Whip up this delectable Vegan Yellow Cake using just 7 fuss-free ingredients. Dive into its moist, tender crumb that pairs beautifully with a velvety chocolate frosting. Perfect for any celebration, this family and kid-approved treat will leave everyone reaching for seconds. Experience the magic of a classic yellow cake, 100% vegan and unbelievably delicious!

Additionally, this cake is not just vegan but also caters to the gluten-free crowd, ensuring that everyone can indulge without worry. Whether you're looking to bake it in a round, loaf, or square pan, the flexibility of this recipe has you covered. Its simplicity ensures that even those new to baking can whip up this delight with ease. Truly, this Vegan Yellow Cake is the epitome of inclusivity and ease in the baking world!
Vegan Yellow Cake Ingredients
Easy Vegan Yellow Cake Ingredients:
- Plant-Based Milk: Unsweetened almond or oat milk. Both are great dairy-free alternatives that cater to vegan needs.
- Vegan Butter: Perfect for a dairy-free moist texture. If you're not vegan or dairy-free, feel free to use regular butter.
- Sweetener: We recommend using regular white sugar or organic cane sugar to sweeten the vegan and gluten-free yellow cake.
- Leavening Agents: Baking powder and baking soda ensure a fluffy rise. No eggs necessary.
- Flavor Enhancer: Vanilla extract for that classic cake taste.
- Flour: Regular or gluten-free all-purpose flour. For the best gluten-free results, King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten-free flour is recommended. (Note: Avoid substituting with almond flour, baking flour, etc.)
Yellow Cake Toppings
- Rainbow Sprinkles to add a touch of color and fun!
Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
- Sweet Base: Powdered sugar for the perfect sweet balance.
- Vegan Butter: Softened regular or vegan butter, ensuring creaminess and a buttery flavor with or without dairy.
- Plant-Based Milk: Unsweetened almond or oat milk to achieve desired frosting consistency. You may also use coconut milk or any other plant-based milk. If you are not vegan or dairy free, regular milk also works.
- Cocoa Richness: Cocoa powder for a deep chocolate flavor.
- Flavor Enhancer: Vanilla extract.
Baking Tip: If creating a two-layer cake, you will need to double the batter recipe and I would also recommend considering doubling the frosting ingredients to ensure ample coverage.
How To Make Vegan Yellow Cake
Vegan Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting Instructions:
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Prepare the Cake Batter: For a loaf or single round or square cake, you can use 1x the recipe. If making a double layer cake, double the cake batter ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond milk, melted vegan butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined, being careful not to over-mix. Gradually add and mix in the flour until the batter is smooth.
Loaf or Single-Layer Cake Baking Instructions: For a loaf cake, pour the batter into a greased metal loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top turns golden. For a single-layer round cake, use a greased round metal cake pan and bake for about 30- minutes.
To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean. Avoid over-baking. If the top is browning too quickly, cover it with parchment paper or foil and continue baking until fully risen.
Two-Layer Round Cake Baking Instructions: For a two-layer yellow cake, grease two round 8-10 inch cake pans and divide the batter equally between them. Bake for approximately 20 minutes until the tops are golden. Test for doneness using a toothpick.
Prepare Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric hand mixer to blend powdered sugar, softened vegan butter, almond milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Adjust consistency by adding more almond milk for a thinner icing or more cocoa powder for a richer chocolate flavor. For a two-layer cake, you'll need to double the icing. For a loaf cake, you may only use half of the icing, and any extra can be stored in the freezer for up to 30 days.
Frost the Cake: Allow the cake to cool completely before spreading the frosting. For a two-layer cake, frost one cake round with about ¼ of the icing, then place the other cake round on top and frost the entire stack with the remaining icing. Optionally, top with rainbow sprinkles for a delightful finish.
Enjoy your scrumptious Vegan Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting, whether it's a single-layer, two-layer, or loaf cake!
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend storing the cake at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. Ensure it's in a sealed container and in a cool, dry area. We do not recommend refrigerating cakes as this can be drying for the cake.
We love this cake with vegan cream cheese frosting. Click here for the recipe.
Yes! Try any of the following recipes:
Vegan Chocolate Cake
Vegan Cinnamon Cake
Vegan Birthday Cake
Vegan Funfetti Cake
Vegan Lemon Cake
Vegan Carrot Cake
Vegan Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
Vegan Yellow Cake
- 1 ½ cup unsweetened almond or oat milk
- ½ cup melted vegan butter
- 1 ¼ cup sugar or ½ to ⅔ cup purecane sugar-free substitute
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ⅔ cup regular or gluten-free all purpose flour If gluten-free, I recommend King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten-free flour. Please don't substitute any other flour such as almond flour, baking flour, etc.
- vegan sprinkles from fancy sprinkles
Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- 3 cup powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoon softened vegan butter
- 4 tablespoon unsweetened almond or oat milk
- 4 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- note: if making a two layer cake you may need to double this
Instructions
Vegan Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
- Preheat oven to 375
- In a large mixing bowl, use a fork or whisk to mix the almond milk, melted vegan butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla extract together. Mix in the flour until well combined, be careful not to over mix. Note: If you're making a two layer cake, you will need to double the cake batter ingredients to make double the amount.
Loaf or Single-Layer Cake Baking Instructions
- Pour the batter into a greased metal loaf pan or round metal cake pan. For the loaf- bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden on top. For the single layer round, you will only need to bake for about 30 minutes. Test the center with a toothpick to make sure it comes out clean. Be careful not to over-bake.
- Depending on how hot your oven is, your cake may brown more quickly on the top. Check the cake when it’s baked halfway. If it is browning more quickly, simply place a layer of parchment paper or foil over the top and continue to bake until completely risen.
Two-Layer Round Cake Baking Instructions
- For a two layer yellow cake, prepare two round 8-10 inch round cake pans with non stick spray and pour half the batter into each pan. Bake for about 20 minutes until golden on top.
Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- In a large bowl, use an electric hand mixer to mix the powdered sugar, softened vegan butter, almond milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Add a splash more almond milk for a thinner icing consistency. Add more cocoa powder for a more intense chocolate flavor.
- For a 2 layer cake, you will need to double the icing. For the loaf cake, you might only use half of the icing - it stores well in the freezer for up to 30 days!
- Allow the cake to cool and spread the frosting over the cake to serve. For a two layer cake, spread about ¼ of the icing over one of the cake rounds, place the other cake round on top and then frost the entire stack with the remaining icing. Option to top with rainbow sprinkles!
Marina says
How long does this keep at room temp or refrigerated?
Jillian says
I would say 2-3 days! Refrigeration will dry out baked goods so I don't recommend this.