what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you, but as this cake recipe has hundreds of rave reviews, my guess is something went a little off. Better luck next time! 🙂
I’m sorry that this person wasn’t being very nice. You’re a great, cheerful person and don’t deserve this negativity. Don’t listen to them, and have a great day!
Aww thanks so much, Madison 🙂
Anna, I don’t know why you’re blaming her when you’re the one who made it ♀️ With all the good reviews, it seems like something you did wrong.
This cake is amazing. Even my mum, who doesn’t like chocolate/chocolate cake really loved it. So glad I bought the book. 🙂
Haha! Amazing! So happy it’s a hit 🙂
Hi! Very excited to make this cake! How deep should the tin be?
About 2 inches. Enjoy!
My vegan friend made this for a get together & gave me some to take home. I in turn took it to work and shared it. One of my co-workers made the recipe into cupcakes with the frosting all lovely and swirly on the top – now everyone loves it & not a clue initially that it was vegan!
Thank you for all your hard work in experimenting to get the right amount of everything so that it is so delicious – its really is the best chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten!
Aww wow, that’s so amazing, Angela!! I love that the recipe has been shared around 🙂
OMG this is so good. Just made it and it is as ultimately as wonderful as it looks. I’ve never made good chocolate or banana cakes until I started making vegan ones – so good, go figure!
Haha! Love it!
Thanks homie! Made it for the 3rd time this year love it so much and it’s so easy. I’m recovering from malabsobrtion issues atm and it definitely helping me get some weight back on! Lmao best vegan desert I’ve had especially for the cost and how easy it is 🙂 thanks sweetpea
You’re most welcome 🙂
This is oddly similar to a Wacky Cake…a recipe that has probably been around since WWII. My mom used to make this all the time when I was a kid.
Cool I will have to look that up!
Hi Sam! I’m planning on trying out this recipe the coming weekend for my birthday, it sure sounds amazing! What I’m wondering is if you could bake the layers together and then cut them apart after – that’s how I usually roll when making layer cakes since I have a big cake pan. Do you think that would work? How would you recommend changing the baking time and temperature? Also I’m not sure if they sell apple cider vinegar in my country so I think I’ll try lemon juice instead. Can you tell me if it makes the cake taste lemony? Thanks!
Hi Essi, lemon juice would be a great sub and I don’t think you will taste it too much. As for the cake pan, I would worry that the cake might not bake properly if you bake all that batter in one pan. If possible I would recommend baking in smaller pans as directed. Hope that helps!
This was by far the BEST cake I’ve ever had! My husband couldn’t believe it was vegan (first attempt making a cake since we made the switch last year). Will be saving this forever and looking forward to trying more of your cake recipes 🙂
YAY!!! That’s the best ever. Thanks KG 🙂
Is the calorie count for the entire 2 layer cake with frosting?
No the calories are an estimate for one slice of cake. Enjoy!
But that doesn’t tell me if that’s 1/8, 1/12?? How many servings in the cake?
18 servings (slices) per two layer cake with the frosting and all. Hope that helps!
I made this cake today for my birthday as there was not a vegan cake shop open near me. This, was, exceptional. Everyone enjoyed it and it was the perfect balance between moist, rich and satisfying without that sick feeling I sometimes get after eating cake. Thank you very much for contributing to an awesome birthday.
That’s so wonderful! So very happy you loved it so much, Petar 🙂
I made this cake last weekend, and it was on the counter for no more than a few hours before it was completely gone. I have already shared the recipe with five other friends, and I am in the process of making another one right now! I am obsessed with how fluffy and chocolatey it is. Thank you so much! A must have recipe.
That’s so wonderful, Lillian!!! Delighted you enjoyed it so much 🙂
Sam, thank you so much for this delicious recipe! This is super easy for a beginner like me. I baked this cake for my son 3rd birthday, which is today! We are not vegan but my son allergic to egg, milk, nut, and other stuff and this recipe is perfect for him! I am not a big fan of frosting, but this one is killing it, not too sweet, very smooth, and of course delicious. I can’t stop licking the spatula as I baked this cake!!! Thanks again ❤
Aww that’s so wonderful! So happy you loved the recipe so much, Nan West 🙂
I just made this cake and everyone loved it, even the non vegan eaters! I also made second cake with a variation of this recipe, I replaced the almond milk with red wine and omitted the frosting, I just dusted it with powdered sugar once it cooled. It was to die for!!! Everyone loved this variation as well, so much they’ve asked me to make it again for New Years. Thanks for the recipe.
Ooooh that variation sounds delish! So thrilled you and your friends love it so much, Arlene 🙂
Hi! I’m hoping to make this cake this week! Thank you so much for this recipe for ultimate vegan chocolate cake.
You’re most welcome, enjoy!
This is our go to family cake recipe and even the dairy and egg eaters love it! I have started putting the rind and juice of a whole orange into the batter and it’s sooooooo good! Thank you so much for this recipe and for your whole blog so many easy and delicious recipes! Happy holidays!
That’s awesome!! So very happy you love the recipe so much 🙂 Happy holidays, Natasha!
PHENOMENAL CAKE!! It’s my new go-to chocolate cake recipe! So easy and so good. I can’t wait to eat it today!
YAY!!! Thrilled you loved it so much, Mary 🙂
Delicious! Shared it around and was asked for the recipe by vegans and non-vegans 🙂
Perfect!! 🙂
Thanks for a great recipe! I baked this cake today and it was very well received.
I’m not sure how vegetable shortening differs from vegan butter – both are technically margarine, right? So I just used a whole cup of vegan butter for the frosting and it turned out great. I think I would prefer to use chocolate in the frosting instead of cocoa, but that’s just a preference thing. It’s a beautiful recipe and I’ll be using it again for all of my chocolate cake needs.
So happy you enjoyed it so much! Vegan butter is margarine, but vegetable shortening is not, it’s vegetable fat. A bit different and it helps hold the frosting together and keep stiff even in warmer temperatures, but as you discovered you can sub ok. So happy you enjoyed!
Oh, I see. I think I know approximately what to look for then. For when I bake this cake in the summer!
This looks so yummy!!
I love your vegan recipes!
Can I use white rice flour instead of all-Purpose flour?
From your big fans in Japan with love.
Aww thanks so much!! Rice flour generally isn’t a good substitute for all-purpose unless it is a blend, so I wouldn’t recommend it. You can read more about that here. I would stick to all-purpose 🙂
i’m not sure why but two times I’ve tried to make a vegan cake with this recipe and it just breaks apart into three big sections once i get it all layered and iced. why is this happening???
I’ve never had that happen before. It’s hard to know why without being in the kitchen with you, but that can sometimes happen when a cake isn’t cooled properly.
how do you cool the cake properly?
There are lots of troubleshooting tips here. Hope that helps 🙂
Made 4 dozen cupcakes for a dinner tonight using the icing and cake recipe here. The only change I made was using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free 1 to 1 flour. They were fabulous and people were even trying to snag the last few to take home! One woman said her husband thought it was the best dessert he’d ever had, and he’d had to be on his diet for 45 years. Thanks for making a whole bunch of people’s night.
Yay!! So happy you and so many others loved them so much, Shayla 🙂
I made these into cupcakes using your notes on time adjustment, and they came out moist, delicious and just perfect! The top even had a slight crunch when you bite into it, just about 5-10 mins after you take it out of the oven (which goes away after a little longer), They were a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike and folks asked for the recipe, so I sent them this way. The only tweaks I made was to reduce the sugar in the cake by 1/4 cup and I added a couple of tablespoons of vegan cream cheese to the frosting, I will definitely make it again!
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed it so much, Serene 🙂
HI! Question – first time attempting a cake –
How long do you leave it on the counter to cool? Or do you recommend putting it in the fridge to cool?
Thanks!
Leave it on the counter to cool for a couple of hours or even overnight. Enjoy!
Hello I had a quick,question, would I be able to substitute the “Light Oil, Vegetable Shortening, and Vegan Butter” in this recipe with Coconut Oil?
Thanks!
No. The light oil needs to be liquid, coconut oil would be too heavy. In the frosting, it might be ok but you won’t have the buttery taste, and it would melt very easily.
Thank you SO much for creating and sharing this recipe. My daughter is allergic to 5 of the top 8 allergens, and we love that this recipe works for us without requiring adaptation. It is SOOOO delicious, and has replaced my former family favorite sour-cream chocolate cake recipe.
That’s amazing!! SO happy you and your daughter can enjoy it so much 🙂
Hi there! I have a question about the cake ingredients. I’d like to make this for my mom’s birthday. She isn’t vegan, but she does have an egg allergy, so an egg free cake is perfect. I’m thinking about substituting a combination of coffee and buttermilk for the non-dairy milk. I love the way coffee enhances chocolate, and I have had success with buttermilk in other chocolate cake recipes. But since this recipe already includes apple cider vinegar, I’m curious if the buttermilk will be too much acid in the batter. Do you think that combination would work? Should I do regular milk instead? Use buttermilk but leave out the vinegar? Add extra leaveners to balance the acid? Thanks for your help!
Hi Claire, as I’m sure you know, baking is a science so if you add coffee (an acid) and buttermilk (an acid) it could change the outcome of the recipe. I would recommend sticking to the cake recipe as written with non-dairy milk. If you want a kick of coffee, try mixing in some instant espresso powder into the frosting. Enjoy!
This is the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had! My non-vegan husband raved about it. It’s definitely one that I will make again and again. Thank you so much for this recipe! I would give it 10 stars if I could. And thank you for the recipe booklet for signing up for your emails.
Oh wonderful!!!! So thrilled you loved it so much, Faye 🙂
Greetings from Sydney, Australia Sam!
This chocolate cake MADE my nieces 16th birthday! A 6 months vegan, I’m challenged as to what to cook for her. I made your buffalo cauliflower wings, a vegan lasagne that you have linked to from another chef, and your amazing ultimate chocolate cake, which was absolutely the ultimate! Choc cake. Everything and absolute success! I am the best auntie ever! Can’t thank you enough!
Aww I love that!!! Hi from Toronto, Canada Simone 🙂
I made this recipe as cup cakes for my vegan son and his girlfriend when they came home for the weekend from university. The cakes were delicious and were hoovered up by vegans and non vegans alike! Thanks for the recipe and the hard work that must go into developing them. When can we expect the next cookbook Sam? Since my son became vegan I have bought maybe 15 vegan cookbooks but yours in the one I always return to (along with your blog) because your recipes actually work and your claims for them aren’t over exaggerated either.
Aww that’s so wonderful, thrilled you enjoy my recipes so much, Mary!! We will have to see about another book…..
Can I substitute vegetable shortening with coconut oil for the frosting?
Coconut oil melts at room temperature so if you do be careful as the frosting may melt.
How is it vegan? If you’re using vegetable shortening, isnt that lard?
They are completely different products and vegetable shortening is completely vegan – this recipe is absolutely delicious and really simple to make too.
Hence the word “vegetable “ in vegetable shortening
Vegetable shortening and lard are two different ingredients. Vegetable shortening is made from plants, lard is made from animals.
Can I use a 9×13 pan instead? Thanks!
Sure! The baking time will be longer so keep an eye on it and do the toothpick test.
Hi! Does the recipe change for an altitude of 4300 ft?
This recipe looks amazing! I’m going to make it for my birthday 🙂 Just wondering though if I can substitute the white sugar for brown sugar?
Thanks! x
Brown sugar holds more moisture so it might mess up the cake texture a bit. I would stick with white. Enjoy!
HI Sam,
It says to see notes regarding the vegan shortening but there’s nothing on that in the notes. Can I make the cake without shortening?
Thanks!
Hi Maya! Oh yes, sorry about that. I removed the notes as it was talking about a brand of shortening I liked which no longer exists. The shortening is for the frosting and is not in the cake. Enjoy!
Is the time still as followed for cupcakes?
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes 🙂
This is the first cake I attempted since going vegan and it was perfect. I changed the icing to a vegan version of my favourite mocha oreo buttercream and it paired beautifully. Everyone loved it. Thank you so much <3
Amazing!! Thrilled you enjoyed it, Hesh 🙂
I was wondering whether I could substitute all purpose flour with self raising flour. Looking forward to try this recipe
Hi Ivy, here’s an article you may find helpful for this. Enjoy!
I just discovered your channel!!Great looking reciepes! So I ordered your cookbook and it should be here any day!
Have you ever thought about doing reciepes for vegan dog treats and food (And cats)? ……..
Thanks for the great reciepes!
Thanks for your support, Jenny! I have two dog treat recipes already actually. Here and here. 🙂
I just made this for my son’s birthday and using the vanilla frosting. It was really good and total hit with everyone!! It was moist and fluffy! This will def be my go to recipe in the future
Awesome! So happy everyone enjoyed it, Janice 🙂
Hi Sam, I made this cake yesterday and it is moist and delicious. I used 1 1/2 cups of sugar only and I baked it in a round cake pan. Perfect!
So happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Looking for a vegan chocolate cake recipe, I fixed on this one. I could tell you have worked at getting it all right, and as a fellow blogger I definitely appreciated your story of how you became a chocoholic. The one thing I did was I made all the measurements in grams (any recipe worth its salt gets this treatment from me) and I used coconut oil, my usual go to oil for vegan baked goods.
Great! Be careful when substituting coconut oil as it is solid at room temperature which means it will make the cake a little heavier and denser. Enjoy!
If I’m using a wilton dinosaur pan would i use the exact recipe or half it? I want to make for my sons birthday this weekend. So excited!!
I have no idea how big that pan is but the cake batter should fill the pan to about 2/3rds full. Enjoy!
I want to make this for my son’s birthday – but want a taller cake. Should I double up the recipe if I want 3 layers?
This recipe makes two layers, so if you want to make 3 layers, just change the number by the servings from 2 to 3 and it will adjust all of the measurements for you. Enjoy!
Oh yes, I see it now! thank you for your quick response! also one other question – does it make a difference if you use the tub earth balance spread vs the stick? I’m having trouble finding the stick here. I’ve also seen the becel vegan margarine, can that be used to substitute the stick?
My go-to for baking is always Earth Balance in the tub but any vegan butter should work fine. Enjoy!
This is my favorite vegan chocolate cake recipe I added fresh raspberries on top and it was a hit! Thank you!
Wonderful! So very happy you loved it so much, Cecilia 🙂
I’m going to bake this cake but I have a question:
– Is it fine to use unsweetened cashew milk instead of soy or almond milk?
Super excited to give this a try!!! 🙂
Absolutely! Enjoy the cake, Sara 🙂
I made this for my daughter’s birthday, and it was a huge hit! Thanks for posting! It is moist and delicious!
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
I have read all of these rave reviews and loved your vanilla cake but this one didn’t work out for me for some reason. It wasn’t dry but it wasn’t moist either. The cake was slightly dense and didn’t really have much flavor. I am assuming it was a problem with either my flour (100% white whole wheat-says it can be used as all purpose flour in all baking) and the Trader Joe’s unsweetened cocoa I used. The cocoa wasn’t Dutch processed but I use it in other things and it is ok. Do you have any ideas?
My guess is that it was the flour. Even though the whole wheat flour may work in this recipe, whole wheat is always more absorbent so it would make the cake dryer. So that’s my guess. Hope that helps!
Can this be made into cupcakes and then frozen?
Thank you
Yep! I would freeze the cupcakes and frosting separately, then thaw and frost. Enjoy!
I am new to your blog and this is the second recipe I have made, both recipes were loved by vegans and non-vegans (I made the chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and then this cake). Everyone raved about both, especially that this cake was so moist!! Thanks for sharing easy, delicious recipes!! It is easy to think that when you turn vegan, you give up some comfort foods, but this blog is proof that you don’t have to! Or that the recipes to cook now that I am vegan are hard and complex, and use hard to find ingredients, which again isn’t necessarily the case! Yay!! I am looking to order your Fuss Free book soon! 🙂
Welcome, Maria! Oh yes, I believe anything can be veganized and taste just as good if not better than the original! No flavours or textures need to be sacrificed. Thrilled you are enjoying the recipes so much, and I know you will love Fuss-Free Vegan too 🙂
How many minutes do I have to bake for cupcakes? And do you think the recipe for chocolate frosting will be enough to frost 24 cupcakes?
20 – 25 minutes and it will be enough for a light frosting if you want more frosting than cake you might want to double it. Haha. Enjoy!
hi! i only have olive and coconut oil at home, would any of these work instead of the vegetable oil?
No, you really want a neutral oil for this one!
I needed to bake two vegan cakes for my son-in-law’s birthday party. I am so glad that I used this recipe for the chocolate cake. It was delicious! Everyone enjoyed it, including the non-vegans. The cake came out moist and flavorful, and the icing was perfect. I’m 100% sure that I will use this recipe many times in the future! Thanks!
Wonderful!! Thrilled you loved it so much, Deirdre 🙂
I didn’t have a measuring scale, so I looked for another chocolate cake recipe and found this one. I think I will now always make this one! I did another frosting and splitted the cake in half after baking and put some jam in between. Also I didn#t had baking powder neither applecider vinegar, so I used balsamico and baking soda instead and reduced the amount of salt and vinegar. I also reduced the amount of sugar and used half plantbased milk and half coffee for the wet ingredients. It was delicious and everybody liked it a lot! Very moist!
Glad you enjoyed!
Made this for my step sisters moms birthday! She loved it! I could not find earth balance shortening for the frosting so I doubled the vegan butter. Worked great. Wish I could post a photo
So happy you enjoyed it so much! You can always tag me on Instagram @itdoesnttastelikechicken 🙂
If I am making 10 jumbo cupcakes how many servings do I have to plug into your recipe ? It is set at default to 2 servings. Please help I need this info by tomorrow. Thanks !
1 serving (enough to make a 1 layer cake) makes 12 cupcakes, so maybe that? I’m not sure how big your jumbo cupcakes are!
Wow, so many comments! Guess it’s not surprising since this is an amazing recipe. I have a birthday bundt cake that I have made for about 20 years. With 4 eggs, sour cream, box mix, a bar of melted semisweet chocolate.. My daughter, who has recently realized she and dairy are not the pals she thought they were, asked if I could do a dairy free cake. And I immediately thought of you. Because you have such a knack for nailing the taste and consistency of “regular” food. Well. No one even noticed. They all raved at how moist and wonderful it was. You did it again!! So, bundt cake with ganache. Another twist on delicious! And I am so happy to have a new hugely healthier version of birthday cake. THANK YOU!!
That’s awesome!!! Thrilled you and everyone else loved it so much, Sara. Flattered that you thought of me!
hi! I made this for my pre-school class for the end of the year, just testing out the recipe – one of my little girls is allergic to dairy.
I didn’t have cake pans which surprised me as I am an avid baker, so I used cupcake tins instead.
My cupcakes turned out fantastic! I kept and eye out on them and they baked through in about 28-30 minutes.
My neighbor downstairs is vegan so I brought some to her!
Thank you for this recipe! I’m sure my kids will love it next month!
That’s lovely!! You’re most welcome, Allie. So happy you enjoyed them 🙂
I added an extra 1/2 c of cocoa to the cake, put it in 9 inch rounds and cooked 15 minutes less. It was delicious. I’m not a great baker, but this cake was delicious!
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
So moist and delicious! Best chocolate cake I’ve ever made (even before I went vegan). No one will know it’s vegan!
Woohoo!!! Love that! Can’t get a much better review than that 🙂
I loved this recipe! Obsessed, even my dad (who’s so anti anything healthy/vegan) loved it and couldn’t tell the difference, but I had a problem when trying to take the cake out of the pan, it stuck to the bottom, even with the parchment paper, have you got any tips for that? Would a silicone pan help? I wanna do it for my birthday (Turning 25 in april and I need this cake!!!) and I want it to turn out perfect! Thanx for this recipe again!!
Haha, awesome!! Thrilled you and your dad loved it. I always find a good spraying of non-stick spray works. Just let the cake cool completely before removing from the pan. But yes, a silicon pan such as this one will definitely work. 🙂
Fantastic!!! Made it for my son’s birthday and was magnificent:) easy to make ..and a big one .. next time will make more frosting and less cake :))
We used raspberries too .. divine THNK YOU!!!
Awesome! So happy you enjoyed, Lily 🙂
I needed to make a vegan birthday cake for my neighbor and came across your recipe and it turned out absolutely amazing!! My whole (non-vegan) family of five loved it as well!
Wonderful! Thrilled everyone enjoyed it 🙂
Hello, I made this cake a week ago and it was delicious but it dried out on the edges after two days in the refrigerator. You said that you could have it in room temperature for it not to dry out but because I can’t find any vegetable shortening where I live I had to use vegan butter instead. The problem is that you said the cake was gonna melt if you have vegan butter instead in room temperature but it becomes dry in the refrigerator.
Do you have any advice on how to keep it from drying out without the frosting melting? I would love to make it again but I had to throw away many chunks of the cake.
Thank you for the answer in advance!
Hi Anja, yes, I always store my cakes at room temperature as the fridge can dry them out. I would just recommend keeping the cake in a cooler area of your hose- not near the stove, a heat source, or in direct sunlight. Hopefully, that will help.
I made this cake today but haven’t tried it yet but I used the 2 8 in pans that are 1 1/4 deep, the old time pans but had a ton of batter left. enough for about 17 cupcakes. I could have filled pans a little more but still a lot left. Are you really using 8 in pans and are they deeper than mine?
Hi Terri, yes I use 8 inch baking pans. I think mine are about 2 inches deep. Do you think you could have accidentally doubled the recipe?
Hey,
I really like your recipes but could you maybe include metric info for the ingredients?
Cheers
Hi Maxi, glad you are enjoying my recipes! I don’t use metric measurements, but here is a conversion chart you should find helpful. Enjoy!
I never make cakes. I am really, really bad at baking. But for some reason I was able to successfully make this cake! It was delicious! It is very rich, though, so when I make it again I’ll probably just do one layer.
Wonderful! So happy you were able to make this one. Haha, yes it’s a rich cake for sure 🙂
Me too and this cake turned out incredible! I made a peanut butter icing and it made my husbands birthday so special! Thank you so much this truly is the ultimate vegan chocolate cake! Moist, firm and shapely, Rich, deep chocolate deliciousness
Yay!! Thrilled to hear that, Val 🙂
Hi! This recipe is delicious!! I was wondering if you could give me the nutrition information without including the icing? Thank you
Glad you enjoyed! I’m currently working on updating my nutrition calculator so it should be up and running soon 🙂
Is that chocolate cake moist or very dry
Very moist.
I plan on making this cake tomorrow and have read through the comments. I am interested in swapping out the white sugar for another sweetener. I saw someone used coconut sugar but was wondering if you had any other suggestions? Thank you for making my vegan lifestyle a little easier with your great recipes!!
Hi Renee! I haven’t tried this recipe with any other type of sugar, so I don’t really have any recommendations. I hope you enjoy the recipe tho!
For the frosting will it turn out good if I use coconut oil in replace of the vegan butter/margarine. I have all the ingredients for frosting but not the butter .what do you suggest to replace vegan butter with?
Vegan butter will work best. You can use coconut oil, but the frosting will lack in the buttery flavour, and also coconut oil melts fairly easily. So make sure to keep the frosting and tools cold and store the cake in a cool place. Enjoy!
Hey,
I love this recipe so much! But I was wondering how I would go about with using cake flour instead of all-purpose? My box of cake flour says to use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of cake flour for every cup of all-purpose flour. Would I change anything else to ensure it still turned out as good as normal?
Thanks!
Hi Cheyenne, I have never tried this recipe with cake flour so I can’t know for sure, but if you have all-purpose I would recommend sticking to the recipe as written. Cake flour is more tender and results in a weaker cake, meaning it may fall apart. You can read more about the different flours here and how to substitute them. Enjoy!
Hey! Thanks so much! I did go ahead and use all-purpose, I was just wondering about potentially using it in the future. Thanks for the link to more info about flours, I’ll go check it out now!
Glad I could help 🙂
I made this cake today and it turned out perfectly! Is very easy to work with when frosting and it isn’t too fragile it didn’t break or crack when flipping it out of the pan. I did make some adjustments with the frosting. I doubled the frosting recipe and I also made a vegan chocolate ganache, refrigerated it and then mixed the two together and added some peanut butter and more powdered sugar. The granulated white sugar and powdered sugar I have is from Sprouts grocery store and is the store brand which is vegan. Thanks for a great recipe!
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed it, Rebecca!
Could I bake this in an oven safe bowl to make a round cake for a project I’m doing?
That should work fine. Just make sure to check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center as the baking time might vary slightly. Enjoy!
OMG! this was delish! it really turned out good! im on a diet and really craving something nice a guilt free dessert. i made few changes though, for 1 later of cake instead of plain flour/ i used spelt flour for 1 cup and 1/4 of plain ( splet flour tends to absord so much moisture and tends to dry). i have substituted sugar to coconut sugar. oil to coconut oil. it works out really well. thanks for sharing this recipe!!! ❤️
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed it and were able to adapt it perfectly 🙂
First, thank you for the great recipe! I’m wondering 1) where can I buy Earth Balance shortening sticks? I live in Pasadena California and we have access to Whole Foods, Sprouts Marketplace, Trader Joe’s, Vons, Ralphs, etc. 2) Should the non diary milk be unsweetened? I was planning on using unsweetened soy.
Thanks in advance!
Apparently, Earth Balance shortening sticks are no longer available, so I would just get whatever vegetable shortening you can get your hands on. Unsweetened or original will work fine. Enjoy!
Hey!
I absolutely love this cake recipe! I’m planning on making it again this thursday, but i’d like to half the recipe. What should I do with the time it’s in the oven? Should I take some minutes off? Thank you!
Hi Fleur, just make a 1 layer cake instead of a 2 layer cake, and bake for the same time. Enjoy!
The BEST!!!! The whole family loved it!! Vegan and all!
Yay!! Thrilled everyone enjoyed it 😉
followed the recipe exactly as written. Perfect. Waiting for it to cool in order to frost. I know it’s going to be delicious in that the batter was fabulous. The time indicated worked. So glad I found the site. Going to check some of the other items out!
Yay! Great to hear that, Karen! Enjoy 🙂
The best Eggless cake recipe ! I have tried many other Eggless cake recipes, but they never turned out to be good like this one. No one will believe that the cake is Eggless. My family and friends loved it. Thank you very much for the recipe! It was very yummy!
So happy you enjoyed it!
Hello, I really would love to try this recipe but where I live there is no vegan butter, what can I use instead (shortening o margarine maybe?)
Yes, use a vegan-friendly margarine (that’s what I am referring to when I say vegan butter). Enjoy!
I am sorry, but this was the WORST cake I have ever made. I’m an experienced vegan baker and I followed this recipe exactly, I had to bake each pan for an hour and twenty minutes each and they were still gooey and rawish in the center. I was not even close to satisfied. I used a minimalist baker icing recipe which was ok, but I will never make this recipe again. I love your other recipes though!!
Really? That’s so bizarre! This cake works perfectly for me every single time and in fact I am making it again today.
Thats crazy! The batter is delicious! Mine took about 50 min to cook through and I was so excited to see it rise so high! Waiting to frost it and nomnomnom! Thank you!!
So happy you love it, Trina!
Wow, thats unfortunate. I have made this cake countless times since finding the recipe a few months ago. My non vegan friends say it’s the best chocolate cake they’ve ever had! (I tend to agree) I 100% give this recipe 5 stars, 10 stars even!
Yay! So thrilled you love it so much, Shannon. It’s my favourite chocolate cake too (but I’m biased) haha.
I have made this cake today and had the same problem, in that the top of the cake is a hard crust already after baking for more than an hour and 20 mins but the inside is gooey, not sure as I am an experienced baker and this just does not seem to work. The sugar quantity is very high as it is the same ratio to the flour is this correct.
So sorry to hear that! It always works for me, and for many other people who have tested it, so I am not sure what the problem could have been for you. 🙁
Hi there…are you Canadian and using a high gluten canadian flour? All of our all purpose flour ( I am also Canadian) has a higher gluten content (making a denser more difficult to rise cake) than American all purpose flour. It is frustrating ….might be the problem. I made the cake as cupcakes and noted that the batter was not as runny…more scoopable like muffins. Baked them for 30 minutes and they came out fine but I wonder if baking in cake pans might have been less successful….?
PS I Love this website and bought the book as well! Great story Sam on becoming vegan and thanks for everything!
Thanks so much, Mary! I’m Canadian so the recipe should definitely work fine for a fellow Canadian. I hope you enjoy the book! 🙂
Hi,
we made this cake for our first ever all vegan Christmas dinner, we made it exactly as the recipe showed, changed nothing. It was so delicious, firm but not dry, the icing was so smooth and luscious. It’s not too sugary. It’s THE perfect cake.. We had to show our omni friends and family the recipe because they could not believe it had no eggs in it!
Thank you
Yay! Thrilled you loved it so much, nancy 🙂
Hi! I live in Austria ( and come from New Zealand) and I’m not sure what vegetable shortening is here, do you have any idea what it could be or what I could use instead? I have seen something in the refrigerated section that looks like coconut fat in a block- could this be it? Otherwise I just seem to find tubs of Margerine…? Thank you! Xo
Hi Sheena, vegetable shortening is basically just vegetable fat that is solid at room temperature so it helps the frosting hold shape and not melt. I’ve heard that Pflanzenfett is a brand that should be available to you, but if not just use more vegan butter in its place, adding less or no non-dairy milk. Store the frosted cake in a cooler location so the frosting doesn’t melt. Enjoy!
Thank you, just made the cake…the cake is absolutely perfect-moist, holds its shape well, perfect balance of chocolatey-ness-just a massive YUM, I think I would even say it is better than any non-vegan chocolate cake I have ever made! the icing didn’t work out for me though, I found a pflanzenfett-plant fat-and followed the recipe but it was quite runny and kind of curdled-looking, I added a little more icing sugar to try and thicken it but it was still quite thin, do you have any ideas? maybe I’ll just have to keep experimenting..? thank you so much by the way-AWESOME cake!!! xo
So happy you enjoyed it! Hmmm it sounds like the vegetable shortening there is a little different as that shouldn’t happen at all! Next time I would start with the powdered sugar and add vegan butter until the desired consistency is reached, making sure to keep the ingredients cold. Hope that helps!
This is an awesome chocolate cake recipe. My husband is the cook in the family and I am the baker. We went plant-based in February 2017 and it has been very hard for me to find vegan recipes that are as good as my non-vegan go-to’s. This recipe fits the bill – it is delicious and is just as good as non-vegan cake. I personally use my mom’s icing recipe (which just happens to be vegan without meaning to be) so I can’t vouch for the icing.
Thrilled you love it so much, Christy 🙂
Hello!
I do not have apple cider vinager unfortunately. Do you think it would be okay without it? I have everything else the recipe calls for! What exactly does the apple cider vinager add to the cake? Just curious
Hi Mary, no the apple cider vinegar is crucial. I use it here as an egg replacer, it helps raise the cake.
If I don’t get some of this cake soon……..!
What about some stout or espresso… or coffee stout?
Haha! Great ideas!
I haven’t made this cake… and I likely won’t because it has sugar in it…, but I sure do need a great vegan chocolate cake recipe. Most true lvegans do not eat sugar. Why, why, why does ths recipe have white sugar in it?! And I’m not saying I prefer agave, or honey or even molasses … the only vegan sweetner would be brown rice syrup / barley malt syrup. White sugar is processed using what’s calle d”charr” — its from animal bones. Plus only brown rice syrup or barley malt syrup do not spike insulin and all the other bad things sugar does. — It’s not only this cake recipe… so far every vegan dessert recipe I’ve found so far has white sugar or agave and white sugar… Soooooo dissappointing and so not on point.
Hi Jennifer, actually, a lot of brands of white sugar are totally vegan. Using bone char to refine sugar isn’t very common anywhere other than the US as far as I know, but I do check the sugar I buy to make sure. The standard brand I use here in Canada is Redpath and they say on their site that the sugar is indeed vegan-friendly. So you just want to check the brand you’re purchasing. A helpful tip is that all organic sugar is always vegan-friendly! Honey, on the other hand, is never vegan as it comes from bees. As for the health side, no, sugar isn’t healthy and I never claimed it was. Vegan is not synonymous with health. You can live off of french fries and still be vegan. It’s up to the individual how healthy or not healthy they want to be. Hope that helps!
Hi Sam, THANK YOU For this reply, as I am desperately trying to find the ultimate ways I can respect my son-in-law with outstanding vegan recipes…. and I know very little about veganism and what is what… I am so ignorant about it…. Once I thought I was appealing to his needs by making the best jello recipe I could muster…. boy did I learn THAT day! I will now shop for who carries vegan sugar in my neighborhood, Blessings!
Not a problem at all! You will find lots of easy and totally delicious recipes here on my blog and in my book. I would also recommend watching a documentary such as Vegucated which can be found on Netflix or here on YouTube which will explain exactly what veganism is 🙂
Hi. Can I use rice flour or almond flour in place of all purpose thanks
Hi Traci, I’m not gluten-free so I’m not knowledgeable in gluten-free baking. I have heard good things about Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1, but have never tried it myself. Hope that helps!
Hi Sam
I was wondering what brand of apple cider vinegar did you use? Was it Bragg’s?
Hi Kim, I’m not picky about it. I have used Bragg’s in the past but I think I just have the generic store brand in my cupboard right now. 🙂
This cake is so bomb it’s ridiculous. I brought it to Friendsgiving and my friend now refers to it as “The Matilda Cake.” You know the cake that the principal forces the kid to eat in the movie “Matilda”? Yeah – chocolatey and moist like that. Everyone was shocked it was vegan!
My first time baking vegan and I was a little nervous, but this was dreamy.
Thank you 🙂
Haha! I have a soft spot in my heart for Matilda- both the book and the movie! Thrilled it was so well received and love that you had such success with your first time baking 🙂
I made these tonight as cupcakes and I substituted for gluten free bob’s red mill. and almond milk. It turned out great! I am freezing them and serving them Saturday.! Thank you!
Perfect! Great to hear they work with the gluten-free mix as well 🙂
Hi! I’m planning to make this as cupcakes as well! How long did you bake them?
I did timed it for 20 minutes and started checking at 17 minutes. Depends how much you fill it too. Mine was 3/4.
Awesome, thank you! This is my go-to chocolate cake recipe but around Halloween I made a vegan ganache icing to go with it. I ate half the cake in 2 days. I Love This Cake (and blog)!!
No problem! I love the recipes here too!!!!! Oh the vegan ganache sounds yummy! Good luck!
Thank you so much, Sara!! a two layer cake will equal about 24 cupcakes and they take 20 -25 minutes to bake. Enjoy!
Oh thank goodness. I began reading through the comments, desperately hoping someone would say that they’d made cupcakes with this recipe.
Thank you X infinity!
Oh oh! I bit off more than I could bake. Asked to donate vegan desserts for 100 pple, I couldn’t refuse. Can you share some bulk recipes for brownies and cake so I can use amounts for 4- 1/2 sheet pan cakes and 2- 1/2 sheet pan brownies? Or do I simply multiply amounts by how many pans I make?
Hi Laura, wow! That’s a lot. I have never made this recipe in a sheet pan before. Hopefully, this article helps you.
HI Sam,
would it be possible to substitute the all purpose flour with cake and pastry flour (white)? will it change the texture of the cake?
thank you for your help!
Susana
Hi Susana,
I believe I just responded to your email. 🙂 Cake flour is different than all-purpose as it will make the cakes very tender. I have never tried it myself with this recipe, it does run the risk of the cake collapsing, especially because it is a richer cake.
If you want to try substituting here is a good guide. Hope that helps!
Can less sugar be used than the recipe calls for? I prefer a less sweet, more cacao taste.
Hi Scarlett, I’ve never tried it myself but this article should be helpful for you 🙂
Best cake recipe I have found! I always use it for my brother’s birthday cake, any work event which needs cake or anything else 🙂 and my dad (not vegan) is always asking if I’m going to be making another one for Christmas. Thank you so much for the recipe!!
You’re most welcome! Thrilled you love it so much, Emma 🙂
Best chocolate cake EVER. Even before going Vegan. Ive find that if i use Earth balance (melted) instead of oil and Silk Unsweetened cashew milk it comes out PERFECT (Ive tried it with dif oils and alt milks)
Love all recipes,thank you!
Yay!! So thrilled you love it so much 🙂
I have to disagree about not being able to taste the vinegar. I can definitely taste it. It doesn’t make it inedible, but it’s not a flavor I’d prefer in a chocolate cake. I was so surprised at how much this resembled a cake mix batter both when I put it in the oven, and when the two pans came out. It has a great texture. I’m new to this whole vegan thing, so imagine my surprise to be able to make a cake that not only doesn’t have eggs, but it also doesn’t have any egg substitute, either. Maybe when it’s been refrigerated overnight the vinegar flavor will mellow out a little. I have to wonder if it’s because I made an effort not to overmix it, that maybe the vinegar didn’t get incorporated as much as if I’d used a mixer. I wonder which of the dry ingredients could be blended with the wet ingredients using a mixer and not affect how it bakes and rises.
Hi Stacey, yeah I never use egg replacers, pretty cool right? If you mix the dry ingredients well, and then the wet ingredients well, that’s all you need to do. Is it possible you have a more intense flavoured vinegar? I use apple cider because it’s milder in flavour. You shouldn’t be able to taste it at all.
By the way, everyone likes cake, but i like something more. I have eaten a lot of cakes but it look very good and tasty. Today is my fast ,i’ll definitely try this tomorrow
Thank you
I hope you enjoy it!
I have to say, this cake was delicious…thank you so much
Woohoo! Thrilled you enjoyed it 🙂
Hi Sam! Just a quick question. Do you use Earth Balance Sticks or Earth Balance from the tub when you make your frosting?
Love your recipes!
I use the tub because that’s whats available in my store, but I am sure the sticks would work well too!
Hi, thanks for sharing this recipe! This was the best cake that I have ever made and tasted!! I was little skeptic about apple cider vinegar, but was all perfect!!!
YAY! Can’t get a better review than that. So very happy you enjoyed it, Priya 🙂
I made this cake for my boyfriend’s birthday and he loved it! I have my eye on the pumpkin spice cake to try next 🙂
Yay! So happy it was enjoyed 😀
Thanks a lot for this recipe!
I have baked this cake twice, first time straight up as is and the second time I switched half of the white sugar in the cake for brown sugar and added some raspberry preserves to the wet ingredients. I also topped it off with some fresh raspberries and mint.
I’m thinking about maybe adding some liquorice powder next time……could be a nice experiment.
I linked back to this recipe as a reference because it is undoubtedly the best “base” for a vegan chocolate cake I’ve found.
Aww yay! So happy you enjoy the recipe so much, Olle 😀
have you tried Lakanto as a sugar substitute? It is made from Monk Fruit and has zero glycemic affect!! It’s a one to one substitute to sugar and sssssooooooooo much healthier!! I also need GF so I’ll have to substitute the flour – but it should come out just a delicious (fingers crossed).
I baked this cake for the office, and everyone loved it so much! They couldn’t believe it was “vegan” (“but what about eggs?”). I’m no longer going to buy cakes for my kids birthday as I did in the past, and just going to make this cake instead 🙂
Haha! Woohoo! So happy you loved it, Sophia 🙂
Hi Sam,
I just made this cake for my sister’s bday and while it seemed to have turned out well (we’re eating it tonight), I had a hard time baking the cake all the way through the center. Every time I tested it, it was still gooey at it’s core, so it ended up baking quite a bit longer. In turn, the edges ended up over cooking, so I had to trim the cake down. Did you have this problem or have any suggestions in case I want to use this recipe again?
Hi Jessica,
I’ve never had that happen before. It sounds like the temperature of your oven might be a little off, it’s a pretty common problem. I recommend picking up an oven thermometer, so you can ensure your oven is the correct temp. Hope that helps! Happy you enjoyed the cake anyways 🙂
Hello! I wanted to let you know that this was the most tastiest, moist, and delectable vegan chocolate cake recipe…and I am not vegan. My friend (who is vegan) asked me to make a bday cake for her husband (non-vegan). The feedback I got was “you can’t tell that this is vegan”. My husband even accused me of adding milk and eggs! LOL Thank you, again…this gave my friend even more [sweet] options she didn’t think she had before. I wish I can give it 10 stars!!!
Hahaha! Wow! Thanks so much, thrilled the cake was such a hit! 🙂
SAM!! PLEASE REPLY QUICKLY! <3 😉
I am planning on making this for my sons first birthday this weekend (Ill make a full cake to serve, and a cupcake for a smash cake) please tell me you used 100% cacao powder. Its all I can find!
This cake looks SO yummy and has so many great reviews, and I wanna please all my non-vegan friends and family!
thanks!
Yes that will work just fine 🙂 Enjoy!
Sam, you truly outdid yourself coming up with this outstanding recipe! Thank you so much for sharing it! We love, love, loved it! Will make it many times over! Thank you!
Woohoo! So happy to hear that, Linnea! Thrilled you love it so much 😀
Tried it and loved it! Very moist. Had to let the cake sit overnight to get the desired texture once it cooled, but well worth the wait! Non-vegan friends love it!
So happy you loved the recipe, Nikki 🙂
Still seems like too much sugar
This is the best chocolate cake recipe I’ve ever used. It’s moist, gooey yet fluffy and not too heavy! A lovely balance of rich without being indigestibly rich. I love it and I’ve made it loads of times. Thanks, Sam!
Woohoo! Thrilled you love it so much, amgine. THanks for the lovely comment 🙂
I made this cake for my vegan friend’s birthday, and baked it in a 13×9 pan. It came out perfectly! I have never made anything vegan before, but I will be using this recipe again! Everyone really enjoyed it, and most said they would never have guessed it was vegan. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
Woohoo! So happy you loved it and that you will be making it again! 🙂
Is there a way to use the following substitutions in this chocolate cake recipe?
-Erythritol instead of the sugar
-whole wheat white flour
-avocado oil
Thank you
Hi Sandy, I really don’t know as I haven’t tested any of those ingredients with this recipe. Sorry I can’t be more help!
I really need this recipe in metric or imperial measures. I’ve googled it and no two websites say the same. It sounds delicious and I must made it for my daughter’s birthday.
Hi Carol, this conversion chart should help you. 🙂
This recipe also makes a lovely gluten-free chocolate cake if you substitute Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 flour. My sister in law with celiac disease loved the gluten-free version and adores this cake. We put marionberry jam filling in the middle (instead of frosting). 🙂
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that gluten free flour works here, Megan! Glad it was enjoyed 🙂
I really need this recipe in metric or imperial measurements! Have researched and no two website says the same! Please help me, I need to make this for my daughter’s birthday.
Hi Carol, this conversion chart should help you. 🙂
Hi, I just made this cake for a bunch of non-vegans and it was a huge hit. How delicious and perfect. Really. When i was tasting the frosting I thought it was a little bland but after it set and chilled and i ate it with the cake it was truly perfect. Thank you. I really impressed everyone with such as excellent cake that was also vegan.
Woohoo! So happy you and everyone enjoyed it so much Tamra 🙂
I made the cake again for my National Night Out party and everyone loved it! No need to even tell folks it is vegan.
Woohoo! Love it! So happy it’s a hit 🙂
Hi, I made another cake with gluten-free flour and it was exquisite again! Thank you!
You’re most welcome, Tamra!
I only have a 9″ springform. Any substitutions I need to make?
9″ pan should be fine, the baking time may be slightly different so keep an eye on it, and check with a toothpick to see if it is done. Because you are using a springform, make sure to line the pan with foil, as the batter is very runny and may leak through the pan. Enjoy!
This looks so yummy! Do you think using Silk dark chocolate almond milk would be okay? I don’t have any regular almond milk on hand. Thanks in advance!
I would think that’s a bit risky as it would add more chocolate and a lot more sugar to the recipe which could not only make the cake too sweet but adding extra sugar to a recipe can mess with the chemistry. I would stick to plain almond or soy milk 🙂
At this moment I am half way through baking this cake. First time making vegan cake and was worried when I put the batter into the 8 ” baking pans. I was not sure how high the dough would rise. Well I just checked and the batter is dripping out of both pans all over the oven! I will finish cooking and taste test before I make further comments.
Oh no! Sorry to hear that, Chris. I’ve never had that happen before. I hope you love the taste of it at least!
This is the first time I baked a cake that tastes very good! I am a vegan and would like to give in to my sweet tooth’s desire for cakes by making my own so that I am sure it’s vegan. My son used to tell me that I should admit it that baking is not just for me because every time I would ask him to take a slice of my baked goodies he would laugh and say it doesn’t taste like cake or muffin. For this recipe of yours, I used muscovado sugar instead of white.
Thank you so much for selflessly sharing your recipe. I ate to my heart’s delight and I even shared it with some friends who liked it much as I did!
Woohoo! Thrilled you liked the cake so much, porsch, and so happy you were able to bake it with success! 🙂
Hi there, planning to make cupcakes with your recipe! Was wondering, do you use raw cacao or Dutch processed? Thanks!
I’ve found either work well, the cake may raise a little more or less, but there isn’t too much difference. I believe the last time I made it I used dutch processed cocoa.
I used Dutch processed as well and we all really enjoyed them, thank you for this recipe 🙂
My pleasure 🙂
Hello! You say not to over mix. Does this mean you just mixed it with a spoon or did you use electric beaters to mix it? I have it in the oven right now and am worried it didn’t get mixed up enough. The lumps were gone, but I just used a large spoon and did t get out my electric beater? Hoping I didn’t mess up! 🙂 thanks!
Just use a spoon or spatula, and small lumps are totally fine. If you over mix it, you risk killing all of the bubbles so it won’t rise properly. I’m sure it will turn out great!