This vegan birthday cake recipe is perfect for a celebration! It’s made in one bowl with just 8 ingredients for a simple, yet delicious treat!

Vegan Birthday Cake Recipe
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I love this recipe because it’s so easy and this cake turns out perfectly moist and delicious every single time. This recipe makes enough for an 8×8 cake, which is usually plenty for my celebrations! You don’t need any fancy ingredients and you can make the whole cake in one bowl. I also included a recipe for vegan buttercream frosting, but you can use store bought frosting if you prefer.

I loved adding some sprinkles to make it feel more festive, which I highly recommend for a special occasion. But even if you’re not celebrating anything in particular, I think you’ll love this vegan vanilla cake!

How to Make a Vegan Birthday Cake

In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients to combine.
Create a well in the center and pour in almond milk, oil, and vanilla extract.
Stir until the cake batter is smooth.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Combine the vegan butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Beat until fluffy.
Once the cake is cooled, dollop the frosting on top and spread evenly with a spatula.
Sprinkle with any desired toppings.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I make this a layer cake? Absolutely! Just divide batter into two greased 6” round pans. Bake for 18-25 minutes. Make 1.5x the frosting for a completely coated cake. Be sure to wait until the cake cools to add the frosting.
  • Can I make this into a chocolate cake? If you want to make a chocolate cake, check out my vegan chocolate cake recipe, which includes a recipe for chocolate buttercream frosting.
  • Can I make a vegan funfetti cake? Yes! Just stir in some sprinkles into the batter before baking and it’ll give it the “funfetti” effect.
  • Are sprinkles vegan? Sprinkles are typically vegan, but it depends on the specific brand of course. Traditional sprinkles typically contain sugar, artificial colors, and sometimes other additives. In most cases, these basic ingredients are plant-based and therefore suitable for a vegan diet. But always check the package to be sure!
  • Can I make this without frosting? Yes! It’s pretty sweet even without frosting so I’ve made this without frosting. I like to add sprinkles on top before baking so it still looks festive!
Easy vegan Vanilla Cake

Variations

  • Try adding peanut butter to the frosting to create a peanut butter cake! Just mix in 1/3 cup of creamy peanut butter and reduce the butter to 1/2 cup.
  • Top with fresh fruit like blueberries or strawberries for a festive topping.
  • Instead of frosting, enjoy it with vegan whipped cream (I like Tru Whip) for an easy treat.

How to Store Leftovers

I recommend serving this cake immediately, but it can also be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Individual slices can be stored in the freezer (wrapped individually in plastic before being placed in an airtight container) for up to one month.

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vegan birrhday cake

Vegan Birthday Cake

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  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 pieces 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This vegan birthday cake recipe is perfect for a celebration! It’s made in one bowl with just 8 ingredients for a simple, yet delicious treat!

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the cake:

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or avocado oil
  • 1 cup almond milk or other non-dairy milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the frosting:

  • 3/4 cup vegan butter or margarine, softened (I like Earth Balance)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1–2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

For the cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8” x 8” baking pan with non-stick spray.
  2. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients to combine.
  3. Create a well in the center and pour in almond milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Stir until the cake batter is smooth.
  4. Pour into prepared baking pan and shake to level.
  5. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
  6. Allow to cool in the baking pan for at least 10 minutes before removing and allow to cool completely.

For the frosting:

  1. Combine all the vegan butter, vanilla extract, and 1/3 -1/2 the powdered sugar in a medium bowl.
  2. Beat with a hand mixer on low speed, slowly incorporating all the powdered sugar.
  3. Add the remaining powdered sugar, incorporating slowly to prevent a cloud of powdered sugar.
  4. Increase the speed and beat until very fluffy, 3-5 minutes.

Assemble the cake:

  1. Once the cake is cooled, dollop the frosting on top and spread evenly.

  2. Sprinkle with any desired toppings.