Growing up in India, it's not a surprise that mangoes were always my favorite fruit. We use mangoes in so many recipes but never have I tried a mango cake recipe. So when I saw this vegan mango cake recipe in my friend's blog I was excited, to say the least.
It was a pretty straight forward recipe. No special ingredients or special equipment needed. I also had store bought mango puree at home readily available. All I had to do was mix the ingredients and whip up this gorgeous vegan mango cake.
Sometimes vegan baking and cooking call for specialty ingredients either for egg substitute and/or fat substitute. Interestingly this mango cake recipe doesn't use any such ingredients. Vegetable oil is used for the fat and the leavening agents baking powder and baking soda is good enough as egg substitutes and makes the cake rise without the use of eggs.
If you want to make it richer and don't mind not baking it vegan and just eggless mango cake, you can use melted butter instead of the avocado oil.
To make this eggless mango cake even more special exotic you can try adding some ground cardamom and saffron strands. That's what I'm going to incorporate while baking it the next time. Can't wait to bake this mango cake recipe again making these two additions.
Recipe
Vegan Mango Cake
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 and ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 and ½ cups mango puree
- ⅓ cup avocado oil
- ⅔ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven for 350F.
- Mix the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk just until a smooth batter texture. Do not over-mix.
- Divide the batter equally among 12 cups of a standard-sized muffin pan-lined with cupcake liners.
- Bake for about 26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
My Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was updated and republished from 2009 recipe archives.
D Arora says
Great recipe - simple and easy. My dad (for his bday) and family loved it. I did sub canola oil for avocado oil, used 1 1/4 mango purée + 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce and 1/2 cup sugar. I will try lessening the sugar to 1/4 cup next time if using mango buttercream. Do you think it’s possible for me it omit the sugar all together?
Madhuram says
Thank you for trying the recipe, D Arora. Sugar not only sweetens the bread but also acts as a moistening agent. So you might end up with a dry, chalky cake if you omit sugar even though you might not mind the taste.
Karie says
I use this recipe to make mini muffins and my family devours them! I use veg oil instead of avocado, cut the sugarand if I am a little short on mango, I add applesauce to make up the difference and it turns out great.
Madhuram says
That's awesome, Karie! Thank you for the feedback.
Chev says
Hi! How long is the baking time if using an 8-inch round pan?
Madhuram says
I'm guessing 25-30 minutes, Chev.
Annette says
Didn’t work well for me, cakes took long time to bake, more like 45 minutes, and didn’t rise too well! Gas mark 4 too low?
Madhuram says
Did the oven preheat to the right temperature?
Suvarna Shilpa S says
Tried with butter
Dint come out well
Cake dint rise at all and it was like a pancake
Carlo says
Sugar isn't listed in the ingredients? Is anything else missing?
Madhuram says
I have mentioned it, Carlo, below the oil, 2/3rds cup sugar.
Danuta Gajewski says
Can I use mango pulp instead of mango puree, or will I have to thin it out? My favourite Indian spice shop owner said it's the same thing, but I prefer a baker's opinion!! Thanks!
Madhuram says
Depending on how thick it is you might have to dilute it a bit.
Sabrina Wright says
Perfect! The cake is so rich and moist, it doesn't need any frosting at all! Will definitely make again. 🙂
I followed the recipe as written, but made the following changes:
- Replaced avocado oil with vegetable oil
- Reduced sugar to 1/2 cup as someone suggested when using shop-bought puree
- Cooked in a 9-inch round cake tin for about 40 minutes
- Added one crushed cardamom pod as someone suggested (trust me, one is enough!)
Madhuram says
Wow! That's awesome, Sabrina. Thank you very much for the feedback.
Jean C Smith, MD says
I am curious to know if you tried the addition of ground cardamom, as mentioned in one of the comments. I would love to try that (am going to make these this week, as written), as I love cardamom. I have lived in India and Nepal, and routinely make Nepali chia (tea) every morning, with smashed green cardamom pods and ginger (smash in granite mortar and pestle). If you have done, how much cardamom powder? Saffron is easy, because I can just add a few strands of saffron. But let me know about the cardamom. Thanks!
Madhuram says
I haven't used cardamom in the recipe, Jean, but I think it would be a wonderful addition. Just take out the seeds from one pod of cardamom and powder it, that should be enough otherwise the flavor might become too much.
Karen says
Didn't rise well batter extremely thick, do you have any suggestions? thanks
Madhuram says
You can add some liquid, milk or water to get a better batter consistency.
karen says
I see a cake in pic, so what is the timing on a cake or bundt cake pan?
Madhuram says
I used small individual bundt like tins, Karen. If it was one single cake in a 13x9 inch pan I think it would take about 30-35 minutes. Just guessing.
Ashwini says
Would love to try baking this for my daughter’s 2nd birthday. Can you suggest ways to garnish this cake?buttercream frosting ideas?
Madhuram says
How about whipped cream frosting and sprinkling chopped pistachios if she is not allergic? Something similar to the eggless rasamalai cake.
Ashwini says
Thanks ,she loves pistachios. However i couldn’t find good quality whipped cream here in Bangalore. Is there a way I can make it at home,? Also what do you think of using shrikhand as a cake frosting? Does it work? Will it make the cake soggy?
Madhuram says
Oh ok. I'm not sure about making whipped cream at home. You will have to Google, Ashwini. Shrikhand can be bit heavy on the cake.
Sue Benjamin says
HI Madhuram:
Have you tried baking this cake with saffron strands & cardamom powder? A colleague of mine has her birthday coming up this month. She said she likes mango cake. I love baking vegan cakes and found this recipe while browsing for a vegan mango cake recipe. Please let me now. Thanks.
Madhuram says
I haven't Sue, but I'm sure it would be a wonderful flavor combination. You should try it. Please let me know how it turns out.
GwapasiMayerr says
This is new to me
Umm My problem is I don't have cardamom powdered on hand so what is the best substitute of it?
Please let me know
Thank you in advance
Madhuram says
That's ok. You can simply use vanilla extract.
Priyanka Jaggi says
Perfect!!!! I like the recipe... I love mangos and love to try eating every thing having mango....
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Also visit : My Dinner Stuff
Madhuram says
You're welcome Priyanka.
Rekha Madhusudhanan says
i need help in converting this recipe to a 10 inch round pan.. i'm absolutely clueless on it. i have tried the exact measurements for a 9 in square pan and it was perfect.
Madhuram says
Sorry Rekha, me neither. I'm guessing maybe you can increase all the ingredients by 25%?
Rekha says
This has always been a hit
Madhuram says
Thanks Rekha.
Pragati Jain says
We love this recipe. Have already made 3-4 times now. Once had a family from Australia and it was a hit with them too. I have tried using half wheat flour and half all purpose flour also and it turned out equally well. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Madhuram says
You're welcome Pragati. It's great to know that whole wheat flour also works in this recipe. Thanks for the feedback.
Prachi says
Hav u used powdered or granulated sugar
Madhuram says
Granulated Sugar.
deepika says
Which butter to be used in recipe..amul butter
Madhuram says
If that's plain, unsalted butter, you can use it.
Tejal sharma says
Can I substitute all purpose flour with suji ??
Madhuram says
Hmm..I'm not sure Tejal. I haven't used suji instead of all-purpose flour in any baking recipe so far.
Tiffany says
I'm not sure I can get avocado oil. Would coconut oil work?
Madhuram says
That should not be a problem Tiffany. Any neutral flavor oil is fine.
H says
It was a hit. Thanks! I made it into a cake. 350 F for about 35 min. I puréed frozen mango. The fruit wasn't particularly sweet. You're right! I could have gotten away with less sugar. I iced (maybe I should call it watered :-); it was runny) the cake using home-powdered sugar and mango pulp, beaten together. I believe I used half a cup of pulp and 1.5 cups of sugar.
Madhuram says
That's great H. Thanks for the feedback.
Harshini says
Where did you get the mango puree and what brand is it?
Madhuram says
I got it from the Indian store here. Don't remember the brand name. Any brand should be fine though.
lucad says
Had to eat the muffins and cake frozen.
Why they came out crumbling?
Madhuram says
Did you make any changes to the recipe? Did you by chance add more baking powder/soda?
Kim says
Hello Madhu,
Do I have to make any changes in recipe or in timings if I want to make MINI cupcakes/muffins instead of cake .
Thanks
Kim
Madhuram says
You will have to just adjust the baking time. I'm thinking 10-12 mins for mini cupcakes.
Sushmita says
Can I use wheat flour instead of all purpose flour??
Madhuram says
Hmm..you may but not sure if it will be suited for this recipe.
Sheetal says
Is the baking time same for single cake too?
Madhuram says
Yes, as long as you are using the same measurements for rest of the recipe.
stuti says
Any substitute for avocado oil? If yes, in what quantity? I am not a vegan, so can I use butter?
Madhuram says
Any oil of your choice or melted butter.
sunitha says
I made cupcakes with this recipe ...its super soft n delicious I made 2times ...thanks for recipe ...can we replace banana in place of mango then how many bananas shall i put ...thanks in advance....
Madhuram says
Thanks Sunitha. Yes mashed banana should work. I'm thinking about 3 medium very ripe bananas should work. Later you might add some milk/water to adjust the consistency.
sweta s says
Wot if I skip baking soda coz I don't have that at home n I made it without that. But don't know why the taste has a slight bitterness. Cud u plz help me with the reason. Apart from that in terms of texture n baking it came out well.
Madhuram says
Was the baking powder old? The bitterness can be because of that. Skipping baking soda may not work always.
Mousumi Biswas says
Can I use this recipe to bake a mango cake instead of muffins ? Is it necessary to add salt? What's the purpose
Madhuram says
Yes you can make a single cake too. Usually a very little salt is added in all sweet recipes to enhance the flavour.
Buster says
My son and I each made this recipe today and we loved it!
We used coconut oil. He used white flour and I used whole wheat flour. I also only used 1/3 brown sugar. Both had different consistency but both turned out delicious!
Madhuram says
Wow! That's great! Thanks for the feedback Buster.
Vikas says
Another great recipe Madhuram. Thank you so much, surely gonna try this one as well 🙂
Madhuram says
You're welcome Vikas.
Kim says
Hi,
I would like to know which other oil I could use instead of Avocado oil and how much.
Thanks!
Madhuram says
Yes any oil of your choice is fine Kim.
Kim says
Hi Madhu,
This is the first time I baked something and unfortunately it didnt turn out well.
Something was missing. It took 1 hour to bake it and still was undone. The toothpick didnt come put clean even after an hour..and The cake is still flat:(
I used coconut oil instead of avocado oil , but same amount. Could this be a problem? and what is the difference between yeast and Baking Soda. Can I use one of them?
Thanks
Kim
Madhuram says
I'm wondering if you preheated the oven Kim. Using coconut oil instead of avocado oil shouldnt be a problme, but the con in using coconut oil sometimes is that it solidifies. Yeast and baking soda are completely different. One cannot be used in place of the other.
Kim says
Hi.,
Thanks for the reply. Can you suggest what would be the right replacement of avocado oil? I want to give another try.
Thanks
Kim
Madhuram says
Any oil of your choice Kim.
Jocelyn says
Can I use other oil?
Madhuram says
Yes you can.
Jocelyn says
Hi from Mexico, I made this cake yesterday. It's so delicious all my family love it. Thanks for sharing
Madhuram says
You're welcome Jocelyn.
Conchix says
This a great recipe! We just love it! Thanks a lot for sharing.
Madhuram says
You're welcome.
Riddhi Dani says
I made mango cupcakes with this recipe & it turned out super delicious & soft too. Thank you for sharing a wonderful recipe.
Madhuram says
You're welcome Riddhi.
marg says
Hello \can I use unsweetened apple sauce then mango? regards marg
Madhuram says
Hmm..not sure Marg. In that case you will have to increase the quantity of sugar too. I guess you will have to experiment and see.
Sunny says
Does this recipe has no butter? What is an alternative to avacado oil?
Madhuram says
Yes it's a vegan recipe, so butter is not used. You can use any oil of your choice.
Tao says
Hi there is there anything I can use instead of the shortening . Will vegan butter be fine . Thanks
Madhuram says
Yes that should not be a problem Tao.
aarti says
where do i find the recipe ?
Madhuram says
Click the link on vegan mango cake in my write up.
Tacha says
Where is the recipie for vegan mango cake? Can I please have it
Madhuram says
The link is there in the post itself.
VR says
Hi Madhuram
Can I make this recipe using a regular bundt cake pan or a 9 inch pan ?
Any suggestions on how much to alter if making a double layer cake? Thanks
Madhuram says
You will have to double the recipe for a bundt cake or a double layer cake. Keep the same measurement for a 9-inch pan.
RadhaBalaji says
Hi madhuram,
I tried your mango muffins just now.Oh I can't believe.It's so soft,so tasty.My kids loved it.I will try your other recipes too.I can't express in words.Thankyou so much.Please do post more eggless recipes.I just put olive oil instead of canola oil.
Regards,
Radha.
Madhuram says
Thanks Radha. The credit goes to Vaishali for the amazing yet simple recipe.
Vinita says
Hi,
Can you suggest any replacement of Canola oil???
Best Regards,
Vinita
Madhuram says
You could use any other neutral flavor oil like sunflower, safflower oil etc. But these days I use only organic refined coconut oil.