Delicious Vegan & Gluten-Free Yellow Cake with Chocolate SunButter Frosting: A Golden Beet Delight

Discover the joy of a truly delicious and wholesome vegan yellow cake, vibrant with raw golden beets and topped with a creamy, nut-free Chocolate SunButter frosting. This gluten-free masterpiece, made with a blend of almond and oat flour, is perfect for any celebration!

There’s something truly magical about the first day of spring. Here in Virginia, it often brings crisp mornings, a gentle reminder that winter’s chill hasn’t quite faded, even as the world around us begins to awaken with new life. As the days lengthen and the promise of blossoms and lush greens fills the air, my thoughts inevitably turn to fresh starts, brighter flavors, and, of course, celebratory desserts.

This year, I envision welcoming the new season with an abundance of vibrant flowers, verdant plants, and this incredible Vegan Yellow Cake with Chocolate SunButter Frosting. It’s a fresh, wholesome take on a beloved classic, meticulously crafted to be entirely vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free. To top it all off, it features a remarkably simple yet decadent three-ingredient frosting that will utterly captivate your taste buds.

Embracing Spring and Cherished Birthday Memories

For me, spring isn’t just about the changing weather; it primarily signifies birthdays! While my own special day falls on April 2nd, it’s preceded by my little sister’s celebration. I recall her birthdays being a delightful, albeit slightly torturous, experience during our childhood. As my “mini-me” eagerly unwrapped gifts, I’d discover treasures I hadn’t even known I desired until they were revealed before my eyes.

Seven whole days separated our birthdays – an eternity when you’re a child, and I’d often find myself green with playful envy, eagerly anticipating my turn. Beyond the excitement of gifts, another significant element of these celebrations was always the cake. We had a tacit agreement to alternate cake selections year after year, ensuring we wouldn’t have the same delicious dessert on back-to-back celebration weeks. And without fail, I would try to beat her to the punch, making my request to my mom first: “a yellow cake with chocolate frosting.” It was always the epitome of simple, classic, and utterly delicious.

Birthdays, aren’t they peculiar? Without consciously realizing it, I often find myself using them as ambitious mile-markers for all my grandest goals and wildest dreams. But perhaps we should simply embrace them as “cake-markers” instead? Just because I was born on this particular day 31 years ago certainly doesn’t mean I should have every single aspect of my life meticulously figured out by now. Not at all. What it unequivocally does require, however, is epic desserts that honor the occasion.

The Golden Secret: Raw Golden Beets for Natural Color

This delightful yellow cake recipe draws inspiration from my popular Vegan & Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake, but with a beautiful, sunny golden twist. The true secret behind this cake’s intense and vibrant golden hue lies in the unexpected addition of raw golden beets. When I initially began developing this recipe, I hadn’t planned on incorporating them. However, my early cake trials consistently resulted in dull, brownish cakes that completely lacked the cheerful, bright yellow essence of my childhood memories.

Then, by what felt like a stroke of fate, I happened to discover a fresh bunch of golden beets nestled in my produce drawer. It seemed like a sign, so I decided to experiment and incorporate them into the batter. A mere forty-five minutes later, pulled from the oven was a perfectly yellow cake! Golden beets are fantastic because they provide a natural, earthy sweetness and moisture, enhancing the cake’s texture without imparting an overwhelming “beet” flavor. If golden beets aren’t readily available, don’t worry! You can achieve varied results with other natural color enhancers like pureed butternut squash or pumpkin, which also contribute moisture and a subtle sweetness.

Crafting the Perfect Gluten-Free & Vegan Cake Base

The foundation of this delectable cake is a carefully balanced blend of almond flour and oat flour. This particular duo is my go-to for achieving a wonderfully fluffy and tender gluten-free batter that doesn’t compromise on texture or flavor. Almond flour contributes a rich, moist crumb and a subtle nutty flavor, while oat flour adds a delicate chewiness and a wholesome feel. Together, they create a light yet satisfying base that’s truly irresistible.

To ensure a creamy consistency and richness, coconut milk is incorporated into the batter, providing essential moisture and a hint of tropical flavor that complements the other ingredients beautifully. A touch of melted coconut oil further enhances the cake’s richness and contributes to its incredibly smooth texture. For those who prefer an oil-free option, you can experiment with unsweetened applesauce or a plant-based yogurt as substitutes. While the results may vary slightly in texture, the cake will still be wonderfully delicious. When you’re mixing, aim for a batter that is thick, easily scoopable, and, of course, boasts that gorgeous, bright yellow hue.

The Star of the Show: 3-Ingredient Chocolate SunButter Frosting

Once our golden yellow cake is baked to perfection and has cooled, it’s time to crown it with a glorious, homemade chocolate SunButter frosting. This frosting isn’t just delicious; it’s incredibly simple, requiring only three key ingredients! The inspiration for this creamy topping comes from my popular Almond Butter Cacao Frosting, but this time, I decided to make it completely nut-free by opting for No Sugar Added SunButter. This makes it an excellent choice for those with nut allergies or anyone looking for a unique flavor profile.

The three magical ingredients for this luscious frosting are:

• No Sugar Added SunButter: Providing a rich, slightly savory base that’s full of flavor.
• Pure Maple Syrup: For natural sweetness, complementing the SunButter perfectly.
• Cacao Powder: Delivering that intense, deep chocolate flavor we all crave.

That’s truly all you need! Simply combine these ingredients in a bowl and whisk with a fork until you achieve a smooth, creamy consistency. If the frosting feels a bit too stiff, a splash or two of almond milk can be added to thin it out to your desired spreadable texture. I adore this frosting not only for its incredible taste but also for its sheer ease of preparation—no special equipment or complicated steps required. If you happen to have any extra, I highly recommend trying it on my vegan and gluten-free graham crackers for another delightful treat.

Perfect for Any Occasion: Baking & Serving Suggestions

This Vegan Yellow Cake with Chocolate SunButter Frosting is an ideal choice for a birthday celebration, a spring gathering, or truly any moment when it feels appropriate to have a beautiful cake gracing your table (which, let’s be honest, is almost always!). Growing up, my mom often baked large sheet pan cakes, which is the style I’ve echoed here with this recipe. It’s a comforting and generous way to serve a crowd.

Feel free to dress it up with colorful sprinkles and candles for the birthday individual, or leave it elegantly plain for an equally delicious and sophisticated dessert. For a more impressive presentation, you can bake the batter in multiple circular pans and stack them to create a stunning layer cake variation. My personal favorite way to enjoy this cake is with a tall glass of unsweetened almond milk, mirroring how I always enjoyed my birthday cakes throughout my childhood.

I genuinely hope you’ll try making this Vegan Yellow Cake with Chocolate SunButter Frosting. If you do, please let me know your thoughts! Your feedback is invaluable. Be sure to leave a comment, rating, and review below so I can use your wonderful insights to create even more delicious recipes for you.

Don’t forget to give me a shout-out on Instagram and use the hashtag #floraandvino to share your beautiful creations. You can also visit my Pinterest page to pin this recipe and discover many more plant-based delights to bake later.

Craving more amazing vegan and gluten-free cake recipes? Be sure to check out my Vegan & Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake and my Easy Apple Almond Cake. If you love what you see here and want more delicious content, head over to my homepage and subscribe to my newsletter to get updates delivered straight to your inbox!

XO Lauren

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This post is brought to you by SunButter, but all words and eats are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep me hungry!