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Vegan Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake (Oil-free!)

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The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Vanilla Birthday Cake. This cake is easy to make, only 8 ingredients, soft, fluffy, really moist, healthy and oil-free. It is also grain-free!

Slice of vegan vanilla cake with chocolate ganache

VEGAN GLUTEN FREE VANILLA CAKE

This vegan gluten-free vanilla cake with chocolate ganache is adorned with curled white chocolate on top. Yes, please. This cake is just 8 ingredients, easy to make, oil-free and grain-free!

It’s hard to believe it is completely vegan, without eggs and dairy-free. I love all things vanilla. Whether it’s this 7 Ingredient Easy Vegan Vanilla Sheet Cake or these Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes are incredibly light and fluffy, as well as being gluten-free. I love vanilla cakes, like this Vegan Gluten-free Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake and this Funfetti Birthday Cake.

But, hey, if you are a chocolate fan, definitely make the most amazing Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes ever and if you are gluten-free, make my Vegan Gluten-free Chocolate Cupcakes. They are honestly the BEST chocolate cupcakes I’ve ever had in my life and readers agree!

Vegan vanilla cake with chocolate ganache and white chocolate curls

Overhead view with 3 plates of vegan vanilla cake slices

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

To make this vegan gluten-free vanilla cake, you need to gather these 8 ingredients (+salt):

  • Blanched almond flour: Make sure you are using a superfine blanched almond flour, as otherwise, your cake will turn out very dense and gritty. Honeyville, Bob’s Superfine Almond Flour, Wellbee’s are all good superfine blends.
  • Potato starch: This is the exact starch that makes the cake so fluffy, other starches will NOT work the same and you will end up with a dense cake. I order mine online since it can be hard to find in stores. It arrives in just a couple of days.
  • Baking powder
  • Pure maple syrup
  • Unsweetened applesauce: This replaces oil and helps to make the cake moist and also enhance the overall flavor.
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Aquafaba: This replaces eggs and helps to make this cake really fluffy, it cannot be omitted.

HOW TO MAKE VEGAN GLUTEN FREE VANILLA CAKE

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a 9 inch round cake pan with a piece of round parchment paper on the bottom and along the sides. It helps to lightly spray the inside of the pan first so the paper adheres. OR you can make cupcakes and line a pan with 10 liners.

Step 2: Add the almond flour, potato starch, salt and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk everything together really well until there are no lumps remaining.

Step 3: In a separate small bowl, add the syrup, applesauce, apple cider vinegar, vanilla and aquafaba and whisk until smooth. Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients and beat with a handheld mixer for about a minute to incorporate some air and make it really smooth.

Baked vegan vanilla cake in pan

Step 4: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 25-30 minutes, until it has risen with a light golden top (as pictured here), a toothpick comes out completely clean from the center. Let cool 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Then turn it over, so the flat side is facing up on a cooling rack. Cool completely before icing,

Slice of vegan gluten-free vanilla cake with chocolate ganache

APPLESAUCE IN PLACE OF OIL

Using almond flour and applesauce keeps this cake really moist and oil-free. The almond flour gives it a buttery taste, keeps it insanely moist and the potato starch is what gives it fluff and that all-purpose flour effect.

In place of eggs, I used aquafaba, which is just the liquid at the bottom of a chickpea can. This idea has exploded all over the internet. It works as an egg replacer, among a billion other things. It is NOT my idea, the credit goes to Goose Wholt for the amazing discovery I found on Facebook. The recommended amount for 1 egg is 3 tablespoons chickpea liquid, but I found 4 tablespoons to work best for my specific recipe. In fact, it worked better than flax.

CAN YOU MAKE THIS CAKE AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes, you can make this cake the day before you need it and it will still be moist and taste delicious. Of course, I prefer the texture and taste of cakes always made the day of, but you can cover the baked cake at room temperature and then add the icing or ganache the day of serving.

Slice of vegan gluten-free vanilla cake with chocolate ganache

VEGAN FROSTING OPTIONS FOR CAKE

  • Vegan Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
  • Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
  • Vegan Strawberry Frosting
  • Vegan Chocolate Espresso Truffle Frosting

OTHER VEGAN CAKES TO TRY

  • Vegan Almond Butter Cake
  • Vegan Pumpkin Cake
  • Gluten-free Vegan Pumpkin Cake
  • Vegan Gingerbread Cake

If you make this recipe,  be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thevegan8 #thevegan8!

slice of vanilla cake with chocolate glaze on white plate

Vegan Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake (Oil-free!)

Brandi Doming
The Best Easy Vegan Gluten-Free Vanilla Birthday Cake. This cake is soft, fluffy, really moist, healthy and oil-free. It is also grain-free!
5 from 32 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Cake
Cuisine American, Gluten-free, Vegan
Yields 9 inch cake or 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING POTATO STARCH, NOT POTATO FLOUR! Some have incorrectly used that and the cake doesn't work!

  • 2 cups (224g) superfine blanched almond flour (Do not use regular almond meal (with the skins), it is not light enough and will not produce the same results. See NOTES below.
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons (100g) potato starch (this is the exact starch that makes the cake so fluffy, other starches will NOT work the same)
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons (200g) pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup (120g) unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15g) real vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup (60g) aquafaba (the liquid at the bottom of a chickpea can)

NOTE

  • It is crucial to not sub these ingredients for best results. It's necessary to use a superfine blanched almond flour because it is what makes the cake so moist and light. Always use a scale for accuracy when baking, following MY gram weights listed. You never need cups, just the scale and bowl and make sure to zero out in between each ingredient.
  • I use this scale.

Instructions
 

  • This cake is best made the day of but you can bake it the night before if absolutely necessary. Just cover the cake well and add the ganache or frosting the day serving it. I recommend baking it at least 2 hours before your event to make sure it has completely cooled. Baked goods with starch tend to still slightly "cook" and fluff up for a couple of hours after removing them from the oven. They are a tad too moist to eat immediately.
  • Line a 9 inch round metal pan with a piece of round parchment paper on the bottom and along the sides. It helps to lightly spray the inside of the pan first so the paper adheres. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. OR you can make cupcakes and line a pan with 10 liners.
  • Make sure to weigh all your ingredients for accurate results. Fluff your almond flour with a whisk first to break up any lumps. If unable to use a scale, then scoop your cups into the dry ingredients, lightly pat down to make sure there are no gaps and then level off. Add the almond flour, potato starch, salt and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk everything together really well until there are no lumps remaining.
  • In a separate small bowl, add the syrup, applesauce, apple cider vinegar, vanilla and aquafaba and whisk until smooth. Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients and beat with a handheld mixer for about a minute to incorporate some air and make it really smooth. It should be a very smooth, pour-able batter. Now, try not to eat all the batter now. I know, it's so dang good.
  • Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 25-30 minutes, until it has risen with a light golden top, a toothpick comes out completely clean from the center. If making cupcakes, using an ice cream scoop makes for nice rounded tops. Cupcakes should be done around 25 minutes, but check for a clean toothpick in the center. Your time may slightly vary depending on your oven and may take longer to bake. Let cool 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Then turn it over, so the flat side is facing up on a cooling rack. Cool completely before icing, at least an hour. Or, you can flip it back over and frost the dome top if you prefer that look.
  • You can top it with my Ultimate Vegan Chocolate Ganache/Glaze! For additional decoration, I added some curled vegan white chocolate. OR if you want a traditional buttercream icing, I highly recommend my Vanilla Buttercream Frosting!

Notes

  • Blanched almond flour: Make sure you are using a superfine blanched almond flour, as otherwise, your cake will turn out very dense and gritty. Honeyville, Bob’s Superfine Almond Flour, Wellbee’s are all good superfine blends.
  • Potato starch: This is the exact starch that makes the cake so fluffy, other starches will NOT work the same and you will end up with a dense cake. I order mine online since it can be hard to find in stores. It arrives in just a couple of days.
  • The nutrition does not include the aquafaba since there is no nutritional info that I could find online. But it's such a small amount, it wouldn't make much a difference anyways.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 276kcalCarbohydrates: 35.2gProtein: 6gFat: 14gSodium: 312.4mgFiber: 3.1gSugar: 18.8g
Tried this recipe?Tag @thevegan8brandi on Instagram and use tag #thevegan8!
Keyword gluen free vegan vanilla cake, oil-free vanilla cake, vegan gluten free vanilla cake

The Vegan 8 is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclosure policy here.

Filed Under: Cake, Dessert, Gluten-free Tagged With: almond flour, Birthday, Cake, dessert, Ganache, Gluten-free, Grain free, Vanilla

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Comments

  1. Howie Fox

    October 25, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    Wait a minute!!! Did dad actually blow out the candles?? 😀
    What a great cake, hope everybody enjoyed it! I can imagine that it wasn’t an easy task to create it.

    Reply
  2. Gin

    October 25, 2015 at 5:15 am

    Next time I need to make a cake, I’m making this one. Great recipe, thoughtfully designed and your cake looks perfect!

    Reply
  3. Laura

    October 25, 2015 at 2:53 am

    Hello! LOVE that you created this recipe – thank you for spending the time to figure it all out!!!! I just tried it and it never seemed to fully cook…pretty gooey on the inside still…any ideas?? I did not substitute as you suggested 🙂 I am at high altitude (Colorado!) and did use a glass pan instead….maybe that’s where I went wrong. Anyway would love to know your thoughts – trying to get it right for my mom’s birthday coming up 🙂

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 25, 2015 at 3:42 am

      Hi Laura! It should definitely not be gooey, it should be light and fluffy and cooked, just like the pics 🙂 I’ve had several people make this already with the same results I had. I would definitely think it could have to do with your higher altitude and using the glass pan. I always use a metal pan for cakes like this. Also, glass takes longer to cook foods through, so that most definitely was why your cake didn’t finish cooking. You may need 5-10 more minutes baking time. Also, make sure it’s a 9 inch pan and just cook it longer until the toothpick comes out clean, a few DRY crumbs are ok. Also, make sure it’s baking on the center rack. It shouldn’t be gooey at all, it should be moist, but not gooey. Should be just like cake 🙂

      Reply
      • laura

        October 26, 2015 at 2:53 pm

        Thank you for responding – you’re the sweetest (pun intended)! I’m going to give it another go this weekend – cupcake style…I’m sure that will help with the gooey situation (not glass and smaller sizes). Gooey or not, I still ate it…and it was delicious 🙂

        Reply
        • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

          October 26, 2015 at 6:57 pm

          Oh, you are so welcome! Yes, they should work excellent as cupcakes too! Just make sure the center comes out clean with a toothpick (no wet batter) and you should be good. Let me know how it turns out!
          So glad you loved it!

          Reply
  4. Linda @ Veganosity

    October 23, 2015 at 10:16 pm

    Aquafaba is truly a miracle maker. I use if for my lemon meringue pie and lime tarts, plus other things that require eggs. This cake looks wonderful, Brandi. And your daughter is adorable. 🙂

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 23, 2015 at 10:30 pm

      Thank you so much Linda! It’s just a teeny part of the recipe, my cake base was the magic here (after so many trials!) and the aquafaba was the “icing on the cake” so to speak, haha! I decided to add it to my recipe since it was a cake and I wanted it to have a bit more structure and hold. It was just that extra little thing that gave my cake more more fluff than flax! I’ll be using it more I’m sure.

      Reply
  5. Mel @ avirtualvegan.com

    October 23, 2015 at 7:52 am

    This cake looks amazing and it’s hard to believe it’s gluten free. I have never baked with almond flour but would love to try it as I can imagine it has a great flavour.
    I am so jealous that you have managed to find vegan white chocolate! I have searched high and low for it here and as soon as I saw your note I checked Amazon.ca and they don’t have it :O( It must only be available in the U.S. Not fair :O(

    Your daughter’s birthday cake looks amazing….She is one lucky little girl!

    Reply
  6. Lana M

    October 23, 2015 at 6:02 am

    5 stars
    A beautiful cake for a beautiful young lady! Thank you for sharing your amazing work with us! The minute I saw this cake, I knew I would love it! Made it today and absolutely loved the nutty flavor in every bite. Didn’t have the white chocolate, so shaved some Brazilian nut on top. It turned out perfect! Thank you for all the notes along the way. Loved every bite of your wonderful creation! ❤️

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      March 9, 2016 at 7:16 pm

      So so happy to hear it was such a hit, thank you so much Lana for your kind words! Thank you!!

      Reply
  7. Audrey @ Unconventional Baker

    October 23, 2015 at 3:31 am

    Oh my gosh that picture of Olivia makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside 🙂 What a cutie. You captured the perfect moment. And the cake sounds incredible! I was one of the people asking for the vanilla, partially out of self-interest haha. Well the truth is I got an extremely difficult reader request for a vanilla cake and I’ve been testing and testing and testing, and just when I thought I got somewhere — that’s the very recipe my dog ate! *sigh* Anyhow, I was so tired of testing at that point that I thought I’d give it a bit of a break and then was secretly hoping your recipe would suit her needs, but alas she cannot have the nuts (which was my problem to begin with, since I already have an almond-based vanilla recipe). So my testing will have to continue. But just thought I’d share that because I can totally relate to that rigorous testing process to get it right. I think you totally delivered. The cakes looks and sounds amazing!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 23, 2015 at 3:49 am

      Aww so sweet, thank you Audrey! I love that picture of her too. She is just the sweetest little thing ever. Oh no! I remember you posting about the recipe your dog ate, haha! That sucks! Oh brother, it’s impossible to fit every single need a reader request for 100% of them because when one can’t have nuts, then they can have oats, or vice versa, etc. I have so many readers who avoid oats, so making this cake oat-free was super important….plus I find oats to make cakes way too dense and chewy and that doesn’t fit the mold of a classic vanilla soft cake that I wanted. This one tastes just like traditional vanilla cake, in fact, better than the ones I had before with all the icky ingredients.
      This is probably the most tested recipe I’ve ever done, because nailing the true cake texture is not so easy when gluten-free AND oil-free with just such few ingredients. I tested so much that I stepped back and thought about the fact that my favorite flour combo of almond flour and potato starch that I created last year for 3 separate recipes (including bundt cake) produced the softest/best results and that I should go with that and so glad I did! All the nut-free trials were about 80% there, but they are not 100%, so I’m still working on that, lol!

      Reply
  8. the

    October 22, 2015 at 10:19 pm

    Making this for a friend she is going to love it.

    Reply
  9. Kelly @ TastingPage

    October 22, 2015 at 6:31 pm

    I’ve been reading a lot about aquafaba too and have yet to try it in cooking. It’s good to know that it was a success and better than a flax egg. Can’t wait to try. Your cake looks amazing!

    Reply
  10. Bárbara

    October 22, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    You’re again in my kitchen… foreveeer 😛 This is SOOOOO GOOD! And it was also my first experiment with aquafaba, I even saved more for some other recipes, such a wonderful ingredient! I just had a little problem with the glaze, which ended up like a (VERY NICE and pliable) cake fondant. I started with the hand mix but it spread chocolate on the walls (oh my) then I mixed with hands (with gloves) until very smooth, pressed with a roll ing pin (in between plastic) and then molded over the cake. BAZINGA 🙂

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 22, 2015 at 5:30 pm

      Barbara, I am SO happy you loved this cake so much and I loved your pic of it on Facebook!! It looked just perfect and the glaze should be runny and easily mixable with the beater, so it sounds like you left out the milk or double up on the starch or something, but regardless your idea and picture with the extra thick icing looked amazingggg! So happy you loved it all, thank you so much for the feedback!!

      Reply
      • Bárbara

        October 22, 2015 at 8:14 pm

        (Just as a follow-up for those reading the comments)
        Like we’ve chatted on Facebook: everything the same, but ingredients where I live come from different sources, different flour brands… But I believe this recipe CAN’T go wrong!!! 🙂 The thick icing was one of those things gone wrong but in another perspective actually gone right hahaha THANK YOU for the amazing recipes and being so attentive to fans 🙂

        Reply
        • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

          October 25, 2015 at 8:53 pm

          You are a sweetheart Barbara! I’m so happy you loved this! And I’m glad the icing worked out even as a thick version…really can’t go wrong, thick or thin when it comes to chocolate, lol! And my readers mean the world to me, so thank you!

          Reply
  11. Kristina

    October 22, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    a simple vanilla cake is one of the best things… this sounds fantastic, and you know I love that pink cake!

    Reply
  12. Harriet Emily

    October 21, 2015 at 11:15 pm

    What a beautiful cake Brandi! The texture is soooooo perfect! Your daughters birthday cake is stunning. I’m so glad you’re sharing the recipe, I can’t wait to try it! 😀

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 22, 2015 at 1:09 am

      Awww thank you so much Harriet! You are so sweet! Girl, it was so many dang trials to get that perfect cake texture I wanted! LOL! I’ve had too many gluten-free cakes or baked goods that are super gooey and taste undercooked and nasty or they are hard as a brick….I didn’t want it to taste like gluten-free and it doesn’t, it just tastes like super soft, moist cake!

      Reply
  13. Liane

    October 21, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    This recipe sounds heavenly 🙂 do you know where I can find blanched almond flour here (Germany)? Or is there a way to make it myself?

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 22, 2015 at 1:12 am

      Hi Liane! Oh gosh, I would have no clue in Germany, haha! I would just assume a specialty store where flours are carried…here they are in with the health section or specialty flours. I would just suggest asking any store managers. You could also attempt to make some almond flour yourself by grinding up blanched almonds into a flour, but honestly, that will not produce as fluffy a result. If you try that route, just make sure to get it as fine as possible without turning it into a paste and make sure to weigh the correct amount of flour needed. Please let me know what you figure out!

      Reply
      • Liane

        November 14, 2015 at 3:29 pm

        It´s in the oven now, but I think something is wrong. Following the recipe the batter was incredibly dry, like a bread. Even after I added a lot more liquid (1 cup), its still dry, and not pourable. The top has small holes and there was no way to make it flat. Also I tasted the batter and it tastes bitter. Do you know what the problem could be? It´s such a shame, since I´ve tried millions of vanilla cakes and so far all of them have been disasters. And I´ve been baking for years… 🙁

        Reply
        • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

          November 14, 2015 at 6:58 pm

          Hi Liane, sounds like you definitely left out the syrup, because there is no way this batter is dry and bitter. In fact, it’s very pourable, smooth and sweet, just like a regular vanilla cake batter. I’ve made this cake probably 10 times now and as you can see from the above reviews, they have all been success. So, you want to make sure you are adding each ingredient and all the liquids, so you get the right results. The syrup you need is 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons and with that, it’s a very sweet batter. I’d go through the whole list of ingredients and liquids and make sure you measure correctly and not leave out or sub anything. Something definitely was left out. Make sure you added all the liquids and the applesauce and the syrup. Hope that helps!

          Reply
          • Liane

            March 9, 2016 at 7:03 pm

            So, I just made it a second time and had the same problems. Followed the recipe exactly, read through several times. Didnt sub, didnt leave out anything. The batter was so dry, that I had to add more than 500ml extra of liquid just ot be able to mix it. In the oven now, I hope it tastes fine. I want this to work so badly but I dont think I want to try a third time and waste the ingredients again. Do you know what could be the problem?

            Reply
        • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

          March 9, 2016 at 7:25 pm

          Hi Liane, I’m so sorry, not sure what to tell you without being there, I have no idea what amount/ingredient you have off or if because you are in Germany, maybe you have a different kind of ingredient, because this batter is most definitely not dry. Like I mentioned above, it is a very smooth runny cake batter. There are over a dozen reviews below yours and all had success and loved the cake, you are the first person to mention having trouble and with a dry cake batter, so you are either adding too much flour or not enough liquid. Are you weighing the ingredients with a kitchen scale? With gluten-free baking, that is the only way to ensure accurate results, but even if you didn’t it shouldn’t be so dry batter. Using a scale, you have to make sure you zero it out each time you measure a flour, but there is only 2 flours so it’s very easy. Are you leaving out the aquafaba? I’m trying to ask these questions so I can help you. Are you sure you are using “blanched almond flour” what does your bag say exactly? How about the potato starch, what does the bag say? You are definitely using a wrong flour or amount, I just don’t know what else it could be without being there to see. You shouldn’t need extra liquid at all unless you have the wrong flour.

          Reply
          • Liane

            April 5, 2016 at 12:36 am

            Well I used Mandelmehl = almond flour (2 different brands, same results). The only thing available except for ground almonds, which would not work, of course. Weighed everything. Since it was the 2nd trial, really took my time, made sure I followed the recipe etc etc. I really dont know. So far I have tried tons of recipes for vegan glutenfree vanilla cakes and all of them have been disasters. Grey, didnt rise, gummy, gritty, too sweet, too bland, burnt outside, wet inside, bitter… the list goes on. Everything else is fine, chocolate cake, nuts, fruits, fillings, truffles… really anything except for a plain vanilla sponge 🙁

            Reply
          • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

            April 5, 2016 at 2:46 am

            Such a bummer Liane. Sorry to hear that. Like I’ve mentioned before, something is off in the brands or measurements because every other reader has had great success with this cake. I’ve heard measurements are different in other countries, so not sure. Make sure you are using the gram measurements. That’s odd that every single vanilla cake recipe you’ve made has failed, wish I had some answers as to what is going wrong on your end, but I just don’t know since you said it’s with every vanilla cake you make.

            Reply
  14. Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen

    October 21, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Oh wow! This cake looks stunning, Brandi. And that coconut looks like chocolate shavings. Pink frosting looks droolicious. Olivia is a lucky girl to have a an awesome mom like you.

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 21, 2015 at 10:44 pm

      Thank you so much Anu! Actually it IS shaved white chocolate that looks like coconut, you have it backwards, haha! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Sophia @Veggies Don't Bite

    October 21, 2015 at 7:33 am

    I love the change in pic design! I think the light and bright is perfect for this cake. I’m not usually much of a cake person, but this looks so beautiful! I know I’d love it in the whole thing with the chocolate and the pink frosting. Olivia must have been so darn happy. What a good mom you are!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 21, 2015 at 8:46 am

      Awww thanks so much Sophia, your comment was so sweet! Glad you like these photos….it’s different than I normally like to do, but just wanted a different feel for the cake and just trying other designs. Jay isn’t a cake fan either and thought this was “perfect” and really delicious, so I was thrilled he loved it, lol! He’s so picky! Thank you again…Olivia was one really happy little girl!

      Reply
      • Sophia @Veggies Don't Bite

        October 22, 2015 at 8:26 am

        I love that you’re switching it up!! Your pics are all great, but it’s fun to see another theme! Keep up the fantastic work!

        Reply
  16. Michele @ Two Raspberries

    October 21, 2015 at 5:51 am

    awww HAPPY birthday to your daughter! 😉 she is beautiful! and this cake looks wonderful! and GF too! winnner!!!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 21, 2015 at 8:48 am

      Thank you so much Michele, you are so sweet! Any compliment to my daughter is the best thing anybody can say to me, so thank you 🙂

      Reply
  17. Jenn

    October 21, 2015 at 12:17 am

    Yes!! Looks amazing! I LOVE aquafaba in baking!! I find it makes things so nice and fluffy. And I always use 1/4 cup to replace one egg too! Can’t wait to try!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 21, 2015 at 12:37 am

      Thank you Jenn! I was surprised at how well it worked! I was reading up on the aquafaba community site about it’s magical powers, lol, and of course I’ve seen so many people talk about how well it works, but 3 T (the recommended “egg”) just didn’t seem like quite enough in my trial…for this recipe anyways, so the 4 T was perfect! I’m excited to try it in other things now! I very rarely even use flax in my baking, but for this, I definitely didn’t because I didn’t want flax specs in my pretty cake, lol!

      Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 21, 2015 at 12:38 am

      Do you generally whip yours before adding to the other liquids? I didn’t whip mine, just added it in with the liquids and then beat it all together and it worked well.

      Reply
  18. Natalie | Feasting on Fruit

    October 20, 2015 at 10:53 pm

    This cake is magnificent! And after I read that what I once thought was coconut is actually white chocolate shavings my cake-loving heart just melted a little <3 I love the light white pictures, perfect to showcase this vanilla beauty (I'm so glad vanilla won the poll :)) and Olivia's birthday pic is just precious. I can tell from the recipe that this cake most certainly took a LOT of experimenting because the ingredient list is very unique. I don't know why, but vanilla always seems to be harder than chocolate. And now that you have the basic cake recipe down, Olivia's birthdays from here on out will be a lot easier!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 20, 2015 at 11:08 pm

      Awww Natalie, your comment made me smile so much! You are SO correct…vanilla cake is 10 times harder than chocolate to make gluten-free and oil-free….and this one is also coconut-free, my normal go-to! I know it’s a different list of ingredients for sure, but ultimately after a million attempts, this is what I loved best. And yes, thank GOD I have the base down now….only now I have to perfect the nut-free, oil-free one…..argghhh!!
      Thank you so much! So glad you love these photos…I normally am all about the more moody pics, but since this was all inspired by my daughter who I think of sweet, innocent and pure….I wanted the setup to reflect that and the cake. Thank you so much for your sweet comment!

      Reply
  19. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine

    October 20, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    Such a lovely simple cake! It does look pretty dreamy 😉

    Reply
  20. maria

    October 20, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    Hi!

    This looks great! I know what you said about subbing, but do you think you could use water instead of the aquafaba?

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 20, 2015 at 11:16 pm

      Hi Maria! The aquafaba helps to bind the cake, so it’s pretty important. It acts as the “egg”. But you can try subbing with 3 tbsp water and 1 tbsp ground flaxseed. Heat the water for 20 seconds so it’s really warm, then add the flax and whisk it in. Let it sit for 5-10 mins until gel-like. I definitely preferred the aquafaba results in texture and found it to act more like a real egg, so keep that in mind, but if you try the flax, let me know how it turns out please! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Bella

        October 16, 2017 at 4:55 am

        Hi! I’m planning on making this cake for my sons birthday, it looks so good! Do you know how many cans of chickpeas you need to get 1/4 cup of the liquid? Also, how many does this cake serve? I need to feed 20 people at least.
        Thank you and I can’t wait to try this cake!

        Reply
        • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

          October 16, 2017 at 6:12 am

          Hi Bella! You would only need 1 can! However, if you are planning to make a cake and a large one, then I would actually recommend this other cake, the Funfetti Birthday Cake! It is the #1 cake on my blog and made by a TON of readers for birthday parties, which I designed it for that. You of course can make this one, it is delicious, but the funfetti one does hold up better (not as delicate) and a more classic birthday cake taste and texture and it’s much bigger.
          Here is the link, it is a double layer cake and I think it should feed, depending on how thin you cut the cake, 10-15 people, so you may need to make 2 whole cakes just to make sure since it is a standard double layer cake. The cakes are incredibly easy to make though. Just weigh your ingredients for accuracy.

          https://thevegan8.com/vegan-gluten-free-funfetti-birthday-cake/

          Reply
          • Bella

            October 20, 2017 at 7:39 pm

            Wow the funfetti cake looks amazing! I’m going to make it this weekend to see how it comes out. For the vanilla buttercream frosting, do you think it will still come out ok if I whip it by hand since I don’t own a food processor? I’d like to make the frosting the day before the party. Thanks for all your help!

            Reply
            • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

              October 20, 2017 at 8:54 pm

              Hi Bella! Hmm, do you have a blender? That would work too. If not, I think you should be fine mixing it as long as everything is warm and smooth because it is pretty runny at this step. Just whisk until it’s all super smooth. A blender/food processor just makes it easier, but you should be able to do it so long as your ingredients are warm.

              Reply
  21. Annie

    October 20, 2015 at 10:21 pm

    Vanilla cake is so underrated – but it really is delicious – especially when drizzled with chocolate :-). I will be waiting anxiously for your nut-free version, too!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 20, 2015 at 11:27 pm

      I agree Annie! Vanilla has always been my favorite type of cake, but I’m ready for chocolate now, haha!

      Reply
  22. rachel @ Atheltic Avocado

    October 20, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    that cake looks absolutely beautiful! I can tell your daughter loved it by the look on her face, so precious! 🙂

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 21, 2015 at 9:03 am

      Thank you so much Rachel, you are way too sweet!! She absolutely loved it!

      Reply
  23. Florian @ContentednessCooking

    October 20, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    Wow this cake looks so beautiful, can you make this for me? I love the fact that this cake has almond flour, which gives a nice and elegant nutty flavor to the cake. One ingredient I never expected here is aquafaba. I know some bloggers and recipe creators used it before, but I’ve never tried it. I bet this would be a great egg replacer. It is absolutely gorgeous to read that the birthday cake for your lovely daughter inspired you to make this here. Nothing better than food with memories. It makes food even better because it includes a story, an important and wonderful moment in your life. This cake seriously looks so decadent and rich but it is so approachable and not complicated to make, love this!

    Reply
  24. andie@micibakes

    October 20, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    looks heavenly Brandi!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 20, 2015 at 9:31 pm

      Thank you so much Andie!!

      Reply
  25. Lisa

    October 20, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    Hi Brandi, Are you a fan of the Trader Joe’s almond flour? I will be testing this cake for my son’s birthday which is coming up in November (so very soon) and I don’t have an HEB around so will probably be using the Trader Joe’s almond flour. Thanks so much for all of your hard work on this cake. So ridiculously excited to give this a try!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      October 20, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      Hi Lisa! I actually do use their almond flour for muffins and cookies, but since it’s the almond meal and not the blanched almond flour and still has all the skins still on it, I’m not a fan of it for cake. I can still taste skins when I tried it with cake. They don’t sell any blanched almond flour that I’m aware of. You can certainly try it and see if you like it, but I wasn’t a fan…was less light and moist. Are you near a Kroger? You can try their brand “Simple Truth” as well and that should give similar results. Or there is always Honeyville that you can order online. Let me know please! 🙂

      Reply
      • Roberta

        April 3, 2018 at 3:57 pm

        Trader Joe’s does have blanched almond flour now (April 2018!). So I’ll definitely be trying with theirs. I’ve been looking for a fluffy, vegan gluten free cake and this recipe seems legit. I cannot wait to try it and will be sure to come back and let you guys know how it turns out. Thanks so much for all the details! This is rocking my world! Xo

        Reply
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I'm Brandi, creator of this vegan blog and cookbook author of The Vegan 8 Cookbook. Many of my recipes focus on 8 ingredients or less, not counting salt, pepper or water, but not all of them. I love to create health-focused recipes, using whole foods to improve fitness and muscle-building, with the occasional comfort meal thrown in there! I'm an expert on oil-free cooking and baking! read more →

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