The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake

This BEST vegan chocolate cake recipe is quick and easy with no unusual ingredients. Hundreds of readers have loved this moist fluffy vegan chocolate cake. It’s egg free and dairy free. So many readers love it regardless of it being a vegan cake.

Commissioned recipe.

Republished 8 Feb 2019 with new photos.

When you think about vegan cake, you might think it will be dry, crumbly and somehow inferior to a typical chocolate cake filled with eggs and butter. Well, you’re wrong. Very wrong. It might be an egg free and dairy free chocolate cake, but it is awesome!

This vegan chocolate cake really is the BEST. It’s like a super-amazing, delicious, decadent chocolate cake that just happens to be vegan!

If you didn’t mention that it’s a vegan cake, people would honestly never know. It’s rich, fluffy, moist and very easy to make.

WHY IS THIS THE BEST VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE?

1. It’s really quick and easy
2. Rich, chocolatey flavour
3. No unusual ingredients
4. Light, moist and fluffy texture
5. It makes a great vegan birthday cake
6. Nobody will guess that it’s a vegan cake
7. Many readers have made it and love it. It’s a recipe you can trust.
8. A moist eggless chocolate cake
9. A delicious dairy free chocolate cake

(Original photo from 2016)

The BEST vegan chocolate cake

I love making cakes, but I hate it when I need to seek out expensive unusual ingredients first.

So, this cake doesn’t need any unusual egg or dairy substitutes like flax or chia eggs.The most unusual ingredient is dairy free milk (almond, soy etc…), but you can pick that up at any shop.

Instead of butter, I’ve used a vegan spread (butter/margarine whatever you like to call it!). It’s just a super-easy, light and fluffy chocolate cake that’s vegan that can be made with store cupboard ingredients.

Trust me, nobody will guess that it’s a vegan cake. It’s great as a vegan birthday cake, party cake or everyday cake! If you’re looking for a vanilla cake, try my Vegan Victoria Sponge cake. It’s light, fluffy and delicious. Something zingy? Go for my Vegan Lemon Cake! Looking for a classic? My Vegan Carrot Cake is moist deliciousness!

Readers’ Cakes

I love it when you all tag me on social media (#veggiedesserts) so I can see your vegan cake recipes!
Here are a few reader versions of this best vegan chocolate cake:

Thanks to @easycookvegan @sammy_enty_17 @charisdutton @ellis97 @littlegreeduck @iwantitvegan @issosoftcottoncandy @katiehelenfox for all sending these in on instagram!

How to Make A Vegan Chocolate Cake (Step by Step Tutorial)

1: Stir the lemon juice into the vegan milk. You can use soy, almond, hemp, cashew – they all work well.
>>Cook’s tip: When you add the lemon juice it will slightly curdle – don’t worry, that’s what you want to happen! It’s turning the plant milk into buttermilk.
2: Melt the vegan butter (a hard vegan butter or a non-dairy margarine all work) with the syrup.
>>Cook’s tip: You can use any liquid sweetener: golden syrup, corn syrup, agave or maple syrup. Maple makes for a slightly less sweet cake, but it’s still really nice.
3: Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl, then whisk to combine.
4: Mix the wet ingredients into the dry and stir to combine.
5: Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted skewer (or knife) comes out clean. Cool in the pans for a few minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack for the vegan cake to cool completely.

Scroll down for the detailed recipe card and vegan frosting instructions

Other Vegan Cake Recipes

Also be sure to try my light, fluffy and easy to make Vegan Vanilla Cake! No unusual ingredients and nobody will guess that it’s vegan. It’s also a perfect vegan birthday cake! Also make my Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes – they’re moist and soft. Go for a classic with my Vegan Carrot Cake. Want something zingy? Try my Vegan Lemon Cake. 

Vegan Cake Tips

• Don’t over-mix the batter when adding the wet ingredients to dry. Combine well, but don’t beat.
• Add 1 tsp of cinnamon to the frosting for a wintery flavour.
• Feel free to omit the coffee, it just enhances the flavour of the chocolate in this vegan cake. 
• Freezable: you can freeze the un-frosted cakes for up to 1 month
• Increase the ingredients by an extra 50% for a three layer cake
• Turn this into vegan cupcakes by filling the cups of a lined muffin pan and bake for 15-20 mins.

Vegan Baking Substitutions

Now, you might be thinking that to make a vegan chocolate cake you’re going to need some strange ingredients. But this one doesn’t contain flax or chia to replace the eggs.

The most unusual ingredient is dairy free milk (soy, almond, oat, rice etc…), but you can pick that up at any shop. Instead of butter, I’ve used a vegan butter/margarine.

I’ve found that vegan spreads/margarine work the same as dairy spreads in baking.

For my cake I’ve melted some with golden syrup (you could substitute maple syrup) for the cake, and I’ve whipped some straight from the fridge for the fluffy, chocolatey frosting.

I used Flora Freedom vegan spread which has 60% less saturated fat than butter. It’s certified by The Vegan Society and is free from artificial preservatives, colours and flavours.

Get the Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe

💚Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you!
Leave a comment and star rating below and share a picture with the hashtag #veggiedesserts. I love seeing your recreations of my vegetarian and vegan recipes and cakes.💚

Thanks for checking out my recipe! I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this UK food blog, sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes, vegan cake and also easy vegan desserts.
Kate x

The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake

This really is the BEST vegan chocolate cake recipe ever. It's decadent, fluffy, rich and easy to make with no unusual ingredients!

4.97 from 107 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, International

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 12

Author: Kate @ Veggie Desserts

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups (300ml) vegan milk (soy, almond etc...)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (or white vinegar)
• 2/3 cup (150g) vegan margarine/butter
• 3 tbsp golden/agave/maple syrup (use your favorite liquid sweetener (maple will make a slightly less sweet cake))
• 1 tsp instant coffee granules / espresso powder (OPTIONAL)
• 2 1/4 cups (275g) plain (all purpose) flour
• 3/4 cup (175g) sugar
• 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

For the vegan chocolate frosting (double to cover the sides as well)

• 1/3 cup (75g) vegan margarine/butter
• 1 2/3 cups (200g) powdered icing sugar (confectioner's sugar)
• 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp water

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 180° C/160° C fan/Gas mark 4 (350F). Lightly grease 2x20cm/8inch round baking pans.
• Stir the lemon juice (or vinegar) into the milk and set aside to thicken and 'curdle' slightly into buttermilk.
• In a pan over a medium heat, melt the margarine, syrup and coffee granules together. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Sieve the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) into a large mixing bowl and whisk together.
• Pour the milk and melted margarine mixture over the flour mixture and stir well until it becomes a smooth batter.
• Divide the mixture between the two prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
• Allow the cakes to cool in the tins for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, to make the icing beat together all ingredients until smooth.
• When the cakes are completely cold, sandwich together with half of the icing. Spread the remaining icing over the top of the cake.

Nutrition Facts

The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 400 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 19g 29%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Sodium 150mg 6%

Total Carbohydrates 63g 21%

Dietary Fiber 4g 16%

Sugars 40g

Protein 5g 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Video

Notes

• Substitute self raising flour - use the same amount as the plain flour, but omit the 3 tsp of baking powder
• Substitute the golden syrup with corn syrup, agave or maple syrup

 

Based on a recipe from Flora.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts!

Disclosure: This recipe for the BEST vegan.chocolate cake was commissioned by Flora Freedom. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to mess up my kitchen and write Veggie Desserts – with vegan dessert recipes, vegetarian desserts, vegetable cakes, as well as vegan and vegetarian savoury dishes.