Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Cake

Total time2 hr

Prep time25 min

Cook time35 min

This deep, dark chocolate layer cake gets its rich color and flavor from a generous amount of cocoa powder, brewed coffee for depth, and a splash of vanilla in a batter that turns thin and pourable before it bakes up into two tender, springy rounds. A quick vegan buttermilk made from tangy vinegar and plant-based milk keeps the crumb moist, while hot coffee amplifies the cocoa without ever tasting like coffee itself. Once cooled, the layers get stacked and coated in a fluffy, cloud-like frosting swirled with sifted cocoa and powdered sugar, smoothed into thick swoops along the sides with an offset spatula. It's the kind of cake that slices cleanly into deep chocolate layers with a soft, pillowy frosting in every bite. This one is a great fit for a gluten free dessert table, delivering all the classic bakery-style drama without any extra fuss.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the cake

1 cup dairy free milk
Silk Original Almond Milk Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original Almond Milk Silk Unsweet Almond Milk, 64 fl oz Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Original Almond Milk Silk Organic Unsweet Soy Milk - 64 fl oz
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1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
Chef's tip
Choose a gluten-free baking blend labeled 1:1 or cup-for-cup and use the same amount. Almond and coconut flour won't work the same way.
1 ¾ cups organic cane sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp fine salt
1 cup hot brewed coffee
½ cup neutral oil (such as canola or sunflower)
2 tsp vanilla extract

For the frosting

1 cup vegan butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
3–4 tbsp dairy free milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp fine salt

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
2
Stir together the dairy free milk and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl and set aside for 5 minutes until slightly curdled — this is your vegan buttermilk.

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