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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Vegan Dessert Recipes

    Vegan Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

    Updated Jan 6, 2020 by Lori ยท THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS.

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    Vegan Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting pin for Pinterest

    side view of Vegan Chocolate Cake on a cake stand

    This three-layer Vegan Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting is a perfect marriage of rich and chocolatey with fresh and fruity. It makes a great birthday cake (in fact, I made it for my own birthday last month), and is sure to please any crowd on any occasion.

    inside view of vegan chocolate cake with a slice removed

    If you've visited my blog before you may already be familiar with my approach - healthy, nutrient-dense recipes most of the time, with decadent treats thrown in for fun and special occasions. And birthdays definitely call for cake! I've always found baking to be fun and rewarding. I enjoy the combination of science and creativity. Desserts are basically edible works of art, and I'll use any excuse to develop a new dessert recipe! So as my forty-something (ahem) birthday approached, I started pondering flavors. I hadn't made a chocolate cake in a while and decided on that as the base. Though I'm usually not a fruity dessert person, a hint of raspberry in rich and tart cream cheese frosting seemed like a perfect combo.

    3-photo collage showing how to make vegan chocolate cake - dry ingredients, batter, and baked cake layers

    Reasons why you'll love this Vegan Chocolate Cake

    1. It's easy. For those of you who say you have trouble baking cakes, hear me out. I believe in you and know you can do this! It's a matter of prepping your pans, mixing dry ingredients, mixing wet ingredients, whisking them together, and then pouring the batter into the pans. Doesn't that sound easy?
    2. It's versatile. Not into the idea of raspberry cream cheese frosting? No problem! Pair this cake with any type of glaze, jam, or vegan frosting you like.
    3. It's a classic. This is a rich, dark, and moist chocolate cake with plenty of oil, sugar, and cocoa. No flax eggs, spelt flour, or alternative sweeteners here (I love those, too, but that's not what this particular cake is about). Find your pickiest, dessert-loving, non-vegan friends and family, and feel confident serving them this chocolate cake. Like I said, it's a classic.

    layers of chocolate cake spread with raspberry jam, then raspberry frosting, sitting on a cake stand

    How to Make Vegan Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

    Special equipment needed:

    • Just like with any buttercream, you'll need a handheld electric mixer or stand mixer to make the frosting.
    • And to turn freeze-dried raspberries into powder, you'll need a blender or spice grinder, as well as a strainer to separate the seeds from the powder.

    So far there's one other cake recipe on the blog, this Apple Layer Cake With Cinnamon Buttercream. (July '19 UPDATE: check out this new Vegan Strawberry Cake!) The apple cake features a typical vegan buttercream where the main ingredients are vegan butter and powdered sugar. But for today's raspberry cream cheese frosting we're adding store-bought vegan cream cheese to the mix. I know that probably makes this frosting less accessible to some people, and if that's the case for you, feel free to replace the cream cheese with extra Earth Balance for a simple raspberry buttercream. There are a few brands of vegan cream cheese available in stores these days. The ones I see most often are Tofutti, Trader Joe's and Daiya. I used Trader Joe's cream cheese for my cake, but I think I would have preferred Tofutti. It's been years since I've had it, but I remember Tofutti having a slightly better flavor and texture. Anyway, use your favorite brand or whichever one you can find, and I'm sure things will work out great! Just be sure to let both the butter AND the cream cheese warm up to room temperature before making the frosting.

    The raspberry flavor and color come from freeze-dried raspberries. Trader Joe's and Target carry them, and you can also find them online. Before adding the freeze-dried raspberries to the frosting, simply blend them in a blender or spice grinder, then pour the powder through a strainer to separate the MANY seeds. Trust me, you'll be amazed how many seeds there are! Discard the seeds, and your raspberry powder is ready to be sifted into the buttercream during mixing.

    a jar of Trader Joe's raspberry fruit spread

    The other delicious raspberry element in this cake comes in the form of fruit spread....or jelly or jam or whatever you like. This was my first time trying the Trader Joe's fruit-sweetened raspberry spread pictured above, and I LOVED it. Seriously, Mark and I were happy to have plenty of it left after I made the cake because it makes a delicious PB&J. The color is gorgeous, too, and there are just the right amount of seeds. When you're assembling the cake, layers 1 and 2 first get a thin coating of raspberry jam, followed by frosting. I used about ยผ cup of jam on each layer, but I think a little bit more would be even better, especially if you're a fruit lover. Aim for ยผ to โ…“ cup of jam on each layer.

    Vegan Chocolate Layer Cake on a cake stand and a slice on a plate

    Ideas for Decorating your Vegan Chocolate Cake

    Berry Forest: Sure, this is a raspberry frosting, but I find blackberries to be totally irresistible and drop-dead gorgeous! In addition to the fact that they pair well with raspberries, their dark, dramatic color ties in nicely with the chocolate cake, don't you think? After placing berries around the top of the cake I sifted extra raspberry powder (you should have plenty leftover after making the frosting) and powdered sugar on top. Standing the berries on end creates a sort of "berry forest" which I think is pretty cute.

    Chocolate: If you would rather play up the chocolate vibe, shavings or curls of dark chocolate would be epic. Then sift just a touch of extra cocoa powder on top. Chocolate perfection.

    A few more options:

    • whipped coconut cream or other non-dairy topping
    • chopped nuts
    • edible flowers
    • a few raspberries with a sprig of mint
    • sprinkles and/or candles!

    Vegan Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting and Raspberry Jam

    I truly hope you love this Vegan Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting. If you try it remember to snap a photo because a) cakes are beautiful, b) you'll want to show off your creation, and c) I definitely want to see it! Tag your photo @myquietkitchen on instagram and be sure to rate the recipe to let me know how it goes. Happy baking!

    More cake recipes! ----> The Ultimate Vegan Strawberry Cake and Apple Layer Cake With Bourbon-Apple Jam and Cinnamon Buttercream

    Other decadent vegan desserts you might like:
    Meyer Lemon Cheesecake and Double Coconut and Ginger Ice Cream

    Vegan Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

    Vegan Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

    Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen
    Rich vegan chocolate cake layered with raspberry jam and raspberry cream cheese frosting.
    Yield: one 3-layer, 9-inch cake
    Servings: 16 servings
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time: 1 hr
    Cook Time: 30 mins
    cooling time: 30 mins
    Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins

    Ingredients 

    For the cake:

    • 3 ยพ cups all-purpose flour (475 g)
    • 3 cups sugar
    • 1 cup cocoa powder
    • 2 tsp baking soda
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • 1 ยฝ tsp salt
    • 2 cups water
    • 1 cup non-dairy milk (I used unsweetened soy)
    • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
    • ยพ cup neutral oil such as canola
    • 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
    • 2 Tbsp brewed coffee

    Frosting and jam:

    • 16 ounces vegan cream cheese, room temperature
    • 1 cup Earth Balance (2 sticks), room temperature
    • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
    • 1 ยผ ounces freeze-dried raspberries (can be found at Target, Trader Joe's or online)
    • ยฝ to โ…” cup raspberry jam
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    Instructions
     

    Make the cakes:

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil three 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with a circle of parchment paper. 
    • Into a large bowl sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the sugar and whisk to combine. In a medium bowl whisk together the water, milk, vanilla, oil, vinegar, and coffee. 
    • Pour the wet mixture into the dry and whisk just until mixed, with no visible dry flour remaining. Divide the batter evenly among the three pans, and bake 28 to 32 minutes or until the tops bounce back when lightly pressed. 
    • Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes then transfer to racks to cool completely. If preparing in advance, wrap each layer individually in plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator.

    Make the frosting:

    • With a blender or spice grinder, process the freeze-dried raspberries until powdered. Place a mesh strainer over a bowl, and pour the powdered raspberries through the strainer to separate the seeds. Discard the seeds, and set the raspberry powder aside.
    • Using a handheld or stand mixer, cream together the room temperature cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add sifted powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed between additions and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Taste for sweetness, adjusting as desired. Add raspberry powder 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired color and flavor are reached (I used 3 Tbsp powder for a light pink frosting; you should have some powder leftover). Beat on medium/high speed until fully incorporated and smooth. If the frosting seems too soft for decorating the cake, place the bowl in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes. If making in advance, store the frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

    Assemble the cake:

    • Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread about ยผ to โ…“ cup raspberry jam on top of the cake (refer to photos above). Using an offset spatula spread a thin layer of frosting on top of the jam. Repeat the process for the second layer.
    • Place the 3rd cake layer and frost the top and sides. Decorate with fresh berries. Sift raspberry powder and powdered sugar on top if desired.

    Notes

    Refrigerate the decorated cake until ready to serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 
    Due to the cream cheese in the frosting I don't recommend freezing this cake. However, unfrosted cake layers can be frozen for up to one month. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    Estimated Nutrition (per serving)

    Calories: 640kcalCarbohydrates: 92gProtein: 6gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 420mgFiber: 4gSugar: 64gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 2.5mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1.6mg

    Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.

    Tried the recipe?I love hearing from you! Share your feedback below!

    More Vegan Desserts

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    • Air Fryer French Toast
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Olivia Schutt

      March 28, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      Made this for my friends birthday last weekend, it was SUCH a hit. This recipe was very simple to follow compared to others Iโ€™ve seen, this was my first vegan cake (and first tiered cake alone!) Iโ€™m sitting here eating it for lunch, absolutely delicious ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    2. Taylor

      February 15, 2021 at 6:52 pm

      Hi Lori,

      When I tried to beat the cream cheese and butter together (both at room temp; used tofutti and earth balance brands), it turned into a horrible curdled mess and eventually became wet from oil separation. Any idea what might have gone wrong?? It never became creamy or smooth, and I had to dump out the batch.

      Reply
      • Lori

        February 16, 2021 at 8:37 am

        Hi Taylor, oh that's a bummer! I've never had that happen, but my best guess is that maybe they were *too* warm. By chance is your kitchen's ambient temperature very warm, or did you do anything to the butter and cream cheese to try to speed up the warming process? I have also read that over-mixing frosting can lead to separation, but I've never seen that myself. So I think it's somewhat rare.
        In the future if you ever see the beginning signs of separation I would probably pop the bowl into the fridge for a few minutes.
        Better luck next time!

        Reply
    3. Kelly

      September 25, 2019 at 5:50 pm

      Lori... wow thank you so much for all the different options! This is fabulous. I am super excited to get baking. Iโ€™ll met you know how it goes! Again much gratitude for your help!

      Reply
      • Lori

        September 25, 2019 at 8:52 pm

        Happy to help! Let me know if you have any other questions. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Kelly

      September 24, 2019 at 8:02 pm

      Hi Lori... you cake looks so yummy. I am planning on making it for a party this weekend. My question is I only have 3 - 8โ€ round cake pans, is there anything you suggest I do differently? Cook for a diff time? Will I have left over batter? This only my 2nd later cake Iโ€™ve ever made so still learning! Any help appreciated! Thank you Kelly

      Reply
      • Lori

        September 24, 2019 at 8:16 pm

        Hi Kelly,
        Thank you, and yes I'm happy to help! You can approach this a couple of different ways. Eight-inch round pans are actually 25% smaller than 9-inch ones. So you could multiply each ingredient by .75 and use those amounts. Oh wait! Even better... there's a slider that pops up if you hover over the number of servings for the recipe. See where it says 16 servings? Slide that down to 12, and it will do the calculations for you.
        Or you could make the recipe as written, and after filling the pans about 2/3 full, pour the remaining batter into ramekins or a cupcake pan and bake them after your cakes are done.
        The bake time for your 8-inch cakes might be a few minutes less, so after about 20 minutes I would take a peek at them. You can usually tell by looking at the centers if they're close. If in doubt, pull one pan from the oven and lightly press the top with your finger. If it slightly bounces back, you'll know they're done.
        Best of luck! I hope they turn out perfectly for you. ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    5. Meredith

      May 22, 2019 at 12:02 am

      I made your frosting with Toffuti cream cheese and it was totally delicious. I was skeptical at first because I haven't had much luck with vegan desserts and dairy substitutes. I've had a hard time covering up the oily flavor and texture, or dealing with the saltiness of Earth Balance, or getting it stable enough to sit out through a buffet dinner. But this frosting was a winner and covered all the bases for me. The only change I made was I used 150% the amount of raspberry powder. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!

      Reply
      • Lori

        May 22, 2019 at 1:24 pm

        So glad you liked it! Thanks for the feedback, Meredith. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

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    Lori Rasmussen, Owner/Creator

    Hi, I'm Lori. Welcome to My Quiet Kitchen where I share easy vegan recipes with a healthier twist. Many are special diet-friendly or easily adapted. I also have a passion for veganizing classic desserts, and sometimes even those get a healthy-ish makeover.

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