When Singing Dog Vanilla contacted me and asked if I would like to try their product, I was like heck yeah! I use vanilla in almost every dessert I make, and it is one of my favorite flavors. If I were asked to choose between chocolate and vanilla it would always be vanilla. So, I was excited about the vanilla. I have actually tried their extract once before, I had bought it at a local co op, and it was delicious. But I had not tried their beans or vanilla paste which is what they sent me. I love that their products are organic, non-GMO, and fair trade. That was what caught my eye in the first place. Not only that, the products are good quality as well. I have to say also, offer lots of interesting vanilla products you will not find everywhere else, like vanilla sea salt, coffees, teas, chapstick, and vanilla coconut sugar for sprinkling!
The vanilla paste is the consistency of syrup and tastes wonderful in desserts. The vanilla is super aromatic and fresh and when you open the package, you are instantly filled with joy (or at least I am, I love that scent and it makes me happy). I decided that I wanted to use them in a dessert that featured vanilla. And what more of a classic than vanilla cake?! Sadly I have no baked plain vanilla cake recipe on this website…until this one. Weird I know, since I am Fragrant Vanilla Cake. So I decided there needed to be one and this was the perfect time to make it.
I wanted a single layer cake that was simple enough anyone could make it whether they were a good baker or not. I love layer cakes, don’t get me wrong but I know some of you are intimidated by them and don’t care to get all fussy decorating. This is for you. I made a simple gluten free vanilla cake, using aquafaba in place of the usual eggs (this was an experiment too, since I haven’t tried this with cake yet), and a nice dallop of the vanilla paste for excellent vanilla flavor.
It smelled amazing while baking. That is one of my favorite smells, vanilla cake baking in the oven. It reminds me of Birthdays. Which is why I ended up putting candles on the finished cake. I had the urge to. It just seemed right. For the frosting on the cake I used a coconut milk base that I usually use with the vanilla bean included. The cake was wonderful, honestly one of the best vanilla cakes I have tasted. Obviously this is good quality vanilla! If you are interested in trying Singing Dog Vanilla’s products, you can find them HERE. But, you can also enter to win them, since they have been kind enough to allow me to give away some vanilla beans, and a container of vanilla paste! If you would like to win, please scroll to the bottom of the page and enter the giveaway!
Simple Vegan Vanilla Bean Cake
Makes one 8×8 inch square 1 layer cake
Cake ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all purpose gluten free flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup xylitol or coconut sugar*
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, warmed to liquid
1 cup aquafaba at room temperature (the liquid from canned chickpeas)
1 Tbsp Singing Dog Vanilla vanilla paste or vanilla extract
Frosting:
1 can full fat organic coconut milk, chilled for at least 1 day in the refrigerator
1/4 cup maple syrup
pinch sea salt
seeds of one Singing Dog Vanilla vanilla bean
1/3 cup plus 3 Tbsp coconut butter, warmed to liquid
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt until well combined. Add the coconut oil, aquafaba, and vanilla and whisk until smooth and well combined. Pour the batter into a lined and oiled 8×8 inch square baking pan and place in the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes until just set (you do not want to over bake). Let cool.
I love your recipes! Everything you create is amazing. Thank you for creating this recipe. My niece has developed an allergy to eggs and gluten and this cake will be perfect for her.! I can’t wait to share 🙂
Thank you so much :)! Happy I can help you out with a recipe for your niece.
Oh man I put vanilla in everything! It is my favorite! Hard to pick just one but maybe in some nice oatmeal breakfast protein bars. Ive been making those alot lately. So yummy! Your cake looks amazing btw!!!
Me too :)! It would be perfect in oatmeal protein bars, make them taste like a cookie! Thank you!
My favourite recipe to use vanilla in is salted caramel ice cream (vegan, of course).
Yum!!! Love salted caramel ice cream :)!
hi amy! spome quick questions, I hope you can help??
1)you say to add walnuts to the batter, but I don’t see them in the ingredient list. How much walnuts do we add to the batter before baking?
Also, If we have to bake it for someone nut free what can we swap in?
2) do you personaly find the Bob’s Red Mill AP GF flour to taste “beany” in vanilla cakes?
I found it to be a bit bean flavored the last time I tried ti make a GF vegan cake that was vanilla. I couldn’t escape that chickpea-fava bean flavor. Does it taste noticeable in tour cake?
3)Also, do we need xanthan gum at all?
thank you!!
The walnuts were actually a typo, this recipe was based on another one of my recipes and I forgot to take them out of the directions. Sorry about that. I fixed it. I use Bob’s Red Mill for ALL of my gluten free recipes, I find that it tastes the best and has the best texture of all the GF flours and I like that it has beans instead of bleached flours. I don’t find that it has a taste at all once baked. And no you do not need gum.
Sounds Delish and being a recent gluten free vegan I am thrilled that this meets all that criteria. Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks!
Awesome :)! Happy to hear it meets your needs!
I could just sniff vanilla and never even use it but when I do I like to use it in a mochi cake. Glad I stumbled across your blog, I’m going to spend the day happily drooling.
I have never heard of mocha cake, I will have to check it out :)!
I love a boost of vanilla flavor i smoorhies!
Me too :)!
I put vanilla in pretty much everything. I love it in green smoothies!
Me too :)!
This looks great! Was there xantham or guar gum in the flour you used?
I didn’t. You may use some if you like, I would say about 1/2 tsp.
Hello, Amy!I love your recipes, you have so many great, inspiring and delectable ideas! I have a question about your vanilla frosting though. It’s a recipe that is quite frequent on your blog. But I can’t seem to get it right. You say to use chilled can(s) of coconut milk. But – do you use just the fat solid part or the whole content of a can of coconut milk? Usually I use just the fat part to make coconut cream, but I wasn’t sure since your recipe doesn’t specify it. I tried once to make it (using just the fat part of the coconut milk), but it just clumped up and separated. Then I blended it and it was creamy again but when I put it on the cake it just separated again and it wasn’t pretty (though delicious). Did I understand the directions or should I have used the whole can of milk? Although I don’t think it would make a difference, since that would just add up to the liquid in the frosting… Thanks for the answer!
You are supposed to use the whole can. It needs that extra moisture. The frosting works best if you chill the coconut milk very well, then blend all other ingredients before adding the butter. Pour the butter in slowly until it thickens the mixture. I actually find the food processor works best, I have to chill it every time I use the high speed blender. If it was clumping up at all after being warmed up, it meant that it was not blended long enough (in its liquid state). It is always the whole can unless I specify to remove the watery part in a recipe.
Thanks a lot for the explanation. Will try it again soon.
I love using high quality vanilla in homemade pudding. Sometimes I add additional flavors, but the vanilla must be really good. I like to make it sometimes with eggs and sometimes without.
OOooh vanilla pudding sounds really good, I haven’t made that in ages!
Birthday cake for sure! This is perfect timing, I was looking for a great cake recipe for my son’s birthday next week! Thanks!
You are so welcome :)! Happy Birthday to your son!
Beside cakes, I put vanilla in my Chia pudding and in my ice cream.
I add vanilla extract and powder to everything! I especially love vanilla extract in buckwheat or oat pancakes and I tend to add the powder to overnight oats and raw buckwheat granola! Vanilla over chocolate any day 🙂
i’m a true vanilla girl so it goes in all my baked goods and smoothies!! my favorite is pure vanilla frosting!!!
Vanilla frosting is my favorite part of the cake :)!
this cake sounds great. I use vanilla in almost everything especially my daily green smoothies!
Thank you :)! I love it in green smoothies as well!
When done right, in drinks. Smoothies, lattes, chai tea, whatever.
Now I am thirsty for chai tea :)!
Hello! What kind of “all purpose” GF flour have you used? Thank you x
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose.
I like a little bit of vanilla in chocolate chip cookies.
I love vanilla in anything, really, but I think I like it best in my homemade cashew-almond vanilla nut butter!
I can’t wait to try it!!!!!
Thanks 😀
Hi can I sub earth balance for the oil and all purpose flour or cake flour. If so, how much. I want to make this but just need it to be vegan and not gluten free. Thanks
I have not used earth balance so I am not sure if it would work or not. As far as the flour goes though, you can sub regular all purpose flour.