My fudgy gluten free chocolate cake with homemade cream cheese frosting is the perfect moist chocolate cake. This tried and true rich dark chocolate's flavors blend in perfectly with the homemade cream cheese frosting. It melts in your mouth!
I include both dairy-free and nut-free options so everyone can enjoy this gluten free chocolate cake! You can make this cake in about 40 minutes!
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If you are looking for the best gluten free chocolate cake recipe, you are going to love making this decadent chocolate cake. It is made for chocolate fanatics!
This cake is made from simple ingredients, and it tastes incredible. Nobody will know this cake is gluten free!!
After years of perfecting my gluten free chocolate cake recipe, I can finally say it is ready for you all! If you love baking a cake from scratch, this is the cake to make! This classic chocolate cake is fluffy and fudgy and has all of the rich dark chocolate flavors you love in a cake!
If you love chocolate as much as we do, check out my best Gluten Free Chocolate Dessert recipes. They are guaranteed to help you with those chocolate cravings!
My dearest friend is now following a gluten free diet. This cake was my first foray in baking for her --- holy heck, she LOVEd it! and even the non gluten free people loved it. Its nice to make something to rave reviews while still following their dietary requests. Ill be making this often!"
Michele W.
Why this is the only gluten free chocolate cake recipe you need:
- It is to make this gluten free chocolate cake from scratch! This cake is rated a beginner baker-level recipe.
- This yummy gluten free chocolate cake is so fudgy! It is the ultimate chocolate lovers cake.
- This chocolate layer cake serves 10 people.
- This cake is perfect for a birthday party! Make it as a layer cake or even cupcakes!
- Many have used this cake for a wedding. Make it as a gluten free chocolate groom's cake and enjoy!
- You can enjoy this cake in just 40 minutes from start to finish!
And, if you prefer a great vanilla cake, this incredible Gluten Free Vanilla Cake recipe is also amazing!
Ingredient notes:
- Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean other flour blends will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- Cocoa powder - I love Ghirardelli and Anthony's brands. Almost all cocoa powder is gluten free but always check the label.
- Plain yogurt or sour cream - If you love your cake super moist, the secret to a moist chocolate cake is using yogurt or sour cream. I recommend using full-fat yogurt in this cake, but either will work
- Butter - If you need this recipe to be dairy-free, you can use vegan butter.
- Non-dairy milk - I used almond milk but if you are nut-free, use different milk.
- Baking powder - Many ask if baking powder is gluten free and most are. Always read the labels!
I used this cute set of mini-layer cake pans. These cake pans make layer cakes so easy to make. You can choose how many layers to make your cake. You can also use this fudgy chocolate cake batter to make a sheet cake or even cupcakes.
How to make a gluten free chocolate cake:
It is so easy to make a gluten free chocolate layer cake. The first step is to preheat your oven to 350º F.
Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a bowl. If you notice a lot of lumps in your cocoa powder, I would recommend sifting it into the bowl. This will make your cake consistency more even,
To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using the spoon method or leveling method. In a perfect world, people weigh their flour, but most do not own a kitchen scale. To make a scale even trickier, every gluten free flour blend has a different weight.
Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.
You can also use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.
Step 2: Use a whisk to blend the dry ingredients together. Don't forget if your gluten free flour blend doesn't contain xanthan gum, add a teaspoon to the dry ingredients.
Step 3: In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients. Whisk to blend. I melt my butter so that it blends in smoother.
Step 4: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together in the bowl with a large spoon. Mix them until they are just "barely" mixed.
HINT: Do not to over-mix your cake or it will not be as light and fluffy! I NEVER use a standing mixer for gluten free cake. It makes your cake not as fluffy.
Step 5: This is the consistency of the batter. It is a nice rich chocolate color.
Step 6: Add the batter to the cake pans. You can also make a 9x13 sheet cake with this chocolate cake batter. Bake the cake at 350º F for 20 minutes. The bake time will vary depending on what pan you bake your cakes in.
To check to see if the cake is finished baking insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes back clean, the cake is ready. If there are crumbs or batter on the toothpick, it will need to bake longer
TIP: Let the cake cool completely before frosting it. Otherwise, your frosting could melt. If you are in a hurry, cool your cake in the refrigerator.
Step 7: While the cakes are cooling, mix up the homemade chocolate cream cheese frosting in a standing mixer. Be sure your butter and cream cheese are at room temperature so your frosting is really creamy!
Frost the chocolate gluten free cake and build the layers up with frosting one by one. Add sprinkles if you like to the top.
I used Toll House Chocolate Curls that I found at my local grocery store to top the cake. If you want to make your own chocolate shavings or curls, this easy tutorial on how to make chocolate shavings is easy to follow.
If you want more chocolate, try these moist Gluten Free Chocolate Brownies. Need a quick chocolate cake recipe but you don't want to bake? Try this Gluten Free Chocolate Mug Cake recipe!
This chocolate cake would make an incredible Gluten Free Wedding Cake. Check out my chocolate cake Google story on how to make this delicious gluten free chocolate birthday cake recipe.
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
You can easily make this gluten free chocolate cake dairy-free by substituting the cream cheese for a dairy-free cream cheese like the one from Kite Hill. Also, substitute the yogurt for dairy-free yogurt.
The only nuts in this recipe are in almond milk. Substitute soy milk or another non-dairy milk to avoid almond milk.
The layer pans I used in this cake recipe are very shallow so the cake doesn't need to bake very long. If you are making your cake in a larger pan, you will need to bake it for 20 minutes, then test to see how close it is to being done.
Most brands are fine to use in this cake recipe. Always double-check the cocoa powder is gluten free. My favorites are Hershey's, Anthony's Cocoa Powder, and Ghirardelli Cocoa Powder.
The vanilla yogurt in this recipe helps to keep this gluten free chocolate cake very moist.
If your cake didn't rise, you overmixed the gluten free cake batter. Overmixing makes your cake denser, making it more difficult for it to rise during baking.
Gluten free cakes can take longer to bake. They also brown a bit faster so if you notice the top of your cake getting too brown, place a piece of aluminum foil over the top.
If the top of your chocolate cake cracked, it was too close to the heat or your oven temperature was too hot. Try reducing the heat or lowering the rack in the oven.
If you would like to make this gluten free chocolate cake with oil instead of butter. That is fine and I tested this recently. I recommend using a light oil, not a strongly flavored one.
You could make this cake in one bowl, but I don't recommend it. The wet ingredients should be mixed separately so they get airy and fluffy to help the cake rise. This won't happen if you use one bowl.
If you have a good recipe and follow the directions, this cake will not taste any different. Nobody can tell it is gluten free!
My favorite gluten free flour blends for making cake are King Arthur Measure for Measure and Cup4Cup.
More Delicious Cakes to Try:
- Gluten Free Lemon Layer Cake
- Gluten Free Chocolate Pumpkin Cake
- Gluten Free Rainbow Cupcakes
- You can also use this to make a gluten free chocolate cake mix to gift over the holidays!
- Decadent Gluten Free Chocolate Pound Cake
Recipe
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup cocoa powder (*see note)
- ¾ cup gluten free flour blend (*see note)
- 3 eggs size large
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon baking powder + dash of salt
- ¾ cup almond milk or other milk
- 6 ounces vanilla yogurt *you can also use sour cream
Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 3 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
- In a smaller bowl, add all wet ingredients and mix.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just barely mixed. If you overmix your batter, your cake will turn out dense. I never use a standing mixer when I make gluten free cake because I like my cakes to turn out fluffy.
- Spray cake pans with coconut oil. Add batter to each layer pan. (*see note)
- Bake for 20 minutes, checking to see if it is done. (Time cooking really will vary depending on pan size, or if you are making cupcakes.)
- Remove from the oven. Tip the pans so cakes come out onto the cooling rack.
- To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cake need to bake longer.
- In a mixer, add frosting ingredients and mix until thick and creamy. (Start on low speed so powdered sugar doesn't fly all over your kitchen!)
- When the cake is cool, frost each layer. Use a rubber spatula to smooth and spread the frosting all around the cake.
Video
Notes
- There are many gluten free cocoa powder brands. I like Rodelle, Anthony's, and Ghirardelli.
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn't contain Xanthan Gum, add 1 teaspoon.
- To make this cake dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter and use a dairy-free yogurt like Kite Hill brand.
- I used almond milk but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
- When mixing the batter, do not over-mix the batter. It would result in a denser cake.
- You can bake this cake in regular-sized cake pans or as cupcakes if you don't have the mini layer pans.
- This cake will keep up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze this cake in the freezer. I recommend freezing the cake unfrosted with each layer wrapped in plastic wrap, then gently placed in a large freezer-safe zipper bag.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Allie
I can’t wait to make this cake. Is there a way to make the cream cheese frosting just plain vanilla? Would I just leave out the cocoa powder? Thanks!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Allie, I have a great vanilla cream cheese frosting recipe on this vanilla cake. You can easily sub that frosting. https://www.fearlessdining.com/gluten-free-vanilla-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting/
Mona
After a rough start the end result was a beautiful, moist cake. My neighbor asked if I would make a gluten free chocolate cake for his wife for her birthday. They absolutely loved it! Thank you Sandi for helping me thru this.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad it worked out Mona. Have a happy new year!
Hallie LaCroix
Would I use 3, 6 inch cake pans to make a smaller cake? I wasn't sure on the sizes of pans and how many of the pans I would use with this recipe.
Thank you!!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Hallie, I linked the Wilton pans that I used at the bottom of the Ingredient Notes section. They are around 6 inches in diameter.
Laura
This cake tastes SO delicious, much better than other GF ones I've made! Do I use a mixer to combine wet ingredients? Do I also use a mixer when combining dry and wet? What do you mean by 'barely mixed together?' I made this and tried to not mix a ton but then I had some chunks of ingredients in the final product. Thank you!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you enjoyed it Laura! I wouldn't use a mixer, but definitely mix it more to get the lumps out
Mona
I am making this recipe tonight. I am concerned about the small amount of flour the recipe calls for. Only 3/4 of a cup is needed or is this a type-o
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Mona, it is not a typo. The dry cocoa powder absorbs a lot of the liquids.