Vegan Sheet Cake (Vanilla)

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredient Notes
• Recipe Variations
• How to Make Vanilla Vegan Sheet Cake
• FAQs
• Pro Recipe Tips
• How to Serve Vanilla Sheet Cake
• Storage Information
• More Vegan Dessert Recipes
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• Ninja Creami Banana Ice Cream
• Vegan Sheet Cake (Vanilla)

Why You'll Love This Recipe

The next time you want to impress at a gathering without the fuss of layering, assembling, and tricky wedge slicing, make this vegan sheet cake. This vegan traybake (aka vegan slab cake or school cake) is simplicity at its finest. Just 8 pantry ingredients, one bowl, and one pan, then bake, frost, and enjoy!

Not only is it super simple to make, but even without dairy and eggs, this vegan traybake cake is soft and fluffy. It's also easily customizable with flavorings, add-ins, and toppings to suit any birthday, potluck, party, or gathering. You can even make it ahead.

You might also enjoy my vegan coconut sheet cake, lemon olive oil cake, or vegan carrot cake loaf!

Ingredient Notes

Please refer to the recipe card for the FULL list of ingredients and quantities.

• Flour: All-purpose flour works great, though cake flour makes it even softer. You could substitute up to 50% whole wheat if preferred. Gluten-free flour blends (like King Arthur's/Bob's Red Mill) also work, though the cake may be denser/drier.
• Sugar: I use regular sugar, though less refined raw cane sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar works. The color will vary.

Recipe Variations

A simple vanilla sheet cake is a great blank canvas with endless opportunities. Here are just a few simple ways to customize it.

• Flavor boosters: Add 2-3 teaspoon fresh lemon or orange zest, some spices (like cinnamon or nutmeg), or 1-2 teaspoon instant espresso powder.
• Flavor extracts: Like almond extract, peppermint, lemon, or coconut.
• Mix-ins: Try adding some vegan chocolate chips (or make these vegan chocolate cupcakes into a cake), sprinkles (like funfetti), fresh or frozen berries, a few tbsps of shredded coconut, crushed cookies, etc.
• Swirl top: Swirl your favorite jam or preserves, peanut butter, or caramel sauce into the top before baking.

You could also make a marble cake version by adding cocoa powder to half the batter and swirling them in the pan.

How to Make Vanilla Vegan Sheet Cake

Step 3: Let it cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before cutting into squares, OR let it cool completely first if you plan to frost it. Enjoy!

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Measure flour accurately: To avoid overly dense/dry cake, fluff the flour in its bag with a fork, spoon it into the measuring cup, then level with a knife.
• Don't over-mix the batter: Otherwise, the cake becomes dense and rubbery. A few very tiny lumps are fine.
• Cool before slicing: It's fragile right out of the oven. Even just 15 minutes will help prevent it from falling apart when slicing.

How to Serve Vanilla Sheet Cake

You can enjoy this vegan traybake cake:

• Lightly dusted with powdered sugar
• Iced with sprinkles (and served with custard like a vegan school cake!)
• Brushed with warmed jam & sprinkled with shredded coconut
• Frosted - alone or with fruit (like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries)
• Alongside vegan ice cream like vegan pumpkin ice cream, vegan peach ice cream, or vegan strawberry ice cream.

Swap the icing/frosting flavor (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, or coconut frosting - even vegan cream cheese frosting) and decorations (like shaved vegan chocolate, toasted coconut, fruit, etc.) to match the occasion.

Storage Information

Store: In an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days or in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Freeze: Flash freeze vanilla slab cake whole or sliced (best without frosting), wrap tightly, and store for up to 3 months. Then, thaw overnight in the fridge.