Gluten-Free Cake From Scratch With Low Sugar Strawberry Frosting
You won't believe this is a gluten-free cake! Bob's Red Mill 1:1 baking flour is my favorite for making gluten-free cake that tastes just like the real thing. I really like this particular flour because it doesn't have an odd aftertaste or strange texture. This cake is so light and fluffy, no one even realizes it's gluten-free! I like to pair this cake with my stabilized whipped cream recipe mixed with some strawberry puree light and low carb cake.
If you wanted to make this cake even lower in sugar, replace the sugar in the cake recipe with Swerve baking sugar which can usually be found in the grocery store baking aisle.
This gluten-free cake recipe is great for a birthday celebration for that special someone! Everyone deserves to have cake on their birthday right? My dad can't have gluten and he loves this gluten-free vanilla cake with my chocolate ganache.
Easy Gluten Free Cake Recipe
My Dad developed a gluten allergy about 10 years ago at the age of 62. He had such bad pain in his chest that he thought he was having a heart attack and went to the hospital. If you knew my old-school tough guy Dad, you'd know what a big deal that was!
All his doctors told him he was fine and healthy and gave him steroids for his chest pain. (Insert annoyed eye roll from me). After talking with my Dad about his pain, I remembered a friend of mind who also was allergic to wheat and her symptoms seemed very similar. I urged my Dad to try giving up wheat for a week and he laughed at me .
"I've been eating bread my whole life. I'm not allergic to bread"
After a few weeks my Dad's symptoms got so bad he couldn't eat anything. He couldn't lay down and he could barely walk he was in so much pain. After a few days of only drinking water, he felt better. The first thing he did when he felt better was to try and eat some bread.
His pain was so bad he said he almost passed out. That's when he really knew it was the wheat. He was devastated! How was he going to eat? He was sure he was going to starve to death lol.
Of course, he didn't and ten years later, he's healthier than I've ever seen him and 50 lbs lighter. A lot of his other health issues disappeared with the wheat consumption (like inflammation in his knees and migraines).
When I see comments online laughing about how people never used to be allergic to wheat and that they must be making it up, I wish I could introduce them to my dad. He is never one to complain or admit weakness.
He most definitely did not choose to be gluten-free but it has changed his whole life. I still make my Dad goodies whenever I go visit using bobs red mill 1:1 gluten-free baking flour because I don't have to change any of my recipes. I just replace the flour with the gluten-free flour and it turns out perfect every time.
The texture of this cake is seriously so wonderful! Light, fluffy and moist!
There might be other brands of 1:1 gluten-free flour in your area or you can order from Amazon but I can't guarantee the same results. Just make sure you look for something that says 1:1 replacement, not just gluten-free flour.
Tips For Making A Great Gluten Free Cake Recipe
Make sure you whip it good! As I said, this recipe uses the reverse mixing method which is the same way I make my famous vanilla cake recipe. Reverse mixing makes a nice tender crumb but you also have to remember that there isn't any gluten in this cake (aka structure) so it's SUPER important that you do that first bit of mixing for the full 2 minutes to develop your structure.
Make sure your eggs, butter and milk are room temperature. Everyone always forgets this step and it can cause the cake to get a wet gummy layer at the bottom or worse, collapse. No bueno.
Sugar Free Strawberry Frosting
I don't like super sweet frostings and wanted this cake to be as low carb/low sugar as possible. I decided to go with some stabilized whipped cream and add in some strawberry puree (made without added sugar) to make it taste sweet without actually adding any sugar. The taste is soooo good! If you don't want to make your own puree then you can get some sugar free strawberry jam and that works just as good!
The stabilized whipped cream is strong enough to frost the cake and hold its shape for days. Amazing what a little gelatin can do.
Gluten Free Cake Mix
Don't want to fuss with making your cake from scratch? Bob's Red Mill makes some really amazing cake mixes as well! Vanilla or chocolate. The best thing about them is that they don't have any weird aftertaste. I can't even tell the difference.
Most grocery stores carry Bob's Red Mill cake mixes, I get mine from Safeway in the gluten-free section.
Gluten-Free Cupcakes
This recipe makes some really great gluten-free cupcakes as well! Just use a small ice cream scoop or a spoon to portion out your batter into your cupcake pans with cupcake liners. Try not to overfill (like I did) so that you have a nice even top. Bake at 350℉ for 18-20 minutes until the center is just set. Let cool. Frost your cupcakes with your favorite buttercream! So yummy!
Ready to make the most delicious gluten-free cake ever? Watch my video tutorial on how to make my super moist and tender gluten-free vanilla cake recipe with fresh buttercream frosting.
Cake Batter and Frosting Calculator
Select an option below to calculate how much batter or frosting you need. Adjust the servings slider on the recipe card to change the amounts the recipe makes.
Choose a pan type
Choose a cake pan size
(based on 2" tall cake pan)
Choose a cake pan size
(based on 2" tall cake pan)
Cupcake Tin Size
Choose number of pans
Cups of Batter Needed
8 cups
Cups of Frosting Needed
5 cups
Note: measurements are estimated based off the vanilla cake recipe using standard US cake pans and sizes. Measurements used are for 2" tall cake pans only. Your results may vary. Do not overfill cake pans above manufacturer's recommended guidelines.
Recipe
Ingredients
Gluten Free Cake Ingredients
- 14 oz Bobs Red Mill 1:1 cake flour
- 12 oz granulated sugar or sugar substitute. follow directions on package
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 10 oz whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1 oz vegetable oil
- 6 oz butter
Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting
- 8 oz heavy cream
- 8 oz strawberry puree
- 1 teaspoon powdered gelatin
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 1 teaspoon heavy cream
Instructions
Cake Directions
- Heat oven to 350º F and prepare two 8" round cake pans with pan release
- Measure out the liquid ingredients and place them into a bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Measure out dry ingredients and place them into the stand mixer bowl.
- Attach the paddle to the mixer, and turn on the slowest speed (setting 1 on Kitchen Aid mixers). Slowly add chunks of your softened butter until it is all added. Let mix until batter resembles coarse sand.
- Add ⅓ of your liquid ingredients while mixing on low until just moistened. This part is crucial. Don't add too much liquid.
- Increase mixing speed to medium (setting 5 on Kitchen Aid mixer). Let the mixture whip up until it has thickened and lightened in color. It should look like soft-serve ice cream. If you do not let the batter mix fully, you will end up with very short, crumbly cakes. I let mine mix for a full 2 minutes.
- Scrape the bowl. This is an important step. If you skip it, you will have hard lumps of flour and unmixed ingredients in your batter. If you do it later, they will not mix in fully.
- Slowly add in the rest of your liquid ingredients, stopping to scrape the bowl one more time halfway through. Your batter should be thick and not too runny. I have to spoon mine into pans with a rubber spatula.
- Fill pans ½ full. Give the pan a little tap on each side to level out the batter and get rid of any air bubbles. I always start by baking for 30 minutes for 8" and smaller cakes and 35 minutes for 9" and larger cakes and then checking for doneness. If the cakes are still really jiggly, I add another 10 minutes. I check every 5 minutes after that until I'm close and then it's every 2 minutes. Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs.
- After cakes have cooled for 10 minutes or the pans are cool enough to touch, flip the cakes over and remove from the pans onto the cooling racks to cool completely. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.
- Once the cakes are chilled in the refrigerator (about an hour for this size, longer for larger cakes), tort, fill and crumb coat all at once. If you do not plan on crumb coating the same day, you can leave the wrapped cakes on the countertop. Chilling can dry out your cakes before they are iced, so avoid keeping them in the refrigerator longer than necessary. Cakes can be frozen in freezer bags for later use as well.
Strawberry Frosting
- Sprinkle gelatin over water and let set for 5 minutes. Heat in microwave for 5 seconds until granules are dissolved.Whip cream to soft peaks and then add in your vanilla. Add in 1 teaspoon cream to gelatin mixture then drizzle in your melted gelatin while mixing on low.Fold in ½ cup cold pureed strawberries or sugar free jam
Video
Notes
Nutrition
T f says
Hi
Would this cover in fondant ok???
Thanks
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can cover it in fondant
Michelle Ward says
This is the second cake recipe that I've tried and you are very gifted! Thank you for sharing your recipes. They are absolutely delicious.
The Sugar Geek Show says
Thank you so much! Im glad you like them!
Lanie says
Is is possible to substitute out the milk? I want to make this for my cousins sweet sixteen but she has milk, almond, coconut, and soy allergies.
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can totally sub out the milk with almond or any other kind of milk
Debbie J says
Hello, I made this recipe and it wasn’t sweet enough. Is it OK if I add two more ounces of sugar to the recipe? Also can I beat it a little longer to try and make it a little lighter in texture? TIA
Jennifer Roach says
In one of your other recipes (I think your vanilla from scratch recipe), you said the oil causes the batter to separate from the liner. You recommended not including the oil if the recipe was to be used for cupcakes. Will I have a similar issue with this recipe, or does the lack of gluten fix that? Thanks so much!
The Sugar Geek Show says
I haven't tested this cake as cupcakes but I usually leave the oil out.
Bev Hitchcock says
Will this hold its structure as a sheet cake? I need to make a cake for my grandson's birthday on Saturday.
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes, a sheet cake doesn't need to have much structure 🙂
Tracy says
Do you think I could use this recipe and fold in fresh blueberries? If I can, how much would you suggest?
I would like to basically try to make a lemon blueberry coffee cake and make a crumb topping for it.
Am I headed for disaster? Lol!
Nicole says
I made this cake Sunday night. FYI - I'm not an avid baker and this cake turned out wonderfully. I've been testing out GF cakes for the last week or so. Looking for one for my daughter's graduation/birthday that I can eat. I've never been happy with any other GF cakes I'd tried myself. I did find another one that the flavor was on point, but the texture was still a bit too dry. My daughter actually picked this one out and it was exactly what we were looking for. I have taken the cakes to work to let my non-GF coworkers try them and this one won, hands down. No one could believe these were gluten free. The flavor is good and the texture and sweetness is great; not too sweet. I did tweak a few ingredients to my liking. Instead of veggie oil; I used avocado oil & organic sugar. When I make it for the graduation I will do the same adjustments along with 1 teas of almond extract. Love this recipe!! Thank you for the video and recipe!!
The Sugar Geek Show says
Thank you so much for this awesome comment! That is always my goal, to give people the confidence to make an amazing cake even if they don't know how to bake! I'm going to share this on social media! I hope you don't mind <3
Nicole says
Not at all! I always look for comments to help me decide if it's worth a go or not; post away 😉 Thanks again for this great recipe.
Rebecca says
Are the 14 oz / 12 oz measurements by weight?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes
Cindy Bryant says
Hi Liz,
I'm looking to make a gluten-free cookie and cream oreo cake. I was wondering if I can use this recipe and just add 1 1/2 cups of crumbled gluten-free sandwich oreo cookies to the batter, or do I need to add more ingredients besides what you've listed above so that it doesn't turn out dry? Thanks.
The Sugar Geek Show says
Adding that much cookie will definitely change the recipe. I would suggest adding the cookies to the buttercream instead of the cake batter.
Tania Gutiérrez says
Hi! Im. Trying out your cake recipe for my 2 year old daughter this weekend. Just wondering if my mixer doesn't have the beater attachment what do you recommend? I have the classic ones and other ones that are supposed to be used to. Blend but are not like yours.. Im. Afraid i might screw it up ?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Use what you have 🙂 Luckily gluten free flour is pretty much impossible to over-mix so you can use regular beaters <3
Cindy Bryant says
Have you considered substituting your sugar with Swerve Confectioners? It's a 1 to 1 ratio and measures like sugar. The best part is, it's gluten-free, diabetes friendly, non-glycemic, non-gmo, keto friendly, and zero calories. This product is probably better for your gluten-free recipes and baking needs in general. I'm going to try it myself. Wish me luck. Also, a suggestion to replace vegetable oil with Carrington's Coconut Oil (unflavored and odorless liquid version) it's Non-GMO and gluten-free too. Vegetable and canola oils are so bad for your health, and I refuse to use it. Thanks for the recipe, I'm making it using the product I mentioned.
Taylor Lau says
The cake is delicious on its own, but I made a trifle with it once and it looks like it molded, which is weird since I named the cake the same night? It might not be mold, but it turned blue in certain spots and it looked very much like mold
The Sugar Geek Show says
No idea, I'm sure it didn't mold in one day. Maybe you had some blue food coloring or sprinkles around lol
Rita says
Can I use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil for the cake recipe? I need to make this cake today.
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can
Peggy T says
This looks delicious! Can this be made into a chocolate cake using this recipe? If so, how much cocoa would be used?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Probably but I haven't figured that one out yet haha Not as easy as just adding cocoa but I'll get to experimenting for you 🙂