Name: Vanilla Pudding Birthday Cake with Vanilla Glaze
Yield: 12–16 servings
Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1½ cups granulated sugar; 1 box (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix, dry; 1 tablespoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; 1¾ cups unsweetened soy milk or oat milk; ½ cup vegetable oil; ½ cup unsweetened applesauce; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 2 cups powdered sugar; 3–4 tablespoons unsweetened plant milk; 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract; Pinch of salt; Vegan rainbow sprinkles (optional)

INGREDIENTS

12–16 servings

Cake dry ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1½ cups granulated sugar
1 box (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix, dry
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Cake wet ingredients

1¾ cups unsweetened soy milk or oat milk
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Vanilla glaze

2 cups powdered sugar
3–4 tablespoons unsweetened plant milk
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Vegan rainbow sprinkles (optional)

METHOD

Make it

1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
2
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, dry vanilla pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3
In another bowl, mix plant milk, vegetable oil, applesauce, vinegar and vanilla.
4
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined.
5
The batter should be thick but spreadable. If unusually stiff, add another 1–2 tablespoons plant milk.
6
Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
7
Bake for 35–45 minutes, checking at 35 minutes. Continue baking if needed until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
8
Cool completely before glazing.
9
Glaze: Place powdered sugar in a mixing bowl.
10
Glaze: Add vanilla, salt and 3 tablespoons plant milk.
11
Glaze: Whisk until completely smooth.
12
Glaze: Add more plant milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until thick but pourable.
13
Glaze: Spread over the completely cooled cake.
14
Glaze: Add sprinkles immediately.
15
Glaze: Allow glaze to set for 20–30 minutes before cutting.

Cooking notes

Use one 3.4-ounce box of dairy-free instant vanilla pudding powder dry; do not prepare pudding first.
Final cake milk quantity is 1¾ cups, replacing the earlier 1½ cups.
No eggs, dairy or vegan butter.
Glaze uses 3–4 tablespoons plant milk independently of the cake milk.