Vegan Blueberry Cake

Enjoy every bite of this vegan blueberry cake recipe. This cake delights you with its moist, fluffy texture and juicy blueberry flavor that melts in your mouth. Enjoy a slice of this indulgent treat and see why blueberry cake has become a favorite dessert.

A slice of 2-layer vegan blueberry cake with fresh blueberries on top sits in front of the whole cake.

If you want to indulge in a sweet, delicious, and tasty treat, this easy vegan blueberry cake is a winner. It’s as if I transformed vegan blueberry muffins into a cake, bursting with flavor!

This classic cake sends your taste buds into overdrive as it blends the taste of plump blueberries and soft, fluffy cake to create a yummy dessert you won’t forget. Besides, it’s so easy to make a blueberry cake vegan, you won’t miss cracking those eggs!

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Flour — I use all-purpose flour. You can substitute Whole Wheat Pastry Flour or high-quality gluten-free baking flour.
  • Sugar — Granulated sugar is the key to a delicious cake, but you can substitute coconut sugar for more caramel flavor.
  • Blueberries — You can use frozen or fresh blueberries. Substitute mixed berries such as blackberries and raspberries.
A glass bowl holds fresh blueberries.

Choose the Best Blueberries

Berries should be plump and smooth-skinned. The color is an indicator of ripeness (not the size), so select berries that are deep purple-blue. Frozen blueberries are frozen at the peak of ripeness, and they hold their shape better while baking.

Storage Tips

Store the whole cake or slices in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 7 days. Individual slices can be stored in an airtight container and frozen for up to 2 months.

Vegan Frosting

These are the best vegan frosting options for this vegan blueberry cake:

What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • COLORFUL — Blueberries create pops of color and flavor throughout the cake.
  • SWEET — Vanilla frosting adds sweetness and consistency.
  • VERSATILE — Change up the flavors by adding lemon zest to make a lemon blueberry cake

Want to write a special message, like “Happy Birthday” on your cake? This vegan royal icing is perfect when used with the right frosting tips.

Marly’s Tips

Use these tips and tricks to make this recipe for blueberry cake perfect every time:

  • Bake a blueberry sheet cake in a 9×13 inch cake pan for 40 to 50 minutes.
  • Add a tablespoon of lemon zest to make a vegan lemon blueberry cake.
  • I love this guide from The Spruce Eats on flavors to combine with berries. It’s geared toward beverages, but the suggested flavors work with cakes, too.
  • Make this into a vegan blueberry coffee cake by adding a streusel topping. Use the streusel from my vegan coffee cake as a guide.

I highly recommend serving this homemade blueberry cake with a glass of my Iced Chai Latte. They go so perfectly together!

Frequently-Asked Questions

Can you put frozen blueberries in a cake?

You can use frozen blueberries in place of fresh ones in a cake recipe. Frozen blueberries can perform better in baking because they don’t sink to the bottom as much as fresh and stay intact during baking.

Should you thaw blueberries before baking?

Add frozen berries in their frozen state to batter. However, if the recipe calls for thawed or fresh blueberries, it’s a good idea to follow those instructions.

Need More Blueberry Recipes?

If you love this vegan blueberry cake and want more vegan blueberry dessert recipes, you should try this vegan blueberry crumble. It’s another easy dessert! Here are a few more of our favorites:

A slice of 2-layer cake on a white plate with fresh blueberries around it.
A slice of 2-layer vegan blueberry cake with fresh blueberries on top sits in front of the whole cake.

Easy Vegan Blueberry Cake

Make this moist and easy vegan blueberry cake with fresh blueberries and a delicious vanilla frosting. This indulgent dessert would be perfect for Birthday parties or other special events.
5 from 4 votes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 330kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 cup blueberries , frozen or fresh
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups cold water
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Vanilla Frosting

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons plant-based milk , vanilla

Instructions

  • Heat your oven to 350°F/175°C. Spray two round cake pans with vegetable spray. You can also place a piece of parchment paper at the bottom of the pans and spray the sides with vegetable oil.

For the Cake

  • Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, including the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Stir to combine.
    Dry ingredients, like flour, in a glass bowl.
  • Add the fresh or frozen blueberries to the flour mixture and lightly stir to ensure the blueberries are coated.
    A bowl of blueberries has been coated with a flour mixture.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients, such as the vegetable oil, water, vinegar, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
  • Pour the water mixture into the flour mixture. Stir until combined.
    Batter with blueberries is in a glass bowl.
  • Pour the batter into your prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • When the cakes are done, remove them from the oven. Allow the cakes to cool for about 10 minutes before inverting them onto a serving plate.

For the Frosting

  • Make the frosting, by combining the coconut oil with the powdered sugar. Stir until a crumbly mixture forms. Add plant-based milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you achieve a nice, spreadable texture. 
  • Spread half the frosting on the top of the bottom cake. Place the second cake on top of the frosted cake. Spread the remaining frosting on the top layer. Do not frost the sides.

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Notes

*I recommend vanilla-flavored plant-based vanilla powder, but you can use other flavors too, like chocolate or chai.
Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post was originally published in 2017 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.

12 Responses to Vegan Blueberry Cake

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyDana Lasky Reply

    I made this recipe two years ago people that ate it keep begging me to make it again.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Dana! Thanks for your comment. I’m glad to see this recipe was so popular! It’s a great summer dessert, so maybe you’ll make them happy and make it again soon?

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlySandrine Reply

    5 stars
    This recipe is perfect for my baby shower. Although I am not vegan, many of my guests are so I wanted to make a cake that they would enjoy. This is absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      You’re so welcome, Sandrine! I hope you love it as much as we do!

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyDiane Reply

    5 stars
    Love blueberries so will be on my list to try

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyAutumn wallpaper Reply

    I love blueberries and I also like your recipe. Thank!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Thanks! It’s certainly a favorite of ours!

  5. Avatar thumbnail image for Marlykatie Reply

    hmm i like the idea of this cake, but you lost me at protein powder. is that necessary? can an alternative ingredient be used to replace the 2/3 cup of the powder?

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Katie! Well, I like to add protein powders to my vegan cakes. I find that it adds extra structure that sometimes can be lacking. Oh sure, if you don’t want to add the protein powder, just skip it. I’d probably make the batter without and then if the batter is too runny, I’d add a half cup of additional flour. Let me know how it goes!

  6. Avatar thumbnail image for Marlyjacquie Reply

    the cake looks delicious and i love blueberries. but i’m wondering about the protein powder? is it necessary. it seems unnecessary and somewhat counter-intuitive to add something that is so processed to cake that is very so simple and based on wholesome ingredients.

  7. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyJohanne Reply

    I love your writing style, it just pulls me softly through the post like a lovely soft current.
    Blueberry season is upon us true! Today I bought two pints of blueberries at the farmers market intending to cook something but instead sat under a spreading maple and lazily ate them both while I watched the people shop.
    It is really the simplicity of your recipe that elevates the blueberries. I will try this cake out on my guests. Thank you

  8. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyTimaree Reply

    I am not a big fan of blueberries but your recipe makes me wonder! I wonder if I used Just Mayo in a mayonnaise cake recipe if that would bind like the eggs do (from the mayonnaise). You used protein powder, mostly pea protein in this cake and I wonder if the idea of a binder is why? I’ve tried several vegan cakes and they seem too often, to come out oily which I don’t like. What made you try the protein powder?

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