This cake. This cake is A M A Z I N G. The simple ingredients. The perfect crumb. The talented recipe creator behind it. The chocolate ganache. The ultra rich flavor. The elegant presentation. The chocolate chips. The feels-like-its-your-birthday vibe in every bite. The chocolate confetti curls. The classic flavor combination of vanilla and chocolate. Did I mention chocolate?
Meet the Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake. This cake is a creation of the incredibly talented Brandi from The Vegan 8. She partnered up with Cake in a Crate to bring this cake to us in a minimal-effort maximum-deliciousness way, and I was so excited for the chance to try it out!
The timing worked out just right that this cake ended up being the main dessert at my family’s Thanksgiving meal, and everyone loved it. No one even touched the pie next to this ganache-topped goodness! Judging by all the “oohs” and “ahhs” and “This is the best cake you’ve ever made!” through sweet mouthfuls, I’m pretty sure they liked it even more than any past cakes I’ve tested on them. Thanks guys, thanks a lot. Nah I can’t argue, Brandi’s recipes are always top notch and this is no exception!
Perfectly fluffy and moist with added richness from the ganache on top and a bit of fun factor from those mini chip speckles–I think this cake could pull off any occasion. Classy party, kid’s birthday, or just one of those random weeknight cake-cravings! Vanilla and chocolate lovers would both be happy with a slice, and for those who can’t decide and love both like me it’s the perfect balance.
The crazy part is that the entire decadent thing is vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar free, and actually uses many of the same ingredients I use all the time in my own recipes! It’s made with familiar favorites like oat flour, maple syrup, applesauce, and of course chocolate. It was also a lovely introduction for me to baking with coconut butter. That stuff is like cake-moisture magic! You will absolutely not miss butter or oil here, and it doesn’t even take very much coconut butter to totally transform the texture. Three days later–yep still totally yum! Plus the subtle coconut flavor is really lovely too.
But now onto what makes this post extra special and not just me rambling about cake: Cake in a Crate. This cake came to be in my kitchen courtesy of a company called Cake in a Crate that pre-measures, (adorably) packages up everything you need to make this cake, and ships it right to you. Yay for lazy baking! Between Thanksgiving leftovers and this cake in the fridge for sweet snacking, I haven’t been to the grocery store in 4 days as of today (Sunday), which is a lot for me!
So since they took care all the ingredient shopping and measuring for me, I had time to make a little video of the whole process. Everything from slicing through the packaging tape to slicing into the cake. (Except for the part where I cut my thumb because apparently no one taught me how to use scissors. Not essential for yummy cake, so I cut that scene out.)
Annnnnd GO…
So easy, right!? And SO delicious! Even thought the camera can’t fully convey that part, just trust me and try it! I am not the best chocolate curl-maker though, Brandi did a much better job of that. But I was not mad about having to finish off that chocolate bar later…dessert part 2 🙂
If you want to try out this easy-peasy baking and decadent dessert-eating too, you can find out more info and order your own cake in a crate -> HERE
And you can use the offer code THEVEGAN8 to receive 20% off your cake kit!
Wow Natalie, just wow! I’m in complete awe of how beautiful your post is…the pictures, the VIDEO! I cannot even begin to express my gratitude enough to you for doing this. It’s all so beautiful and I’m beyond excited that everybody loves the cake so much! Your cake turned out absolutely picture perfect! Thank you so so much for your kind words! I’m just beyond tickled! Much love to you my friend! Xoxo
By the way, I would love to share it on my Instagram page, is that ok if I post one of your pics, obviously crediting and tagging you??
Of course, use whatever you want where ever you want!! I will post over there soon too 🙂
What’s perfect is this cake! I knew it would be very good coming from you, but it is absolute spot on perfect in every way. Seriously could not have had a better dessert for my holiday meal, so thank you for that. And the rest disappeared very quick around here 🙂 I am so happy you liked the video too! I ended up making a longer one as opposed to my usual 1 minute style just because there were so many details I wanted to include. Happy to do it and much love <3
Thank you so much Natalie, that means A LOT to me!!! Your work is just beautiful and your attention to detail is so wonderfully unique. I will share your pic on Instagram tonight, as my evening posts seem to always do a bit better…weird instagram, lol!! xoxo
First you bring us bliss balls in a box and now cake in a crate!? EPIC. What a cool idea. Especially around the holidays! And that cake looks AMAZING.
Hahaha I hadn’t ever realized they were both such perfect alliterations too! I know I am loving this snacks coming in the mail thing 😀
Wow this is the coolest idea ever! I wish I could order this cake NOW, but I guess it would take quite a long time (too long) to arrive 🙂 Looks really fluffy and perfect. Who could ever resist a cake (or cookie or anything) with chocolate chips!! Love the video (you always have the best cheery music!) and these photos are amazing! I knew a visit to your blog would make me 1. hungry 2. happy 3. forget that I’m super tired 🙂 THANK YOU!! <3
Ha yes that would be quite the long journey for a cake-to-be to make! It was soooo fluffy, the texture is what really amazed me with this one. It looks so cookie like with the mini chips, so I kinda feel like it satisfies my cake and cookie cravings all in one. Okay now, stop reading/commenting and go nap!!
Great review and I love the video! Sorry about your thumb, ouch. The cake looks great, I can see why your family devoured it.
Ha totally worth the thumb damage for this delicious cake 😀 Thanks for reading Linda!
I absolutely LOVED the video for this! You did an amazing job and the cake…wow! Perfection! Brandi’s recipes are always a big crowd pleaser so I’m not at all surprised that this cake was a hit with your family. Excellent review, my friend! ❤️
Everything I try from her is amazing, I knew this one was going to be good and it was even better than I could’ve imagined!! She is so talented. Thank you for watching my dear <3
I saw this chocolate cake of Brandis awhile back and it looks awesome!! Your pictures and video of it are great. I love that it comes in a package with everything ready to go. May need to order this for my brother over the holidays!
It would be such a lovely gift since sending actual baked goods so often ends in crumbs, or maybe I just suck at packaging lol. But fresh is always best! And it is just as delicious as it looked the first time I saw it on her site too, she is amazing!