This Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake with Red Wine is such a fun and easy dessert to make this is sure to impress! Perfect for a date night in or a Valentine's dinner party, you won't want to miss out!
*Originally published August 27, 2021 and updated with new copy and photos 3/13/22.
This Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake with Red Wine is rich and decadent. Super fudgy, this cake will be the hit of your next potluck or party. This is the perfect cake to make when you have leftover wine sitting around. I know, I know, what is leftover wine?? Whether you make it with leftover wine or pop open a new bottle, this cake is sure to be delicious!
For some more dessert recipes, check out the BEST Dairy-Free Brownies, these Easy Boozy Brownies, The Best Blackberry Lemon Bread or this Simply Delicious Hula Pie.
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What Makes This Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake The Best
- Plant-Based- This recipe is entirely plant-based which makes it such a fun recipe to share with both vegans and non-vegans alike.
- Rich and Decadent- This Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake is so rich and decadent. The ultimate chocolate experience! The red wine helps to make this loaf cake extra rich and really brings out the chocolate flavor.
- Showstopper- How often do you get a chocolate cake make with red wine? This dessert is sure to impress any that serve it to!
Ingredient Notes
- Flour- The base of this chocolate chip loaf cake is all-purpose flour. If you don't have it on hand, feel free to swap it with whole wheat flour or your gluten-free flour of choice.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder-The cocoa powder in this recipe will help to make the loaf cake extra chocolaty. Make sure to use natural and not dutch-processed baking powder.
- Vegan Butter- The vegan butter helps to give this recipe a richness. I love to use the Miyoko's brand, however feel free to use your favorite vegan butter.
- Sugar- The cocoa powder is not sweetened so we add a little bit of sugar to help sweeten and balance out this flavors. I used white sugar, but I have also tested this with coconut sugar and it gives just as much flavor without the refined sugars.
- Dry Red Wine- It is important when choosing a wine that you choose a vegan wine if you want to keep this recipe vegan. Not all red wines are vegan and most are refined using products derived from animals.
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.
Instructions
- Make your flax egg and set it aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine your dry ingredients.
- In another bowl, combine the butter and sugar and stir to combine.
- Slowly add in the vanilla extract, flax egg, and red wine.
- Slowly, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until fully combined. Stir in the chocolate chunks.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan and top with the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Bake for one hour.
Hint: Depending on your oven, you might have to bake it for less or more time. All ovens vary. Mine runs a little lower than the temp setting so I like to keep this handy thermometer inside so I always know what the true temp is.
Substitutions
- Alcohol-Free - You can easily make this without the red wine. Sub the amount of red wine for vegan buttermilk and add 1 teaspoon of espresso powder to the batter to give it a richer chocolate flavor.
- Sugar-Free - To make this sugar-free, sweeten with Splenda instead of sugar.
- Gluten-Free - Use Gluten-Free flour in place of the AP flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
Variations
- Spicy - Add 1 teaspoon of chili powder to the batter mixture to give this a slight kick. It may sound weird but let me tell you, it is amazing!
- Chocolate Cherry - add in some dried cherries to the batter to take it to another level!
- Kid-friendly - Leave out the alcohol and sub with vegan buttermilk!
Check out this other fun dessert recipe here!
FAQ's
The difference between a loaf cake and a regular cake is that a loaf cake is baked in a loaf pan, normally a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
Making sure not to overmix the batter will help to keep the loaf cake moist and the combination of the vegan butter and the red wine also help to make sure the cake stays moist.
If you overmix the cake batter, you cake could fall in the center. It will also make the cake dense and heavy instead of light and fluffy.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. See below for the equipment you will need to make this recipe.
- 9x5 inch Loaf Pan
- Glass Mixing Bowls
- Spatula
Storage
Wrap in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
To freeze this chocolate chip loaf, wrap in tin foil and then in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to three months.
Top tips
- Many factors impact the final alcohol content of homemade recipes. How long the dish is cooked at the boiling point of alcohol (173 degrees Fahrenheit) is one of the biggest ones. After baking this loaf cake for one hour, about 30 percent of the alcohol is remaining. Therefore, enjoy this loaf cake with your adult friends, but maybe give the kids something else.
- Make sure you pick a vegan wine. You can easily identify if a wine is vegan by speaking with a store associate or local wine vendor. Note that while the loaf cake pictured was made with vegan wine, the wine in the photos is not vegan. I don't personally drink and ran out of my Vegan wine during testing so I picked up a bottle from the store for my husband to enjoy. Plus, who doesn't love a little Snoop in the background of their photos?
- Wait until the cake cools completely to slice. If you slice it while it is still warm, it will risk crumbling, the cake is very moist.
Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake with Red Wine
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup Flour
- ⅓ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- ¾ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Vegan Butter-melted
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 Flax Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Dry Red Wine I used Merlot
- 12 oz Vegan Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks
- ¼ cup Vegan Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Make your flax egg and set it aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine your dry ingredients.
- In another bowl, combine the butter and sugar and stir to combine. Slowly add in the vanilla extract, flax egg, and red wine.
- In one cup increments, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until fully combined. Stir in the chocolate chunks.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan and top with the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Bake for one hour.
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Komal Singh says
Wow this sounds and looks delish! Might add it to my “holiday menu”.
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy!
Emily Flint says
My girlfriends are going to love this cake, so good!!
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Jeri says
What a decadent-looking loaf! I will be trying this the next time I open a bottle of wine! Looks delicious!
kaydimaggio says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy!
Jenny says
This turned out so great! Thanks!
kaydimaggio says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Angela says
What a great loaf cake recipe. I loved the addition of the red wine.
kaydimaggio says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Jamie says
This looks incredible and indulgent!
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Sabrina says
Rich, chocolaty flavour with nice simple ingredients. Perfect, thanks!
kaydimaggio says
Hope you enjoy!
Swathi says
Red Wine chocolate chip loaf cake looks yummy
kaydimaggio says
Yes! So very good!
Freya says
Such a great idea to use up leftover red wine! I don’t particularly drink it, but I’d happily buy a little bottle to make these!
kaydimaggio says
Yes! I was given a bottle after a work event and I don't drink it so I had to find a way to use it!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
Wine and dessert can't be bad. I love the gorgeous colour of this loaf!
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Luca says
I have just saved this recipe so I can make it tomorrow as we have guests for lunch. It looks so delicious!
kaydimaggio says
Awesome! I hope you enjoy!
Kalin says
This cake looks beautiful!! Such an amazing color and it sounds like it tastes incredible
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Gioele says
Oh my god, how amazing this was! Literally everyone home finished a piece in 2 seconds!
kaydimaggio says
Glad you loved it!
Jean says
great idea to combine wine and chocolates! love this treat.0
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Addie says
The red wine adds so much flavor!
kaydimaggio says
I agree!
Jodi Reed says
I'm definitely making this for my next mom's night in.
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy!
Leah says
I don’t drink wine but when it’s gifted to me, I might have a glass to taste. I never know what to do with the leftover and this is it!! Brilliant!
kaydimaggio says
I agree, I am the same way so when I was gifted this bottle, I knew exactly what to do with it!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says
A boozy loaf cake? What a brilliant idea for the weekend! Thanks for the recipe:))
kaydimaggio says
Yes! So good and boozy!
Bianca says
This is such an amazing idea to use red wine! I will have to try this recipe my dad will love it
kaydimaggio says
Yes! It is so delicious!
Debra says
so many favorites in one loaf. Delish.
kaydimaggio says
I agree! So delicious!
abhi says
It looks so delicious! What a lovely image looks like it will pop out of the image!!!
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Colette Zaharko says
Thanks for the tips! I love how moist and delicious the cake is. I love that you can substitute the wine with buttermilk. I've never had this type of cake before, so I am excited to try it.
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy it!