One-Bowl Vegan Chocolate Cake
In short: A moist, deeply chocolatey one-bowl cake made with oil, cocoa and vinegar, with no eggs or dairy. Finish it with a quick coconut milk ganache. It takes about 48 min in total and makes 9 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 33 min
- Resting
- 1 h 15 min
- Total
- 48 min
- Servings
- 9
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 390 kcal
This one-bowl cake uses cocoa, oil, vinegar and baking soda in place of eggs, butter and milk, and the result is a moist, tender chocolate crumb that anyone can eat. Everything is stirred in a single bowl and baked in a square pan, so it suits beginners and last-minute plans. A ganache of dark chocolate and coconut milk sets into a glossy, fudgy topping.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a 20 cm (8 inch) square pan and line it with a strip of parchment paper that overhangs two sides.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl, breaking up any lumps of cocoa.
- Add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla and whisk for about 1 minute, until smooth. The batter will be thin.
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a skewer in the center comes out clean and the top springs back when pressed.
- Cool the cake in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes, then lift it out by the parchment and cool completely.
- For the ganache, heat the coconut milk in a small pan until steaming. Pour it over the chopped chocolate, leave for 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Let it cool for 15 minutes, until thick but spreadable.
- Spread the ganache over the cooled cake and leave it to set for 30 minutes. Cut into 9 squares.
Tips
- Use natural cocoa powder, because the baking soda reacts with its acidity and the vinegar to lift the cake.
- Check the chocolate label if you need the cake to be strictly vegan. Some dark chocolate contains traces of milk.
Questions and answers
Does the vinegar make the cake taste sour?
No. The vinegar reacts with the baking soda and is gone by the time the cake is baked. It only helps the cake rise.
Can I use coffee instead of water?
Yes. Cooled brewed coffee makes the chocolate taste deeper, and the cake does not taste of coffee.
Can I double the recipe for a layer cake?
Yes. Double the cake and the ganache and bake in two 20 cm (8 inch) round pans for 28 to 32 minutes. Fill and cover the cake once the ganache has thickened.
How long does it take to make One-Bowl Vegan Chocolate Cake?
About 48 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 33 min of cooking.
How many calories are in One-Bowl Vegan Chocolate Cake?
About 390 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 49 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 390 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 49 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 27 g |
| Sodium | 225 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
