Easy vegan chocolate cake - this simple vegan chocolate sheet cake is quick and easy to make and doesn't use any unusual or hard to find ingredients. It is so moist and rich you would never guess that it is free from eggs and dairy!
I've made various incarnations of this vegan chocolate cake recipe before - vegan chocolate fudge layer cake, vegan chocolate sheet cake with ganache frosting, Halloween vegan chocolate tombstone cupcakes and vegan chocolate cupcakes for two.
The thing is, I just can't stop making it! It is such a versatile recipe, so quick and easy to make and so, so good. I seriously think that it is a better chocolate cake than any non-vegan one I've tried.
This version is a simple traybake/sheet cake which I topped with a light, fluffy, not-too-sweet vegan chocolate buttercream. It is a bit more child-friendly than the rich ganache that I used on my previous vegan chocolate sheet cake so is perfect for birthdays or any celebration where there might be kids; or if you just want a slightly less rich option.
Decorate it as you please - as I did with vegan friendly sprinkles for a classic birthday cake, or top with fresh fruit and chocolate shavings for a more grown-up look.
How To Make Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake:
(For ingredients and full instructions see the recipe card below)
*For the best results make sure that you follow the recipe closely. As always, I highly recommend using the gram measurements (with a digital scale), rather than the cup conversions. Cup measurements are simply not accurate enough for baking and I cannot guarantee the best results if you use them.*
This cake is baked in a 20cm/8inch square tin - grease it well and line with a strip of baking parchment. See the links above for other sizes of cake.
Whisk together non-dairy milk (soy is best but any unsweetened variety will work) with cider vinegar, caster sugar, light brown soft sugar, sunflower oil (or another flavourless oil) and vanilla extract in a jug.
In a large bowl sift together plain flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt.
Gradually whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until the batter is smooth. It is important not to over-mix it however or the cake can become tough so I recommend using a hand balloon whisk rather than an electric mixer.
Pour the batter into the prepared tin and spread it level. The cake takes about 35 minutes to bake but start checking it after 25 minutes. It is ready when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
The cake is delicate when it is warm so leave it to cool in the tin for about half an hour before carefully turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the chocolate buttercream, melt some chopped dark chocolate (around 70% cocoa solids). I do this in short bursts in the microwave but you can also place the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water; don't let the base of the bowl touch the water.
Whisk together vegetable shortening (I use Trex) with solid block vegan butter (I use Naturli vegan block) until smooth. It is important to use part shortening rather than all butter, and to use block butter rather than the spreadable kind, otherwise the buttercream might split.
Whisk in sifted cocoa powder followed by sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk the buttercream for a good few minutes until it is light and fluffy then whisk in the melted chocolate. If it is too firm then you can whisk in a drop of non-dairy milk.
Spread the buttercream over the top of the cooled cake and decorate as you like.
How Long Will It Keep?:
The assembled cake will keep for up to five days in an airtight container at room temperature. It doesn't need to be refrigerated unless it is warm out.
Can I Freeze It?:
The unfrosted cake can be well wrapped and frozen for up to a couple of months. Allow to defrost at room temperature. I do not recommend freezing the frosting as it may split when it defrosts.
If you tried this recipe why not tag @domestic_gothess on Instagram and hashtag it #domesticgothess
Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Vegan Chocolate Cake:
- 240 ml (1 cup) unsweetened non-dairy milk (soy is best but any will work)
- 1 teaspoon cider or white wine vinegar
- 125 g caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- 50 g light brown soft sugar
- 100 ml sunflower oil (or another flavourless oil)
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 150 g plain (all-purpose) flour
- 50 g cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Vegan Chocolate Buttercream:
- 55 g dark chocolate (about 70% cocoa solids) chopped
- 55 g vegetable shortening (I use Trex)
- 55 g solid block vegan butter (I use Naturli vegan block)
- 20 g cocoa powder
- 110 g icing (powdered) sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- a drop of non-dairy milk if needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4 and grease and line a 20 cm/8 inch square cake tin.
- Whisk together the non-dairy milk milk, vinegar, caster sugar, brown sugar, sunflower oil and vanilla extract in a jug.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt.
- Gradually whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until smooth; be careful not to over-mix or the cake can become tough.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tin and spread level. Bake for about 35 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Start checking for doneness after 25 minutes.
- Leave the cake to cool in the tin for half an hour then carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the vegan chocolate buttercream, melt the chopped dark chocolate, either in a heat-proof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water (don't let the base of the bowl touch the water), or as I do in short busts in the microwave, stirring every 10 seconds. Set aside.
- Whisk together the vegetable shortening and vegan butter with an electric mixer until smooth, then whisk in the sifted cocoa powder followed by the sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract.
- Beat the buttercream for a good few minutes until very light and fluffy then beat in the melted chocolate a little at a time.
- Spread the buttercream over the cooled cake and decorate as you like (or leave it plain).
Notes
Jude Delaney
This cake is possibly the best I’ve ever eaten and I’ve eaten a shed load of chocolate cakes over the years!! Thanks so much for the recipe and cooks notes.
Alice
As easy as the title says, and tastes delicious. Yet another fab recipe!
Kamini PITHIA
Hi there,
Lovely recipe. I am going to make this. Just wanted to know for the buttercream does the butter and trex need to be at room temperature?
Thank you
Kamini
Hannah
Hi Kamini, I use them slightly softened, but they don't need to be out of the fridge for long as they soften up quite quickly when you use an electric mixer.
Kamini PITHIA
Great thank you so much. I have made the cake. Now will do the frosting.
Jo
Can I substitute the flour for gluten free flour?
Hannah
Hi Jo, I haven't tried but I think that it should work ok.
Jos
Great recipe, I also use your vegan carrot cake recipe which is equally delicious. Thanks
J
Hi, would adding choc chips do anything to the cake? Like, does the addition of the fats and oils in those change the quantity of other ingredients? I have no idea at all about baking except that it's a proper science, with experiments I always seem to fail!
Hannah
Hi J, you can happily add chocolate chips but as it is quite a wet batter you may find that most of them sink to the bottom. I would mix some into the batter and then scatter some over the top after you pour it into the tin to help counter this. I hope you enjoy it!
Hazel
I'm very excited to make this and planning to use it as the base for my toddler's cat birthday cake! I'm fairly new to baking, would it be okay to replace the flour and bicarb with self raising? Is there a reason not to?
Our oven is not a very even cooker, should I put it middle shelf? And should a skewer come out dry when it's ready?
Hazel
Another question sorry! I have a silicone mold. Can I use that without lining?
Hannah
Yes you can use it without lining but I would still lightly grease it.
Hannah
Hi Hazel, no I wouldn't swap them for self-raising, they work quite differently and this cake is designed to use the reaction between the bicarb and vinegar to make it rise and give it a fluffy texture. Yes, middle shelf and a skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean when it is ready.
Hazel
Thank you! Helpful replies, will let you know how it goes!
Louise Mairs
Amazing recipe. Thank you!!! I used self raising flour instead of all purpose, missing out the baking powder and salt. Doubled the quantities and baked it in a large rectangular baking tin. So light and fluffy! I’ve used a few recipes for choc cake in the past and they’ve all been disappointing and claggy. But this is a total game changer!! The new birthday cake from now on!
Liv
I doubled this recipe to make a 2 layer Black Forest Cake last weekend and I received a round of applause! An incredibly light AND moist cake guys. FINALLY! I've had so many fails but I'm so happy now! My only changes: doubling the vinegar (I'm paranoid about baking soda leaving a soapy taste) and trading half the milk for boiling water. Absolute best chocolate cake I've had since being vegan and even before!!! THANK YOU!! <3 <3
PS: If you live in Italy use farina Tipo 0 😉
Tamar
Wow!Wow! Wow! Amazing!
Had to substitute the shortening with coconut oil, but it demolished in a fkadh just the same. Thanks!
Olivia
Is there any difference between the cake in this recipe and your other sheet pan cake recipe? (excluding the frosting part)
Hannah
Hi Olivia, no they are the same cake, just different tin sizes.
Pria
Hi, can I use this recipe for a 9inch round cake please?
Hannah
Hi Pria, yes you can.
A
Hi I attempted the recipe but i was just wondering if i could get some advice. Mine came out quite crumbly and dark, what should i change next time please
Hannah
Hi, this is quite a dark coloured cake so I don't see why that is a problem? It can also be a little crumbly but if it was overly crumbly then it may have been overbaked, the baking times are only ever a guideline as all ovens vary so it may have needed a little less time in yours.
Jessica
Made this recipe and it tasted better the next day. For some reason, it didn't have as much flavour on the first day. It keeps moist even after 3 days. Nice and easy cake recipe!
Alis
Hi! I love your cakes and want to make this one on Saturday but can't get hold of any vegetable shortening! Is there any substitute you can recommend? Many thanks!
Hannah
Hi Alis, as long as you use a good quality vegan block butter such as Naturli vegan block or Flora plant butter for the buttercream then you can just use more of that instead of the shortening.