Simple Vegan Chocolate Cake

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1. 1Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and lightly spray 2 8-inch round cake pans or 1 large rectangular pan with nonstick spray. Dust with cocoa powder, shake out the excess, and set aside.
2. 2Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, mix the almond milk and vinegar and let sit for a few minutes to activate. Add the oil, coffee, vanilla extract, and applesauce, and beat until foamy. If coconut oil hardens, microwave the mixture in 10-15 second increments until melted.
3. 3Step 3: Add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to a sifter and slowly sift over the wet ingredients while mixing with a hand-held or standing mixer. If you don't have a sifter, mix dry ingredients in another bowl and add to the wet mixture while beating. Beat until no large lumps remain. The batter should be creamy and pourable. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed, adding more sugar if desired.
4. 4Step 4: Divide batter evenly between cake pans or rectangular pan.
5. 5Step 5: Bake 25-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
6. 6Step 6: While cooling, prepare frosting by beating together all ingredients until light and fluffy, adding the powdered sugar in small amounts until you reach your desired consistency and sweetness. If it becomes too thick, add more almond milk. If it's too thin, add more cocoa powder or powdered sugar.
7. 7Step 7: Once the cake is cooled, frost generously with buttercream frosting, adding a thick layer between layers if doing a 2-layer cake. Alternatively, omit the frosting and dust with cocoa powder.
8. 8Step 8: Serve with a scoop of dairy-free ice cream, a drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce, coconut whipped cream, or a glass of almond milk.