The Best Vegan Cakes

If you have the time and inclination to experiment with veganising an existing favourite, scroll down for some top tips from Rebecca Seal — food writer and author of Leon Fast Vegan — on how to do just that.

However, for the rest of us, here are some of my favourite plant-based cake recipes. Ranging from the most indulgent of treats to the raw, lower sugar option, there’s something here for everyone.

The All-Time Favourites

Perfect for family parties to workplace treats, here’s where to head for the failsafe favourites.

Chocolate Cake

You really can’t go wrong with a chocolate cake. Easy to make and deep, dark and decadent, Nigella’s comes out top every time.

Photo credit: Nigella Lawson | Dark and sumptuous chocolate cake

Baked Cheesecake

A good plant-based version of another favourite, baked cheesecake, wasn’t something I realised I needed until I stumbled across Minimalist Baker’s. As an added bonus, it’s also gluten-free.

Photo Credit: Minimalist Baker | Easy Baked Cheesecake (Vegan & GF)

Carrot Cake

Carrot cake — and the cream cheese frosting that’s its faithful partner in crime — was something I loved in my pre-vegan days. This recipe, which mimics the familiar combination perfectly, has become a staple.

Photo Credit: Gimme Some Oven | Easy Baked Cheesecake (Vegan & GF)

Peanut Butter Blondies

Brownies are a plant-based dream and easy to whip up at short notice. For something off the beaten brownie track, try our own recipe for peanut butter blondies. Deliciously crumbly on the outside and satisfyingly gooey in the middle they’re always a win.

Photo Credit: allplants | Peanut Butter Blondies

The (Slightly) Healthier Options (Maybe)

Still devilishly indulgent, raw desserts can be lower in fat and sugar and, therefore, a more healthy option for those trying not to overindulge.

Raw Cheesecake

Vegan raw cheesecakes recipes are a dime a dozen. So, to save you searching, here are my top three:

Pineapple Coconut Cheesecake

This recipe is completely nut-free (coconuts are actually classified as, “one-seeded drupes.” Who knew?) and about as close to a piña colada as one can get. Here’s to lying on a lounger in a tropical paradise, sipping a cocktail… Or the next best thing.

Photo Credit: Rawmazing | Pineapple Coconut Cheesecake

Lemon Lime Cheesecake

Beautiful to look at and satisfyingly citrusy, this vibrant, layered cheesecake is for lovers of Key Lime Pie.

Photo Credit: Unconventional Baker | Raw Lemon Lime Cheesecake

Snickers Cheesecake

Let’s be real here… This one is NOT a more healthy option. It’s here because, well, who doesn’t need a Snickers cheesecake in their life?

Photo Credit: Minimalist Baker | Snickers Cheesecake

Something Different

Sometimes, the occasion calls for something a little more quirky: a post-life drawing snack, or something to refuel after a swing dance session perhaps... Here are my favourite recipes to take you off the beaten track.

Almond, Orange and Cardamom Cake

Shared with us exclusively from her new Leon Fast Vegan book, her is Rebecca Seal's recipe for her Almond, Orange and Cardamom cake. Spicy, sweet and warming, it is the perfect afternoon treat on a day when something slightly different is needed - for whatever reason!

Photo Credit: Octopus Books | Almond, Orange and Cardamom Cake

Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream Cake

Ice cream cakes are making a well-deserved comeback amongst fully grown humans, and about time too. What better way to rekindle memories of childhood parties in between full-on adulting tasks? This mint choc chip cake is the bomb.

Photo Credit: Minimalist Baker | Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Rainbow Cake

Finally, when adulting is just too much to handle, the only sensible thing is to go way, way back. Get all the food dyes out and brighten up even the dullest of days with this impressive rainbow cake. However, if your inner child is too impatient, use the same batter recipe just swirl the colours around instead to make a gorgeous marble effect.

Photo Credit: Vitacost | Naturally Coloured Rainbow Layer Cake

Top Tips for Plant-based Replacements

If none of the above quite hit the spot and you’re desperate to veganise an existing favourite, then here are Rebecca’s tips to replace those pesky animal products.

Replacing Milk

In theory, cows’ milk can be replaced with any non-dairy milk. However, Rebecca suggests choosing a high-fat milk, which is more likely to mimic the baking behaviour of whole dairy milk. Her preference is oat milk, due to its rich, creamy consistency.

Replacing Butter

Again, butter can often be swapped, like for like, with a non-dairy margarine; do check the packet to make sure it can be used in baking. Another option is refined coconut oil, which is less coconutty in flavour than virgin coconut oil. Like butter, coconut oil is high in saturated fat, so it works well as a substitute. For the perfect crumble, replace the butter with refined coconut oil and a pinch of salt.

Replacing Eggs

Eggs are often the most tricky ingredient to replace as they play a very specific role in baking. Rebecca’s top egg replacements are:

Ground Flaxseed or Linseed

Flaxseed and linseed are rich in nutrients that plant-based foods often lack, such as omega 3. Soak 1 tablespoon of ground seeds in 2-3 tbsp water to replace 1 egg.

Aquafaba

Aquafaba — the water left when you drain a can of chickpeas — mimics the binding properties of egg very well although can take a bit of getting used to. Whip it into a mousse to make a light, airy batter for cakes and pancakes, or use it to make great meringues and dairy-free chocolate mousse. Once mastered, aquafaba is so versatile it can be used to make anything: from cookies and muffins to pavlova and meringue to the kind of icing that sets on biscuits.

Do you have a successful vegan baking story to share? If so, we’d love to hear about it. In fact, why not also share your baking disasters to make us all feel better…

Any recipes you think we’ve missed? Feel free to leave those with us too!