“This is my children’s first pick for birthday cakes!” – Linda Coss
Special Diet Notes: Chocolate Layer Cake
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.
Chocolate Layer Cake
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Linda Marienhoff Coss
Serves: 9-inch double-layer cake
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup dairy-free 100% cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups water
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using 100% vegetable shortening, grease and then flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Beat with a spoon or wire whisk just until batter is smooth and ingredients are well-blended.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pans. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 35 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pans 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Frost the first layer, stack the second on top, and frost again. Decorate as desired.
- Makes one 9-inch round double-layer cake.
5 Comments
Is this recipe milk free AND soy free? My son has milk allergies and soy allergies and it has been very difficult to find a recipe that is free of both.
Yes, but some vegetable oils do contain soy oil. I would use canola, grapeseed or melted coconut oil.
This recipe is my GO to for all birthday’s and most parties. I always get compliments and I know I have a cake that pretty much everyone can eat. It is very versatile. I made a cake for our cast party on Saturday…and will be making cupcakes this weekend for a bridal shower…and my kids aren’t left out!
Awesome and versatile recipe. Also makes great cupcakes or a slab style cake. Or halve ingredients for one smaller cake. Or yet for one more option, omit the baking soda and you have brownies.
Great idea on the baking soda for making brownies Rebecca. I’ll give that one a trial.