Ingredients
3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. espresso powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 3/4 c. brown sugar, tightly packed
2 c. freshly brewed coffee
2/3 c. vegetable oil
1 1/2 c. (3 sticks) vegan butter, softened
4 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. espresso powder
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
Preparation
Step 1 Preheat oven to 350°, line two 8" round cake pans with parchment paper and spray them with cooking spray.Step 2In a large bowl, whisk to combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, espresso powder and salt.Step 3In a medium bowl, whisk to combine brown sugar, coffee, and vegetable oil.Step 4Add wet ingredients to bowl with dry ingredients and whisk to combine. (Some lumps are ok!) Divide batter between prepared cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, 33 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pan for 15 minutes, then turn out to cool completely on a wire rack, 45 minutes to an hour.Step 5Meanwhile, make frosting: In a large bowl using a hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat until combined, then add cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt. Beat until smooth.Step 6When cakes are cooled, place one cake on serving dish and spread a thick layer of frosting on top. Top with second layer of cake, then frost all over sides and top.
Chocolate cakes should be moist (apologies for the word, but it’s true!), and this one delivers. We used oil as a fat substitute, and intensified the chocolate flavor by adding coffee and espresso to the batter. If you’re not a margarine or butter alternative fan, you can serve this cake sans frosting—it’s celebratory enough on its own. If you do make our frosting, know this: Butter substitutes can vary in water content, so if you find your frosting is too thick, feel free to add a little non-dairy milk, one tablespoon at a time to get it to a spreadable consistency. Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.
