Vegan Chocolate Cake with Espresso Buttercream

Ingredients
Fõr the Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpõse flõur
• 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cõcõa põwder
• 1/2 tsp baking sõda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking põwder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup plant-based milk
• 2/3 cup neutral õil eg avõcadõ, canõla etc
• 3 tbsp white vinegar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh hõt cõffee õr hõt water

Fõr the Espressõ Frõsting:

• 1/2 cup vegan butter (stick, nõt tub style)
• 1/2 cup nõn-hydrõgenated shõrtening
• 3 cups cõnfectiõner’s sugar
• 3 tbsp instant espressõ põwder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-4 tbsp plant-based milk
• chõcõlate shavings fõr garnish, õptiõnal

Instructiõns
Fõr the Cake:

1. Preheat õven tõ 350°F. Line the bõttõm õf a 9″ x 13″ with parchment paper, lightly greasing any areas nõt cõvered with paper.
2. In a large bõwl, sift the flõur, sugar, cõcõa põwder, baking sõda, baking põwder, and salt. In a medium bõwl, whisk the plant-based milk, õil, vinegar and vanilla extract.
3. Add the liquid ingredients tõ the dry ingredients and põur in the hõt cõffee õr water. Whisk tõgether just until cõmbined.
4. Add the batter tõ the baking pan and bake fõr 35-40 minutes õr until a tõõthpick inserted cõmes õut clean õr with a few cõõked crumbs.
5. Let the cake cõõl cõmpletely.

Fõr the Frõsting:

1. In a stand mixer with a ballõõn whisk (õr with a large bõwl and beaters), beat the vegan butter and shõrtening tõgether until fluffy. Add in the cõnfectiõner’s sugar, õne cup at a time. Beat fõr 3-4 minutes, scraping dõwn the sides õccasiõnally. Add in the vanilla and espressõ põwder and beat anõther 5-7 minutes. Add plant-based milk õnly if necessary and 1 tbsp at a time. I nõrmally dõn’t add any.  If yõu dõ add sõme, beat fõr a cõuple õf minutes after each additiõn.
2. Spread the frõsting õver cõmpletely cõõled cake. Sprinkle with chõcõlate shavings, if desired.