The Best and Easiest Vegan Chocolate Cake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with oil and dust with cocoa powder.

Sift the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine and remove lumps.

Create three indentations (wells) in the dry mixture: one large and two small. Pour the vegetable oil into the large well, and the vinegar and vanilla extract into the two smaller ones.

Pour the warm water or coffee over the entire mixture. Whisk immediately until the batter is smooth and glossy, being careful not to overmix.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare the frosting by beating vegan butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, plant milk, and orange zest until fluffy. Apply to the fully cooled cake.