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    Home » Recipes » Cake Recipes

    Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe made with Coconut Oil

    Published: Dec 18, 2012 · Modified: Jun 19, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    637 shares
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    4.77 from 30 votes
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    pinterest image for vegan chocolate fudge cake

    This is the most delicious Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake you’ll ever taste!

    slice of Chocolate Fudge Cake with Whipped Cream on a white plate on a red and white striped napkin

    One of my great childhood memories will always be chocolate cake for breakfast…sigh. It was a wonderful thing! But that was in the days of Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker when mixes somehow began taking the place of homemade cakes. Now I’m not knocking the mixes, everything has its time and place, and they did come up with some pretty darn good cakes. But even as good as they were, they’re not homemade.

    I came across an old recipe for a Vegan Chocolate Cake, although at the time they had no idea it was Vegan, or even what a Vegan was, but they knew what delicious was! It was a simple recipe using oil, and vinegar instead of eggs and butter….who knew?

    Well evidently those bakers from the depression knew, and when they couldn’t get eggs or butter, they still came up with a recipe for the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had.

    With my quest to eat healthier, I’ve been changing my dietary intake whenever possible, using Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream and sour cream, and using coconut oil instead of other oils.

    overhead shot of Chocolate Fudge Cake with Whipped Cream

    So what could I do but make my favorite chocolate cake of all time, using coconut oil.

    I decided to throw a fudge layer in between the layers and used coconut oil instead of butter and it was fudgelicious!

    To keep the cake Vegan I finished it with mounds of whipped coconut cream…….. it was a beautiful thing!

    overhead shot of Chocolate Fudge Cake dusted with powdered sugar

    If you’re not into whipped coconut cream you can always dust the cake with powdered sugar.

    If you enjoyed this recipe you may also like these:

    • The Original Pumpkin Crunch Cake
    • Chocolate Valentines Cake
    • Pomegranate Mousse Cake
    • Chocolate Mousse Cake

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
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    4.77 from 30 votes

    Table of Contents:

    • Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
      • Ingredients
        • Cake
        • Chocolate Fudge Frosting
        • Whipped Cream
      • Instructions
        • Cake
        • Chocolate Fudge Frosting
        • Whipped Cream
        • Assembly
      • Nutrition

    Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake

    You’re going to love this over the top fudgy and delicious chocolate cake.  And if you leave off the whipped cream it’s completely vegan… 
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 516kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 3 Cups All Purpose Flour
    • 2 cups sugar
    • 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup Coconut Oil
    • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 2 cups cold water

    Chocolate Fudge Frosting

    • 1 cup coconut oil
    • 1 cup cocoa powder unsweetened
    • ½ cup maple syrup
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon hot coffee

    Whipped Cream

    • 14 oz Coconut cream
    • ⅓ cup confectioners sugar (10x)
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Cake

    • Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
    • Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl.
    • With your mixer on low speed beat in the coconut oil, vinegar, vanilla, and water until smooth.
    • Pour the mixture into the two 9″ prepared pans, coated with pan spray.
    • Bake for 30 minutes or until a cake skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Do not over bake the cake. It should be firm to the touch, and a cake skewer inserted in the middle of the cake should come out clean.
    • Put the cake pans on cooling racks and cool for 15 to 20 minutes before removing the cakes from the pans to cool completely.
    • Allow to cool completely before frosting.

    Chocolate Fudge Frosting

    • mix all ingredients in the bowl of your mixer and whip until well blended

    Whipped Cream

    • Refrigerate can of coconut cream, 8 hours or overnight. Place a metal mixing bowl and beaters in the refrigerator or freezer 1 hour before making whipped cream.
    • Open the can of coconut cream, taking care not to shake it. Scoop out the coconut cream solids into a cold mixing bowl. (Reserve remaining liquid for another use)
    • Beat the coconut cream using an electric mixer with the chilled beaters on medium speed for a few minutes then turn to high speed. Beat until stiff peaks form, about 7 to 8 minutes.
    • Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to coconut cream; beat 1 minute more.

    Assembly

    • place one layer on cake plate and add layer of chocolate fudge.
    • place second layer on cake and fill in any spots in the chocolate fudge layer.
    • coat sides of cake with chocolate fudge (wet the blade of your spatula while smoothing it will help)
    • top cake with whipped cream, cut and serve!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 516kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 293mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2.8mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

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    1. chitra

      December 20, 2012 at 12:32 am

      Wow, wonderful cake. I am planning to try. Please suggest me an alternate for maple syrup and shall i use ordinary coconut oil. Mine is not extra virgin .. Thanks chef 🙂

      Reply
      • Chef D

        December 20, 2012 at 5:44 am

        hi Chitra,

        regular coconut oil should be no problem, and you can use honey in place of the maple syrup, or any liquid sweetener that you like, Let me know how it turns out!

        Reply
    2. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes

      December 19, 2012 at 9:31 pm

      It looks fantastic! So rich and decadent.

      Reply
    3. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen

      December 19, 2012 at 3:07 pm

      It´s so sad that I can´t get coconut oil here. I still think it will catch on at some point and I will be able to get it everywhere. A fabulous chocolate cake!

      Reply
    4. Diana @ The Chic Life

      December 19, 2012 at 1:11 pm

      Lol – I made vegan desserts and then put whipped cream on them, too! 😛 Looks wonderful!

      Reply
    5. Wendy Irene

      December 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm

      Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe Chef Dennis! I am thinking I could make it with coconut milk whip cream on top and that would be wonderful too 🙂 One of my friends made some for me the other day by whipping the coconut cream from the top of the can with confectioners’ sugar. It was delicious. Happy Holidays, my friend!

      Reply
    6. Muna Kenny

      December 19, 2012 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      I can’t believe it’s vegan! It looks moist and chocolaty and as naughty as a chocolate fudge cake can be. I’m in love.

      Thanks for the recipe Chef 🙂

      Reply
    7. Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen

      December 19, 2012 at 11:43 am

      Looks amazing, Chef!

      Reply
    8. The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time

      December 19, 2012 at 11:39 am

      That’s more healthy? I’d be willing to give chocolate another try with a slice of that gorgeous cake. I can see how moist it is. It’s beautiful.

      Reply
    9. Betty Ann @Mango_Queen

      December 19, 2012 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      Chocolate cake never fails to make us all run to the dessert table. And I’m glad you shared one with coconut oil. I grew up in a country that used coconut oil in everything. Glad to see there is a renewed interest in its uses and benefits. Thanks for sharing this, Chef Dennis!

      Reply
    10. Kate@Diethood

      December 19, 2012 at 11:10 am

      5 stars
      Stunning! I’ll take it with whipped cream, please! 😀

      Reply
    11. RavieNomNoms

      December 19, 2012 at 8:29 am

      Dennis this sounds amazing!! I really just must try this!

      Reply
    12. Kimby

      December 19, 2012 at 8:20 am

      May I please have breakfast at your house? 🙂

      Reply
    13. Sandra

      December 19, 2012 at 7:49 am

      My holiday baking list is steadily growing. Thank you Dennis, I’ve been on the hunt for more cakes that use coconut oil. Have a Merry Christmas!

      Reply
    14. Cher

      December 19, 2012 at 5:45 am

      Great cake, Chef. I love cakes with coconut oil – it just lends a beautiful back drop in baked good.

      Reply
    15. Kayle (The Cooking Actress)

      December 19, 2012 at 4:47 am

      5 stars
      Oh my WORD that cake looks so fudgy and decadent and perfect! I love that there’s no butter!!!

      Coconut oil is so amazing.

      Reply
    16. Sandy @Southwestgirl

      December 19, 2012 at 12:51 am

      5 stars
      This cake looks amazing! Who needs frosting with such a rich, chocolate cake? Thanks for sharing the recipe, I’ve been looking for ways to use more coconut oil.

      Reply
    17. Miriam @ Overtime Cook

      December 19, 2012 at 12:10 am

      What a beautiful looking cake! I would never have believed it’s vegan!

      Reply
    18. Mary

      December 18, 2012 at 11:58 pm

      This looks amazing. I bet the coconut oil just took it straight over the top. I would have topped it with piles of whipped cream as well!

      Reply
    19. Elin

      December 18, 2012 at 10:55 pm

      5 stars
      Chef Dennis, share a slice of your fudgelicious please…I am hungry just looking at it now…bad timing 🙂 Thanks for sharing another good one with us. Here is me wishing you and loved ones, a Joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year ! Have fun with family and friends 🙂

      Warm Wishes,
      Elin

      Reply
    20. Kristina

      December 18, 2012 at 8:45 pm

      Dennis this sounds absolutely fantastic, and looks gorgeous as well. I would love a big bowl of the fudgelicious, please!

      Reply
      • Abby

        May 03, 2013 at 11:16 pm

        5 stars
        This cake was absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to make it again!

        Reply
        • Chef Dennis

          May 04, 2013 at 6:03 am

          Thanks for letting us know Abby, I’m So happy to hear you enjoyed it!

        • Abby

          May 15, 2013 at 7:01 pm

          Chef- Do you have any other vegan dessert recipes? Would love to try some more!

          Thanks again!

        • Chef Dennis

          May 16, 2013 at 10:29 am

          hi Abby

          I don’t think I do, but I would suggest you check out my friend Allyson Kramer, she is amazing http://www.manifestvegan.com/
          Dennis

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    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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