Vegan Archives - Sugar & Sparrow https://sugarandsparrow.com/category/recipes/vegan/ Lifestyle and Cake from Portland Oregon Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:01:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.3 https://sugarandsparrow.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flour/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/02212522/cropped-sparrow_favi-32x32.png Vegan Archives - Sugar & Sparrow https://sugarandsparrow.com/category/recipes/vegan/ 32 32 Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-chocolate-cake-recipe/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-chocolate-cake-recipe/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:30:00 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=33155 I know I’m not alone when I say my love for chocolate cake runs DEEP. I’ve just always had a soft spot in my heart for a good chocolate cake...

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I know I’m not alone when I say my love for chocolate cake runs DEEP. I’ve just always had a soft spot in my heart for a good chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (bonus if it has sprinkles!). So when I went about making this Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe, I made sure it had all the essentials: extra moist, rich chocolate flavor, just the right balance of sweet and decadent, and has that melt-in-your-mouth crumb we all want in a chocolate cake. It’s a true rival to my (full-dairy) One-Bowl Chocolate Cake recipe and I could not be more satisfied with how the vegan version turned out! 

vegan chocolate cake recipe by Sugar and Sparrow

My ultimate goal with this recipe was to make it so tasty that you couldn’t tell it’s vegan. I’m so happy to say that this cake definitely knocks it out of the park on taste, texture, and all the things! After topping it with Vegan Chocolate Buttercream, even my (non-vegan) husband agreed that you truly can’t tell a difference between this recipe and the full-dairy version. Maybe we need to do a blind taste test to compare, but I feel like this Vegan Chocolate Cake is everything I was hoping for. 

vegan chocolate cake by sugar and sparrow
vegan chocolate cake with vegan chocolate buttercream recipe

This cake recipe actually dates back to the depression era (it’s sometimes called Wacky Cake or Crazy Cake), when ingredients like eggs and butter were too expensive to have on hand. Even though it’s super simple and basically the kind of cake you can throw together with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, it makes the perfect vegan cake because it doesn’t need dairy to be amazing. It gets its moist crumb from a vegetable oil base, and while you can use any kind of oil you want, be sure that you like the taste of whatever you’re using, as it will end up flavoring the cake. I always opt for canola oil or generic vegetable oil, because they have the least amount of flavor and I want chocolate to be the star of the show in this recipe. 

vegan chocolate cake recipe

Why NON Dutch Process Cocoa? 

Speaking of chocolate, it’s really important that you use non Dutch Process cocoa powder in this recipe. This is because there’s an amazing chemical reaction that happens between the cocoa powder, baking soda, and vinegar that’s responsible for giving this cake its rise. The chemical reaction doesn’t work properly with Dutch Process cocoa powder because of how it’s made – Dutch Process involves washing the cocoa beans in an alkaline solution called potassium carbonate, which neutralizes the acidity. In other words, it prevents that cool little science experiment from happening when you bake it, resulting in a deflated cake. Just be sure to use a natural, unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe. Any brand will work, but Hershey’s is what I use.

non dairy chocolate cake recipe

This Vegan Chocolate Cake pairs well with pretty much any frosting flavor, but it’s pictured here with my Vegan Chocolate Buttercream, which is lick-the-spoon amazing. I ate an embarrassing amount of it (zero regrets though!). This cake also pairs super well with the Vegan Oreo Buttercream from this recipe as well if you’re more of a cookies and cream kind of person. 

best vegan sprinkles
how to decorate a chocolate cake

To decorate, I frosted the cake smooth, added some Fancy Sprinkles in the “Hey Jude” mix (also vegan!), and used Wilton tip 4B to pipe swirls around the top before adding even more sprinkles. If you want to grow in your cake decorating skills, be sure to check out my Cake Basics series – it’s a collection of videos and blog posts that will show you how to build and decorate a cake just like this one from start to finish. However you decide to decorate, this Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe is sure to impress both vegans and non-vegans alike. Enjoy!

vegan chocolate cake recipe by sugar and sparrow
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Vegan Chocolate Cake

A simple yet decadent vegan chocolate cake that's moist, ultra-chocolatey, and basically everything you could want in a chocolate cake (but completely dairy-free!)
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 Cups (400g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 Cups (410g) granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 Cup (45g) natural, unsweetened cocoa powder NOT Dutch Process
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 Cup (180ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp white vinegar
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 Cups (480ml) water, room temperature

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prepare three 6-inch or two 9-inch cake pans by spraying the sides with cooking spray and fitting the bottoms with a wax paper or parchment cake circle. 
  • Place all of the dry ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer and stir on low for 30 seconds to fully combine them. Add the vegetable oil, vinegar, vanilla, and water and mix on low until combined.
  • Pour into prepared cake pans no more than 2/3 full and bake for 35-40 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before filling and frosting with a double batch of Vegan Chocolate Buttercream (or frosting of your choice).

Notes

Make ahead tips: This Vegan Chocolate Cake can be made ahead and stored at room temperature, covered tightly in plastic wrap, for up to two days. Alternatively, you can cover with plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to two months before thawing to room temperature. 
Make it extra chocolatey by filling and frosting with a double batch of Vegan Chocolate Buttercream

Did you make this Vegan Chocolate Cake? I want to know what you think! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco in your Instagram photos to show me. I love to see what you create!

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Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Recipe https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-chocolate-buttercream/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-chocolate-buttercream/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:25:00 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=33147 I am a chocolate lover to the core, so when I decided to create a vegan version of my favorite chocolate buttercream recipe, I was extra careful to make sure...

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I am a chocolate lover to the core, so when I decided to create a vegan version of my favorite chocolate buttercream recipe, I was extra careful to make sure that not an ounce of flavor was sacrificed in the process. Rest assured, this Vegan Chocolate Buttercream is every bit as delicious as the real deal – it’s the kind of buttercream that I have to hide from myself so I don’t end up eating spoonful after spoonful! Whether you enjoy it straight out of the bowl or pair it with a cake (this Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe is it’s soul mate), it’s a frosting that’s sure to satisfy. 

vegan chocolate buttercream recipe by sugar and sparrow

This Vegan Chocolate Buttercream recipe could not be easier to make, yet the results are outstanding – super silky, ultra decadent, and packed with chocolatey flavor goodness. It’s perfect for filling and frosting cakes, piping onto cupcakes, and pairing with anything that would be made better with chocolate buttercream. All it takes is five simple ingredients and about ten minutes of your time. 

vegan chocolate buttercream recipe

It all starts with a good quality vegan butter. I love Earth Balance sticks for this recipe, but you can use whatever brand that takes your fancy. Just be sure that you like the flavor of the vegan butter you’re using, as it will end up flavoring the buttercream. Another ingredient that will impact the overall flavor of this Vegan Chocolate Buttercream is the non-dairy milk you choose. I absolutely love this recipe with unsweetened coconut milk and soy milk the most, but any non-dairy milk will do. 

dairy free chocolate buttercream recipe
best vegan sprinkles

This Vegan Chocolate Buttercream goes with anything that pairs well with chocolate, but my all-time favorite pairing is with this Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe. It is irresistible for a chocolate lover, vegan or not. Whatever you’re making this Vegan Chocolate Buttercream for, just beware – you’re gonna want to eat the extra by the spoonful. Consider yourself warned!

vegan chocolate buttercream recipe
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Vegan Chocolate Buttercream

A silky smooth, decadent chocolate buttercream that's dairy-free and vegan. The perfect addition to cake, cupcakes, and anything that pairs well with chocolate buttercream.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 3 Cups

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup (227g) vegan butter, softened to room temperature I use Earth Balance sticks
  • 3 1/2 Cups (420g) powdered sugar
  • 1/2 Cup (42g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 Cup (80ml) unsweetened non-dairy milk, room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • With a hand mixer or paddle attachment on your stand mixer, cream the vegan butter on medium-high until it’s creamy and light in color. About 5 minutes. 
  • Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, unsweetened non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium-low for a minute or two, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed, until fully combined and silky smooth.

Notes

Make Ahead Tips: This buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and re-whip in your stand mixer to bring back to smooth buttercream consistency. 
Dairy-Free Milk Suggestions: My favorites to use with this recipe are unsweetened coconut milk and unsweetened soy milk. You are free to use any dairy-free milk you’d like, but make sure you like the taste of whatever milk option you choose, as it will end up flavoring the buttercream. 
Yield: This buttercream makes enough to:
  • Frost 12-15 cupcakes with a piping bag
  • Fill and crumb coat a three-layer 6-inch cake or two-layer 8-inch cake. To have enough for frosting and decorating as well, double the recipe. 

Did you make this Vegan Chocolate Buttercream? I want to know what you think and how you used it! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco in your Instagram photos to show me. I love seeing what you create!

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Vegan Vanilla Cake Recipe https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-vanilla-cake-recipe/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-vanilla-cake-recipe/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2021 15:30:00 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=33100 Ever since I published my favorite fluffy Vanilla Cake Recipe, I’ve gotten lots of questions about how to make it eggless or full-on vegan. The truth is, I’d been wanting...

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Ever since I published my favorite fluffy Vanilla Cake Recipe, I’ve gotten lots of questions about how to make it eggless or full-on vegan. The truth is, I’d been wanting to make a vegan vanilla cake for years, but everything I read about vegan baking scared me into thinking it was going to be a huge mountain of recipe testing I was going to have to climb (spoiler alert: it was). Still, I kept it on my list, mainly because I wanted an option to offer those asking for the vegan version of my vanilla cake recipe. But it wasn’t until I had my son and had to cut out dairy shortly after that it moved from the bottom of the list to the top. I rolled up my sleeves, put on my apron, and began my absolute OBSESSION with creating the perfect, fluffy, easy, flavorful, can’t-even-tell-it’s-vegan cake recipe. I can say with assurance after what seems like a hundred recipe tests that this is the one.  

vegan vanilla cake by sugar and sparrow

During my recipe testing, I tried a few different vegan vanilla cake recipes to see what the methods, ingredients, and results were like. The problem that I kept running into was that they were so easy to overmix, resulting in a dense cake, plus they just didn’t have that perfect vanilla flavor and bakery-style fluffiness I was after. After weeks of testing and many failures, I decided to simply swap out the dairy in my Vanilla Cake Recipe with vegan ingredients – Earth Balance sticks for the butter, aquafaba for the eggs, and soy milk for the whole milk. I did have to tweak the leavening agents a bit, but once I got those figured out I just about squealed with delight when these layers came out of the oven! 

vegan vanilla cake recipe
vegan vanilla cake ingredients

This Vegan Vanilla Cake recipe is exactly what I was after: extra soft and fluffy, perfectly moist, beautiful vanilla flavor, and just a delight to eat for vegans and non-vegans alike. It tastes like something you’d find at your favorite bakery, yet it’s so simple to whip up and pair with your favorite frosting (it’s paired with my Vegan Vanilla Buttercream here). I enlisted some of my vegan friends and their kiddos to taste test and they all agreed that this cake is an absolute hit, which makes me all the more excited to share it with you.

vegan vanilla cake by sugar and sparrow
easy vegan vanilla cake recipe

What is Aquafaba? 

I had never heard of aquafaba before I started on this vegan cake recipe journey, so I wanted to take the time to explain what it is and why it’s used in this recipe. Basically, aquafaba (which is Italian for “bean juice”) is the juice from a can of chickpeas that acts as an egg replacer in vegan recipes.

what is aquafaba

Once whisked until foamy, the aquafaba acts as whole eggs in this cake recipe to bind the other ingredients together and create a little volume as well. And trust me, you cannot taste it at all. Quite miraculous if you ask me! 

Details on Decorating 

I decorated this cake using my Vegan Vanilla Buttercream recipe, which is super easy to add color to. I added a little AmeriColor Sky Blue to create a buttercream ombrè before decorating the sides with Fancy Sprinkles in the Roller Disco mix (also vegan!) and piped some swirls on the top with Wilton Tip 4B.

vegan vanilla cake recipe with vegan vanilla frosting
vegan vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream

If you want to grow in your cake decorating skills, I recommend checking out my Cake Basics series! It’s an ever-growing collection of blog posts and YouTube videos that show you the basics of decorating, like how to frost a smooth buttercream cake, and how to decorate with sprinkles. However you decide to decorate and whatever flavors you decide to pair it with, this Vegan Vanilla Cake is sure to impress. Enjoy!

vegan vanilla cake recipe by sugar and sparrow
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Vegan Vanilla Cake

Layers of soft, fluffy, and extra flavorful vegan vanilla cake, perfect for any vanilla cake fan (vegan or not)! The kind of cake you'd find at your favorite bakery, only homemade and super easy to whip up.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Vegan Vanilla Cake

  • 1 1/4 Cups (300ml) unsweetened soy milk, room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp white vinegar
  • 2 3/4 Cups (290g) cake flour, sifted before measuring* DIY recipe in notes
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 Cup (120ml) aquafaba** see notes
  • 1 Cup (227g) vegan butter, room temperature I use Earth Balance sticks
  • 1 3/4 Cups (355g) white granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare three 6-inch or two 8-inch cake pans by spraying the sides with a cooking spray (Baker's Joy is my favorite) and a wax paper circle fitted to the bottom of the pan. Alternatively, you can grease and lightly flour the pans. 
  • Stir together the white vinegar and soy milk and set aside. Sift the cake flour and then measure by spooning and leveling it in your measuring cup. Add the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 
  • Make the Aquafaba: Pour the juice from a can of chickpeas into a medium sized bowl (either discard the actual chickpeas or store them to use in another recipe). Whisk the juice vigorously for one minute, after which it will look foamy. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer (a handheld mixer works fine too!), cream the vegan butter with the white granulated sugar for two minutes on medium-high, scraping down the bowl and paddle once in between. Measure out 1/2 Cup of the aquafaba (you can discard the rest) and add it along with the vanilla extract. Mix on medium for one minute. The mixture may look curdled at this point, but don't worry – it will all come together in the next step!
  • With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, then add the soy milk mixture in a steady stream and mix until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and give it a few more stirs to combine (without over-mixing). A few lumps are ok. The batter will be slightly thick, but pourable.
  • Pour batter evenly into prepared cake pans (no more than 2/3 of the way full) and bake for 30-35 minutes. They're done when they spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pan for five minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack for an additional few hours of cooling. Make sure they're entirely room temperature before applying any frosting. 

Notes

*DIY Cake Flour Recipe: To make your own cake flour, spoon and level one cup of all-purpose flour and remove 2 Tbsp. Add 2 Tbsp of cornstarch. Repeat per the amount of cake flour you need, then sift the flour and cornstarch mixture 4 times (don’t skip that step!)After sifting, spoon and level to re-measure the amount of cake flour you need. 
**For the Aquafaba: the juice from one 15.5oz can of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) is perfect. Note that you’ll only use 1/2 cup of it in the recipe once prepared. Please read the paragraph about aquafaba in the body of this blog post if you’re unsure of what it is or why it’s used. 
To Make Ahead: These cakes can be baked, cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap, and left out at room temperature up to two days ahead of decorating. Unfrosted cake layers can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in the freezer for up to two months before thawing and frosting. 

Did you make this cake? I want to know what you think! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco in your Instagram photos to show me. I love seeing what you create!

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Vegan Vanilla Buttercream Recipe https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-vanilla-buttercream-recipe/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-vanilla-buttercream-recipe/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2021 15:25:00 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=33108 I am a firm believer that having a go-to vanilla buttercream recipe is essential for cake making, and this Vegan Vanilla Buttercream is the one I reach for when I’m...

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I am a firm believer that having a go-to vanilla buttercream recipe is essential for cake making, and this Vegan Vanilla Buttercream is the one I reach for when I’m in need of a trusty vegan frosting. Not only does it frost like a total dream, it also holds its shape beautifully when piped and can be easily tinted any color under the sun. Oh, did I mention it tastes amazing too? Cause that’s pretty important! 

vegan vanilla buttercream recipe by sugar and sparrow

There’s nothing complicated about this Vegan Vanilla Buttercream recipe, but the powerful vanilla flavor and silky texture make it seem complex. The truth is, I simply swapped out the dairy in my favorite (non-vegan) Vanilla Buttercream Recipe with vegan friendly ingredients and the results ended up being so perfect. It’s just four ingredients: a good vegan butter (I love Earth Balance sticks), powdered sugar, a quality vanilla extract, and your favorite unsweetened dairy-free milk. 

vegan vanilla buttercream ingredients
dairy free vanilla buttercream recipe

One of the secrets to success with this recipe is making sure your ingredients are room temperature before starting. That means you’ll need to take the non-dairy milk and vegan butter about an hour ahead of time so they can come to room temperature before you start the recipe. Want to really knock this recipe out of the park? Invest in a great quality vanilla for flavoring. You can use any kind of vanilla extract or paste, but I always use bourbon vanilla (I get mine from Trader Joe’s!) to give it a rich vanilla flavor. 

vegan vanilla buttercream frosting
vegan vanilla frosting recipe

This Vegan Vanilla Buttercream is extra versatile in the sense that it can be used for filling cakes, frosting cakes extra smooth, piping cupcakes and intricate decorations, and any other kind of dessert that calls for buttercream. It’s as easy to work with as it is to make. It can be paired with any cake flavor (everything pairs well with vanilla!), but if you’re looking to make an all-vanilla cake be sure to check out my Vegan Vanilla Cake recipe! It’s a tried and true crowd pleasing combination. Enjoy!

vegan vanilla buttercream recipe by sugar and sparrow
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Vegan Vanilla Buttercream

A silky smooth, flavorful vanilla buttercream that's dairy-free and vegan! Perfect for pairing with cakes, cupcakes, and any dessert that pairs well with vanilla buttercream.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 3 Cups

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup (227g) vegan butter, softened to room temperature I use Earth Balance sticks
  • 3 1/2 Cups (420g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp unsweetened dairy-free milk, room temperature

Instructions

  • With a hand mixer or paddle attachment on your stand mixer, cream the vegan butter on medium-high until it’s creamy and light in color. About 7 minutes. 
  • With the mixer on low, add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, scraping down after each addition and making sure each cup is fully incorporated before adding the next one. 
  • Add the vanilla and unsweetened dairy-free milk and mix on low for another minute until fully incorporated. 

Notes

Make Ahead Tips: This buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and re-whip in your stand mixer to bring back to smooth buttercream consistency. 
Dairy-Free Milk Suggestions: My favorites to use with this recipe are unsweetened coconut milk and unsweetened soy milk. You are free to use any dairy-free milk you’d like, but make sure you like the taste of whatever milk option you choose, as it will end up flavoring the buttercream. 
To Make It Extra White: After all ingredients have been incorporated, add 1-2 tsp of Americolor Bright White or icing whitener of your choice.  
Yield: This buttercream makes enough to:
  • Frost 12-15 cupcakes with a piping bag
  • Fill and crumb coat a three-layer 6-inch cake or two-layer 8-inch cake. To have enough for frosting and decorating as well, double the recipe. 

Did you make this Vegan Vanilla Buttercream? I want to know what you think and how you used it! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco in your Instagram photos to show me. I love seeing what you create!

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Vegan Chocolate Cake with Oreo Buttercream https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-chocolate-oreo-cake-recipe/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/vegan-chocolate-oreo-cake-recipe/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=32283 I’ve been wanting to create vegan versions of my cake recipes for awhile now, but vegan baking is one of those fascinating things that takes a ton of research. It...

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I’ve been wanting to create vegan versions of my cake recipes for awhile now, but vegan baking is one of those fascinating things that takes a ton of research. It felt a bit intimidating to scour the internet for the dairy-free substitutes, so I just kept putting it off. But with ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter in short supply due to the pandemic, I think now is the perfect time to offer you a cake recipe that uses ingredients you can (hopefully) find! Whether you’re vegan, dairy-free, or you simply need a cake recipe with limited ingredients, this Vegan Chocolate Oreo Cake is so easy to whip up and tastes amazing! Perfect for celebrating a #QuarantineBirthday or just making a cake for the fun of it. 

vegan chocolate cake recipe with vegan oreo buttercream

First, let’s talk about this ultra-moist vegan chocolate cake. It turned out so decadent and chocolatey with that melt-in-your-mouth crumb you need in a chocolate cake. I was so surprised at how much of it I ate during my testing sessions (could be pregnancy, but also, it’s just a great chocolate cake)! It’s truly the perfect rival to my favorite one-bowl chocolate cake recipe, only you don’t need eggs or buttermilk for this one. Instead of adding moisture with buttermilk, vegetable oil takes care of all that. And instead of creating structure with eggs, structure and rise are created by the chemical reaction that happens when the vinegar, baking soda, and cocoa powder in this recipe react (science, y’all). 

vegan chocolate cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Because of this amazing chemical reaction, it’s super important that you don’t use Dutch Process cocoa powder because the process for making it involves washing cocoa beans in an alkaline solution of potassium carbonate. All of that neutralizes the acidity and cancels out the reaction between the cocoa powder and the baking soda, which in this case can result in a deflated cake. To prevent this, be sure to use a natural, unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe. I use Hershey’s, but any brand will do. 

vegan chocolate oreo cookies and cream cake
vegan chocolate cake with oreo buttercream

*UPDATE* When I set out to create the perfect vegan buttercream to compliment this cake, I thought Oreos would be perfect! I have tons of vegan friends who enjoy Oreos because they do not contain animal-derived ingredients. However, according to Oreo’s website, they cannot call these cookies truly vegan because the equipment they come in contact with may have cross-contact with milk. If that is concerning to you, you can sub any of your favorite vegan cookie crumbs into this buttercream recipe.

To pair with this cake, I altered my Oreo Buttercream recipe to work with vegan ingredients like Earth Balance butter and coconut milk and it worked like a charm. I have yet to try other butter alternatives, but I love that Earth Balance comes in sticks and behaves a lot like real butter. I’m pretty convinced you could substitute it into any of my buttercream recipes and create a vegan version. So if you’d rather have a straight up (dairy-free) chocolate buttercream for this cake, you can totally use my favorite chocolate buttercream recipe, sub in an equal amount of Earth Balance and dairy-free milk, and you’d be good to go. 

vegan chocolate cookies and cream cake

To decorate, I added some crushed Oreos to the sides of the cake, then topped it with some swirls using Wilton Tip 4B. I thought it would be fun to add a little pop of color to the swirls, so I sprinkled them with the Fancy Sprinkles Birthday Balloons mix before placing whole Oreos in between. Side note: this sprinkle mix is not 100% vegan, but Fancy Sprinkles has an entire collection of vegan sprinkles you can shop here. I love how it all turned out, especially the little flecks of cookies throughout the buttercream! 

vegan oreo cake recipe by sugar and sparrow
vegan oreo cookies and cream cake recipe

I’m so fascinated by the science of vegan baking that I’ll be venturing on a quest for the perfect vegan vanilla cake next, so stay tuned! In the meantime, I cannot wait for you to try this Vegan Chocolate Oreo Cake and hope you love it as much as I do. 

vegan chocolate oreo cake by sugar and sparrow
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Vegan Chocolate Cake with Oreo Buttercream

Layers of moist, decadent vegan chocolate cake filled and frosted with Oreo buttercream. The ultimate dairy-free cake for Oreo lovers!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Vegan Chocolate Cake

  • 3 Cups (400g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 Cups (410g) granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 Cup (45g) natural, unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch Process)
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 Cup (180ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp white vinegar
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 Cups (480ml) water, room temperature

Oreo Buttercream

  • 2 Cups (452g) Earth Balance vegan butter, room temperature (4 sticks)
  • 6 Cups (720g) powdered sugar
  • 4 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp coconut milk, room temperature or any non-dairy milk
  • 18 Oreo cookies, filling removed

Instructions

Make the Vegan Chocolate Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prepare three 6-inch or two 9-inch cake pans by spraying the sides with cooking spray and fitting the bottoms with a wax paper or parchment cake circle. 
  • Place all of the dry ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer and stir on low for 30 seconds to fully combine them. Add the vegetable oil, vinegar, vanilla, and water and mix on low until combined.
  • Pour into prepared cake pans no more than 2/3 full and bake for 35-40 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.

Make the Oreo Buttercream

  • After removing the filling from the Oreo cookies, use a food processor to blend them into a fine crumb. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the vegan butter on med-high until light and fluffy (about 4 minutes), scraping down bowl and paddle a few times in between. Add powdered sugar a few cups at a time, scraping down bowl and paddle between intervals.
  • Add the vanilla and coconut milk, then mix on medium for one minute. Scrape down bowl and paddle and add the Oreo cookie crumbs. Mix until incorporated.

Assembly

  • Once the cakes are Vegan Chocolate Cakes are cooled and leveled, fill and frost with Oreo Buttercream. To create the same look as pictured, press some Oreo cookie crumbs to the bottom third of the cake after frosting. Pipe swirls of buttercream around the top edge of the cake using Wilton Tip 4B, then sprinkle the swirls with colorful sprinkles. Finish by garnishing with whole Oreos.

Notes

Make ahead tips: 
  1. The Vegan Chocolate Cake can be made ahead and stored at room temperature, covered tightly in plastic wrap, for up to two days. Alternatively, you can cover with plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to two months before thawing to room temperature. 
  2. The Oreo Buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and re-whip with your stand mixer to bring it back to frosting consistency. 

Did you make this recipe? I want to know how it went! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you’re caking!

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