Make our easy vegan chocolate sponge cake for a special occasion using dairy substitutes. It’s finished with luscious ‘buttercream’ and seasonal fruits
Prep:35 mins
Serves 10 – 12
150g dairy-free spread, plus extra for the tins300ml dairy-free milk, we used oat milk1 tbsp cider vinegar300g self-raising flour200g golden caster sugar4 tbsp cocoa powder1 tsp bicarbonate of soda½ tsp vanilla extract
STEP 1Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Grease the base and sides of 2 x 20cm sandwich tins with dairy-free spread, then line the bases with baking parchment.STEP 2Put the dairy-free milk in a jug and add the vinegar – it will split but don’t worry. Put all of the other cake ingredients into a large bowl, pour over the milk mixture and beat well until smooth. Divide the mixture between the prepared tins and bake for 25-30 mins or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cakes comes out cleanly. Leave to cool in the tins for 10mins then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.STEP 3To make the buttercream, put the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Leave the melted chocolate to cool for 5 minutes. Beat the dairy-free spread and icing sugar together with a wooden spoon then sift in the cocoa powder with a pinch of salt. Pour in the melted chocolate and dairy-free milk and keep mixing until smooth.STEP 4Sandwich the two cooled sponges together with half of the buttercream then pile the rest on top and down the sides. Decorate with the fresh fruit.
