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    Home » Desserts » Vegan Vanilla Cake

    Vegan Vanilla Cake

    Published: Feb 13, 2021 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Our vegan vanilla cake is easy to make, with simple ingredients, and perfect for birthdays, holidays, and even for Valentine's Day. It's soft, moist, light, sweet, and full of vanilla flavour. It's eggs-free, milk-free, and without butter, yet no-one will be able to tell. This cake will make you fall in love!

    vegan vanilla cake
    vegan vanilla cake
    On this page:
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • How to scale this recipe?
    • Mistakes I made
    • Tips
    • FAQ
    • Storage
    • Variations
    • Recipe

    The cake is made of 3 main components: vegan sponge cake, vegan pastry cream, and vegan syrup. We show you how easy it is to make these at home with simple ingredients. We tested our sponge at least 10 times with many variations of ingredients and ratios to make it easy for you to make at home.

    For other delicious vegan Italian cakes, check out our:

    • Chocolate and sour cherry cake
    • Coffee cake with hazelnut filling
    • Lemon and yogurt pound cake
    • Chocolate pound cake
    • Layered coconut birthday cake
    • Orange curd cake
    • Double-sheet chocolate strawberry cake

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    • Flour: all-purpose flour works best in our opinion. Make sure to sift it before you use it. For a healthier cake you can add ⅓ wholewheat flour, but the cake won't be as light.
    • Sugar: we used plain white sugar. Mind that if you use a darker sugar, your cake will have a darker stronger flavour.
    • Plant Milk: soy milk is our favourite for this preparation. You can replace it with almond milk. Both are best if organic and unsweetened.
    • Vegetable oil: we used sunflower seed oil, but you can use any refined vegetable oil. Refined oils are better for cakes as they don't have any flavour. We do not recommend using coconut oil.
    • Baking Powder: it's necessary to make the sponge cake rise.
    • Aromas: use vanilla extract and the zest of an organic lemon for the sponge and the pastry cream.
    • Vegan pastry cream: we have a full post dedicated to vegan custards and pastry cream. You can make it in 5 minutes with plant-milk, sugar, cornstarch, lemon peel, vanilla aroma, and turmeric for colour.
    • Vegan whipping cream: we prefer to buy this and whip it up shortly before use. If you can't find it in your local grocery store, you can order it on amazon or you can sub it with regular full-fat coconut milk or with coconut cream. Refrigerate the coconut milk can before whipping it, add powdered sugar, and just use the solid fat part.
    whole slice of vegan vanilla cake
    slice of vanilla cake

    Equipment

    Our measurements are for a 7 inch (18 cm) round cake tin. You'll also need an electric whisk to whip the cream on top, a whisk, and a serrated knife to cut the sponge cake.

    How to scale this recipe?

    How to scale ingredients?

    This recipe is easy to scale. We calculated the scaling number for you. Pick the tin size that you want to use for your cake, then multiply all the ingredients in our recipe box by the scaling number in this table.

    Tin sizeScaling Number
    4 inch tin (10 cm)0.31
    5 inch tin (13 cm)0.52
    6 inch tin (15 cm)0.7
    7 inch tin (18 cm)1
    8 inch tin (20 cm)1.23
    9 inch tin (23 cm)1.6
    10 inch tin (25 cm)1.93
    tin sizes and how to scale recipe

    How to scale cooking time?

    The cooking time suggested in this recipe is for a cake tin that is 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter. Depending on the size of your cake tin, you might need to adjust temperature and cooking time.

    Smaller cake tin: if you use a smaller cake tin (less than 7 inches / 18 cm), keep the same temperature but bake for shorter time. About 5 minutes less per inch. Always check with a toothpick if the cake is fully baked inside.

    Bigger cake tin: if you use a bigger cake tin (more than 7 inches / 18 cm), you need to reduce the temperature and increase the baking time. My advice is to bake at 170C / 338F for the first 50 minutes, then reduce temperature to 160C / 320F until your cake is fully baked inside. Always check with a toothpick if the cake is fully baked inside.

    How do I know if my cake is fully baked?

    checking the inside of the cake

    Depending on the type of oven, type of milk, and type of flour, your cake will take more or less time to cook than our cake. For this reason, when baking ANY cake, you should always check the core of the cake with a clean toothpick or skewer before you take your cake out of the oven.

    To do that, just insert the toothpick or the skewer in the centre of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean and dry it means that you cake is ready. If the toothpick comes out wet, then bake for a few minutes longer, then check again.

    Mistakes I made

    • I overcomplicated the ingredients. The first 4 times I baked this sponge cake I did it with cornstarch, coconut oil, vinegar, aquafaba, cake flour and unrefined sugar. In all cases I was not satisfied with the result, and so I had to start from scratch, only to discover the the best cake is made with the simplest of ingredients. So, keep it simple!
    • I undercooked the sponge. For the lightest cake, it's important to fully cook it inside. Always do the toothpick test, it needs to come out completely dry.
    • I did not let it set. For best flavour, but also to make it easier to cut, you should let your cake set for about 30 minutes in the freezer or 1 hour in the refrigerator before eating it.
    • I did not use the syrup to wet the sponge. In fact most english speaking blogs don't do that. And that's wrong! In Italy that's a must. To boost flavour and moisture you should always wet each layer of the sponge cake with syrup (bagna per dolci in Italian).
    sliced vanilla cake
    sliced vanilla cake

    Tips

    • Use a scale to measure the ingredients. This is the most important tip I can give you to get the best vegan vanilla cake.
    • Use a light vegetable oil. I love to use sunflower oil for cakes because it has a very mild flavour, it's affordable and is rich in omega 3 and 6. I do not recommend olive oil or coconut oil for this cake.
    • Do not open the oven. At least during the first 30 minutes of baking or your cake might deflate.
    • Always check with a toothpick if the cake is fully cooked before taking it out of the oven.

    FAQ

    What is a vegan cake?

    A vegan cake is a baked sponge cake that does not contain eggs, dairy milk, butter, or any other product of animal origin. Instead, all ingredients used are from plants.

    Is vegan cake healthy?

    Compared to standard non-vegan cakes, vegan cakes are healthier as they do not contain animal based fats or protein such as in eggs, milk and butter. Also, they are free from the hormones and antibiotics that are found in dairy and eggs.

    vegan vanilla cake with strawberries

    However, vegan cakes like this one are still made with mostly refined ingredients such as white flour, sugar, and oil, and have a high caloric density. So for this reason, vegan cakes should not be considered healthy and should be eaten in moderation.

    Can I make it gluten-free?

    We are not experts in gluten free baking so we would recommend checking a site that is specialised in that. However, a friend of ours made this with all-purpose gluten free flour and it came out great.

    Why is my vegan cake so dense?

    To make a vegan cake lighter you need to first get the oven evenly hot by turning it on at least 15 min before you bake.

    Second, don't let your cake batter sit around before baking. Third, use a few simple ingredients and fold them together gently. If you whisk them too much, gluten will develop and your cake will be denser.

    bitten off slice of cake with strawberries
    fork and slice of cake

    Storage

    Store in the refrigerator, ideally covered, for up to 4 days. You can also freeze vanilla cake, and in fact, we recommend putting it in the freezer for 30 min before cutting it as you'll get much sharper slices. You can freeze it for up to a week. Let out of the freezer for about 45 minutes before eating it. I actually like to eat this cake slightly frozen.

    Variations

    Strawberry jam

    Our favourite variation of this cake is to fill it up with jam instead of pastry cream. That's even easier to do! Follow the exact same recipe as this one, just swap the pastry cream for strawberry jam! You can even make the jam at home like we did.

    vegan strawberry cake
    vegan strawberry cake

    Nutella filling

    Another great filling for this vegan cake is our vegan hazelnut-chocolate spread that tastes just like nutella. Follow the same recipe as here, but don't add the lemon in the sponge cake - just vanilla. Then follow our recipe for vegan nutella, and use that as filling instead of the pastry cream. You can top this variation with strawberries or with crushed hazelnuts.

    Hazelnut chocolate spread in a small bowl
    vegan nutella

    Pistachio cream

    This version is probably the most luxurious one. Check out our recipe for vegan pistachio custard and use it to fill this delicious sponge cake. Follow the exact same recipe as this one, just remove the lemon from the ingredients.

    Pistachio custard
    pistachio custard

    Vegan meringue

    For a celebration-worthy and indulgent vanilla cake, serve with vegan meringue kisses. You can use a pastry piping bag to make the meringue small and bite/sized and top your cake with something special. Perfect for birthdays and parties!

    For many more dessert ideas, check out our desserts category page.

    Recipe

    vegan vanilla cake with strawberries

    Vegan Vanilla Cake

    Author: Nico
    Our vegan vanilla cake is easy to make, with simple ingredients, and perfect for birthdays, holidays, and even for Valentine's Day. It's soft, moist, light, sweet, and full of vanilla flavour. It's eggs-free, milk-free, and without butter, yet no-one will be able to tell. This cake will make you fall in love!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    4.75 from 12 votes
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 55 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 25 mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 12 people
    Calories 437 kcal

    Equipment

    • 7 inch (18 cm) round cake tin
    • electric whisk

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the vegan sponge cake

    • 430 g all-purpose flour
    • 250 g sugar
    • 350 g plant milk soy or almond
    • 75 g sunflower seed oil
    • 25 g baking powder
    • 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ lemon grated zest

    For the vegan pastry cream

    • 500 g plant milk soy or almond
    • 90 g sugar
    • 55 g cornstarch or potato starch
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ lemon peel
    • ⅓ teaspoon turmeric

    For the syrup

    • 130 g water
    • 65 g sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    For the topping

    • 200 g vegan whipped cream
    • 300 g strawberries

    Instructions
     

    For the vegan sponge cake

    • Preheat the oven to 360˚F (180˚C). Brush a 7 inch (18 cm) round cake tin with a few drops of oil, then dust the tin with flour.
      greasing the cake tin
    • In a large bowl add sunflower seed oil, sugar, plant-milk, grated lemon zest, vanilla extract and whisk well together.
      adding the wet ingredients to a bowl
    • Sift flour and baking powder into the bowl with the liquids. Then with a whisk or spatula whisk all the ingredients together. Try to break some of the lumps.
      sifting the flour
    • Pour the cake batter into the cake tin and bake for around 55 min at 360˚F (180˚C). Before taking it out of the oven, check with a toothpick if the cake is fully baked.
      Do not open the oven door for the first 30 minutes of baking. Let cool down completely before cutting it open. Cut it in 3 layers with a serrated knife.
      sponge cake baked and cut

    For the vegan pastry cream

    • In a pot off the heat, add all the ingredients for the vegan pastry cream and whisk them together till all the lumps are gone.
      Bring on to medium heat and whisk the liquid until it turns into a thick pastry cream. Take off the heat, set aside to cool down for 10 minutes, but keep whisking occasionally to prevent the pastry cream from drying out.
      pastry cream

    For the syrup

    • In a pot, add water, sugar and vanilla flavouring. Bring to a gentle boil and whisk until the sugar has melted. Let cook for another 2 minutes, then set aside to cool down.
      syrup for the sponge cake

    For the whipped cream

    • For best results, we recommend purchasing a plant-based whipping cream.
      If you can't find it, then whip together 2 cans of very cold full fat coconut cream with ¼ cup of icing sugar. Use only the solid part of the coconut milk.
      vegan whipped cream

    Build the cake

    • On a cake stand, put the base layer of the sponge cake. Brush with ⅓ of the syrup. Then cover with ½ of the pastry cream. Spread the pastry cream across the sponge cake, then add some pieces of strawberries.
      brushing the sponge cake with syrup
    • Top with the middle layer of sponge cake. Brush it with ½ of the remaining syrup. Then cover with the remaining ½ of the pastry cream. Spread the pastry cream across the sponge cake, then add some pieces of strawberries.
      covering the cake with pastry cream and strawberries
    • Add the top layer of the sponge cake - but upside down. Brush with the leftover syrup.
      With the help of a spatula, cover the whole cake in whipped cream and decorate with some strawberries on top. We like to keep the strawberries whole.
      To cut a perfect slice, let the cake cool in the freezer for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for 1 hour and use a wet sharp knife.
      Covering the vegan vanilla cake with whipped cream

    Video Recipe

    Notes

    MEASUREMENTS
    We recommend using the metric system for this recipe.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Vanilla Cake
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 437 Calories from Fat 126
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 14g22%
    Saturated Fat 6g38%
    Potassium 457mg13%
    Carbohydrates 73g24%
    Dietary Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 37g41%
    Protein 7g14%
    Vitamin A 283IU6%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 25mg30%
    Vitamin E 4mg27%
    Vitamin K 1µg1%
    Calcium 204mg20%
    Folate 99µg25%
    Iron 3mg17%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 18mg5%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?Leave us a comment below or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. It would mean the world to us 🙂

    Will you be cooking this recipe for your loved ones? Let us know in the comments below!

    Buon appetito!

    Chef Nico

    « Vegan bomboloni - Italian donuts
    Vegan Parmesan »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Franco giambona

      April 25, 2022 at 10:50 pm

      Made it tonight for my wife Carla’s Birthday. In the fridge at the moment, waiting to try it later tonight……but everything looks great so far.

      Reply
    2. Tahira

      October 02, 2021 at 8:09 pm

      If I used cake flour instead can I skip the sugar syrup?

      Reply
      • Nico

        October 25, 2021 at 10:55 am

        Hi Tahira, the syrup on the cake is optional. It stems from Italian tradition so it softens the cake and makes it even more moist 🙂 however, the cake is most definitely still eatable without the syrup.

        Reply
    3. Radha

      September 30, 2021 at 6:48 pm

      Thank you! Will be making this for my birthday in a couple of weeks 🙂

      Reply
    4. Radha

      September 30, 2021 at 1:55 am

      Hi, I am so excited to try this recipe! Can you please specify the depth of your cake pan?

      Reply
      • Nico

        September 30, 2021 at 8:48 am

        Hi Radha, the depth is 6.5 cm or 2.5 inches. Hope this helps 🙂

        Reply

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