If you need a super simple way to make a vegan cake or cupcakes, this recipe is what you have been looking for! This soda cake uses a few basic ingredients (like soda or carbonated water) to turn a simple gluten-free or regular cake mix into an absolutely perfect cake every time. With a few simple modifications, you can turn any basic white or yellow cake mix into a strawberry, lemon, or chocolate cake too!
I forget about birthday parties and special events until I’m scrambling around last minute trying to get vegan cupcakes baked so my kids will have something sweet to eat. I needed an easy way to make cupcakes fast with what I had in my pantry. This method has solved that problem for me!
Since my kids need to eat gluten-free, I usually use the G-Free brand yellow cake mix from Aldi, because it’s easy to find and inexpensive. (This mix is used to make the cupcakes in all the photographs in this post). My kids have declared these the best vegan gluten-free cupcakes that they have had, “even better than gluten cupcakes!” However, I have tested it for you with regular wheat-based cake mixes and they work up great using this method too.
You will love this easy cake method because it’s…
- free of all major allergens including dairy, eggs, gluten, and soy!
- easy to whip up in just minutes.
- made with simple ingredients that you can find and most stores.
- versatile and can be made into any flavor cake that you can think of.
- simply delicious!
What you will need to make an easy vegan cake…
- Cake Mix – 1 box of any basic white or yellow vegan cake mix that comes in a 15 oz or 15 .25 oz box. The gluten-free cake mixes work well too. (I use the Live GF brand yellow cake mix from Aldi because it is only $1.99)
- 12 oz. Can of Soda – like ginger ale, sprite, or simply soda water. You can use any type of soda that you wish to flavor the cake even root beer, orange, grape or cola. (I like to use soda water to keep the flavor neutral and make the cake less sweet).
- Apple Sauce – to use in place of the egg. (You could also use Ener-G egg replacer equivalent to 3 eggs).
- Oil – to give it a rich flavor and moist texture.
- Spray Oil – to grease the pan
How to make a vegan soda cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350° F.
- Pour the dry cake mix into a mixing bowl.
- Add the 12 oz can of soda or soda water, apple sauce, and oil and stir with a whisk for about 30 seconds until a smooth batter.
- If making a gluten-free cake, let the batter sit for about 5 minutes before baking. (This allows the grains to soften a little more).
- Pour into a greased cake pan or cupcake liners and bake.
Baking Times:
- Cupcakes – 18-22 minutes
- 8″x 8″ Pan – 36-40 minutes
- 9″x 9″ Pan – 33-37 minutes
- or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Pro tips for making perfect vegan soda cake every time:
- Be sure to pre-heat the oven about 5 minutes before you start making the cake. You can make the batter for the cake faster than it will take your oven to heat up.
If making a cake:
- Grease your cake pan well.
- Cool completely before taking out of the pan.
If making cupcakes:
- Let the batter sit for about 5 minutes before baking. (This allows the grains to soften a little more).
- Spray the cupcake liners with a spray oil before adding the batter. (They may stick to the cupcake paper a little if you don’t do this).
- Take the cupcakes out of the tin as soon as they have cooled down enough to handle.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely outside of the tin.
How do I know what cake mixes are vegan?
Many mainstream cake mixes are vegan, but you will have to read the ingredients to be sure. Scan down to the end of the ingredient list and look for egg or dairy in bold. Most Duncan Hines brand mixes are vegan as well as the basic white cake from Aldi. Many cake mixes at natural or specialty stores are also vegan like Annies, Bob’s Red Mill, or Pamela’s brands.
Gluten-Free Vegan Cake Mixes – Many of the gluten-free cake mixes sold in specialty stores are also vegan, but read the ingredients to be sure. I use the G-Free brand cake mix from Aldi since it’s far less expensive.
*Whatever cake mix you choose, make sure that it’s about 15 oz or the proportions will not be right.
How can I modify this cake recipe to make other flavors:
- Chocolate Cake – Add a 1/2 cup cocoa powder to the dry cake mix. Use sprite or ginger ale or add 1-2 tbsp of sugar if using soda water. (The chocolate is bitter, so you have to sweeten it up a little).
- Strawberry – blend 1/2 cup of freeze-dried strawberries in a blender until they turn into a powder and add with the dry cake mix. You can also use a can of strawberry soda.
- Rootbeer – Use a can of rootbeer as the soda that you add. Top with vanilla buttercream for a rootbeer float flavor.
- Orange Creamcycle – Use a can of orange soda (plus 1 tsp of orange extract for a stronger flavor) in the cake batter and top with vanilla buttercream.
- Lemon – Use a neutral or lemon-flavored soda or soda water and add 3 tsp of lemon extract to the batter.
- Funfetti – Add 2 tbsp of vegan sprinkles to the cake batter. (Make sure to use vegan sprinkles most traditional sprinkles have confectioners glaze which is not vegan).
Whip up a batch of the best vegan buttercream frosting ever to go with your cake!
Looking for some other vegan desserts? Give these a try!
- Vegan Vanilla Cake
- Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
- Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
- Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake
- Vegan Angel Food Cake
Be sure to follow me on Instagram or on Pinterest for daily vegan inspiration and recipe ideas! Tag me at #thehiddenveggies! I love to see what you made too!
The easiest way to make delicious (gluten-free) vegan cupcakes from a mix and a can of soda or soda water.
- 1 box vegan cake mix
- 3 tbsp apple sauce (or other vegan egg replacers)
- 1/3 cup canola oil or other neutral-flavored oil
- 1 squirt spray oil
- 1 12 oz can soda or soda water of choice
-
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C).
-
Pour the dry cake mix into a mixing bowl.
-
Add the 12 oz can of soda, apple sauce, and oil and stir with a whisk for about 30 seconds until a smooth batter.
-
If making a gluten-free cake, let the batter sit for about 5 minutes before baking. (This allows the grains to soften a little more).
-
Pour into a greased cake pan or cupcake liners and bake.
-
Cupcakes - 18-22 minutes
8"x 8" Pan - 36-40 minutes
9"x 9" Pan - 33-37 minutes
or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Tips:
- Be sure to pre-heat the oven about 5 minutes before you start making the cake. You can make this cake faster than it will take your oven to heat up.
If making a cake:
- Grease your cake pan well.
- Cool completely before taking out of the baking dish
If making cupcakes:
- Spray the cupcake liners with a spray oil before adding the batter. (These tend to stick to the cupcake paper a little if you don't do this.
- Take the cupcakes out of the tin as soon as they have cooled down enough to hold.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely outside of the tin.
Turn a white or yellow cake mix into any flavor:
- Chocolate Cake - Add a 1/2 cup cocoa powder to the dry cake mix. Use sprite or ginger ale or add 1-2 tbsp of sugar if using soda water. (The chocolate is bitter, so you have to sweeten it up a little).
- Strawberry - blend 1/2 cup of freeze-dried strawberries in a blender until they turn into a powder and add with the dry cake mix. You can also use a can of strawberry soda.
- Rootbeer - Use a can of rootbeer as the soda that you add. Top with vanilla buttercream for a rootbeer float flavor.
- Orange Creamcycle - Use a can of orange soda (plus 1 tsp of orange extract for a stronger flavor) in the cake batter and top with vanilla buttercream.
- Lemon - Use a neutral or lemon-flavored soda or soda water and add 3 tsp of lemon extract to the batter.
- Funfetti - Add 2 tbsp of vegan sprinkles to the cake batter.
