Mastering the Art of Vegan Vanilla Cake: Fluffy, Fruity, and Fantastically Simple
Discover how to create the most exquisite vegan vanilla cake, bursting with fresh berries and sweet raspberry jam. This light, fluffy, and incredibly easy-to-make plant-based delight is filled with luxurious vanilla buttercream, making it the perfect centrepiece for any special occasion or a sophisticated afternoon tea. Post proudly sponsored by Spode.
This exquisite vegan vanilla cake with berries and jam is not just a dessert; it’s an experience. Designed to be easy to bake yet utterly delicious, it’s a showstopper perfect for a myriad of occasions, from joyous birthday celebrations to elegant afternoon tea gatherings, or simply as a delightful treat to brighten your day. Its light texture and rich flavour prove that plant-based baking can be just as, if not more, satisfying than traditional recipes.
Making a truly remarkable vegan cake often comes down to balancing moisture, flavour, and a perfect crumb. This recipe achieves exactly that, resulting in a cake that is beautifully fluffy, wonderfully moist, and infused with the classic, comforting aroma of vanilla. Each layer is generously frosted with a simple yet decadent vegan vanilla buttercream, then lovingly adorned with vibrant raspberry jam and an abundance of fresh, seasonal berries. This combination creates a harmonious symphony of sweet and tart notes that will tantalize your taste buds.
I find that fresh berries are nature’s simplest and most effective way to elevate the visual appeal of any cake. There’s no need for intricate piping or elaborate decorations; simply pile them on liberally, and your cake is guaranteed to look like a stunning masterpiece. Beyond their aesthetic charm, they offer a burst of fresh flavour and a delightful texture that perfectly complements the sweet, tender vanilla cake. Their natural acidity cuts through the sweetness of the buttercream and jam, creating a perfectly balanced bite every time.
Of course, the beauty of this versatile vegan vanilla cake recipe is its adaptability. While berries and jam add a fantastic touch, they can easily be omitted if you prefer a classic, plain vegan vanilla cake, or if you wish to experiment with different fillings and decorations. This cake provides a superb blank canvas for your creativity, allowing you to tailor it to any theme, flavour preference, or artistic vision you desire.
Why Choose a Vegan Vanilla Cake?
In today’s culinary landscape, vegan baking has blossomed, offering incredible alternatives that cater to various dietary needs and ethical choices without compromising on taste or texture. This easy vegan vanilla cake is a testament to how delicious and accessible plant-based desserts can be. It’s perfect for those with dairy or egg allergies, individuals following a plant-based diet, or anyone simply looking to try something new and exciting.
Beyond the dietary advantages, this vegan vanilla cake is surprisingly straightforward to make. The ingredients are readily available, and the process is designed to be beginner-friendly. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can whip up this impressive dessert, proving that creating a show-stopping cake doesn’t require animal products or complicated techniques. The result is a cake that is not only kind to animals and the planet but also incredibly satisfying and delicious for everyone at the table.
The Allure of Afternoon Tea: A Timeless Tradition
This magnificent vegan vanilla cake with berries and jam isn’t just a dessert; it’s destined to be the crowning glory of any impressive afternoon tea spread. I had the distinct pleasure of crafting this particular recipe for the esteemed British pottery company, Spode. It was created specifically to honour Afternoon Tea Week, an annual celebration of one of the nation’s most cherished traditions, typically observed from the 14th to the 20th of August.
Afternoon Tea Week serves as a wonderful reminder to slow down, connect with loved ones, and indulge in a delightful array of culinary treats. There’s truly nothing quite like gathering around a beautifully set table, enjoying a lavish spread of delicate sandwiches, fluffy scones with cream and jam, an assortment of exquisite biscuits and, of course, a grand cake as the centrepiece. All perfectly complemented by a large pot of freshly brewed tea, and perhaps even a celebratory glass of bubbly! It’s a tradition that evokes warmth, elegance, and pure enjoyment, providing a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Elevate Your Experience with Spode Delamere Rural
The experience of afternoon tea is undeniably elevated when served on a truly beautiful and harmonious tea set. For this special occasion, I was fortunate to receive a stunning Afternoon Tea set from Spode’s Delamere Rural range, and it is nothing short of breathtaking. The intricate craftsmanship and elegant design truly transform a simple meal into an unforgettable event.
The Delamere Rural range is distinguished by its exquisite and finely detailed grey floral border, which adds a touch of classic sophistication to each piece. Many items within this collection also charmingly feature delicate woodland animal designs, such as graceful deer, creating a whimsical yet refined aesthetic. This unique blend of traditional artistry and subtle natural motifs makes the collection feel both timeless and contemporary.
What makes the Spode Delamere Rural range particularly remarkable is its wonderful versatility. It effortlessly blends a modern sensibility with classic elegance, making it suitable for a wide array of occasions. While its refined appearance makes it perfect for those special, celebratory moments, the pieces are also incredibly durable and practical for everyday use. They are conveniently dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe, meaning there’s absolutely no need to reserve them solely for grand events. You can enjoy the beauty and quality of Spode as part of your daily routine.
The collection’s key pieces truly enhance the tea-drinking and cake-serving ritual. The generously sized and elegantly designed teapot, along with the beautifully crafted teacups, transform a simple cup of tea into a truly special moment. And for presenting your magnificent vegan vanilla cake creations, the stunning cake stand, matching cake slice, delicate pastry forks, and charming 6-inch deer plates provide the perfect backdrop, showcasing your baking efforts in style.
How To Make a Fluffy Vegan Vanilla Cake: Step-by-Step Guide
Creating this delicious vegan vanilla cake is a rewarding process, and following these simple steps will ensure a perfect result every time. The key lies in careful mixing and precise measurements, though the recipe is very forgiving!
Step 1: Wet Ingredients Harmony. Begin by combining the unsweetened plant milk (almond milk works beautifully here), white wine vinegar, caster sugar, rich vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste for an even deeper flavour), and melted vegan spread in a large jug. Whisk these wet ingredients together thoroughly until they are well combined. The vinegar reacting with the plant milk creates a vegan “buttermilk,” which contributes to the cake’s tenderness and moist crumb.
Step 2: Dry Ingredients Foundation. In a separate, larger bowl, sift together the plain flour, cornflour (which adds a lovely tenderness), baking powder, and bicarbonate of soda. Sifting is crucial for aerating the dry ingredients and preventing lumps, ensuring a light and even texture in your finished cake.
Step 3: Gentle Combination. Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Using a whisk, gently combine them until the batter is smooth. It’s important to mix until just combined – overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a tougher cake. A few small lumps are better than an overmixed, tough batter!
Step 4: Prepare for Baking. Divide the prepared batter evenly between your chosen cake tins. For a taller, more elegant layer cake (as pictured), three 15cm (6-inch) round cake tins are ideal. Alternatively, if you prefer a slightly wider, shorter cake, two 20cm (8-inch) tins will work perfectly. Using a kitchen scale to ensure even distribution of batter across the tins will help your layers bake uniformly.
Step 5: Golden Perfection. Bake the cakes in a preheated oven until they turn a beautiful golden brown. To check for doneness, insert a skewer or toothpick into the centre of a cake; it should come out clean when the cake is ready. The aroma of freshly baked vanilla cake filling your kitchen is truly one of life’s simple pleasures!
Crafting the Silky Vegan Vanilla Buttercream
Achieving a perfectly smooth, stable, and delicious vegan vanilla buttercream is key to a truly decadent layer cake. From experience, I’ve found that the best results are achieved by using a balanced combination of two specific fats: half solid vegan spread (like a block butter alternative, such as Naturli vegan block or Stork block, which are less watery than tub spreads), and half vegetable shortening (such as Trex). This specific ratio is crucial as it helps to prevent the buttercream from splitting, ensuring a wonderfully creamy and spreadable consistency that holds its shape beautifully.
Step 1: Creaming the Fats. Begin by placing the cold vegan spread and vegetable shortening into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat them together thoroughly until the mixture is incredibly smooth and light. This step is essential for creating an airy base for your buttercream, removing any lumps and incorporating air for a fluffy texture.
Step 2: Sweetening and Flavouring. Next, gradually sift in the icing (powdered) sugar. Sifting is vital here to prevent any grainy texture in your finished buttercream. Add the vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste at this stage. Start mixing on a very low speed until the sugar is just incorporated with the fats – this prevents a sugar cloud from engulfing your kitchen! Once combined, increase the mixer speed to high and whisk vigorously for a couple of minutes. You’re looking for a light, fluffy, and visibly pale buttercream that is smooth and ready to spread.
Essential Tips for Vegan Baking Success:
- Fat Choice for Flavour: For the cake batter itself, I consistently use melted vegan spread as the primary fat because I believe it imparts the best overall flavour and contributes to a tender crumb. However, if you prefer or if vegan spread isn’t readily available, you can easily substitute it with 150ml of sunflower oil, which will still yield a moist and delicious cake.
- Berry Decoration & Freshness: If you choose to decorate your vegan vanilla cake with fresh berries, it is truly at its best when enjoyed on the day it is assembled. The moisture from the berries can soften the cake over time. If you opt for a plain cake without berries, it will happily keep in an airtight container at room temperature for approximately 3 days, maintaining its freshness and texture.
- Cake Tin Versatility: This recipe is flexible! You can bake your cakes in either three 15cm/6 inch tins (as beautifully pictured) for a taller, more impressive layer cake, or in two 20cm/8 inch tins for a slightly wider and equally delicious result. Adjust baking times slightly as needed; larger tins may require a little less time per layer.
- Make-Ahead & Freezing: Planning ahead? The un-iced cake layers can be baked, cooled completely, individually wrapped tightly in cling film (plastic wrap), and then frozen for up to a month. When you’re ready to assemble, simply thaw them at room temperature, and they’ll be as fresh as the day they were baked. This is a fantastic time-saver for busy schedules or upcoming events.
For my exquisite afternoon tea setup, I proudly featured these gorgeous Spode Delamere Rural products, which added an unparalleled touch of elegance to the occasion:
- 10.5 inch footed cake stand: The perfect pedestal for showcasing the star of the show.
- Cake slice: Designed for effortless and elegant serving.
- Pastry forks: Delicate and ideal for enjoying every bite.
- Teaspoons: Essential for stirring and enjoying your brew.
- Teapot: A truly beautiful centrepiece for your tea.
- Teacups and saucers: For a luxurious tea-drinking experience.
- Cream jug: A charming addition for serving plant-based cream or milk.
- 6 inch deer plates: Adorable and perfectly sized for individual cake slices.
If you’re seeking more delightful vegan cakes that would be absolutely wonderful for an afternoon tea, be sure to explore these other fantastic recipes:
- Fragrant ginger bundt cake: A wonderfully spiced treat perfect for autumn.
- Delicious banana cake with chocolate peanut butter buttercream: A rich and satisfying combination of flavours.
- Indulgent chocolate fudge cake: For the ultimate chocolate lover.
- Zesty lemon almond cake with coconut whipped cream and macerated strawberries: A light and refreshing option for spring and summer.
Vegan Vanilla Cake With Berries And Jam Recipe:
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Vegan Vanilla Cake With Berries and Jam
Ingredients
Vegan Vanilla Cakes:
- 360 ml (1 ½ cups) unsweetened plant milk (I used almond)
- 1 ½ tsp white wine vinegar
- 250 g (1 ¼ cups) caster (superfine) sugar
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract/vanilla bean paste
- 150 g (½ cup + 2 Tbsp) vegan spread (I used Stork) melted
- 280 g (2 ⅓ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 30 g (3 Tbsp) cornflour (cornstarch)
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- ¾ tsp baking powder
Vegan Vanilla Buttercream:
- 75 g (2.5oz) vegan spread (the solid kind in a stick is best – I used Stork) cold
- 75 g (2.5oz) vegetable shortening (such as Trex) cold
- 300 g (3 cups) icing (powdered) sugar sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract/vanilla bean paste
To Decorate:
- about 4 heaped spoonfuls raspberry jam
- about 400g mixed fresh berries
Instructions
Vegan Vanilla Cakes:
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Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Grease three 15cm/6 inch round cake tins and line the bases with baking parchment (or use two 20cm/8 inch tins instead).
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In a large jug, whisk together the plant milk, vinegar, caster sugar, vanilla extract and melted vegan spread.
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In a large bowl, sift together the plain flour, cornflour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
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Gradually whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until smooth but be careful not to overmix.
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Divide the batter between the tins (I use a scale to make sure they are even). Bake for 25-35 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
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Leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes then carefully turn the cakes out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
Vegan Vanilla Buttercream:
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Place the vegan spread and vegetable shortening in a large bowl and whisk with an electric mixer until very smooth.
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Add the sifted icing sugar and the vanilla extract. Mix on a low speed until combined then turn the mixer up to a high speed and whisk for a couple of minutes until light and fluffy.
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Trim the tops of the cakes if needed. Place one cake layer on a cake stand and spread over some of the buttercream. Spread over a thin layer of jam then scatter over a handful of berries.
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Place another cake layer on top and repeat. Place the final cake layer on top and spread with buttercream but not jam. Decorate with berries and serve. Best eaten on the day it is assembled.
This post is sponsored by Spode, and I extend my sincere gratitude for supporting brands that enable me to pursue my passion – experimenting with food and joyfully creating a beautiful mess in my kitchen. I hope you enjoy baking and sharing this delicious vegan vanilla cake as much as I do!
