20+ Gluten Free Cake Recipes
Have your gluten-free cake and eat it, too! I’ve wrangled my favorite Gluten Free Cake Recipes for you to try, plus loads of information I hope you’ll find helpful when baking gluten-free.
The Most Mouthwatering Gluten-Free Cakes
A hard fact of gluten-free living: most cakes are not gluten-free. It can be one of the most frustrating things. I come across a cake recipe that steals my heart, only to find zero options for making it gluten-free! Since going gluten-free myself, my passion is creating easy and approachable gluten-free dessert recipes that everyone can enjoy (even gluten-eaters).
Gluten-free cakes can be soft, moist, and full of flavor. From quick snack cakes to something more fit for a special occasion, I’ve rounded up over 20 of my favorite gluten-free cake recipes. You’ll find these below, along with some helpful information and tips for gluten-free baking.
What Is Gluten-Free Cake Made Of?
In the simplest terms, gluten-free cake is a cake made without any gluten. This means the cake and its ingredients are free from wheat, rye, barley, or other products that may contain gluten.
Instead, flours in gluten-free cakes feature a blend of wheat alternatives. Some common ones are almond flour, rice flour, tapioca flour, and potato starch.
What Kind of Gluten-Free Flour is Best?
The good news is: there are loads of gluten-free flours on the market. The bad news is: there are loads of gluten-free flours on the market. This can make choosing the right flour for any given recipe overwhelming, to say the least!
Not all flours are the same, and some gluten-free flours may suit certain recipes more than others. For example, the flour you use in a gluten-free bread recipe might not be the best for baking a cake, and vice versa. Other recipes may call for a blend of different wheat-flour alternatives in order to get the best results.
You’ll find in many of my cake recipes, I’m partial to Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour. This flour blend has xanthan gum (a thickening and stabilizing agent) already included. This makes it my first choice to use in baked goods. If you do use flour that’s different from what’s listed in the recipe, choose a blend that contains xanthan gum. Otherwise, you may need to add this separately, as it’s a key binding ingredient in gluten-free baking.
Ingredients to Watch Out For
Apart from the flour, many ingredients you find in cake recipes are, for the most part, naturally gluten free. Pure vanilla extract, for example, is made with distilled alcohol and shouldn’t contain any gluten. Still, there are some ingredients that warrant double-checking:
- Baking Powder: Most baking powders contain cornstarch or potato starch, which makes them gluten free. However, some brands of baking powder use wheat starch, which contains gluten and should therefore be avoided.
- Powdered Sugar: Like baking powder, most powdered sugar (a.k.a. Confectioner’s sugar) is gluten-free. It’s made from pulverized cane sugar with tapioca starch as an additive. If you’re concerned, you can easily make your own gluten-free powdered sugar at home. Simply pulse pure granulated sugar in a food processor!
- Oats, Grains, and Meals: If you’re baking with oats and grains, make sure the products you’re choosing are certified gluten-free (see more about gluten free oats). Ingredients like oats and almond flour or almond meal are in practice free from gluten. However, they can come from facilities where cross-contamination occurs. It’s always a good idea to check labels to be sure.
As an extra precaution when shopping, look for brands with gluten-free indications on the packaging. If you aren’t sure about an ingredient, you can always turn to Google or the company’s website for more information. Many brands and companies also have general information hotlines available, where you can learn about products in more detail.
Can Celiacs Eat Gluten-Free Cake?
A cake made without gluten ingredients can be suitable for people avoiding gluten. It’s important to check that all ingredients used are gluten-free. If you have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance.
20+ Must-Make Gluten Free Cake Recipes
Ready to dive into some gluten-free baking? Here are over 15 of my best homemade gluten-free cake recipes to try!
Gluten Free Pumpkin Snack Cake
Tips for the Best Gluten Free Cakes
Making gluten-free cakes from scratch can be straightforward with the right techniques. Here are some tips to guide you when baking gluten-free:
- Be Careful With Substitutions: Gluten-free recipes are tested for best results. Follow recipe instructions and approved substitutions closely. Deviating too much may affect the outcome.
- Measure Ingredients Correctly: For accuracy, weigh ingredients when possible. If using cups, use the “spoon and level” method instead of scooping directly.
- Pay Attention to Details: Follow specifics like ingredient temperatures, inclusion of xanthan gum, or exact egg measurements. Read the recipe fully before starting.
- Bring Butter and Eggs to Room Temperature Quickly: Soften butter in short, low-power microwave intervals, and place eggs in warm water for about 15 minutes.
- Watch Measurements and Mixing: Over- or under-measuring ingredients, over-baking, or over-mixing the batter can change texture. Mix just until combined as directed.
- Optional Techniques: Creaming butter and sugar as directed can help with even mixing and texture in the finished cake.
Learn more about making other types of baked goods in my Gluten Free Baking 101 article.
How to Store Extras
You can store most cakes at room temperature, unless otherwise specified in the recipe. Of course, a cake frosted with icing that contains dairy belongs in the fridge for longer storage.
Be sure to refer to the actual recipes for specific instructions. In the meantime, here’s some general guidance when it comes to cake storage:
- Store cakes airtight, either in a container or wrapped in plastic.
- Most cakes will freeze well, others won’t. But if they can be frozen, this is a great option for long term storing! See the next section for details.
Does Gluten-Free Cake Freeze Well?
It depends on the recipe, of course, but most gluten free cakes tend to freeze well. Here are some tips for freezing cake:
- If you do freeze your cake, it’s best to do so before frosting.
- Freeze cakes whole or in individual slices, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
- Adding a layer of aluminum foil can help protect the cake from freezer burn.
- Defrost your cake at room temperature (unless the recipe says otherwise).