This Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake is going to knock your socks off! Incredibly moist, flavored with espresso, with a texture that almost melts in your mouth! It’s quick and easy to make and doesn’t require crazy ingredients. The cake is great by itself, the espresso frosting is a bonus.
I have 1 piece of this Chocolate Bundt Cake left as we speak! And just imagine how hard it is to keep my fork from digging away into that decadent chocolate cake, covered in the most delicious espresso drip! So when I say that it’s hard to resist…I mean it!
This vegan chocolate cake recipe is the one you’ll go-to anytime someone is requesting dessert. It looks incredibly impressive yet is deceptively simple to make, even for the beginner baker. All you need is a pretty-shaped Bundt pan to transform the most basic chocolate cake recipe into a work of art with hardly any fuss in the kitchen.
This Vegan Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake Is:
- Super Soft like my dark chocolate cupcakes
- Rich + velvety
- A perfectly blend of chocolate and espresso
- Easy to make
- Simple to transport– no layers!
- Topped with smooth + silky frosting
- A great make ahead recipe
- The ultimate celebration dessert
Chocolate Espresso Cake Ingredients
Chocolate espresso cake requires very simple allergy-friendly ingredients– nothing fancy, all items you likely have in your pantry already.
- Flour: All-purpose flour serves as the base. We use sturdy all-purpose flour instead of cake flour in this recipe because of the thick, wet batter. *You can also use your favorite 1:1 Gluten-free flour (I tested with Bob’s Red Mill which includes xanthan gum).
- Cocoa Powder: I prefer Dutch-process which alkalizes the cocoa, giving it a richer, less bitter flavor.
- Baking Soda + Vinegar: These ingredients help the cake rise.
- Salt + Vanilla Extract: Both add flavor. Try using Neilsen-Massey for an allergy-friendly vanilla!
- Canned Coconut Milk: Lends to a rich, decadent dessert, without using dairy free.
- Oil: Oil guarantees a moist crumb.
- Sugar: Sugar not only sweetens our cake, but it also adds softeness, tenderness, helps leaven and deepens flavor.
- Espresso Powder: Just a little pinch enhances and intensifies the chocolate flavor. Don’t worry, it won’t taste like coffee.
How to Make Allergy-friendly Bundt Cake
The base of this chocolate bundt cake is super simple to make and requires only 1 bowl. You don’t even need your mixer unless prefer using it like I do!
- Combine the wet ingredients large bowl.
- Sift in the dry ingredients.
- Whisk really well, until completely combined.
- Pour into a lightly greased bundt pan.
- Bake. Cool. Unmold.
- Make your espresso glaze! I highly recommend espresso drip included in the recipe below, but my chocolate buttercream frosting would work well here, too if you’re a chocolate lover.
- Pour glaze over (cooled) chocolate cake, slice, and serve.
- Enjoy!
Tips and Substitutions For the Perfect Bundt Cake
- Use the correct pan. It may sound silly but the type of bundt pan you choose will affect the outcome. I did some research and fell in love this this one from NordicWare. However, whichever one you choose, just make sure it is a light, nonstick metal pan. DO NOT use a silicone mold.
- Coat the pan before adding batter. Even though you have a non-stick pan, you still need this coating. Trust me! Use non-stick vegetable oil spray or melted shortening — not butter. And be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. I like to use a brush for this.
- Give cake time to cool. As the cake cools, it will slowly start to release itself from the sides of the pan, so resist the urge to flip right away. Give yourself 10 minutes then flip it over onto a cooling rack. The cake will slowly start to pull away from the pan and down onto the surface.
- Substitute for Coconut Milk. Don’t worry, you can still bake this recipe if you have a coconut allergy. Simply substitute with a dairy-free coffee creamer (unsweetened, natural flavor) for the exact consistency. Otherwise, start with 1 cup non-dairy milk of choice. If batter is too thick, increase liquid up to 1/2 cup more. There’s just more water in a carton of milk, so we want to make sure it’s not too wet.
- Substitute for Gluten-free. I mentioned above, that I have also tested this recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free Blend with great results. It’s an easy measure-for-measure replacement, without the need to add anything else. Feel free to whisk your batter a few extra times without harming it. * Better Batter is another GF blend that I really like baking with, although I have not tried in this recipe. It is STRICTLY ALLERGEN FREE which is a great option for anyone with multiple allergens.
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Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake
Incredibly moist, flavored with espresso, with a texture that almost melts in your mouth! It’s quick and easy to make and doesn’t require crazy ingredients. Vegan, peanut-free with gluten-free option.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups canned coconut milk (mixed before measure)
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil (or neutral oil of choice)
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder
Glaze
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted vegan butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Bundt Cake
- Preheat oven to 350° and coat a large bundt pan with cooking spray or shortening-getting into all the nooks.
- In a large bowl, whisk the coconut milk, oil, vinegar, vanilla and espresso. Sift in flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk all until combined but do not overmix if using AP flour.
- Fill prepared pan evenly with batter. Tap a few times to level and break air bubbles. Bake 45 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Check for doneness, when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes, then gently flip pan over to unmold onto a cooling rack or cake plate.
Make the Glaze
- Just before assembling, in a medium bowl, stir together the water and espresso powder until dissolved. Add confectioner's sugar, melted butter and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.
- Pour glaze on top of cooled bundt cake.
- *Drizzle with a little melted chocolate chips if desired.
Notes
*For Gluten-free option, please see notes in post. We use Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Blend.
**Coconut free option is available by using non-dairy creamer.
***Omit espresso glaze and top with Chocolate Buttercream for a decadent, double chocolate version.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 349Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 233mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 3g
Nutritional information is only an estimate based off of using an online calculator. Numbers will change depending on brands used.
Tiffany says
This looks so moist and rich! I want to reach into the screen for a slice lol
Tiffany
Phlanx’s Marketing Specialist
Nicole Dawson says
I sure wish that was possible! 🙂
Tara says
I made this today and it is delicious! So moist and the perfect balance of chocolate and espresso flavors. This one’s a keeper! Thanks!
Nicole Dawson says
So glad Tara! We love this one too.
Whitney says
I need to make this now! Any chance I could sub ground coffee for the espresso powder? I don’t have any and can’t get to the store for a few days.
Nicole Dawson says
I’d only swap with instant coffee.
Nicole Dawson says
Do you have instant coffee? If not, then you can throw in some finely ground coffee. But if its a heartier grind, then I’d recommend tossing it in a little food processor and pulsing a few times.
Riya Patel says
I’m so excited to make this! Any chance I can use almond milk instead of the coconut milk? It’s all I have on hand :/ thank you!
Nicole Dawson says
Almond milk should work just fine if that’s what you typically use! It’ll be delish.