sorry OP, but i think you have some misleading things going on with this recipe...
A) it doesn't take five minutes. so why are you calling it "five minute" cake?
B) chocolate chips are not universally dairy-free. i hope you aren't giving that to kids exclaiming that it's dairy free.

"old fashioned" is usually just code for "my grandma got it off the back of a box"

Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips are dairy free too.

Sounds great! Although the chocolate chips might take away its "vegan" status. Trader Joe's chocolate chips are vegan, though!

P.S. P.S. I think it would be terrific with a little whole wheat flour, for texture. I am going to do 2.5 cups white, 1/2 cup whole wheat and see what we get!

Thanks! I'm going to try it. I've noticed that most recipes that start with "old-fashioned" are winners!

hi all - i posted my favorite chocolate cake recipe on my blog yesterday. it happens to be egg and dairy free, so i've given it to many friends over the years who've had egg- or dairy-allergic kids. thought i'd post here since i know how common allergies are these days. and of course it's great for vegans as well.

http://www.chinesegrandma.com/2010/10/best-chocolate-cake/

hope some of you find it useful! this is my family's go-to recipe for anyone's birthday (and we have no allergies). originally from bon apetit.