Your Favorite Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe
At the end of this recipe you’ll be able to make a vegan cake that is rich, moist, and full of deep chocolate flavor, something that is exactly what you want from a chocolate cake, but this time without use of any animal products.
Thanks to the everyday simple vegan baking ingredients like flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and baking soda, along with a splash of almond milk and a little apple cider vinegar, your vegan chocolate cake rises beautifully. For an increase of the chocolate flavor, brewed coffee is added to the batter.
It doesn’t matter why you want to make some vegan chocolate cake, this recipe would not disappoint you, be it in taste, flavor or texture.
Enough of how nice the vegan chocolate could be, let’s get to the recipe proper.

Your Favorite Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 2 x 8-inch round cake pans
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Cooling rack
- Offset spatula for frosting
- Parchment paper this is optional, for lining pans
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar or coconut sugar for less refined
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or any plant-based milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup brewed coffee optional, enhances chocolate flavor; or sub with water
For the Vegan Chocolate Frosting:
- ½ cup vegan butter softened
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2-3 tbsp plant-based milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix almond milk, oil, apple cider vinegar, vanilla, and coffee.
- Make the Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Whisk until smooth and combined — do not overmix.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
For the Frosting:
- Beat the softened vegan butter until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa powder, mixing on low until incorporated.
- Add vanilla, salt, and 2 tbsp of plant-based milk. Beat until creamy and smooth, adding more milk if needed for spreadable consistency.
To Assemble:
- Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread a layer of frosting on top.
- Place the second cake layer over the first and frost the top and sides.
- Optional: Decorate with vegan chocolate shavings, berries, or sprinkles.
Nutrition