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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Dessert Recipes

    How To Make Vegan Vanilla Cake (super fluffy)

    Published: Nov 25, 2021 · Updated: Mar 7, 2022 by Jacqui Wormington · This post may contain affiliate links. · 14 Comments

    140 shares

    Learn how to make the fluffiest vegan vanilla cake. This light vegan vanilla sponge cake is easier to make than you think. It makes the perfect base cake for your next layer cake creations!

    Jump to:
    • 💡 The recipe in a nutshell
    • 🧁 A cake for vanilla lovers
    • 👩🏽‍🍳 How to get a vegan cake super fluffy?
    • 📋 Using vinegar and baking soda
    • 💭 Mistakes to avoid
    • 🍰 Frosting and decoration ideas
    • 🥣 Storage
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews
    how to make vegan vanilla cake

    💡 The recipe in a nutshell

    • Vegan (eggless and dairy free)
    • Light, fluffy, and a pillowy soft crumb
    • Easy to make
    • A great base cake for layer cakes

    🧁 A cake for vanilla lovers

    If you are looking for a very basic sponge cake in your vegan cake repertoire look no further! The baked cake keeps well in the fridge, making it perfect for your next layer cake project. Since it's such a basic recipe you can get very creative with it.

    👩🏽‍🍳 How to get a vegan cake super fluffy?

    To get an incredible pillowy soft crumb, yet moist cake, we will use the reverse creaming method. I first heard and read about it on Yupitsvegan's blog. The method is surprisingly simple and easy.

    You start by sifting together your dry ingredients and sugar. Then, you add the fat directly to the dry ingredients and mix well until all is covered and you're left with a sandy, coarse meal. Only afterward add any other type of liquid, beating on low to incorporate until just combined.

    This way, the fat molecules coat the flour and prevent the flour from coming in direct contact with liquid, which in turn, prevents gluten from forming. The gluten is what may have made your other egg-free cakes dense and chewy before. This fantastic method turns this easy vanilla sponge cake into an absolute fluffy delight!

    the fluffiest vegan vanilla cake

    📋 Using vinegar and baking soda

    Another factor plays adding vinegar and baking soda. The vinegar reacts with the baking soda creating carbon dioxide bubbles while baking. This reaction helps the batter to rise in the oven, making the cake extremely fluffy.

    💭 Mistakes to avoid

    The cake is very delicate! If you trim, move or frost the layers when your cakes are still warm, they easily crumble or tear. Let your cakes cool completely before trimming, moving around, or frosting.

    Additionally, if you frost your cake when it's still warm the frosting is very likely to melt away, and can make the cake slippery and soggy. Consider baking the cakes a day before you plan to frost them. Otherwise, chill the layers before frosting.

    🍰 Frosting and decoration ideas

    Frost this cake with your favorite buttercream, or frosting. One of my absolute favorites to use is this vegan cream cheese frosting. Or top with vegan whipped cream and fresh fruit like strawberries for a summer dessert.

    This recipe is a perfect base to create the layer cake of your dreams. Decorate it however you like! If you are looking for an idea check out this incredible rainbow surprise cake recipe, which uses this vanilla sponge!

    🥣 Storage

    To store unfrosted cake tightly wrap it up after it has cooled in plastic wrap or parchment paper. Store it in a sealed food-safe bag (using two is best) and leave it in a cool dark place at room temperature. It keeps fresh for up to 3 days.

    To store frosted cake cover with a big cover. Or put it in a cake box and wrap it in plastic. Thankfully the buttercream coating acts as a protective layer to the cake. It will last for approximately five days in the fridge. However, this highly depends on the humidity and the temperature. For the best experience eat as fresh as possible!

    📖 Recipe

    vegan vanilla cake

    How To Make Vegan Vanilla Cake (super fluffy)

    Jacqui Wormington
    Learn how to make vegan vanilla cake. This light and fluffy vegan vanilla sponge cake is easier to make than you think. It makes the perfect base cake for your next layer cake creations!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Dessert, Sweets
    Cuisine Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Vegan
    Servings 14 servings

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowl, electric mixer, cake board, cake pan(s)
    • Makes one Ø20cm / 8" cake; or two Ø15cm / 6" cakes

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (10 ml)
    • 280 mililiters plant milk eg: almond, soy, oat (9.4 fl oz)
    • 210 grams unbleached all-purpose flour (7.4 oz)
    • 140 grams organic cane sugar (4.9 oz)
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 90 grams vegetable oil (3.1 oz)
    • 1 package vanilla sugar (9g), or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 lemon to zest (organic)
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 180°C / 355ºF. Prepare the baking pan(s) by spraying with oil, lightly flouring, and then placing a parchment paper circle to cover the bottom of the pan(s).
    • In a mixing bowl add the plant milk and vinegar and set aside to clabber for 5-10 minutes. Zest lemon and set prepared zest aside.
      In a second mixing bowl sieve together dry ingredients: flour, cane sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add oil to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until all dry ingredients are covered in fat. Add vanilla sugar, or extract and lemon zest into the clabbered milk and whisk to combine. Then add to the rest of the ingredients and whisk with an electric mixer until the batter is smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s).
    • Bake for 30-35 minutes. The cakes are done when the edges are golden and have pulled away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick comes out clean.
    • Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Then working gently, turn over the pan with a wire cooling rack to catch the cake. Remove the pan, then peel off the parchment paper. Turn the cake back right side up and leave to cool fully on a cooling rack. Serve as is, or frost and decorate.

    The provided nutritional information is an estimate. Accuracy is not guaranteed.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment & tag @thesimplesprinkle on Instagram

    PS: Don't forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment on your experience - this helps improve my recipes and serves you with the best instructions, tips, and substitution ideas. Plus, I love hearing about your takes on my recipes! Tag me on Instagram @thesimplesprinkle to show me your pictures.

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    140 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Anaiah says

      December 13, 2021 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      I love a good vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries. Looking forward to using this recipe! It looks so fluffy!!

      Reply
      • Jacqui says

        December 17, 2021 at 5:58 pm

        Me too! Strawberries (or other fruit) work great with this one!

        Reply
    2. nancy says

      December 13, 2021 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      is it weird that i keep wanting to squish it cuz it's so fluffy? So tasty too btw

      Reply
      • Jacqui says

        December 17, 2021 at 5:59 pm

        Haha, that really made me laugh! Thank you!

        Reply
    3. Marinela says

      December 14, 2021 at 12:52 am

      5 stars
      This vegan vanilla cake is delightful! Perfectly sweet and so fluffy!

      Reply
      • Jacqui says

        December 17, 2021 at 5:57 pm

        Thank you Marinela!

        Reply
    4. Andrea White says

      December 14, 2021 at 4:13 am

      5 stars
      such a delicious cake! so easy to make too!

      Reply
      • Jacqui says

        December 17, 2021 at 5:57 pm

        Thank you for the feedback!

        Reply
    5. Jan says

      May 22, 2022 at 10:51 pm

      5 stars
      deliciously moist

      Reply
    6. Amy Roskelley says

      May 23, 2022 at 1:15 am

      5 stars
      I love that this cake is vegan!~

      Reply
    7. Andrea White says

      May 23, 2022 at 1:51 am

      5 stars
      love how simple this cake is! easy and delicious!

      Reply
    8. Sinu says

      January 17, 2023 at 12:14 am

      Can the same be used for Swiss roll cake?

      Reply
      • Jacqui says

        February 26, 2023 at 7:03 pm

        I personally have never tried, but I could see it being possible. Let me know if you end up trying!

        Reply
      • Jacqui Wormington says

        May 15, 2023 at 5:31 pm

        Hi Sinu! Thank you for reading my blog! I have not tried that out yet! It could be worth a try. If you end up trying this recipe out for a Swiss roll cake let me know how it went.

        Reply

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    Hey there, I am Jacqui! I'm a self-taught vegan recipe developer, content creator and food photographer. My goal? To make veganism easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy! With my drool-worthy recipes and savvy tips, I'll prove that going plant-based doesn't mean giving up your favorite meals.

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