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How to make a Vegan Chocolate Cake
• The Cake Decorating Company
Whether you're following a vegan diet, or you've just run out of eggs, you can still have your cake and eat it with this gorgeous vegan chocolate cake recipe.
This cake is sure to delight, with two layers of egg-free chocolate with a creamy chocolate filling, topped with luscious chocolate frosting and dark chocolate curls. Better yet, you don't need any fancy ingredients or equipment, making it super easy to make and a hit with all your friends and family!
Contents:
Ingredients for your Vegan Chocolate Cake
For The Cake
500 g self-raising flour
65g cocoa powder
300g caster sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
320ml dairy-free milk
250g dairy free-yogurt
200ml sunflower oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For The Icing
275g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
225g dark chocolate
Prep
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Line two 9" round cake tins with parchment paper and grease.
Method for vegan chocolate cake
Step 1. Sift flour and cocoa powder
Firstly, sift your flour and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl.
Step 2. Add in the caster sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Step 3. Add Liquid Ingredients
In a separate jug, pour the dairy-free milk, dairy-free yogurt, oil, and vanilla extract together.
Step 4. Combine dry and liquid ingredients
Pour the mixture into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients, and stir well until the cake batter is smooth.
Step 5. Split the mixture evenly
Pour out the mixture evenly between the two cake tins, then firmly tap the tin on top of your work surface to get rid of any air bubbles. This will help your cake to bake more evenly. You could also use a baking belt for this.
Step 6. Bake for 20 minutes
Once you're batter is split its time to put it in the over. Bake your vegan chocolate cake for around. 20 minutes, until a knife/cocktail stick comes out clean.
Step 7. Cool your cakes
Once your cakes have fully cooled you can then remove from the tin carefully. (can expand here to include trouble shooting like what to do if cake gets stuck or can you cool cake in the fridge)
Step 8. Decorate with Vegan buttercream
Now that you cake is cool you can start to decorate and add some finishing touches. We recommend using some vegan butter cream. Sift some sugar into a bowl, then add the dairy-free margarine and vanilla extract. Beat together until soft and fluffy.
Step 9. Melt dark chocolate for vegan buttercream
Place 150g of dark chocolate into the microwave, and melt for short 15 second intervals until completely melted, then set aside to cool.
Step 10. Mix Chocolate and Icing Mixture
Once cool, mix the melted chocolate into the icing mixture, stirring well until smooth.
Step 11. Spread frosting on bottom cake layer
Using a palette knife, spread one-third of the chocolate frosting over the bottom layer of your cake.
Step 12. Put cake together and ice the top layer
Finally, place the second cake on top, before spreading the remaining icing over the top of the cake.
The best vegan buttercream options
Every cake deserves the best buttercream! This can feel more daunting when making a plant-based cake, but fear not! We have a collection of vegan buttercream options for you to choose from.
Vegan Chocolate Cake FAQ
Is dark chocolate vegan?
Most dark chocolate is vegan, however, you must check the ingredients on every brand. Sometimes a little milk is added as it creates more of a creamy texture. So don't assume, always check!
What to do if my vegan cake is too dry?
You might find that your vegan cake is too dry because it has been in the oven too long. Vegan and non-vegan recipes will require different baking times, so next time you bake your vegan cake try a shorter amount of time in the oven.
Alternatively, you can add a little extra water and sugar to your mix, which should add more moisture.
Finally, for a quick fix in the moment, add a good helping of vegan frosting to balance out the textures.
How long does vegan chocolate cake last?
A vegan cake will usually last for about three days wrapped in clingfilm or stored in an airtight container at room temperature. To extend this, pop it in the fridge (again, in clingfilm or an airtight container!). Refrigerating it should keep it fresh for up to seven days.
Common problems with vegan chocolate cake
If you run into issues when first attempting to make a vegan chocolate cake, don't worry! Here are some common issues you might have, and how to fix them for your next bake!
| Problem with Vegan Cake | Solution |
| Cake is too dry | Add a little extra water and sugar to increase moisture |
| Cake is too dense | Add less water and/or more raising agent |
| Cake is crumbling/falling apart | You may have used the wrong egg substitute - be sure to follow a vegan recipe |
| Cake doesn't rise | You may need to add apple cider vinegar to your cake mix to interact with the bicarbonate of soda |
Ready to get baking? Share your vegan chocolate cake with us over on Instagram - you can follow us at @the_cake_decorating_co!
Looking for more inspo?
An Easy Vegan Frosting Recipe from FunCakes!
How to Make Delicious Vegan Madeleines (Recipe)
An Intro to Vegan Baking Ingredients – plant based made easy!
