You’ll love this easy Gluten Free Chocolate Cake. A simple one bowl chocolate cake that’s made using only normal, easy-to-find ingredients. It’s soft, fluffy and delicious!
It’s chocolate cake madness over here! 🙆♀️
I’m so excited to share my Gluten Free Chocolate Cake recipe with you today. A light and fluffy gluten free cake that rivals even my favourite Chocolate Buttermilk Cake.
The best part? It’s made using only regular ingredients so it can be your new go-to when you need a Gluten Free Chocolate Cake to share with family and friends.
Covered in a rich cocoa buttercream, this tender chocolate cake will have everyone swooning.
Regular readers of my blog will know that I don’t follow a gluten free diet, BUT I do have plenty of family and friends who do. That’s why I’ve shared a few gluten free recipes over the years that everyone can enjoy.
It actually started when I shared my Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie recipe with you a few years ago – it’s still one of the most popular recipes on my blog. And the same goes for my favourite Whole Orange Cake.
I only hope that you’ll love this gluten free chocolate cake as much as I do. It’s so easy to make, and you can’t even tell it’s gluten free! #winning
You will love this Gluten Free Chocolate Cake for a few reasons. It has a deliciously soft texture. which can sometimes be hit and miss when baking gluten free.
It also only uses gluten free plain flour – no other weird gluten free substitutes or ingredients. I always find it so disappointing when I see a great gluten free recipe I want to try and then I get a fright when I see all of the ingredients – some I can’t even spell! Others, I can’t afford to buy simply to make one cake.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. So I when I was developing this recipe, I wanted to make a chocolate cake recipe that was easy and simple – in more ways than one.
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Baking gluten free is tricky and it took me a while to get this cake exactly how I wanted it. In my experience, gluten free plain flour can act differently to regular flour when baking.
So balancing the dry ingredients and the wet can take a little tweaking. I also tried using both butter and oil. I found the butter weighed the cake down and make it too dense. Oil ensures it stays light and tender.
But overall, this Gluten Free Chocolate Cake is a dream. It’s pretty quick and easy to make and everyone (gluten eaters or not) will love it! And it pairs perfectly, with my easy cocoa buttercream.
TIPS FOR MAKING GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE CAKE
- This cake is quick and easy to make. You don’t need an electric mixer for this recipe.
- I tested this recipe using both butter and oil, but I highly recommend following the recipe and using vegetable oil as it ensures this cake is lovely and moist – even a day or two later.
- I used White Wings Gluten Free Plain Flour in this recipe. It works well for me. I know that there are many different brands of gluten free flour in different countries, so try to find one that can be swapped one for one for regular flour.
- This recipe calls for you to add hot water to the chocolate cake mixture. Don’t skip this step, it’s important for a light and sponge cake. It also helps dissolve the cocoa completely.
- If you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, you can make your own by adding 2 teaspoons of white vinegar to 1/2 cup of whole or full fat milk.
- This recipe makes one 8 or 9 inch cake. I purposely wanted a thick and tall chocolate cake. I recommend trying it first as a one layer cake before altering the recipe for multiple layers.
MORE GLUTEN FREE RECIPES TO TRY
- Gluten Free Chocolate Brownies
- Easy Eton Mess
- Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Nutella Chocolate Mousse
- Flourless Chocolate Cake
- Gluten Free Almond Cookies
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Hungry for more? Join me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more amazing recipe ideas.
Let’s Bake
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
Easy Gluten Free Chocolate Cake made from scratch.
Ingredients
Gluten free chocolate cake
- 210 grams (1 and 1/2 cups) gluten free plain flour*
- 40 grams (1/2 cup) cocoa powder
- 100 grams (1/2 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 90 grams (1/2 cup) brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 180 ml (3/4 cup) vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) buttermilk*
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) hot water
Chocolate buttercream
- 115 grams (1/2 cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 375 grams (3 cups) icing sugar or powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted
- 2–3 tablespoons full fat or whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with baking or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add gluten free flour, cocoa powder, sugars, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk together.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk. Whisk together. Boil the kettle and pour out 1/2 cup of hot water.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Start to fold together, then slowly pour in the hot water, and continue to mix until all the ingredients are incorporated.
- Transfer mixture into prepared cake tin and bake for approximately 35-40 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Leave for 10 minutes before gently removing cake from tin and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
- To make the frosting, place butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for a couple of minutes until pale and creamy.
- Add 1 cup of sugar and one tablespoon of milk and beat on low until the sugar is incorporated. Then, add the remaining sugar, cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon of milk, and beat on slow until the sugar is incorporated before turning up to medium for another minute or so.
- If buttercream is too thick, add an extra tablespoon of milk. Generously frost top and sides of cake with chocolate buttercream.
Notes
*Gluten free flour: I have tested this recipe using White Wings Gluten Free Plain Flour. It seems to work well for me. I know that there are many different brands in different countries, so try to find one that can be swapped one for one for regular flour.
*Buttermilk: You can make your own buttermilk. Simply add 2 teaspoons of white vinegar to 1/2 cup of full cream or whole milk. Let it sit for a few minutes and then use as normal.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size: 1 slice Calories: 489 Sugar: 56.3 g Sodium: 156.2 mg Fat: 28 g Carbohydrates: 60.3 g Protein: 2.8 g Cholesterol: 63.6 mg
Hi, I’m Jess, the creator of Sweetest Menu and the author of Something Sweet. A self-taught baker and published recipe writer who can’t stop making easy and delicious baking recipes.
Hannah says
This was a huge hit with everyone – GF and non-GF alike. Thank you Jess! Can I freeze the un-iced cakes if needed?
Jessica Holmes says
That’s wonderful to hear Hannah! Yes you can absolutely freeze the un-iced cakes!
Jade says
I decided to make this chocolate cake for my son’s 17th birthday instead of buying one but I needed a gf one because my husband is coeliac. My husband and son said Noooooo don’t make a cake just buy it!!!! I took a gamble knowing my in laws are masters at cooking but Oh my goodness it turned out better than I expected. I used a 9 inch pan (there was 11 of us. 8 inch too small) and made two cakes, stored them in a container once cooled and iced them the next day. Putting raspberries and strawberrieson top with some sparklers. It was quite moist and didn’t taste like cardboard at all. My husband loved it and my son (who is a harsh scorer rated it 9 out of 10) My mother in law was very surprised I made it from scratch. I’d definitely make it again. It’s a keeper!
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this one Jade! Thank you for your lovely review!
Margaret Collins says
Best Chocolate cake I have tasted.
Jessica Holmes says
So kind! Glad you loved it!
Robin says
This is a really great chocolate cake, and no-one would ever know it is gluten-free! I used lactose free milk to make the buttermilk, and topped with a vegan chocolate frosting from It’s Not Complicated Recipes, to make it gluten and lactose free. Will definitely be making this again, thankyou!!
Jessica Holmes says
That’s wonderful to hear Robin! Love that you made a gluten and lactose free version.
Liz says
Just made this, fabulous. Aldi plain GF flour, almond milk, olive oil, no vanilla essence so used salted caramel essence. Baked in rectangle cake pan, soft and fluffy.
Jessica Holmes says
How great is that! Thank you for the lovely feedback Liz!
Alba says
Doesn’t taste gluten-free at all. I made the cake even better by pouring chocolate ganache over the buttercream frosting. Then I added whipped ganache on top to decorate it. It was a big hit.
Jessica Holmes says
That sounds incredible! So glad you enjoyed it.
Laura says
is one layer cake?
Jessica Holmes says
Yes it is!
Connie says
My family is cocoa free so will it effect the recipe if I don’t use the cocoa. If it does effect it, is there any sort of substitute I could use instead? Thankyou.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Connie, I’m sorry I wouldn’t recommend making this cake without the cocoa. I haven’t tested a vanilla version so I can’t recommend any substitutions.
Ashley says
Hi, what can I sub the buttermilk with? We have a dairy allergy and cannot use milk.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Ashley, I haven’t tried this recipe with a dairy-free alternative. But you could try a dairy-free milk (like almond or soy) with a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or white wine vinegar.
Jess says
Wow
Poonam says
Made this recipe and it turned out brilliant. Can you please tell me how to make this recipe eggless. What do I replace the 2 eggs with?
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! So happy to hear that! I haven’t tested the recipe without eggs I’m sorry.
Laura says
I use bobs red mill egg replacer
Patsy says
Hi Jessica, thank you for sharing this wonderful chocolate cake recipe. It turned out delicious. We loved it.
Jessica Holmes says
So happy to hear that Patsy!
Julie says
HI, does this cake always crack on top? I have made it 3 times now and each one has cracked exactly the same. For the last cake, I ran out of GF Plain flour so had to use about GF SR flour for about 2/3 total amount of flour, I still added the baking soda and baking powder. The cake appears to be just the same as the others and with same cracks on top.
Also, I have made the recipe 1.5 times original amounts as I needed a bigger cake and seems to be ok but with the same large cracks as I mentioned before.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Julie, I haven’t had that problem. It might suggest your oven temperature is too high. Do you have an oven thermometer? It might be good to check your oven isn’t running hot. Also be sure to use a baking scale to measure your ingredients to ensure you haven’t over/under measured anything. But I’m sure with a nice coating of frosting, no one will know!