This eggless chocolate cake is soft, rich, and perfectly chocolatey with a tender crumb and creamy chocolate frosting. Made with silken tofu instead of eggs, it's a dependable recipe that's perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or whenever you're craving a homemade chocolate cake.
I first shared this eggless chocolate cake recipe in 2008 after baking it for my son's third birthday. It was my very first layered birthday cake without eggs and my first time using silken tofu as an egg substitute in baking.
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I had no idea what to expect and remember hoping it would turn out well enough for his birthday celebration. The moment we cut into the cake, I knew I had found a keeper. It was soft, rich, and full of chocolate flavor, with no hint of tofu.
I'm keeping the original photos from that birthday because they remind me where my eggless baking journey began. Over the years, this recipe has been baked and enjoyed by many readers, and it continues to be one of my favorite eggless cake recipes. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
Why You'll Love this recipe?
Soft, rich, and full of chocolate flavor: Every slice has a tender crumb that melts in your mouth.
Made without eggs: Silken tofu creates a moist, tender cake without leaving any tofu taste.
Easy to make: You only need a bowl, a whisk, and a few simple pantry ingredients.
Loved by readers for years: I first shared this recipe in 2008, and it continues to be one of the most popular chocolate cake recipes on the blog.
What Readers are Saying?
Christine Renwick says: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This I started making when my friends daughter (who had an egg allergy), never had had a birthday cake. It was such a success. It has been my only chocolate cake recipe used ever since. My daughter (22) asked me to make this for her birthday next week. I could not find the recipe anywhere. You can imagine my delight in finding it again online after all this time.
I do find the cake a little fragile but letting it cool completely in fridge overnight and using slightly softer frosting does the trick.
Thankyou Madhuram for my go to chocolate cake recipe that I have used for the last 11 years.
Kathleen says: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Change the title to BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE PERIOD
I tried this recipe because one of the kids in my son's class has an egg allergy. Thank you little Vincent. For years I have been proud of my chocolate cake. I would make it the night before so it would be super moist. Not necessary with this recipe. I was never satisfied with my cupcakes though. They were never moist enough. THESE CUPCAKES WERE AMAZING!!!!!
I used store brand firm tofu. I'm trading my Hershey's Perfect Chocolate Cake Recipe for this one. Sorry Hershey's, but you've been outdone.
Ingredients and Substitutions
You'll need just a handful of simple ingredients to make this eggless chocolate cake. I've included a few notes about the key ingredients and helpful substitutions below. You'll find the complete ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Silken tofu: Pureed silken tofu replaces the eggs in this recipe and gives the cake a soft, tender crumb without leaving any tofu flavor. Blend it until completely smooth before adding it to the batter. I used Nasoya Silken Tofu.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Use a good quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the richest chocolate flavor.
- Hot coffee: Coffee deepens the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee. If you prefer, replace it with an equal amount of hot water.
- Vegetable oil: I used canola oil, but any neutral flavored vegetable oil, such as sunflower or avocado oil, will work.
- Milk: I used 2% milk. Any dairy milk works well. You can also use an unsweetened plant based milk.
Frosting
The original birthday cake was frosted with a boxed chocolate frosting mix prepared with butter and milk, just as I made it back in 2008.
If you prefer a homemade frosting, you can use any chocolate frosting you like. I have used chocolate buttercream, chocolate ganache, and chocolate cream cheese frosting for other cakes on the blog. You'll find the frosting ingredients and instructions in those recipes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is the step-by-step instructions to make this simple and delicious egg-free chocolate cake from scratch:
1. Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda in a large bowl.
2. Add Cocoa Powder.
3. Add Sugar to the mix.
4. After mixing them, make a well.
5. Add Canola oil into the well.
6. Add the hot coffee.
7. Add milk to the mix.
8. Add the pureed tofu. (Remove the silken tofu from the packet using a spoon, add it to the blender, and puree it to a creamy mixture)
9. Add a few drops of Vanilla Essence.
10. With an electric mixer, beat at medium speed for 2-3 minutes.
11. Sprinkle cocoa powder onto the cake pan.
12. Pour the batter evenly into both 9-inch cake pans.
13. Bake this cake for 25 to 30 minutes until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
14. Let the cakes cool completely before removing them from the pans.
15. The cake should cool completely on the wire rack before frosting.
Frosting Recipe
Check out the step-by-step instructions to make the frosting from a boxed frosting mix.
Sift the mix. Add the melted butter, hot milk, vanilla, and baking soda. (I read in the same book that adding a pinch of baking soda to icings prevents hardening and cracking, so icing stays moist)
Beat the mix using a hand mixer at medium-high speed. Add a few drops of water/milk if required.
Frosting the Cake
First, I placed the bottom layer upside down so the rounded side (top of the cake would be on the serving plate). If you have a dome top on the cake, even it out by slicing it with a serrated knife and then place it upside-down.
Spread about ½ cup to ¾ cup of frosting on top of the bottom layer. Don't use hard strokes; spread it gently using an offset metal spatula or plastic spatula.
Complete the frosting of bottom layer on all sides.
Place the second layer on the first, cut, or domed side up. Frost the sides of the cake first with another ½ cup of frosting. Finally, frost the top of the second layer.
Cake Decoration
The options are endless. Because my son loves M&M's, I used them to line the cake.
I also used the ready-made Cake Mate decorating pens in the grocery store in the baking aisle to write birthday messages and draw some flowers.
Recipe FAQs
I first baked and blogged about this eggless chocolate cake in 2008. It’s been 16 years now, and over the years, I’ve received so many questions from readers. This FAQ section is a result of carefully curated reviews and feedback, providing an exhaustive list of questions to ensure your baking experience is as smooth as possible. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any other questions, and I will try to answer to the best of my knowledge.
You can use cake flour if you’d like a lighter texture, but you may need to increase the amount slightly since cake flour is lighter than all-purpose. For self-rising flour, it's not recommended unless you adjust the other leavening agents in the recipe (baking soda and baking powder), as self-rising flour already contains leavening.
Yes, you can easily make this cake vegan! The only dairy ingredient in the cake is 1 cup of milk, which can be replaced with any non-dairy milk of your choice, such as almond, soy, or oat milk. For the frosting, simply swap the butter with a vegan butter alternative and double-check that your frosting mix doesn’t contain any dairy ingredients. You can also explore some of the vegan frosting recipes I’ve shared for a fully vegan cake!
Yes, you can! Simply substitute the regular flour with an all-purpose gluten-free baking mix, which works measure for measure. Although I haven’t tested it specifically with this cake recipe, I’ve had great success using gluten-free mixes in muffin and cookie recipes. To be sure, you could halve the recipe and bake a single-layer cake as a test. This way, you can see how it turns out and adjust as needed before baking the full recipe.
Yes, you can make this cake soy-free by using a different egg substitute in place of silken tofu. While I haven’t personally tried other substitutes in this recipe, many reviewers have had success using unsweetened applesauce. One reader even mentioned that they skipped the tofu entirely, and the cake still turned out great! Another option could be to use an equal measure of yogurt, which should also work well.
I’ve only tested this recipe with granulated white sugar, but brown sugar should work just as well, adding a slightly richer flavor. I haven’t experimented with artificial sweeteners, but if you’re using a liquid sweetener like maple syrup, you’ll need to adjust the amount of other liquids in the recipe to maintain the right consistency. Start by reducing the liquid ingredients slightly to balance it out.
Yes, you can! The coffee isn't mandatory. Simply replace it with a cup of water. Coffee is typically used to enhance the chocolate flavor, but I haven’t done a side-by-side comparison to see how much of a difference it makes. Either way, your cake will still turn out delicious!
Yes, you can! Feel free to add up to a cup of chocolate chips, nuts, or other mix-ins to the batter. There’s no need to adjust the measurements for the other ingredients—just stir them in and bake as usual for a delicious twist!
Yes, of course! Line a muffin tin with paper liners and lightly grease them with non-stick cooking spray. Spoon about ⅓ cup of batter into each liner and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Enjoy your eggless chocolate cupcakes!
No worries! You can use any other frosting mix of your choice or frosting from a can. Alternatively, you can try one of the homemade frosting recipes from the blog for a delicious, from-scratch option.
Yes, this cake tastes great even without frosting! You can simply dust it with powdered sugar or top it with fresh fruits like berries for a lighter option. A slice of this cake with some whipped topping and fresh fruits also makes for a delicious, simple dessert. The rich chocolate flavor and moist texture stand on their own, making it perfect as a snack or quick treat.
You can bake this cake a day or two in advance. Once cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap to keep it fresh. If you're planning to frost it later, store the unfrosted cake layers at room temperature for up to two days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months—just be sure to thaw it completely before frosting or serving. While I haven’t personally frozen this cake, this is the general procedure for freezing cakes.
More Eggless Chocolate Cake Recipes:
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Recipe
Eggless Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
- ¾ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 2 Cups Granulated Sugar (See My Notes)
- 1 Cup Vegetable Oil (I Used Canola Oil)
- 1 Cup Hot Coffee (I Mixed 1.25 Teaspoons Of Instant Coffee Powder With 1 Cup Of Hot Water)
- 1 Cup Milk (I Used 2% Milk)
- ½ Cup Silken Tofu Pureed (I Used Nasoya Brand Silken Tofu)
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 Packet Dr Oetker's Organic Chocolate Icing Mix
- ¼ Cup Hot Milk/Hot Water (Heat It In The Microwave Oven For 15 Seconds)
- ⅓ Cup Soft Butter At Room Temperature (Which Is 5 Tablespoons + 1 Teaspoon)
- ¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- A Pinch Baking Soda
Instructions
Cake Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 325F (160C) for 15 minutes.
- Grease two 9 inch round cake pans and dust them lightly with cocoa powder or flour.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Make a well in the center and add the oil, hot coffee, milk, pureed silken tofu, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the batter is smooth.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If baking both pans on different oven racks, switch their positions halfway through baking for more even browning.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans until completely cool before carefully turning them out onto a wire rack.
- Frost the cooled cake with the prepared frosting and decorate as desired.
Frosting Procedure:
- Sift the chocolate frosting mix into a mixing bowl.
- Add the melted butter, hot milk, vanilla, and baking soda.
- Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add milk, one teaspoon at a time, if needed to reach a spreadable consistency.
Assemble the cake:
- If the cake layers have domed tops, level them with a serrated knife.
- Place one cake layer upside down on a serving plate or cake stand.
- Spread about ½ to ¾ cup of frosting evenly over the top using an offset spatula or butter knife.
- Place the second cake layer on top, cut side down.
- Spread a thin layer of frosting over the sides of the cake, then frost the top. Add more frosting as needed until the cake is evenly covered.
- Slice and serve, or decorate as desired.
Decorating the Cake:
- I decorated the cake with M&M's and ready made decorating icing pens to write a birthday message and add a few simple flowers. Feel free to decorate the cake any way you like for the occasion.
My Notes
- Puree the silken tofu until completely smooth before adding it to the batter.
- The batter will be thinner than a typical cake batter. This is normal.
- Let the cake layers cool completely before removing them from the pans and frosting them.
- If baking two cake pans on different oven racks, switch their positions halfway through baking for even baking.
- The original recipe uses a boxed chocolate frosting mix. Feel free to use your favorite homemade chocolate frosting instead.
- I added a pinch of baking soda to the frosting to help keep it soft and reduce cracking. This step is optional.
Shivani Shah says
Hi Madura.
I baked this cake twice now and it turned out super delicious! It's a flawless recipe. I also tried your strawberry cheese cake and everyone who tasted it couldn't stop praising. I love cakes and you gave me the command. Now I want to bake some cup cakes for some folks back in India and send them with my in laws. Suggest what shall I bake that can last at least 3 days! I want them to taste the wonder I bake! Thanks a ton. Love your recipes.
Madhuram says
Thanks a lot for the feedback Shivani. Most of the cupcakes without frosting and fruits in it should keep good for at least 3-5 at room temperature but the texture can get a bit sticky.
brinda says
Hi, i want to know about oven. Which oven is best for baking otg or convection microwave? And please let me know about which brand oven is best?
Madhuram says
I have never baked in a convection microwave oven, so cannot compare and tell which one is the best. I use an oven range here. Runs on electricity.
brinda says
Thank you madhurama ji . me ye janna chahti hu aap baking k liye kis brand ka otg use karti he? Me bhi aapki tarah perfact baking karna chahti hu
Madhuram says
Hi Brinda. I don't use an OTG oven. It's the electric range we get here. Don't have any experience with OTG ovens.
Geeti says
Hi please tell me can I use butter or peanut oil instead of vegetable oil
Madhuram says
Yes you can Geeti.
Karin van Niekerk says
Hi I want to make the cake, I am from South Africa and don't know what Silken Tofu Pureed (I Used Nasoya Brand Silken Tofu) is? we don't have this here, what is it and what can I use in the place of that?
Greetings
Madhuram says
Silken tofu is made from curdling soy milk. It's available in stores here. You can try either unsweetened applesauce or plain yogurt instead of silken tofu.
Bharat Jadav says
Hii,
I love all your recipes as it turns out to be perfect.
I bake cakes in my LG convection microwave in a silicon container. But every time it happens that my cake doesnt rise properly on sides, though it is soft and moist there. I mean it comes out in bulged shape from center..i can see in your images that it should rise evenly from center as well as sides.
I hope you will assist me on this 🙂
Madhuram says
Thanks Bharat. I have never baked in microwave convection oven. So I'm not sure if the problem is because of that and maybe you have to follow few tricks to get it right. I'm not sure if you have to adjust the temperature or baking time if baking in a microwave oven. Sorry about that.
Preeti says
Hi Madhuram,
I tried this recipe and it turned out well. Finally, my wish will come true, to bake a cake for my daughter on her birthday. Thanks a ton.
Regards
Madhuram says
Thanks Preeti. 🙂
Nitha says
Tried the recipe for my kids birthday .came out very well Thank you .
Madhuram says
You're welcome Nitha.
Joy Bernard says
I am in DIRE need of a recipe for a Gluten free, dairy free cake. Is there such a thing.If son please send it to me. I would be eternally grateful.
Madhuram says
Sorry not yet Joy.
lainy says
Can you you use a different liquid instead of the coffee?
Madhuram says
Yes plain milk will work too.
Joey Zenjin says
This recipe of eggless chocolate cake is delicious and moist.
My friend and I just had made it just today for the first time.
Out from scratch we just followed the steps and it turn out
so good. We didnt know what to use for tofu pureed. We search
in google to substitute the ingredient, instead we use 1 tbsp. of cornstarch and dissolve it in 1 cup of hot water. What are other ingredients to substitute for tofu pureed?
thank you. much appreciated
Madhuram says
Thanks Joey. You can use yogurt or unsweetened applesauce too.
sital says
Hi
Thank you for the detailed recipe, very easy to follow.
What can we replace coffee with, if anything?
Thanks
Madhuram says
You're welcome Sital. Just plain water/milk.
Nikita says
Amazing recipe, best homemade eggless death by chocolate cake we ever had.
Madhuram says
Thanks Nikita. 😀
Stephanie says
I love this recipe! I have had to tweak it a little because of where I live but my daughter and nephew are deathly allergic to eggs and they always want birthday cakes like everyone else. I have tried all kinds of recipes and this is by far the best one I have found! I have even tried having a cake made for her and this recipe is still the best!
Madhuram says
Wow! that's such a lovely compliment. Thank you very much Stephanie.
Valeria says
I made this cake last weekend for my birthday. I threw a vegan party and none of my friends believed this was actually a vegan cake- it was unbelievably delicious! Will definitely repeat it.
I filled it up with lemon cream which added some contrast to the strong chocolate flavour.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Madhuram says
You're welcome Valeria. Thank you very much for the feedback.
Skye says
Are there any replacements for the tofu?
Madhuram says
You can use equal quantity of applesauce too.
Jaya says
awesome recipe. what can be used instead of silken tofu and soy milk? what can be used if icing mix is not available. plz reply i have to make it for my hubby's birthday
Madhuram says
I know I'm very late with the reply. Applesauce/yogurt might work. Any milk can be used.
Jaimini says
I have tried baking your plain vanilla sponge cake and it has been a huge hit! Thank you for the great recipe. I want to try this chocolate cake recipe but can we use condensed milk like the vanilla cake recipe instead of silken tofu?
Madhuram says
Thanks Jaimini. I think it might work, but you will have to reduce the quantity of sugar or else you can try substituting all purpose flour with unsweetened cocoa powder in the vanilla cake recipe.
av says
Hi there,
Can you use buttermilk in place of the milk?
Madhuram says
Maybe you could, but I think I would cut back on the baking soda.
Andrea says
This cake is amazing! So delicious and very moist! I just made it for the third time. Best chocolate cake ever!!! I frosted with a chocolate cream cheese frosting. I use 1 1/2 cups of sugar and greased and flour the pans. Very yummy 🙂
Madhuram says
Thank you very much for the feedback Andrea.