Can I substitute vanilla extract for cocoa powder in a cupcake recipe? I found this recipe online for a chocolate cupcake recipe and I want to make it into a vanilla cupcake recipe. I know what you may be thinking "why doesn't she just find a vanilla cupcake recipe?" This one is vegan and it is the first one that I have seen that is even remotely basic with the ingredients and I am trying to make it as simple as possible for myself. If you could help me that would be lovely.

This is the recipe I am trying to change:


  1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
  3/4 cup sugar
  1/4 cup cocoa powder
  1 teaspoon baking soda
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  5 tablespoons vegetable oil
  1 tablespoon white vinegar
  1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  1 1/4 cups water


I know this may seem simple but I am not the most experienced baker ever.
The recipe you've found looks like "crazy cake" or "wacky cake" (or "depression cake"), which is a fairly common egg-free cake. I've made it a number of times for a friend with an egg allergy and it's a very good vegan cake.

To make a vanilla version, leave out the cocoa powder and increase the vanilla extract slightly (1.5 teaspoons). There are a wide array of variations on this blog -- chocolate is the "original" (and most common version that I have seen), but vanilla, spice, lemon, and more all seem to be possibilities.