The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (2024)

4.96 from 194 votes

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So here it is: this is my recipe for the most perfect, bestest in the westest, (and eastest) vegan vanilla cake. Strike that, this is my recipe forthe most perfect vanilla cake. Period. Vegan or not, this is a damn good cake. Sweet, buttery, vanilla-infused, fluffy and moist all at the same time.

When I served this vegan vanilla cake recipe as cupcakes to a group of strangers, one girl declared that it was the best cupcake she had ever eaten... and then I told her it was vegan. Winning!

The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (1)

I originally posted this recipe way back in 2014, so I decided it needed a little face-lift. Not the recipe, the recipe for the vegan vanilla cake is perfect, just the photos.

You can see below↓ my original photo for the best vegan vanilla cupcakes, but when I shared a picture of the cake above ↑ on my Instagram, everyone was asking for this vegan vanilla cake recipe. Some people didn't realize that most cake and cupcake recipes are exactly the same, the only difference is the pan you use and the baking time.So I wanted to make it clear that this vegan vanilla cake recipe works wonderfully both ways.

The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (2)

I designed this recipe after hosting a "vegan vanilla cupcake-off" party. A cooking competition style party where I compared 3 top vegan vanilla cupcake recipes to determine which one was the winner. My friends voted, and the result was that there was no clear winner. So I had to do the only logical thing I could think of: make my own winner.

The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (3)

It took a lot of experimenting, but oooeee was all that effort worth it as 4 years later, this is still the best vegan vanilla cake recipe I've ever made. Whether you make these into adorable cupcakes or you opt for a full-sized two-layer cake, everyone will love it. Perfect for birthday parties, holidays, celebrations, or anytime you need a glorious sweet fluffy cake.

To make The Best Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes: In a big bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together. In a medium bowl, mix the wet ingredients together. Then pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix lightly. Whisk until the batter just comes together, don't over mix it.

Evenly divide batter among the cupcake pan or the cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

To make the frosting:mix all the ingredients together with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Make sure the cakes are cooled completely before frosting, so the frosting won't melt. Frost your cakes as desired.

The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (7)

The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (8)

4.96 from 194 votes

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The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes)

Sweet, buttery, vanilla-infused, fluffy and moist all at the same time. Easy to make and even easier to eat. No one will even notice it's vegan! Perfect for birthday parties, celebrations, or holidays.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Servings: 24 cupcakes (or a two layer 9" round cake)

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Ingredients

Dry Ingredients:

Wet Ingredients:

Frosting:

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350F (180C). For cupcakes: lightly greaseor line a cupcake pan with 24 paper liners. For a cake: lightly grease two 9-inch round cake pans.

  • In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together.

  • In a medium bowl, mix the wet ingredients together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until the batter just comes together, don’t over mix.Evenly divide batter among the cupcake or cake pans. For cupcakes:Bake 18-20 minutes until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. For 9-inch cake: bake for 22 - 28minutes until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

  • To make the frosting: mix together the vegan butter, vegetableshortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Add 1 - 4 tablespoons of non-dairy milk as needed to reach desired frosting consistency. Let cakes cool completely before frosting.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(24 servings in the recipe) | Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Insta and let the world see just how amazing plant-based creations can be!

Author: Sam Turnbull

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Course: Dessert

Bon appetgan

Sam.

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The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (15)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tamara says

    This cake looks so good. I want my son, who is vegan, to be able to have some of my birthday cake! Could I use vegan raspberry jam as a filling?

    Reply

  2. Gwennith Angasan says

    Have you ever baked it in a 13x9 pan?

    Reply

    • Jess @ IDTLC Support says

      It should work just fine in a 9x13 pan. You would just need to adjust your baking time, which may be more like 30-35 minutes.

      Reply

  3. Tara Raynak says

    I LOVE all your cake recipes and I just made 4 of your pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving! They are delicious! Do you think this could be made into an almond cake by either substituting the vanilla extract or adding almond extract?

    Reply

    • Sam Turnbull says

      So happy you love my cake recipes! Yes! I would add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of almond extract. I would keep the vanilla extract the same. When adding the almond extract, you can taste the batter and add more to taste. Enjoy!

      Reply

  4. Marilyn says

    Hi! I have 2 questions.
    1. Could I use olive oil?
    2. Would this only use one 9inch cake pan? Or 2?
    Excited to try this for my daughter’s 2nd birthday!

    Reply

    • Sam Turnbull says

      Hi Marilyn, I wouldn't recommend olive oil as you would be able to taste it. This uses 2 9" cake pans. Enjoy!

      Reply

  5. coco says

    hi Sam,
    How would i make this a triple layer 6" cake?
    thanks!

    Reply

  6. Sam Esme says

    The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (16)
    I basically use this recipe any time I want to bake anything for a birthday etc but don’t want to make it too complicated. It’s easy, not a lot of ingredients but so super delicious.
    I again brought some vanilla cupcakes to work for my birthday and everyone kept saying how everything I bring is always so so so good. I keep telling people: it doesn’t taste like chicken!
    Your blog is my go to for anything baking and everyone is always super obsessed!
    Thank you!

    Reply

  7. Moneva says

    The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (17)
    I made it yesterday, and it came out wonderful! Just as you said: yummy and fluffy! I took only 1 cup of sugar, and I used unrefined brown sugar. It makes the cake darker, but it is better, I find. I also used whole ancient grains flower, gluten free. I think it can be found at places like WF.
    The great thing about this recipe is that it can also be used for lots of other cake constructions, like fruit cakes with fresh fruit on top of it, and a fruit juice glaze. Or mixed with cocoa, to make it marbled. The options are endless!
    It's easy to make and simply great! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Jess @ IDTLC Support says

      Wonderful! We agree that the options are endless. Other readers have served it with Sam's Lemon Curd as a filling!

      Reply

  8. Daryl says

    The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (18)
    Fantastic recipe, easy to make and cake was moist and delicious. Served at a family event and nobody was the wiser that it was vegan!

    Reply

    • Jess @ IDTLC Support says

      That's wonderful!

      Reply

  9. Stefanie says

    The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (19)
    The best and easiest vegan sponge cake recipe!
    Every time I make this non vegans don't believe this can be a vegan cake.

    Reply

  10. Beth Reed says

    Can i swap a GF blend for the wheat flour?

    Reply

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The Best Vegan Vanilla Cake (or Cupcakes) recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a vegan cupcake and a regular cupcake? ›

Vegan cupcakes are animal product and dairy free. This means they contain no egg, butter, or dairy products. However, they do contain ingredients that are familiar to the baker such as flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, oil, and vanilla.

What is the secret to moist cupcakes? ›

Buttermilk is essential to this recipe because it adds flavor and moisture. Buttermilk is acidic and actually breaks down the gluten in the flour, making a more tender cupcake as well. If you have whole milk and white vinegar or lemons, you can make your own buttermilk substitute.

Why is my vegan cake so dense? ›

DENSE RESULT

This can be caused by not using the right egg replacer. Over mixing batter is another reason which causes over development of the gluten and a dense result. If your oven isn't heated to the correct temperature before you put your cake in, it can cause it to not bake properly.

What is the difference between a vegan cake and a regular cake? ›

Flavor Differences

Regular cakes have more flavor than vegan and gluten-free alternatives, usually down to the ingredients used in preparing the cakes. Regularly use flours and dairy-based products that tend to bring the best flavors. But recent improvements in gluten-free and vegan baking have closed the flavor gap.

Why are my vegan cupcakes not rising? ›

YOUR CAKE IS SINKING IN THE MIDDLE OR NOT RISING

You may not have used enough raising agents. I do recommend experimenting with double action baking powders. Otherwise try using 25 percent more chemical raising agents (baking soda or baking powder) if you're converting a recipe to gluten free. b.

Is vegan cake healthier than regular cake? ›

So, vegan cakes are generally healthier because they: don't contain cholesterol. are mostly lower in saturated fat (unless they contain a lot of palm or coconut oil) are made without eggs and dairy, so they're generally lower in total fat and calories.

Do you refrigerate vegan cupcakes? ›

A: Vegan cupcakes are best enjoyed within 3 days, stored in a container in the fridge. Just let them come to room temperature before serving for maximum deliciousness.

Which boxed cake mixes are vegan? ›

Since most boxed cakes require that you add eggs, milk and butter after, most major brands such as Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker are already vegan!
  • Duncan Hines Decadent Carrot.
  • Duncan Hines Red Velvet.
  • Betty Crocker Super Moist French Vanilla.
  • Betty Crocker German Chocolate.

How do bakeries get their cakes so moist? ›

Jump to:
  1. Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
  2. Add Vegetable Oil.
  3. Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
  4. Use the Right Recipe.
  5. Don't Overbake.
  6. Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
  7. Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.
Apr 23, 2021

What is the secret to good cupcakes? ›

Top Tips for Baking Better Cupcakes
  • Read the Recipe. Read the recipe all the way through first. ...
  • Check Oven Temperature. ...
  • Check the Dates. ...
  • Substitute with Caution. ...
  • Use the Right Temperature. ...
  • Take Time to Sift. ...
  • Measure with Care. ...
  • Cream the Ingredients.

Why do vegan cakes need vinegar? ›

I know it may seem strange to add vinegar to baked goods, but just think of it as a chemical reaction. The baking soda in your recipe needs a little acid to help it start reacting (bubbling). That's why recipes will call for things like lemon juice or buttermilk.

Why does my vegan cake taste bitter? ›

One of the most common misfortunes among bakers is that they are using too much baking soda or baking powder. Know that too much baking soda or baking powder in cakes will not just lead to a metallic and bitter taste, but it can also make a big mess in the oven as it will rise beyond expectations.

Do vegan cakes taste different? ›

No they can be very nice if made correctly. The only difference between a Vagan and a normal cake is Vegans use alternatives to milk, butter and eggs, Eggs is what give normal cakes their lift (extra rise) milk and butter can easily be substituted.

Are vegan cupcakes healthier than regular? ›

Are vegan cakes healthier than non-vegan cakes, you may ask? For the most part, not really; while the removal of butter can mean less saturated fat, the vegan friendly replacement, often cocoa butter, can be similar in saturated fat levels.

Do vegan cupcakes have less calories? ›

In truth, vegan cakes might not even contain fewer calories than non-vegan ones. While they lack butter and other dairy products, it is not a given that they contain less saturated fats. In fact, some vegan substitutes for butter, like cocoa butter or coconut oil, can have similar amounts of saturated fats.

What does vegan bakery mean? ›

Vegan baking and cakes are free from any animal products. For cakes, this normally means there are no eggs and no butter in the recipe, but all animal products have to be excluded for it to be vegan.

What is the difference between cupcake and normal cake? ›

The main difference between a cake and cupcake is the size. Cupcakes are much smaller, and meant to be consumed by one person whereas cakes are large and meant to be consumed by a group. Any cake can be turned into a cupcake by adjusting the ratio of ingredients, which is why they can be thought of as mini-cakes.

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