If you are new to vegan baking, you may be worried that attempting a chocolate cake would be difficult. In reality, there is a veritable cornucopia of vegan-friendly and deliciously indulgent options.
These vegan chocolate cake offerings pair cocoa’s silky, rich taste with several complementary ingredients, such as strawberries, blood oranges, black sesame, peanut butter, caramel, and pistachio.
Next time you find yourself longing for a slice of luscious, vegan chocolate cake, try these recipes!
1. The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake
When you are craving a slice of classic chocolate cake, this is the perfect recipe to make.
It consists of a simple but delightfully moist cake and a chocolate frosting. Even though the result of this recipe is similar to what you would find at a bakery, you can whip it up in very little time.
2. Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
Consider this recipe when you need to make a fudgy, intensely flavored chocolate cake.
The combination of applesauce and vegetable oil provides this cake with its moisture. A touch of espresso brings out rich flavors from the chocolate. If you want, you can even use this cake to make cupcakes.
3. Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake
Sometimes you need to fulfill that chocolate cake craving, but you do not have time to make a whole cake.
That is where this delicious chocolate mug cake comes into play.
Simply mix some ingredients you likely have on hand and microwave them for about a minute.
4. Vegan Sachertorte
This classic Viennese cake brings together the rich flavors of chocolate with bright yet earthy flavors of apricot.
While you can use any vegan jam that you can find, this recipe also links to a homemade apricot jam. Even though this recipe is easy to make, it is indulgent enough to make a perfect treat for a special occasion.
5. Vegan Milk Chocolate Cake
While most chocolate desserts focus on dark chocolate or white chocolate, this cake highlights milk chocolate’s light and creamy assets.
Celebrate milk chocolate with the cake itself, the frosting, and the chocolate drip. All aspects of this recipe are easy.
6. 1-Bowl Vegan Chocolate Cake
This cake may be simple, but that does not mean that it is not exceptional.
The cake is fluffy, moist, and full of flavor. Best of all, you can make this recipe in a single bowl. You can even make the buttercream in the same bowl to save time on cleanup!
7. Chocolate and Caramel Cake
Chocolate and caramel are the perfect combinations in this delicious cake. The cake itself is rich and dark, while the caramel topping provides complexity and sweetness.
Pair this cake with a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream, or another creamy vegan side. Choose this recipe if you want an easy-to-make recipe that will impress guests.
8. Chocolate and Pistachio Cake
If you have never tried chocolate and pistachio together, you are missing out. This delicious combination brings out the nuttiness of the chocolate and the sweetness of the pistachios.
Choose this recipe if you want a delicious, raw cake with plenty of creamy flavors.
9. Chocolate Fruit and Nut Cake
Fruit, nuts, and chocolate compliment each other deliciously. Choose this cake when you are looking for a hearty and decadent bite.
With the flavor combination offered by the ingredients, this cake makes a perfect holiday treat.
10. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Chocolate and peanut butter are a classic combination. The chocolate cake beautifully compliments a decadent peanut butter frosting.
Not only does it taste amazing, but the contrasting layers of cake and frosting are very striking. Make this recipe for the birthday of adults and children alike.
11. Drunken Chocolate Fruit Cake
This cake may be free of animal products, refined sugar, and gluten, but it is not free of alcohol.
The fruits present in this cake soak in alcohol for at least two days. The alcohol and fruit combine with delicious chocolate to create a decadent bite.
Traditionally, this cake is popular during the holiday season.
12. Easy Vegan Ice Cream Cake with Oreo Crust
Celebrate your favorite vegan ice cream with this simple recipe. The cream ice cream pairs very nicely with the crunch of the cookie crust.
Choose this cake on a day when you want a cool and refreshing treat on a hot day.
13. Easy Vegan Yule Log
Get festive with this chocolatey yule log. Each slice of this dessert contains a beautifully moist cake and a rich yet light whipped ganache filling.
While you will likely only make a yule log during the holidays, you can easily modify this recipe to help it fit other parts of the year.
14. Fudgy Vegan Chocolate Cake
Some fudgy chocolate cakes can be super dense, but this recipe yields a cake that manages to be fluffy and fudgy at the same time.
This recipe is simple, and you can easily modify it to create a two-layer cake instead of a three-layer one.
15. Gluten-free Vegan White Chocolate Lemon Cake
While darker chocolate may be what you think of when baking a chocolate cake, there are also several fantastic cakes that you can make with white chocolate. The light white chocolate nicely complements the lemon flavor.
This cake is the perfect choice for a spring party or a light cake for tea.
16. Luxurious Vegan Chocolate Truffle Cake
This cake is a chocolate lover’s dream, from the delicate chocolate sponge to the decadent frosting to the luscious array of toppings.
The cake name comes from the beautiful truffle decorations on this cake.
Do not shy away when it comes to decorating this cake. Use as many different types of chocolate decorations as possible.
17. Mississippi Mud Cake
This vegan play on the Mississippi classic is not only delicious but very easy to make. It is so easy that you can bring kids in to help with the process.
This cake is known as a mud cake because of the chocolatey fudge sauce that is a big part of this cake.
18. One Bowl Chocolate Cake
If you are looking for a truly moist and delicious cake that does not require much time to put together, meet this one-bowl chocolate cake.
You can also use this recipe to make cupcakes, a bundt cake, or a smaller or larger cake than the original recipe.
19. Raw Vegan and Gluten-Free Black and White Chocolate Cake
With this recipe, you do not need to choose between white chocolate and dark chocolate. While it is somewhat more involved than the other ones on this list, the components are relatively simple, and the result is worth the overall effort.
Make this cake when you want a light yet decadent option for a dinner party.
20. Salted Caramel and Chocolate Cake
Salted caramel makes a great compliment to chocolate in this delicious cake.
The cake comprises a caramel cake, a chocolate cake, a salted caramel buttercream, and a chocolate ganache.
Make this cake if you are looking for something complex, sweet, and perfect for a special occasion.
21. Ultimate Chocolate Vegan Ice Cream Cake
This cake consists of layers of ice cream, chocolate cake, and peanut butter cookies.
Make this cake to discover how delicious these various components are when paired together. The recipe writer endorses going as wild as possible with your toppings for this cake.
22. Vegan and Gluten-Free Chocolate and Almond Torte
This cake may look simple, but the flavor within is complex and delicious. Plus, it is also gluten-free in addition to being vegan.
The cake is a lovely choice if you want a simple yet elegant dessert for a special occasion.
23. Vegan Black Forest Cake
If you are looking for a vegan take on the classic Black Forest Cake, you may have what you are looking for with this recipe.
The cake comprises layers of chocolate sponge, whipped cream, preserved black cherries, and bits of dark chocolate.
24. Vegan Black Sesame Chocolate Cake with Matcha Cream Cheese Frosting
If you are unfamiliar with the flavor combination of chocolate, black sesame, and matcha, you must try this cake immediately. The sesame brings out the sweetness of the chocolate, while matcha provides an herbaceous and creamy counterbalance.
Along with the delicious flavors, you can also enjoy its striking green appearance.
25. Vegan Chocolate Blood Orange Olive Oil Cake
Choose this beautiful cake if you are looking for a perfect balance of complementary flavors for chocolate cake.
Blood orange and olive oil are some of the other major players in this recipe. These ingredients add depth to the chocolate by bringing out earthy and sweet notes.
26. Vegan Chocolate Bundt Cake
A good chocolate bundt makes a delicious addition to any gathering. This bundt, in particular, is sure to make a splash. The chocolate cake is very moist and rich.
You can emphasize this moisture by adding a chocolaty glaze to this cake and make it even more festive by decorating it with sprinkles.
27. Vegan Chocolate Cake
All aspects of this cake are simple to make. So, while it is perfect for special events, it is easy to make in the middle of the week for no particular reason.
The cake itself is moist and fluffy with fantastic flavor.
28. Vegan Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Ice Cream Frosting
While this recipe does not contain ice cream, it yields a frosting that tastes almost exactly like strawberry ice cream. The flavor comes from vegan pastry cream and strawberry powder.
The cake itself is rich and chocolatey. Finish off this cake by decorating it with chocolate-covered strawberries.
29. Vegan Chocolate Cake with Vegan Salted Caramel Frosting
Make this cake if you are looking for a dessert that suits every occasion. You can make it for birthdays, holidays, and other gatherings—layers of vegan salted caramel frosting spread between the layers of rich chocolate cake.
The salt and the caramel bring out tasty sides of the chocolate that you may not expect. Top off the cake with delicious chocolate shavings.
30. Vegan Chocolate Christmas Cake
Otherwise known as a Panforte Italian Christmas Cake, this cake contains dried fruit and delicious chocolate. It is somewhat similar to other types of fruit cake with a few adjustments.
The cake is a popular choice for the holidays, and it has a chewy texture. This option is also ideal for anyone who follows a paleo diet.
31. Vegan Chocolate Layer Skull Cake
If you need a delicious chocolate cake for your Halloween celebrations, this may be the perfect cake. It is decorated with a pile of tiny skulls made out of chocolate.
The cake itself is fudgy and moist, and it contains several types of chocolate. The sponge, frosting, ganache, and skulls all include chocolate which means you get delicious layers of chocolate flavor.
32. Vegan Chocolate Mousse Cake
This chocolate mousse cake provides plenty of deep chocolatey flavor with a somewhat lighter texture than other cakes. It is simple, elegant, and delicious.
This recipe is easy to make, and you can dress it up as much as you want. Pair this recipe with any fruit that you desire. The recipe suggests a mix of berries and some grated chocolate.
33. Vegan Chocolate Orange Cake Recipe
Chocolate and orange are a beautiful combination since the orange brings out the fruitiness of the chocolate, and the chocolate brings out the depth of the orange.
Both the cake and frosting components of this cake contain orange juice and zest. This use of the ingredients helps to contribute to the layers of flavors found in this dessert.
34. Vegan Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake
This recipe combines chocolate mousse with raspberry mousse and rich chocolate cake. The flavor of the cake is beautifully balanced, and the visual effect is truly stunning.
You may think this cake is difficult to make with such a stunning result. In reality, this cake is straightforward to make.
35. Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Cake
In this recipe, chocolate cake pairs beautifully with strawberry frosting. As a result, this recipe is perfect for anyone who enjoys the depth of chocolate and the bright sweetness of strawberries.
The recipe provides instructions for a naked cake, and the visual result is stunning. Make this cake for a springtime event where you want to aim to impress.
36. Vegan Chocolate Toffee Popcorn Celebration Cake
Are you looking for something delicious and over the top? Try this fun celebration cake.
Topped with sweet caramel corn, this dessert includes chocolate cake, caramel buttercream frosting, and a rich caramel sauce.
Whether you make this cake to celebrate an event or simply to celebrate the relationship between chocolate and caramel, you are sure to enjoy this delicious cake.
37. Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake
Choose this chocolate cake if you are looking for a gluten-free, vegan cake. This recipe is perfect because you can dress it up or down depending on the occasion you are making it for.
Pair this cake with a creamy accompaniment, such as whipped cream or ice cream, and a zesty raspberry sauce.
38. Vegan German Chocolate Cake
German chocolate cake is a classic recipe known for its coconut filling and tasty frosting. These flavors combine to create a decadent yet somewhat light chocolate cake.
The lightness is primarily thanks to the coconut filling. This recipe uses pecans, but you can leave them out if you need them.
39. Vegan Lava Cake
A chocolate lava cake is a great recipe in your baking arsenal. This cake gets its name from the molten chocolate that resides in the center of the cake.
You can pair this cake with your favorite fruits, like raspberries or strawberries. Make this recipe for any dinner party where you want to impress your guests with your baking prowess.
40. Vegan Marbled Chocolate and Pistachio Cake
Pick this cake if you are looking for an easy-to-make cake with some pizzaz.
The pistachio paste offers a delicate yet sweet taste and a vibrant green color. The green cake marbles beautifully with a chocolate cake.
41. Vegan No-Bake Chocolate Cake with Caramel
Choose this cake if you are looking for a no-bake cake that mirrors the flavors of a candy bar.
The cake contains several layers, including a chocolate almond nougat layer, a date caramel layer, and dark chocolate.
Top everything off with raspberries to add a bit of brightness. This dessert covers all of the major flavor and texture notes that you could want.
42. Vegan Paleo Chocolate Cake
Choose this option if you need a paleo-friendly cake. This cake is free of animal products, gluten, and grains, but it is full of delicious ingredients that provide a rich, chocolatey flavor.
This is a particularly great recipe if you want something that you can shrink down to one layer or grow up beyond two layers.
43. Vegan S’mores Cake
S’mores are all about the perfect combination of crumbly graham crackers, fluffy marshmallows, and rich chocolate. This cake celebrates the same partnership.
However, instead of graham crackers, this recipe uses a combination of oats, nuts, and maple syrup. The cake plays the role of the chocolate, and the vegan marshmallows are simply marshmallows.
44. Vegan Strawberry Chocolate Swiss Roll
The brightness of strawberries and the darkness of chocolate come together beautifully to create an indulgent yet fairly refreshing dish.
Whether you are new to swiss rolls or ver experienced, this may be the ideal recipe. It is easy to follow and produces good results with little effort.
45. Vegan Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake
This unique cake is a celebration of chocolate, with each of the three layers displaying the versatility of this ubiquitous dessert staple.
The first layer includes walnuts, dates, chocolate, and flakey sea salt. The second layer is a mousse made from raw cashews, cocoa powder, and some coffee. The third layer is a combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
46. Vegan White Chocolate Cake with Blood Orange Curd
Blood orange curd brings this indulgent white chocolate cake to the next level. The blood orange zest brings out the different dimensions of the white chocolate in the frosting.
If you choose to make this recipe without the blood orange curd, you can easily do that.
47. White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
White chocolate and raspberry are a classic combination for a reason. The light and creamy white chocolate flavor perfectly complement raspberry’s bright and juicy flavors.
Make this cake in the warmer months or anytime you want a light and refreshing dessert.
48. Vegan and Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Cake
This vegan chocolate cake is similar to devil’s food cake. It has a deep, rich flavor, and it works well with many toppings and accompaniments.
Try this cake with a whipped peanut butter frosting.
49. Triple Chocolate Beet Cake
Beets play a few valuable roles in this cake. They provide added moisture and bring out plenty of flavor from the chocolate.
Pair this cake with a chocolate glaze for added moisture and flavor.
Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipes, Final Thoughts
Making a vegan chocolate cake in countless varieties, flavors, and textures is straightforward and leaves plenty of room for culinary experimentation.
They can be made for holidays, birthdays, special events, or just because you have a chocolate craving at breakfast.
So, the next time you want a delicious chocolate cake, pick one from this list!