I’ve shared a ton of different cakes over the years, but all of them use dairy! This is the only recipe I’ve ever I’ve ever shared that is vegan! No eggs, no butter, no buttermilk!! This vegan layer cake is my very first vegan recipe!

It uses vegetable oil in place of the butter and almond milk in place of the buttermilk.

I really love this recipe because it’s straight forward, doesn’t include any scary ingredients, and most importantly it tastes great!

I chose to flavor this with almond extract, but you could also try maple, lemon, or coconut.

Decorating This Vegan Layer Cake

To assemble this vegan layer cake, stack and frost cake layers on a greaseproof cake board using a dab of vegan buttercream to help stick the first cake layer to the board.

Spread an even layer of vegan frosting on top of your first cake layer with a large offset spatula and gently press your second cake layer on top.

Repeat with remaining cake layers, being sure to place to top cake layer upside down. It might sound strange but I promise it makes it easier to frost!

Cover the cake in a thin coat of vegan buttercream. Smooth using a bench scraper, then chill the cake in the fridge (10 minutes) or freezer (5 minutes).

Add a second, thicker layer of vegan frosting to the cake, and smooth using a bench scraper.

I used a large French tip to pipe a border around the top edge of the cake and covered the top with sprinkles.

There are a lot of great vegan sprinkle brands out there, but I chose to use a vegan blend made by Fancy Sprinkles!

I really love that this cake looks and tastes so much like a normal layer cake!

The texture is a bit different than my normal cakes that are made with butter, but the layers almost reminds me of a moist olive oil cake!

I did find the the vegan frosting was bit more difficult to smooth than regular buttercream, but that’s to be expected since it’s not made with traditional butter.

Vegan butter doesn’t firm up the same way regular butter does when chilled.

Overall, I was extremely pleased with this vegan layer cake recipe. It’s so approachable and delicious!!

Tips for Making the Best Vegan Layer Cake:

• Properly measure your flour. Either spoon it into the cup measure, then level with a knife or use a kitchen scale.
• Don’t overmix your batter! Mix on the speed the recipe recommends until the ingredients are just combined.
• Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature to help them mix together better.
• Use a serrated knife to level your cake layers once they’re fully cooled to make it easier to assemble and frost your cake.
• Make sure your buttercream is the right consistency before frosting your cake! It will help give your cake proper structure and make it easier to decorate.
• If your cake layers turn out less than perfect, I recommend reading my cake troubleshooting guide to see where things might’ve gone awry.
• Add in 1/2 cup of vegan sprinkles for an extra pop of color, or add vegan food coloring to your frosting to make a colorful vegan cake.

Making This Vegan Layer Cake In Different Sizes

This recipe can also be used to make different sized cakes. You can also half or double the ingredients to make a half or double batch!

You can make two 8″ cake layers with one batch of batter. Bake the cake layers at 350F for 32-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

One batch of batter can be also be used to make one 9×13 inch vegan sheet cake. Bake it at 325F for 35-45 minutes and use flower nails or heating cores to help the cake bake evenly.

The final variation of this recipe is cupcakes!! This recipe makes about 18 regular sized cupcakes. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Making This Vegan Layer Cake in Advance and Storage Tips

• Make your cake layers in advance and freeze them. It breaks the process up and make it more approachable.
• Make your frosting ahead of time too or save any leftover frosting! It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to a month. Be sure to give it a good stir once it thaws to get the consistency nice and smooth again.
• A frosted cake can last in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month. The frosting locks in all the moisture, keeping the cake fresh and delicious!
• If you cut into the cake and have leftovers, use any remaining frosting to cover the cut section to keep it moist and store in the fridge for up to a week.

Let Me Know What You Think!

If you try this vegan layer cake recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment below, and let me know how you liked it.

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