VEGAN VANILLA SPONGE TRAY BAKE

Vegan Vanilla Sponge Tray Bake is a cake with a moist, soft crumb, creamy frosting, and colorful sprinkles. It's an old-fashioned charm! Whether it's a school bake sale, a birthday party, or a treat-yourself moment, this tray bake promises to bring smiles all around.

It's party time 🥳

Vegan Vanilla Sponge Tray Bake will transport you back to the days of childhood parties and carefree fun.

With its moist, fluffy texture and creamy icing, this cake is a timeless classic reinvented for a modern, plant-based, and dairy-free cake twist. (yes, that means egg-free, too!)

I love making cakes for special occasions, like my Dairy-Free Cup Cakes, Chai cake, Banana Cream Cake , Matcha Cheesecake , or Yogurt Plum Cake. I look for any excuse to celebrate! 🎉

❤️ Here's why you will love this cake recipe

Simple, Straightforward Ingredients: Gone are the days of complicated recipes requiring a laundry list of obscure ingredients. This Vegan Vanilla Sponge Tray Bake is simple. No need for six eggs or hard-to-find items—just basic pantry staples like flour, sugar, and vegetable oil come together to create this cake.

Nostalgic: This tray bake will take you back to the days of school bake sales and birthday parties. 🎈

Vegan-Friendly (Dairy-Free and Egg-Free): Whether you're a committed vegan or simply looking to explore plant-based baking, this recipe is a winner.

Recipe testing.

The choice of plant-based milk can indeed have an impact on the overall texture and flavor of your Vegan Vanilla Sponge Tray Bake.

I tested this recipe with three different plant-based milk options as well as regular cow's milk.

I loved all of the final results and it was difficult to choose a favorite. This is how I found the milk to affect the final product.

ALMOND MILK: It produced a slightly lighter and airier cake texture. The cake was more delicate and crumbly, with a soft and tender sponge.

SOY MILK: Soy milk has a slightly creamier texture compared to almond milk, it was denser and more moist. It also had a firmer crumb.

OAT MILK: Oat milk produced a cake with a tender and moist crumb, similar to when I made it with traditional dairy milk.

🐄 COWS MILK: This cake had soft and delicate texture, it was slightly denser compared to plant-based milk alternatives.

Ingredients needed and substitutions

MILK OF CHOICE: Soy, Almond or Oat milk

WHITE VINEGAR: or apple cider vinegar

ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR

WHITE GRANULATED SUGAR: You can use castor sugar.

BAKING POWDER: Helps the cake rise

BAKING SODA: Don't leave this out.

SALT: Adds a little flavor

VEGETABLE OIL: Canola oil or light olive oil will work.

VANILLA EXTRACT: This adds so much flavor.

For the buttercream

VEGAN BUTTER

POWDERED SUGAR (ICING SUGAR)

VANILLA EXTRACT

SPRINKLES

How to make vanilla tray bake cake

Note: Please scroll to the full printable recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and the method.

Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8x8-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

Create Buttermilk: In a small bowl, mix together the plant-based milk and white vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes until it curdles slightly. This homemade buttermilk will add moisture and tenderness to our sponge.

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sifted flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk them together until well incorporated.

Blend Wet Ingredients: To the bowl of buttermilk, add the vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Whisk until everything is nicely combined.

Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold until you have a smooth batter. Be careful not to overmix.

Bake to Perfection: Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly. Pop it into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

How to make the icing

Cool and Ice: Once baked, let the tray bake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Meanwhile, prepare the icing by creaming together the softened vegan butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. If the icing seems too thick, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Decorate: Once the tray bake has cooled, spread the creamy icing over the top. Then, unleash your inner artist and sprinkle those colorful sprinkles! This is where the magic happens.

Slice and Serve: With your masterpiece complete, slice the tray bake into squares.

Tips and tricks

Measure Accurately: Baking is a science, so measuring your ingredients accurately.

Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow your vegan butter to come to room temperature before using it to make the icing. This helps ensure a smooth texture.

Don't Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can lead to a tough and dense cake. Instead, gently fold the ingredients together until just combined for a tender and fluffy texture.

Properly Prepped Pan: Whether you're greasing and flouring your pan or using parchment paper, make sure it's properly prepped to prevent the cake from sticking. This ensures easy removal.

Cool Completely: Allow the traybake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before icing. Rushing this step can cause the icing to melt and slide off the cake.

Icing: If the icing is too thick, it will be difficult to spread, while if it's too thin, it may slide off the cake. If you are looking for a fun, bright icing idea, then take a look at this pink cake recipe.

Get Creative with Sprinkles: Let your imagination run wild when it comes to decorating with sprinkles! Experiment with different colors, shapes, and sizes to create a visually stunning masterpiece that's as fun to look at as it is to eat.

Make-ahead and Storage

MAKE-AHEAD:

You can definitely make the Vegan Vanilla Sponge Tray Bake ahead of time, which is fantastic for planning ahead for parties or events. Here's how you can do it:

1. Bake the Cake: Follow the recipe instructions to bake the tray bake as directed. Once baked, let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
2. Wrap and Store: Once the tray bake has cooled, carefully remove it from the pan and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Make sure it's completely covered to prevent it from drying out.
3. Refrigerate or Freeze: You have two options for storage:
   • Refrigeration: You can store the wrapped tray bake in the refrigerator for up to three days. This is ideal if you plan to serve it within a few days.
   • Freezing: Alternatively, you can freeze the wrapped tray bake for longer-term storage. Place it in the freezer, and it will keep for up to a month. When you're ready to enjoy it, simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
4. Thaw and Decorate: If you've refrigerated or frozen the tray bake, be sure to allow it to come to room temperature before decorating with icing and sprinkles. Once thawed, you can proceed with icing and decorating as usual.
5. Serve and Enjoy: Once decorated, slice into squares and serve.

STORAGE:

Store any leftovers (if there are any!) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating & comment below. It genuinely helps me & I really appreciate your support! Nikki 💚

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