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    The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake

    Published: Jan 21, 2021 by Sina · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

    1.1K shares
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    a collage of two photos of vegan chocolate cake with a text overlay

    This vegan chocolate cake with chocolate frosting is the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had! It’s so chocolatey, moist, rich, and incredibly easy to make. You need only 15 minutes of active preparation time! 

    a vegan chocolate cake topped with fresh berries and pistachios on a white cake platter

    Why This Recipe Works

    I’ve made this chocolate cake so many times and it never disappoints. It’s so chocolatey and rich and it only needs 15 minutes of preparation and about 30 minutes in the oven. Nobody will guess that it’s entirely vegan!

    You need only very basic ingredients you can find in any regular supermarket. Probably, you’ve already got most of them in your pantry. It’s an easy one bowl recipe that comes together super fast. 

    Just combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until you’ve got a smooth batter. Then pour the dough into a springform cake pan and bake it in the oven. 

    To top this cake off, I added an easy vegan chocolate frosting on top. The main ingredient for my vegan icing is avocado, which works so great! And it’s also so much healthier than traditional chocolate icing.

    And it’so rich and incredibly easy to make. Just combine two avocados with cocoa powder, maple syrup or agave, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract and blend everything until smooth. That’s it!

    I love to garnish the cake with fresh berries and pistachios. They make it look so decadent! It’s also the perfect vegan birthday cake. I also love using this chocolate avocado frosting for cupcakes.

    What Goes Into This Recipe 

    ingredients that go into this recipe on a marble countertop with labels

    • Plant-based Milk  – I prefer almond milk for vegan baking, but any other plant-based milk works fine as well. However, I wouldn’t recommend rice milk as it tends to be very thin. 
    • Brown Sugar – you could also use coconut sugar.
    • Applesauce – use unsweetened applesauce. It’s a great egg replacement and it makes the cake perfectly moist.
    • Oil – I usually use canola oil. You could also use coconut oil as you will need it for the frosting anyways. 
    • Avocado – make sure it’s ripe.
    • Agave – I used agave for the frosting. You could replace it with maple syrup if you want. 

    How to Make This Recipe 

    a collage of four step-by-step photos that show how to make this recipe

    1. Step: Preheat your oven to 350 °F. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients (flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and cocoa powder).
     
    2. Step: Stir well with a wooden spoon.
     
    3. Step: Add the wet ingredients (oil, almond milk, unsweetened apple sauce, vanilla extract). 
     
    4. Step: Stir well with a wooden spoon until you’ve got a smooth batter. 
     
    a greased springform pan on a marble countertop
     
    5. Step: Lightly grease a 10 inch springform pan. 
    vegan chocolate cake batter in a springform pan on a marble countertop
     
    6. Step: Pour the batter into the springform pan. Bake at 350 °F for 30 minutes. It’s best to test with a skewer to see if the cake is done or if you need to adjust the baking time a little bit as every oven is a bit different. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 30 minutes.
     
    a close-up photo of a vegan chocolate cake topped with berries on a cake plate
     
    7. Step: Make the vegan chocolate frosting. In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Evenly spread the avocado chocolate frosting on the chocolate cake. Sprinkle with pistachios and top with fresh berries. Enjoy!

    Recipe Notes 

    • I used a 10 inch spingform pan for this cake. 
    • It’s best to test with a skewer to see if the cake is done or if you need to adjust the baking time a little bit as every oven is a bit different.
    • The unsweetened applesauce serves as an egg replacement in this recipe. Don’t worry, you won’t notice the apple flavor. 
    • The avocado chocolate frosting is best immediately after blending. So if you’re planning on making this cake ahead of time, I recommend making the frosting just before serving as it doesn’t take up much time. 
    • If you’re looking for an even more decadent dessert, you could enjoy this chocolate cake in combination with my vegan chocolate mousse (for example some cake crumbles on top). 

    FAQs:

    Can You Freeze This Cake? 

    Yes, it freezes really well. Make sure to let it cool completely after baking. Then place it in a plastic freezer bag or in a freezer-safe container and label it, so you will remember the baking date. 

    It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, defrost it in the fridge overnight or until thawed. 

    How Long Does This Cake Keep?

    Without the frosting, the chocolate cake will keep well in the fridge for up to 7 days. However, it’s important to cover it with plastic wrap or foil to prevent it from drying out. 

    The avocado chocolate frosting is best served fresh, but it can also be kept in the fridge for a few days. Its texture and color might change a bit, but it will still be delicious for 2-3 days. 

    a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting on a cake platter with two plates and forks on the side

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    I Love To Hear From You!

    I hope you like this vegan chocolate cake as much as we do around here.

    If you give it a try, I’d love to know what you think about them. Just leave me a comment and a star rating below. Your comments really make my day!

    You like my recipes and want to see more? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest! 

    Sina 

     

    Vegan Chocolate Cake

    Vegan Chocolate Cake

    This vegan chocolate cake with extra chocolate frosting is THE BOMB!! The best thing is it's so incredibly easy and you don't need any fancy ingredients. It's one of my favorite vegan cake recipes! Use a 10 inch spingform pan.
    4.80 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
    Total Time: 40 minutes mins
    Servings: 10 pieces
    Calories: 329kcal
    Author: Sina

    Ingredients

    Vegan chocolate cake:

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup cocoa powder
    • 3/4 cup brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract
    • 1 cup almond milk
    • 3/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
    • 1/2 cup canola oil

    Vegan chocolate frosting:

    • 2 avocado
    • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
    • 1/4 cup agave or maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
    • 1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract

    Additional ingredients:

    • fresh berries (I used raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and cherries)
    • pistachios

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 350 °F. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients (flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and cocoa powder). Stir well with a wooden spoon.
    • Add the wet ingredients (oil, almond milk, unsweetened apple sauce, vanilla extract). 
    • Stir well with a wooden spoon until you've got a smooth batter. 
    • Lightly grease a 10 inch springform pan with vegan butter or margarine. 
    • Pour the batter into the springform pan. Bake at 350 °F for 30 minutes. It's best to test with a skewer to see if the cake is done or if you need to adjust the baking time a little bit as every oven is a bit different. Remove from the oven and allow to cool down for about 30 minutes.
    • Make the vegan chocolate frosting. In a food processor combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Evenly spread the avocado chocolate frosting on the chocolate cake. Sprinkle with pistachios and top with fresh berries. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • I used a 10 inch spingform pan for this cake. 
    • It's best to test with a skewer to see if the cake is done or if you need to adjust the baking time a little bit as every oven is a bit different.
    • The unsweetened applesauce serves as an egg replacement in this recipe. Don't worry, you won't notice the apple flavor. 
    • The avocado chocolate frosting is best immediately after blending. So if you're planning on making this cake ahead of time, I recommend making the frosting just before serving as it doesn't take up much time.
    • This chocolate cake freezes really well. Make sure to let it cool completely after baking. Then place it in plastic freezer bags or in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 3 months. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 501mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @_veganheaven_ or tag #veganheaven!
    Rate the recipe!If you like this recipe, please leave a good rating! This will help other readers.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anne

      February 23, 2022 at 11:16 pm

      5 stars
      This was amazing! I’m an omnivore personal chef and my workplace that I cook for has a vegan so I’ve been learning a lot about vegan cooking and baking. I did add my spin to it by making a berry glaze with frozen berries, sugar and a bit of lemon juice cooked down in a saucepan. (My mother’s trick was to always add a bit of boozy glaze to a cooling cake so took inspiration from her.) Poked holes in the cake and drizzled the glaze over it and let it soak in before I froze it. Made it super moist and yummy. Served with more berries and cream.

      Reply
    2. Joanne

      October 14, 2019 at 6:37 pm

      5 stars
      It is so delicious chocolate cake!!!😍

      Reply
    3. Chardannae

      February 28, 2019 at 2:11 am

      5 stars
      Ok so this is the second or third recipe I’ve made from your blog and I have to say this is the first place I check now. The cake was delicious and moist and the frosting…. Lordy. As usual your recipe deserves more than 5 stars.

      I doubled the cake recipe and used my KitchenAid. I mixed all the wet ingredients then added the dry ingredients ending with the flour so as not to over mix it. I was skeptical since it’s not like the batter I made when I was Omni, it was thicker and I’d say almost dry. But I scooped it into two 9’’ pans and trusted your expertise. Boy am I glad I did. They turned out perfect! 30 minutes on the dot and they were ready.

      I used my Ninja blender for the frosting, doubling the recipe again to cover both cakes. I had to use some soy milk to thin it out a bit to my own personal preferences but the flavor was perfect.

      Thank you so much. This is the first baked good I’ve made that’s come together since I switched to only cooking vegan dishes and desserts. All I needed was one win. You have restored my love for baking and given me hope that I can still do what I love cruelty free. Can’t wait to test out more recipes in the future. Good day! 😁👌🏼🌱

      Reply
    4. Kelly

      May 27, 2018 at 10:23 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great cake! It turned out so yummy! Was gone within one day ;-)

      Reply
    5. Kristina

      June 12, 2017 at 3:59 pm

      I love the presentation – so colorful and bright! this has me craving cake…

      Reply
    6. S.Brady@COOKWARELAB

      June 12, 2017 at 10:20 am

      Chocolate cake is my all-time favorite. I can eat this whole cake within few minutes! I will try this one too.

      Reply
    7. Ginny McMeans

      June 10, 2017 at 11:39 pm

      Yuo can’t beat a great chocolate cake. Looks wonderful!

      Reply
    8. Alisa Fleming

      June 10, 2017 at 6:02 pm

      Simple perfection! I usually use oil, and am curious now about the buttery spread with chocolate – it must be quite rich!

      Reply
    9. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite

      June 09, 2017 at 1:36 am

      Who can say no to chocolate?! And I love avocado frosting. So good and healthy and yummy!

      Reply
    10. Dianne

      June 08, 2017 at 7:31 pm

      My birthday is next week. I think I’m going to print this recipe out and hang it on the fridge as a hint. :)

      Reply
    11. Linda from Veganosity

      June 08, 2017 at 3:43 am

      This looks SO good! I could totally eat the entire cake.

      Reply
    12. Becky Striepe

      June 07, 2017 at 9:06 pm

      Oh my gosh, this cake is gorgeous! Loving all of that fresh fruit on top

      Reply

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    Sina-Veganheaven

    Hi, I'm Sina and this is my recipe blog where I share heavenly simple and sinfully delicious vegan recipes.

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    As a mom of twins, I know how busy life can be. So if you're looking for easy and quick vegan recipes the whole family loves, this is the right place for you!

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