Grease three 8-inch round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening then dust with some of the cocoa powder. Set the prepared cake pans aside.
Sift the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk the dry ingredients until the cocoa powder is evenly mixed into the other ingredients.
In a small bowl combine the vegetable oil, water, vanilla extract, and lastly the vinegar and mix well.
Pour the small bowl of wet ingredients into the large bowl with the dry ingredients and using a large spoon mix until the dry ingredients are completely moistened.
Divide the vegan cake batter evenly between the three 8-inch cake pans and place into the preheated oven to bake immediately.
Bake for about 35-45 minutes in a preheated oven or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.