This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
This vegan chocolate cake recipe features a moist, fluffy cake with dark chocolate flavor, all hidden beneath a sheet of creamy chocolate frosting. No one would guess it’s vegan!
If you are craving more vegan cake recipes, try my vegan birthday cake, vegan lemon cake, and vegan black forest cake next.
Everyone needs a staple cake in their repertoire. Yes, even vegans.
If you’re looking for a foolproof chocolate cake recipe that satisfies the vegans in your family but doesn’t taste like anything’s missing, my recipe is exactly what you’re looking for.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Made in one bowl. We’ve got cake-making down to a science!
- Simple ingredients. No flax eggs, no vegan butter, and no niche or hard-to-find substitutions.
- Ready in 30 minutes. Seriously, you can have the cake ready in no time. Then, once it’s cool, just frost, slice, and serve.
- The perfect flavor and texture. Trust me, even the vegan skeptics in your group will find it hard to believe there’s no dairy or eggs in this cake.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“I’ve made this cake several times, and we love it. I highly recommend trying it.” – Morgan
Ingredients needed
- All-purpose flour. Also known as plain flour. Be sure to sift the flour very well, to ensure there are no clumps throughout.
- Sugar. Use raw white sugar, which is the best sugar to use on a vegan diet. White or brown sugar can often be made using bone marrow, so use the purest forms.
- Cocoa powder. Dutch processed and 100% unsweetened cocoa powder. For a richer flavor, you can use dark cocoa powder.
- Baking soda. The leavening agent is used to give the cake some fluffiness and rise. It also reacts with the vinegar to replicate eggs.
- Salt. Balances out all the sweet ingredients.
- Apple cider vinegar. Or white vinegar. Reacts with the baking soda.
- Vanilla extract. A must for any delicious cake!
- Vegetable oil. Or any neutral-flavored oil. Keeps the cake moist and fluffy in the middle.
- Water. To mix everything together. You can also use plant-based milk if you prefer.
- Vegan chocolate frosting. What is a vegan cake without some of my dairy free frosting?
How to make vegan chocolate cake
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and line an 8-inch springform pan or cake pan with parchment paper.
Step 2- Make the cake batter. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients and whisk until a smooth batter remains.
Step 3- Bake. Pour the batter into the lined pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out just clean.
Step 4- Frost. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, frost the cake.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Want a double or triple-layer cake? Simply double or triple the ingredients.
- Use a stand mixer. I usually don’t mind stirring the cake batter by hand, but I’ll admit using a stand mixer does make it a speedier process.
- Don’t overbake the cake. The cake continues to bake while it is cooling in the pan, so remove it from the oven as soon as a toothpick inserted is ‘just’ clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting. Otherwise, it’ll slick right off the cake.
- Add more chocolate flavor. Swap two tablespoons of water for freshly brewed coffee or a shot of espresso. No one will be able to taste the coffee, but it’ll enhance the chocolate flavor.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the fridge for up to two weeks.
To freeze: Place leftover cake slices in a shallow container and freeze for up to 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Although vegan cakes don’t use dairy or eggs, they still contain plenty of sugar and/or oil. Because of this, it doesn’t make it any healthier than a regular cake.
To make this an oil-free chocolate cake, sub the oil for unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana.
To make this cake suitable for celiacs, swap out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free blend (with added xanthan gum).
More vegan dessert recipes to try
- Vegan strawberry cake
- Vegan ice cream cake
- Vegan German chocolate cake
- Snickers cake
- Or any of these vegan desserts
Vegan Chocolate Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour use gluten-free, if needed
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoon vegetable oil * See notes
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line an 8-inch springform pan or cake pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder. salt, and baking soda, and mix well. Add the vanilla extract, oil, and water, and mix until a smooth batter remains.
- Transfer to the lined pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer comes out just clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, frost the cake.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published September 2022, updated and republished July 2024
Made It, Loved It! Served to husband and 2 neighbors. When the gals finished and said it was great, then I told them it was vegan with unsweetened applesauce instead of oil.
They both said they couldn’t tell.
Thank you.
Oh my heaven! You’re not exaggerating when you say this is the BEST chocolate cake! I used GF flour and coconut palm sugar. The BEST! Couldn’t believe the texture for a GF cake. I just found your website so I’m late to the party. But I’m so excited to have this recipe and excited to try more. THANK YOU, Arman! Your hard work and creativity is a blessing beyond measure!
I made this lastnight and omg THE BEST CAKE EVERRRR! However mine didn’t rise. 🥹
I followed to a T and all my baking recipes turn out flat 🤣🤣🤣 kinda proof I can’t cook.
This was a hit but I’m disappointed in myself 😅
I would love to try this chocolate cake but with less sugar and can l use maple syrup instead of sugar
Thank you
Feel free to experiment and see
A super simple and healthy recipe!!!! Thanks for posting!
Can i make cupcakes with this same receipe?
Yes you can.
can you make this recipe into cupcakes? I would guess a slightly shorter cook time???
May I substitute applesauce for the oil?
You can try! 🙂
Hello! I love you recipes! You had a recipe (I printed it luckily) on your site with zucchini, coconut flour, coconut sugar, Baking soda & Powder, coconut oil, hot liquid of choice and maybe something else that I can’t seem to find Has it changed names?
Do you think this recipe would turn out okay if I replaced the water with vegan buttermilk?
Not sure- I’ve only tried it as written but I’ve made a similar cake with milk instead of water and it was fine
Omg! I have seen similar recipe- thought I will finally try it! Will be my go to as healthy alternative! And any time! So moist and flavorful! All loved it and made 27 cupcakes with a peanut butter frosting! Thank you!
Omg thank you for this recipe, we have made it multiple times and it is so good!
Our rice cooker has a cake setting. We gave it a go since the oven was being used, and it came out great!
We also did a vegan marshmallow and enjoy chocolate chip mix with your recipe, again in the rice cooker… and it just needs slightly more cook time, because of the added moisture.
You are an absolute genius Arman! 💚🌱
1 cup coffee instead of 1 cup water… deeelish!
Thank you so much for this recipe! When making a layered cake: does the bake time also need to be increased (in order to accommodate the extra batter)? If so, how much longer should I bake a 2 or 3 layered cake? Cheers!
Perfect! I’m 69 years old and have tried very cake recipes (not all winners).. never tried anything like this, but I so wanted to make a chocolate cake for a dear little lactose intolerant girl. This cake was such a SUCCESS! Thanks for teaching an old dog a new trick!