The Most Luxurious Chocolate Olive Oil Cake (Egg-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free)
This chocolate olive oil cake is rich, deeply chocolatey, and unbelievably moist — made completely egg-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. Olive oil gives the cake a soft, luxurious texture while enhancing the dark chocolate flavor in every bite. Finished with a glossy chocolate glaze, this bakery-style cake feels elegant enough for celebrations but easy enough for an everyday bake. If you love cozy homemade desserts with a refined bakery feel, this one is worth making.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsweetened plant milk
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil (light or regular)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup hot coffee or hot water
- ½ cup dairy-free chocolate chips (optional, but recommended)
- ¾ cup dairy-free chocolate chips
- ¼ cup plant milk
- 1 Tbsp olive oil or vegan butter
Instructions
- 1Prepare the Pan + Oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
- 2Make the Dairy-Free “Buttermilk”
In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together the plant milk and apple cider vinegar. Let sit for 2–3 minutes.
- 3Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- 4Add the Wet Ingredients
Add the buttermilk mixture, olive oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Stir until mostly combined.
- 5Add the Hot Coffee
Slowly pour in the hot coffee or hot water, mixing gently until a smooth batter forms. The batter will be thin. Fold in chocolate chips if using.
- 6Bake the Cake
Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Bake for 32–38 minutes, or until the center springs back lightly and a toothpick comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- 7Make the Chocolate Glaze
Place chocolate chips, plant milk, and olive oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and glossy.
- 8Glaze + Serve
Pour glaze over cooled cake, allowing it to drip naturally over the sides. Let sit for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
