Low Sugar Vegan Spice Cake

Total time1 hr 30 min

Prep time25 min

Cook time35 min

This layered spice cake leans hard into warm cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice, so every bite carries that cozy, deeply spiced flavor without needing much else to shine. The crumb comes together from a base of flax eggs, plant-based milk soured with a touch of apple cider vinegar, and softened vegan butter, all folded together for a tender, moist texture that holds up beautifully between layers. Once baked and cooled, the cake gets finished with a smooth, tangy cream cheese-style frosting that spreads into thick, billowy swoops over the top and sides. A light dusting of cinnamon on top adds one more hit of that spiced aroma before serving. It's a fully homemade layer cake from scratch, with nothing store-bought hiding in the mix, which makes it easy to keep on track for a no added sugar kitchen. Slice it thick — the spice and richness carry the whole cake without leaning on anything overly sweet.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the flax eggs

For the cake

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 ½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground allspice
1 cup packed light brown sugar
Chef's tip
Use the same volume. Brown-sugar replacements vary in moisture, spread, and browning, so follow the package's baking guidance and start checking a few minutes early.
½ cup organic cane sugar
Chef's tip
Use the same volume. Baking behavior varies by blend: some brown faster or stay softer, while others brown less. Follow the package's baking guidance and start checking a few minutes early.
½ cup vegan butter, softened
½ cup neutral oil (such as canola or sunflower)
1 cup plant-based milk
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the frosting

1 cup vegan cream cheese, softened
¼ cup vegan butter, softened
2 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
Chef's tip
Follow the package's conversion to powdered sugar. In frosting or glaze, add liquid gradually - replacements can absorb it differently.
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

For serving

½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

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
In a small bowl, stir together the ground flaxseed and 6 tbsp water until combined. Set aside for 5 minutes, until the mixture thickens to a gel.

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