Where to find a vegan birthday cake in lockdown?

[SchubertSwan]

It will be DD's birthday later this month and she is vegan and soya and chocolate intolerant. I have been trying in vain to find a cake for her. Our local and wonderful supplier is closed and the ones I have researched on the internet all seem to have soya in them.

I know it's a bit of a long shot, but I was just wondering if you wonderful MN'ers might have any suggestions? DD has had a very difficult year, including losing her dad a few months ago - he had his terminal diagnosis on her last birthday - so I would like to try to find something special, if at all possible.

I know I should just try to make one myself, but I am a bit of a rubbish baker and don't want to disappoint her.

What about trying one of the Free and Easy cake mixes from Ocado? There is sponge cake or carrot cake that seem to fit in with your requirements. You've got time to test one out hopefully, since you say you're not a confident baker.

Thanks Ada, it may have to be that, poor DD.

Some Sainsburys a birthday cake size chocolate on, Tesco does a vegan ‘colin’ caterpillar, I’m guessing they may be limited to larger stores.

Sorry, I only just saw your comment about soya, a quick look online shows they both contain soya.

Asda do a really nice vegan cake (decorated as an avocado!) in their birthday cake section. It was absolutely delicious but it was chocolate inside unfortunately. Tesco has a vanilla cake in the FreeFrom section but it has dairy in it.

That’s really difficult with the chocolate intolerance too. Hope you find something.

Another thought is make ice cream from oat milk, and possibly also a fruit sorbet, and some fruit puree sauces, and use them to make Knickerbocker Glory. Decorate with miniature sparklers, culinary gold leaf etc, would look fab!
No a cake, but I'm sure she would appreciate the thought and effort you'd put in.

Dairy and soya is a really tricky combination, poor dd!

Have you seen geode cakes? They're really easy to do (honest) but look spectacular. If you can make yourself or use the cake mixes from Asda to make two sponges (two different flavours maybe?) and slice both in half. Fill with her favourite jam/spread/buttercream flavours. Stack the cakes and cover the whole thing with buttercream, usually white or cream coloured. Then cut a small crooked slice and buttercream the hole as if you're plastering until no cake is visible.

You can get packets of clear rock candy from Amazon, get a couple of packets with larger sized chunks. Stuff them in the buttercreamed crack until it's full. Pick her favourite colour in food colouring, take a paintbrush and paint the deepest rock candy in the crack. Then dilute (vodka works best and evaporates) with a few drops to change the colour and paint the candy around the dark colour, keep lightening it as you come out. Done. The more clean and plain and simple you keep the outside the more amazing the coloured sparkly rock crystals look inside. Flavours will be lovely, really easy to make but looks special. Lots of tutorials on youtube to check details.

Other thought I had was a pancake or waffles party or an ice cream bombe or baked alaska with vegan ice cream?

Really hope you can find something special for her!

Make one - if you have other kids get them involved. I found a simple sponge that's eggs free online for my brother - use creamed coconut, lime juice and icing sugar to make a delicious vegan topping/filling

Nigella has a really nice chocolate one with coconut oil, it's vegan, maybe you could substitute the cocoa powder for coffee or vanilla ?

The non-iced ones here might work if she can handle ‘traces’ (not sure how sensitive she is). Raspberry, apple and blackcurrant etc.
www.lolascupcakes.co.uk/SubMenu1/95/Vegan-Cakes.htm

I can, um, vouch for the deliciousness of lola’s cakes

My son is allergic to dairy and eggs but fortunately is ok with soya, so my recipes would be no help to you I'm afraid.
I just found this place by Googling and it looks like they do postal delivery. Maybe they could do something for you?
mygammies.co.uk/shop/

Bosh do a lemon cake that tesco sell, haven't tried it but their chocolate one was really nice.

If you want to bake, I can also vouch for this recipe book for vegan cakes. www.mscupcake.co.uk/books/

Minimalist baker has lots of vegan cake recipes online and amazing brownies

Hey OP, that is a tricky combination.

Try googling "accidentally vegan UK" and you will find lists of products which don't advertise themselves as vegan but actually are. A Mr. Kipling treacle tart would be one example.

You may find some surprises.

Have you seen geode cakes? They're really easy to do (honest) but look spectacular.
A first time one might not but whatever you do avoid pink colourings, they always look like fannys!

You could try the Green Guerrilla. They are based in Durham but they deliver all over the country. I'm sure they will be able to cater for allergies if you ask.

Try sponge.co.uk I get a lot of cake from there for work and they do vegan ones.

Thank you so much for these suggestions, which I will check out. If it weren't for the soya allergy, it would be fine, but a little challenging to be vegan and soya free!

where about are you? I can recommend a couple of bakers in Yorkshire.

Alternatively put a shout out on some local pages for a recommendation.

Oggs do a zesty lemon cake and also vanilla cupcakes - don't think they contain soya. They also do aquafaba egg replacer - you could make a Vic sandwich swapping out the eggs.

Yes, it's hard to combine ethical dietary restrictions with medical ones. My son would also prefer not to eat meat but as he is allergic to eggs, dairy, all (as far as we know )nuts, some seeds and some legumes it just wouldn't be safe for him. We saw a dietician who is vegetarian and hired a vegan chef to give me some lessons but they both agreed that it would be extremely difficult to provide a balanced diet given that he is allergic to so many non meat protein sources.
I'm forever seeing vegan things these days and thinking "ooh, that would be nice for DS" only to find it has nuts or seeds in it - you must have the same experience with soya Schubert. I hope you find your DD a lovely cake and that she has a happy birthday.

www.nigella.com/recipes/dark-and-sumptuous-chocolate-cake
This is a dense chocolate cake, but I've swapped the cocoa for more flour, added vanilla and used light brown sugar and it works just as well. It's not light or fluffy, but it is easy and tasty.

I’m gf and df and have made some nice beckyexcell cakes
I like to use coconut oil instead of butter.

Gluten free pot of tea is her site