Vegan Vanilla Wedding Cake

Looking for the ultimate vegan vanilla cake recipe? This one is a game-changer! This is the best vegan vanilla cake recipe and it is so easy to make! Perfectly moist, delightfully fluffy, and just the right level of sweetness, it’s been a hit at countless events. Whether it’s a vegan birthday cake, wedding cake, or any celebration, this dairy-free, egg-free recipe is always a crowd-pleaser.

Author Note: I developed this recipe for my own wedding and it was a huge hit! Several friends who attended my wedding have asked for this recipe. It's divine and no one believes it is vegan!

Here's What You Need

Equipment Needed for Vegan Vanilla Wedding Cake

1. Mixing Bowls – At least two.
2. Whisk – For mixing the batter evenly.
3. Spatula – To scrape down the sides of the bowl and ensure everything is well combined.
4. Measuring Cups and Spoons – For accurate measurements of wet and dry ingredients.
5. Electric Mixer or Hand Mixer – Optional but helpful for whipping the frosting to a smooth consistency.
6. 8-Inch Round Cake Pans (x2) – Grease and line with parchment paper for easy release. You will need 2 or more pans to make a layered cake. To make 6-inch rounds, use three pans.
7. Parchment Paper – To line the cake pans and prevent sticking.
8. Cooling Rack – Allows the cakes to cool evenly after baking.
9. Offset Spatula or Knife – For spreading and smoothing the frosting.
10. Cake Stand, Plate, or Turntable – For assembling and serving your cake.

Vegan Vanilla Wedding Cake Batter Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups unsweetened oat or almond milk – Regular milk can be used if not vegan.
• ½ cup melted vegan butter – Substitute with regular butter if not vegan.
• 1 ¼ cups cane sugar – Provides the perfect level of sweetness.
• 1 teaspoon baking soda – Helps the cake rise.
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder – Ensures a light and fluffy texture.
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract – Adds a rich vanilla flavor.
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (regular or gluten-free) – For gluten-free, use King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten-free flour. Avoid substitutions like almond flour or baking flour for best results.

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

• 3 cups powdered sugar – For a smooth, sweet finish.
• 4 tablespoons softened vegan butter – Substitute with regular butter if not vegan.
• 4 ounces dairy-free cream cheese – Regular cream cheese works if not vegan.

How To Make A Vegan Vanilla Wedding Cake

Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your round cake pans with non-stick spray or vegan butter and line the bottom with parchment paper for easy removal.

Prepare the Batter:

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond or oat milk, melted butter, cane sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla extract until combined.
• Gradually mix in the flour. Be careful not to overmix to ensure the cake stays light and fluffy.

Bake the Cake:

• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Prepare the Frosting:

• While the cake is baking, use an electric hand mixer to combine the powdered sugar, softened vegan butter, and dairy-free cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.
• Cover the frosting and refrigerate it until the cake is ready to frost.

Cool the Cake:

• Once the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 5–10 minutes.
• Carefully remove it from the pan and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frost and Serve:

• Once the cake is fully cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top and sides.
• Slice, serve, and enjoy your delicious vegan vanilla cake!

Tips for Making A Multi-Layer Wedding Cake (Naked Cake)

If you are making a multi-layer cake, let your layers cool completely before attempting to stack. Then, you will want to level the layers so that your cake is even and doesn't lean when stacking. You can do this baby using a knife to cut the rounded portion off of the cakes so that they are perfectly flat on both sides.

To frost your layers, place one cake round on your cake dish, frost the top so that it is perfectly even and flat. I like to make the layer of frosting about ½ an inch. Stack another layer on top. Repeat until you’ve added as many layers as desired.

Once you've frosted between the layers, you can frost the sides of the cake. Spread the frosting all the way around the cake and then use the flat edge of your cake spatula to make the frosting even on all sides. We did a "naked cake" style. In order to achieve this, we simply used the cake spatula to spread the frosting thinly around the cake to achieve the naked look.

Frequently Asked Questions