This old fashioned Vegan Gingerbread cake is perfect for the holiday season. It’s moist, fluffy, and warmly seasoned with gingerbread spice. Easy to make, whole grain, and oil-free!
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What’s better than the smell of gingerbread spice during the holiday season? This classic gingerbread cake baking in the oven will make your house smell amazing!
Gingerbread cake has a special place in my heart. It was one of my mom’s favorite desserts. I have a funny memory of making a gingerbread cake for one of her birthdays. It was before I knew a lot about healthy baking. I decided to try it with blackstrap molasses instead of regular molasses. My dear mom ate it, but after that she felt it necessary to tell me not to make it healthy whenever I said I was going to bake one.
Lesson learned! Blackstrap molasses is not a good substitute for old fashioned molasses.
Sadly, I lost my mom last year. But I’ll always think of her when I make this gingerbread cake.
It’s a quick and easy recipe when you need a last minute dessert for the holidays. It’s made with whole grain flour and is oil free, but is still moist and delicious!
Whether topped with a dusting of whipped cream, a bit of vegan whipped cream, a drizzle of icing, or just plain, you won’t be able to resist this flavorful treat!
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes
- Whole wheat pastry flour – for a gluten free cake, substitute a 1 to 1 baking blend like the one from Bob’s Red Mill.
- Brown sugar – or your preferred dry sugar substitute like coconut sugar.
- Molasses – I use Grandma’s Original Unsulphured Molasses. Be sure you don’t use blackstrap molasses or your cake will be bitter.
- Hot water – using hot water helps dissolve the sugar and molasses so they easily incorporate into the dry ingredients.
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Spices – ginger, cinnamon, and ground cloves.
How to make the recipe
Please scroll down to the recipe card for exact ingredient measurements and instructions.
Begin by whisking together the ground flax seed and hot water to make a flax egg. Set this aside while measuring the other ingredients.
Combine the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt in a medium sized mixing bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients, including the flax egg.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Pour the batter into a 9” x 9” square baking pan lined with parchment paper, or a silicone baking pan.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
Allow to cool. If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar before cutting into squares and enjoying. Alternatively, it can be topped with vegan whipped cream, a drizzle of icing, or served with some applesauce.
Can this vegan gingerbread cake be made gluten free?
I haven’t tested this recipe with gluten free flour, but I have had success with other recipes substituting a 1 to 1 gluten-free flour blend like the one from Bob’s Red Mill.
Other holiday desserts:
- Oil Free Sugar Cookies
- Gingerbread Popcorn
- Vegan Peppermint Ice Cream
- Oil Free Gingerbread Cookies
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- Oil Free Apple Crisp
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Gingerbread Cake
Ingredients
Flax Egg
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
- 3 tablespoons hot water
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup organic brown sugar or coconut sugar
- ⅔ cup hot water
- ½ cup molasses
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Make flax egg by mixing together the ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons hot water. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients until they are well combined.
- In a small bowl, mix together the wet ingredients, including the flax egg.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and stir until combined.
- Pour the batter into a 9” x 9” square baking pan lined with parchment paper, or a silicone baking pan.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- If desired, dust the top of the cake with organic powdered sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
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