Name: Vegan birthday cake
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 15
Ingredients: 225ml vegetable oil, plus extra for the tin; 225ml soya milk; 1 tbsp lemon juice or cider vinegar; 150g dairy-free coconut or soya yogurt; 200g golden caster sugar; 50g soft light brown sugar; 250g self-raising flour; 50g cocoa, sifted; 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 200g dairy-free spread; 600g icing sugar; 200g vegan dark chocolate, melted and cooled slightly; sprinkles, to decorate

A chocolate frosted cake on a white cake stand with a slice cut out of it in front of a white background

225ml vegetable oil
plus extra for the tin
225ml soya milk
1 tbsp lemon juice or cider vinegar
150g dairy-free coconut or soya yogurt
200g golden caster sugar
50g soft light brown sugar
250g self-raising flour
50g cocoa
sifted
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

ICING

200g dairy-free spread
600g icing sugar
200g vegan dark chocolate
melted and cooled slightly
sprinkles
to decorate

Method

step 1
Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Whisk together the soya milk and lemon juice in a jug, and leave to stand for 10 minutes. Oil and line two 20cm springform cake tins.
step 2
Whisk together the yogurt, oil and sugars in a bowl. Pour in the thickened milk, then sift the flour, cocoa and bicarb into the mixture, and mix until smooth.
step 3
Divide the batter between the tins and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cakes are well risen and spring back when pressed. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
step 4
Whisk together the icing ingredients until fluffy and a rich chocolaty colour. Add 2-3 tbsp of just-boiled water and beat until combined. Put about 5 tbsp of the icing into a piping bag with a ruffled nozzle to decorate later.
step 5
Sandwich the two cooled cakes together with a quarter of the frosting, then pile the remaining icing over the top of the cake on a cake board or stand. Using a palette knife, work the icing down around the sides of the cake into a smooth, even layer. Smooth over with a cake scraper for a neater finish all over, if you prefer.
step 6
Press in some sprinkles around the bottom of the cake, and use the icing in the piping bag to create swirls or ruffles around the edges of the cake to decorate. Top with more sprinkles and birthday candles.