Vegan chocolate cake

• dairy-free spread↗150g/5oz g

  plus extra for the tins

• dairy-free milk↗300ml/½ pint ml

  (we used oat milk)

• cider vinegar↗1 tbsp tbsp
• self-raising flour↗300g/11oz g
• golden caster sugar↗200g/7oz g
• cocoa powder↗4 tbsp tbsp
• bicarbonate of soda↗1 tsp tsp
• vanilla extract↗½ tsp ½ tsp
• dairy-free dark chocolate↗100g/4oz g
• dairy-free spread↗200g/7oz g
• icing sugar↗400g/14oz g
• cocoa powder↗5 tbsp tbsp
• dairy-free milk↗1 tbsp tbsp

  such as oat milk

• handful of fresh, seasonal fruits

  such as cherries, blackberries or figs

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Line the base and sides of 2 x 20cm sandwich tins with dairy-free spread, then put baking parchment on the bases.

2. 2

   Put the dairy-free milk in a jug and add the vinegar – it will split but don’t worry. Put all of the other cake ingredients into a large bowl, pour over the milk mixture and beat well until smooth. Divide the mixture between the prepared tins and bake for 25-30 mins or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cakes comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 mins then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

3. 3

   To make the buttercream, put the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Leave the melted chocolate to cool for 5 mins. Beat the dairy-free spread and icing sugar together with a wooden spoon then sift in the cocoa powder with a pinch of salt. Pour in the melted chocolate and dairy-free milk and keep mixing until smooth.

4. 4

   Sandwich the two cooled sponges together with half of the buttercream then pile the rest on top and down the sides. Decorate with the fresh fruit. Cake will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.