Easiest Vegan Chocolate Cake {one bowl} - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

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!

Craving more vegan cake recipes? Try my vegan birthday cake, vegan lemon cake, and vegan carrot 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.

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.

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 vegan chocolate buttercream 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

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

Originally published September 2022, updated and republished July 2024