Whether you have a gluten intolerance or full-blown celiac disease, that doesn’t mean you need to miss out on delicious desserts and treats! There are tons of easy gluten free recipes you can make using flour substitutes like almond flour, coconut flour, amaranth flour, and more, and we’ve curated our favorite gluten free cake recipes below! Many of these recipes are naturally dairy free, sugar free, and 100% vegan, making them a healthy alternative for every occasion.
6 Gluten Free Baking Tips
Before we jump into our favorite gluten free cake recipes, here are some helpful gluten free baking tips and tricks!
1. STORE GLUTEN FREE FLOUR IN THE FRIDGE OR FREEZER
Gluten free flours tend to have a shorter lifespan than traditional flours. Be sure to read labels carefully and take note of the expiration date as well as how you should store your gluten-free flour to ensure it remains fresh.
2. TRY DIFFERENT SPICES AND FLAVORINGS
Gluten free flours typically have a distinct taste to them, which can take some getting used to. Whether you’re trying some of the gluten free cake recipes below, or trying to adjust a favorite dessert recipe to make it gluten free, choose recipes that call for flavors you like. Vanilla and cinnamon are great as these tend to mask the taste of the base flour you’re using. You can increase the amount of your flavor of choice if desired.
3. FOLLOW RECIPES PRECISELY
While cooking lends itself to experimenting with ‘a little bit of this and a little bit of that’, baking is much more precise. Swapping out or omitting ingredients can completely ruin your baked goods, especially when you’re making gluten free cake recipes. Start by following existing recipes precisely, and once you get a sense for the science behind gluten free baking, you’ll be much more successful at taking an existing recipe and making it gluten free.
4. ADD MOISTURE AND STRUCTURE IF NEEDED
If you’re attempting to convert one of your favorite recipes into a gluten free cake, you may need to add a little moisture. If your recipe already calls for ingredients such as eggs, oil, pureed fruits, yogurt, or cottage cheese, you may need to increase the amount slightly so your finished product doesn’t turn out too dry. You can also replace white sugar with brown sugar, or use a sugar substitute such as honey or agave to add moisture. In the absence of gluten, increasing the amount of wet ingredients in your recipe will also give structure to your gluten free cake recipes so they don’t turn out too dense and crumbly.
5. INCREASE YOUR LEAVENING AGENT
Gluten doesn’t just give structure to cakes and baked goods – it helps them rise as well. If you’re adapting a traditional recipe into a gluten free cake, you will want to increase the amount of baking soda or baking powder you use by about 25%.
6. INVEST IN A COOLING RACK
Gluten free baked goods have a tendency to become soggy if they aren’t transferred onto a cooling rack once they are removed from the oven. Be careful not to skip this step or you’ll end up with a cake that has a gummy consistency.
21 Gluten Free Cake Recipes
The Best Gluten Free White Cake | Barefeet in the Kitchen
The Ultimate Gluten Free Chocolate Cake | The Loopy Whisk
Flourless Chocolate Cake | Two Peas & Their Pod
Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake | Mama Knows Gluten Free
Gluten Free Strawberries & Cream Cake | Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Easy Gluten Free Lemon Cake | Gluten Free Palate
Gluten Free Vanilla Cake | Fearless Dining
Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake | The Big Man’s World
Soft & Delicious Gluten Free Funfetti Cake | The Tickled Tastebud
Gluten Free Cinnamon Roll Cake | Laura’s Gluten Free Kitchen
Gluten Free Carrot Cake | The View From Great Island
Gluten Free Lemon Curd Cake | From The Larder
Gluten Free Almond & Coconut Cake | Bake Play Smile
Gluten Free Coffee Cake | Fearless Dining
Gluten Free Gingerbread Spice Cake | Ela Vegan
Gluten Free Orange Bundt Cake | Clumsy Crafter
Gluten Free Blueberry Coffee Cake | Mama Shire
Gluten Free Chocolate Lava Cake | Ela Vegan
Classic Gluten Free Pound Cake | Gluten Free on a Shoestring
Flourless Orange Cake | Baking Envy
Pear and Almond Flourless Cake | A Baking Journey
Whether you have celiac disease, a gluten intolerance, or you try to avoid gluten for other health reasons, I hope this collection of gluten free cake recipes helps make every celebration extra special.