Simple Sourdough Vanilla Cake With Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

Last Updated on June 1, 2025 by Nico

Sourdough starter is combined with flour, water, coconut oil, and a few other simple ingredients to create a delicious and rich sourdough vanilla cake. It is a healthier spin on a classic yellow cake recipe.

A birthday is looming in our household, and so baking a cake has risen to the top of my to-do list. I thought I’d impress this special someone by baking a sourdough vanilla cake with rich chocolate icing.

Sourdough cakes are especially delicious because the sourdough gives the batter a depth of flavour. It also helps to make the cake dense and moist – two words I like the sound of only when they are describing cake!

(If you’re looking for more simple sweet treat ideas, you could try this healthy no-churn fig and walnut ice cream or this simple lemon rosemary cake with olive oil.)

If you too have a celebration of some sort on the horizon, I hope you will give this sourdough vanilla cake with homemade chocolate icing a try.

Watch The Video

Ingredients

For The Cake

All Purpose Organic White Flour

Coconut Oil

Sourdough Starter

Honey or Maple Syrup

Water

Eggs

Salt

Vanilla

Milk

Baking soda

For The Frosting

Cream Cheese

Powdered Sugar

Butter

Cocoa Powder

For complete measurements, see the printable recipe card below.

Tools You Might Need

Large bowls

Cake pans

Spatula

Toothpick or sharp knife

How To Make Sourdough Vanilla Cake

The night before you want to bake the cake, combine together the flour, coconut oil, water, and sourdough starter in a bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic or beeswax wrap, a plate, or a damp tea towel and leave it on the counter overnight or at least 4 hours. It should roughly double in size.

The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius.

In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla, honey, salt, and milk.

Then pour the egg mixture into the sourdough mixture, and mix until smooth.

Add the baking soda.

Pour the batter into the cake pan.

Bake for 25 minutes. Test that the cake is done by dipping a sharp knife or toothpick into the centre of the cake. It should come out clean.

Let the cake cool before icing.

How To Make Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

In a sauce pan, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and butter.

Heat everything over low heat on the stovetop and stir until well combined.

Use a spatula to spread the icing onto the cake, once the cake is completely cooled.

FAQ

Try These Other Simple Sweet Treat Ideas

Healthy No-Churn Fig And Walnut Ice Cream (Sugar Free)

Simple Lemon Rosemary Cake With Olive Oil

Simple & Tasty Sourdough Discard Banana Bread Recipe

Easy and Delicious Sourdough Discard Apple Cake Recipe

Fluffy and Simple Sourdough Chocolate Bread

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, please consider giving it 5 stars. Find me on Instagram @documentingsimpleliving and show me what you’ve made!

Nico

Simple Sourdough Vanilla Cake With Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

Sourdough starter is combined with flour, water, coconut oil, and a few other simple ingredients to create a delicious and rich sourdough vanilla cake. It is a healthier spin on a classic yellow cake recipe.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Additional Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Course: Sourdough

Calories: 854

Ingredients Method Nutrition Video Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup sourdough starter
• 1 cup water
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup of honey or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups cream cheese
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder

Method

 

To Make The Cake

1. The night before you want to bake the cake, combine together the flour, coconut oil, water, and sourdough starter in a bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic or beeswax wrap, a plate, or a damp tea towel and leave it on the counter overnight or at least 4 hours. It should roughly double in size.
2. The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla, honey, salt, and milk.
4. Then pour the egg mixture into the sourdough mixture, and mix until smooth.
5. Add the baking soda.
6. Pour the batter into the cake pan.
7. Bake for 25 minutes. Test that the cake is done by dipping a sharp knife or toothpick into the centre of the cake. It should come out clean.
8. Let the cake cool before icing.

To Make The Icing

1. In a sauce pan, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and butter.
2. Heat everything over low heat on the stovetop and stir until well combined.
3. Use a spatula to spread the icing onto the cake, once the cake is completely cooled.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 854kcalCarbohydrates: 84gProtein: 11gFat: 54gSaturated Fat: 35gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 153mgSodium: 926mgFiber: 3gSugar: 49g

Video

Notes

How Long Does Sourdough Vanilla Cake Last?

This cake will last 2-3 days covered on the counter before becoming dry. You can put the cake into the fridge to help it last about 1 week.

Can You Freeze Sourdough Vanilla Cake?

Yes. In an airtight container this cake will last about 6 months in the freezer. I recommend slicing it up, and adding a piece of parchment paper between each slice. This will make it easier to consume when you thaw it out.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!