Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Recipe

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This Dairy Free Chocolate Cake is a simple recipe that requires just a few ingredients and absolutely no dairy. Perfect for vegans and people that are sensitive to dairy.

If you cannot get enough dairy free chocolate cake recipes, then be sure to try also making a Vegan Double Chocolate Cake or a Chocolate Ganache Cake.

There really is nothing better than chocolate cake, that is unless it is homemade dairy free chocolate cake. I'm talking about this kind of cake that is so quick and easy to make that anyone can make it.

This recipe is also great because it pretty much requires one bowl and one baking dish which makes for a very easy cleanup. Trust me no one wants to spend lots of time cleaning up when they could be enjoying the cake.

Let's get started!

Ingredients You'll Need

1. All-Purpose Flour - Use plain all-purpose flour with nothing added to it. You may whisk or shift before using.
2. Sugar - Use granulated or cane sugar to add sweetness to the cake.
3. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - Helps to make the cake light, fluffy, and loaded with chocolate flavor. Use high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe.
4. Baking Soda - Be sure to check the date of the package before adding it to the cake to make sure that it has not expired. Expired baking soda will prevent the chocolate cake from rising properly. No one wants their cake to fall.
5. Salt - I prefer to use kosher salt to balance out the sweetness. If you choose to use salted butter, then be sure to omit this ingredient.
6. Water -
7. Vegetable Oil - Much needed fat for this cake recipe and the main reason why it works even without dairy. May substitute unsweetened apple sauce in the same unit of measure if you prefer.
8. Distilled White Vinegar - Provides acid to the cake and helps all of the ingredients come together. No worries, you will not be able to taste the small amount of vinegar in this recipe.
9. Vanilla Extract - Use pure vanilla extract and not imitation for best results.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

Step By Step Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour in an 8-inch square baking pan or line the bottom with wax paper. Whisk together in a large bowl flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.

Add water, oil, white vinegar, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.

Scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly in the baking pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Slide a thin knife around the cake to detach it from the pan.

Invert the cake and peel off the wax paper, if using. Let cool right side up on the rack.

*Serve Plain or Dusted with some Powdered Sugar. For a quick frosting of 2 cups Confectioners’ Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Water, and ½ teaspoon Vanilla.

Recipe

Dairy Free Chocolate Cake

LaKita Anderson

This Dairy Free Chocolate Cake is a simple recipe that requires just a few ingredients and absolutely no dairy. Perfect for vegans and people that are sensitive to dairy.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 9

Calories 183 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cold water
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour in an 8-inch square baking pan or line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Whisk together in a large bowl flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
• Add water, vegetable oil, white vinegar, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
• Scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Slide a thin knife around the cake to detach it from the pan. Invert the cake and peel off the parchment paper, if using. Let cool, right side up on the rack.
• **Serve Plain or Dusted with Powdered Sugar or with a quick frosting of 2 cups Confectioners’ Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Water, and ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract.

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 254mgPotassium: 81mgFiber: 2gSugar: 25gCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

*All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Keyword dairy free chocolate cake

Tried this recipe?Mention @SimplyLaKita or tag #SimplyLakita

Original post date 04/29/2013. Updated 11/05/2022.

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Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas and ways to serve this Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!