Vegan Chocolate Cake – Super Fudgy! (gluten-free options)
This vegan chocolate cake is fudgy, super moist, ultra chocolaty and is topped off with an easy whipped chocolate ganache frosting! Can be made gluten-free, whole wheat or with all-purpose flour.
This vegan chocolate cake is seriously the most delicious chocolate cake ever. I think I even prefer it over this whole wheat chocolate cake recipe.
And amazingly, nobody can tell that this cake is vegan or gluten-free! If you prefer, you can use whole wheat flour or even all-purpose flour. White whole wheat or whole spelt also work.
I’ve also tried this cake with buckwheat flour and found it pretty strange. It tasted floral somehow.
One thing I love about this vegan chocolate cake is that it doesn’t require any usual ingredients. You don’t even need chia or flax seeds to make egg replacements.
If you’re vegan or egg-free, you most likely already have these at home. But for someone who is looking for a dessert recipe to make their vegan friend, this is a great option!
And the frosting is super easy and not too sweet like buttercream usually is. I used a vegan chocolate ganache that’s just chopped chocolate and coconut milk.
All you do is melt it together, chill, and then beat until fluffy. Then you have some whipped ganache frosting!
Oh, and there’s salt in there. 1/4 teaspoon salt. I haven’t really seen that in many ganache recipes, but I think a bit of salt makes it even more delicious! Feel free to omit that or only use 1/8 teaspoon.
This vegan chocolate fudge frosting would be another delicious option if the whipped ganache frosting doesn’t sound like your speed.
If you’ve got any substitution questions, check out the section below! Just one last note.
This recipe uses 1 1/2 cups of water, but if you have milk that needs using up, you can definitely use that in place of the water. I wouldn’t say that the cake tastes any different with it, so I wouldn’t buy it just for this cake.
The batter will be super runny. Don’t be alarmed! It’s normal.
Questions about this vegan chocolate cake?
Can you taste the olive oil?
I used extra-virgin olive oil, and you can taste it in the batter and while the baked cake is still hot. Once it cools, you can’t taste it. If you’re worried about it, use light olive oil (the light refers to the taste and not calories).
Can I use another oil other than olive?
You can use canola oil, vegetable oil, grapeseed oil, etc. Anything neutral tasting. Coconut oil also works.
Can I use butter?
I bet you could use butter in this cake for a non-vegan version, but it wouldn’t be as moist (butter is 80-82% fat, and oil is 100% fat). The same goes for vegan butter.
Can I use a different gluten-free flour mix?
I used this 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour. If you have another brand that works as a sub for all-purpose flour, then you could probably use it here. I can’t say the texture would be as perfect as with the flour mix I used, though.
Does the gluten-free version taste gluten-free?
This vegan chocolate cake honestly tastes like it was made with all-purpose flour. At least with the gluten-free flour mix I used and after it’s cooled a bit.
Can I use almond/coconut/other flours?
Unfortunately not. If you want to use other flours like rice flour, buckwheat, whatever – you’ll have to experiment. There’s no direct sub for gluten-free flour mixes.
Can I use a liquid sweetener?
Unfortunately, not without experimenting! You could use a little honey or maple syrup for part of the sugar, but you’d have to reduce the liquid in the cake.
Can I reduce the sugar?
You could probably get away with reducing it by 1/3 cup. Reducing sugar also reduces moisture, so unless you want a dry cake, don’t go overboard and reduce it to 1/2 cup or some small amount.
Does the frosting pipe well?
I haven’t tried it, but it’s pretty firm. It should work, but I can’t guarantee it.
Can I use a different-sized pan?
Here’s a pan conversion chart that should help. Looks like a 9″x13″ would work, though I haven’t tried it.
Can I make this recipe into cupcakes?
Yes! This recipe will yield 16 cupcakes. Fill the liners slightly more than halfway full and bake for 16-18. The frosting yields just under 2 cups, so that’d be enough for 2 tablespoons of frosting per cupcake.
Can I freeze the layers / frosted cake?
Freezing the layers would definitely work. I haven’t experimented with the time, but maybe up to 1 month? Freezing frosted layers, though? I think it’d work, but I’m not 100% sure.
I hope you’ll love this vegan chocolate cake! If you try it out, I’d love to hear what you think. :)
Vegan Chocolate Cake – Super Fudgy! (gluten-free options)
Ingredients
For the whipped ganache frosting:
- 1 2/3 cups (283 grams) vegan semi-sweet chocolate chopped or chips
- 1 cup (240 ml) canned full-fat coconut milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the cake:
- 1 1/2 cups (355 ml) water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) oil like canola, vegetable, or olive; or 1/2 cup (113 grams) melted refined coconut oil
- 2/3 cup (133 grams) brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar or raw sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups (207 grams) flour see notes
- 1/2 cup (58 grams) cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Note that the frosting needs about 2 hours to chill.
Prepare the frosting:
- In a medium or large sauce pot (one big enough for you to use your mixer in), mix together the chopped chocolate and coconut milk. Turn the heat to low and while stirring occasionally, melt the mixture. When no more lumps remain, stir in the salt (I like 1/4 teaspoon but you may want less). Place the pot on a trivet and put in the refrigerator to chill for 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours or until the mixture is cold and has thickened quite a bit (so that it’s no longer pourable).1 2/3 cups (283 grams) vegan semi-sweet chocolate, 1 cup (240 ml) canned full-fat coconut milk, 1/4 teaspoon salt
Prepare the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line two 8″ (20-cm) round cake pans with a piece of parchment paper on the bottom. Grease the sides of the pans with baking spray or coconut oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the water, vinegar, oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract.1 1/2 cups (355 ml) water, 1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar, 1/2 cup (120 ml) oil, 2/3 cup (133 grams) brown sugar, 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add this to the wet mixture and stir just until combined. It will be almost as thin as water.1 1/2 cups (207 grams) flour, 1/2 cup (58 grams) cocoa powder, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Divide the batter between the two pans (about 495 grams of batter in each pan) and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with some moist crumbs (not raw batter). Let cool for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, finish making the frosting.
- Remove the chilled ganache from the refrigerator and using an electric mixer (you could also transfer it to a stand mixer), beat the ganache until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Spread about 2/3 cup of frosting between the two layers of cake, 1/2 cup on top and the remaining on the sides. There’s about 2 cups of frosting.
- Keep covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Notes
- I made this recipe GF with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour. For a non-GF version, you can use 1 1/2 cups (188 grams) whole wheat, white whole wheat or all-purpose flour.
- The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator.
This looks like the most perfect chocolate cake ever! I can’t wait to try it!
I just made the cake and realized that i forgot to add the oil because it was not mentioned in the direction ????????♀️ I hope it works anyway ؛(
Oh my gosh. I am so very sorry about that! I am horrified. :( I just fixed it. I’ve gotten lots of reviews of the cake on Instagram but nobody mentioned this until now so thank you very much! I really am sorry. :(
Very glad to hear everything turned out okay for the both of you.I hope things only continue to get easier and better for you guys!! Awesome recipies!
Thanks so much for your nice comment! I hope you’ll get to try out the recipe. :)
Hi! I want to say the cake came out amazing! I will definitely be making it again. Do you ever have a hard time getting them out of the pans? I didn’t use parchment, just avocado oil on the bottom and sides and they were not so easy to come out. I managed and fixed it with the amazing frosting! Keep up the great work with your recipes!
Hi Julie! I’m so very sorry for just now seeing your comment. It landed in spam for some weird reason! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the cake. :) I haven’t had any issues with it coming out, but I always use parchment on the bottom and coconut oil on the sides. Thanks for your nice comment and sorry again for just now seeing it!
Do I use the whole can including the coconut water or just the firm coconut cream part in the ganache?
You just use 1 cup (240ml) of the milk. So mix the cream and water together and use 1 cup of that. I’d love to hear how it comes out!
Thank you for another beautiful recipe, Erin. We so appreciate you!! Hang in there. You’ve been through such a rough experience, poor girl, but wonderful times are right around the corner. A fussy baby is so hard, but they end up being your best friend. Trust me on this…and now my fussy son’s wife is giving me a grand daughter this spring. Thank you once again. Your hard work has been so valuable to me. Your recipes allow me to bake delicious treats for my gluten-free Texan daughter-in-law.
Thanks for your super nice comment! I’m really happy that you and your daughter-in-law enjoy and appreciate the recipes. :) And that’s good to hear about the fussy baby thing. It’s already gotten so much easier, so that’s good! Congratulations on your coming grandchild and thanks again. :)
Oh Erin I was wondering how you were doing this past year adjusting to motherhood! What a scary beginning, but now look at that healthy happy little boy with lashes that just won’t quit! I’m so glad you are both doing better! Just remember, recipes will always be here but your sweet baby will only be little for *such* a little while. My son was super difficult too, and I think if I would’ve been blogging when he was born I would’ve quit! LOL! Glad to have you back doing what you can!
Aww, thank you! What a nice comment. :) And yes – that’s the attitude I’m trying to have. I can continue working when he’s a little older! I’m not going to let myself get worked up over not being able to work for more than about 2 hours a week anymore. I hope your son is less difficult now. :D Thanks again for your nice comment!
Can I use only coconut sugar? Or both are required? Thanks a lot!
Only coconut sugar works! I’d love to hear how it comes out. :)
This is hands down a new favorite in our house! I have been baking gluten free & dairy free for years. I know it can be hard to find a recipe that turns out as good as it looks in pictures. But this recipe will win you over, I promise. We won’t be waiting for birthdays to make this. I will find an excuse to make this regularly.????
Aww, yay! I’m really so happy that it was a big hit for you. :) And I’m with you. I’ll always be on the lookout for an excuse to make this. :D Thanks a ton for your feedback (and your IG post!).
I don’t usually bake cakes since it’s just the two of us but with the holidays coming up I might have to deal with eating chocolate cake for breakfast! Congrats on the birthday and thanks for sharing your story and hope it only gets better from here.
As an aside, since going vegan here in Germany, buying a small chest freezer has been a wonderful investment. It really helps when you are already making everything yourself to make extra to freeze. Happy T-day, if you celebrate. We don’t anymore. ; D
Chocolate cake for breakfast isn’t the worst thing. ;) Thanks for the kind words! And we have an extra freezer, too. I can’t understand how we ever got by without it! Hope you had a nice Thursday. :D
So the chocolate in the ganache is dairy free chocolate?!
Yup! Most semi-sweet chocolate is vegan and dairy-free. At least where I live. :) But I’ve also linked to a brand in the recipe if that helps.
This chocolate cake looks absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Thanks! Hope you’ll love it. :)
I’ve never tried to make vegan cake but I miss it sooo much!! I’ll have to give it a try after the holiday madness haha
Definitely a good idea! Hope it’ll be worth it (I think it will be! :))
I absolutely love all your vegan recipes. Your baby is so beautiful. The only thing I change is instead of coconut sugar I use “Lakanto golden monk fruit” it is expensive but it has such a delish!! taste.
Thanks, Terri! And good to know about Lakanto. Do you have good luck with using it as a 1-to-1 sub? I have a bag of it but haven’t had much success with it. Thanks for your comment and sorry for just now seeing it!
Oh, what a cutie he is. How can he be a year old already?? WOW!!
My goodness I have never heard of the condition you had. What in the world did they do when they discovered it? That seems a bit scary. No wonder you have been taking time off. You needed it.
This cake looks really moist.
Thanks so much! And yes, it was very scary. Pretty much the entire staff came running in the room while they tried scraping it out. I could feel it all. It was so much worse than the birth! It was chaos. But that didn’t work so they put me under and then I had a 3-hour surgery. I lost a lot of blood but had a transfusion, which helped a ton. The images I had from the part where I was still awake were hard to deal with for a long time. But it’s easier to handle now. :)
This cake looks so delicious and festive! I love it that it’s vegan!
Thanks! :)
This looks fantastic! I love gf/df chocolate cake. You never know it is gf and df and people look at ya kind of funny when you tell them it is and they think it tastes awesome too!
Happy Birthday to your little one. I am sorry to hear about all of your struggles but it does get better as they get older.
Thank you! And yes. It’s definitely been getting easier! Every day I tell myself how happy I am that things are so different and better than the first 6 months. :)
Happy birthday! And wow mama you’re awesome!!!! Since I’m a birth story nerd/junkie, gotta ask- did you have to have a hysterectomy after all? What a treasure Björn must be!
Thank you! And haha… a birth story nerd. :D I wrote a little bit about it in one of the comments above yours. They did everything they could to not do a hysterectomy. The doctor said that’s what’s normally done but just that surgery alone, done under the most planned circumstances, comes with a host of problems. So it’s good that it wasn’t done on top of everything else! The experiences I’ve read from other people with accreta have been terrifying. Bed rest in the hospital for months, babies in the NICU for 2 months, several blood transfusions during the surgery, awful side effects from all the transfusions, hemorrhaging at home a week after the birth, heart failure, organ damage, organ repair surgery, side effects from those surgeries and on and on. I had a really hard time and was very weak for a long time but I’m really lucky and so thankful that it ended so well!
Just wow girl, so glad you made it through and are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have 7 kiddos, and we had some stories to tell, but yours is just WOW that you and sweet boy made it alive and well!. Love that sweet little face!
Thank you, thank you! And wow. Seven! You are brave. :) Thanks again for your nice comment!
Glad you’re back Erin, we missed you!! Sorry you had such a difficult time :(. Björn is such a cutie!!
Thanks so much! It’s great to hear from you. :)
Awww, happy birthday to your baby boy! He looks so sweet. I’m so sorry you’ve had a difficult beginning – as much as I love all your recipes, I totally understand why you’ve taken some much-needed time off from your blog. I hope that things keep improving and getting smoother for both of you!
Thanks so much, Emma! :) I’m very confident that things can only get better. Today Björn let me peel some potatoes in the kitchen while he stood in his learning tower and threw things off the counter. It was amazing! Haha. It’s definitely a big step for us! Thanks again. :)