Gluten free chocolate cake with homemade cream cheese frosting would make a delicious gluten free birthday cake. Rich chocolate flavors blend in perfectly with the homemade cream cheese frosting.
Because the gluten free chocolate layer cake is not completely covered with frosting, it’s also sometimes called a gluten free naked cake. The gluten free chocolate layer cake recipe can also be used to make gluten free cupcakes or just an anytime dessert. If you love chocolate as much as we do, check out my best Gluten Free Chocolate Dessert recipes.
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
My family is all about chocolate over Valentine’s Day. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and even white chocolates are so hard to resist. This gluten free chocolate layer cake is one of their favorites.
If you lean towards chocolate desserts, this easy gluten free layer cake recipe should go onto your list of cakes to make. (Or, if you prefer, this incredible Gluten Free Vanilla Cake recipe.)
You will find this cake has a rich deep chocolate fudge flavor. I had fun with the frosting layers by making a pink sweet cream cheese frosting. Adding food coloring made it pink for Valentine’s Day. Here are even more Gluten Free Valentine’s Day recipes!
Feel free to leave the gluten free frosting white for a delicious easy gluten free birthday cake recipe. (You can even add green food coloring for St. Patrick’s Day!) The possibilities are endless!
One thing I love about this gluten free chocolate layer cake is how small it is. I have a really hard time ignoring desserts. Just ask my hips! If there is any type of sweet laying around, I will eat it. This little cake serves 4-6 people, so after each family member has a slice, there are NO leftovers! My hips will love that!
Need a quick chocolate cake recipe but you don’t want to bake? Try this Gluten Free Chocolate Mug Cake recipe!
Chocolate Dessert Recipes
This cake is delicious, but I have lots of other yummy gluten free chocolate recipes on the blog that are worthy of trying. Make these moist Gluten Free Chocolate Brownies and these Gluten Free Chocolate Donuts with Cookie Dough Frosting. or if you prefer something different that isn’t chocolate, this super yummy Gluten Free Lemon Layer Cake!
One of the most important things in making this gluten free chocolate layer cake recipe is to use small cake pans. I use 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. I used all 5 layer pans to make my homemade gluten free cake recipe.
How to Make Gluten Free Chocolate Cake:
Add the dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix well.
This is the batter.
Bake in the small cake pans. (You can also make gluten free chocolate cupcakes with the batter if you don’t have a cake pan!)
While the cakes are cooling, mix up the cream cheese frosting.
Frost and build the layers up. Add sprinkles if you like to the top :-). You can also make this Gluten Free Chocolate Cake into Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes as I did.
Questions About Making this Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe:
I am sure you have questions in making this gluten free cake. Here are the most common questions I have received, and the answers:
Can I make this gluten free chocolate cake dairy-free?
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 a dairy-free yogurt.
Can I make this cake nut-free?
The only nuts in this recipe are in the almond milk. Substitute soy milk or another non-dairy milk to avoid the almond milk.
How long does this cake need to bake?
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. To do this, 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.
What brand of gluten free cocoa powder is best for this gluten free chocolate cake recipe?
Most brands are fine to use in this cake recipe. Always double-check the cocoa powder is gluten free. My favorites are Rodelle Cocoa Powder, Anthony’s Cocoa Powder, and Ghirardelli Cocoa Powder.
More Delicious Gluten Free Cakes to Try:
Things You Need To Make This Gluten Free Cake Recipe:
- The super cute mini layer cake pans I mention above.
- My very favorite gluten free flour blend makes your cake light and delicious.
Easy Gluten Free Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe:
Gluten Free Chocolate Layer Cake
Easy gluten free chocolate layer cake.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder, (I used Anthony's)
- 3/4 cup gluten free flour blend
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon baking powder + dash of salt
- 1/2 cup almond milk (or other milk)
- 6 ounces vanilla yogurt
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-2 teaspoons water
- food coloring for frosting, (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
- In a smaller bowl, add all wet ingredients above the cream cheese. (The ones from cream cheese are for the frosting.)
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Spray cake pans with coconut oil. Add batter to each layer pan.
- 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.
- 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.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: gAmount Per Serving: Calories: 591 Saturated Fat: 14g Cholesterol: 124mg Sodium: 253mg Carbohydrates: 92g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 78g Protein: 7g
michele
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!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad she liked it Michele. Thank you so much for stopping by to tell me 🙂
Alyssa
I’m like you – I love smaller-sized desserts. Especially of rich and delicious ones like this GF chocolate layer cake!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like this Alyssa. Have a great weekend 🙂
Derek | Dad With A Pan
Definitely need to save this one for next Valentines day! This is a great looking cake!
Sandi Gaertner
That is a great idea :-).
Elaine @ Flavour and Savour
I love the idea of using the small pans! This cake has my name all over it. Must make! Pinning.
Sandi Gaertner
I love these pans. All of the layers are so fancy 😉
The Food Hunter
This is a beautiful cake. I love all the pans too
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
How fun! Everyone loves a great chocolate layer cake!
Sandi Gaertner
That is very true.
Jane
Mmmmm, and just like that I’m craving chocolate cake 😀
Sandi Gaertner
🙂
Kortney
I love those pans you have! My layered cakes always look a little lopsided haha. I need get my hands on some better trays.
Sandi Gaertner
It may still be a bit lopsided, but the pans definitely make things easier :-).
Nicole Dawson
Those are my favorite cake pans! There is something about making an adorable layered cake that turns into something even more spectacular and special!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like them Nicole 🙂
Elizabeth DiBurro
This is such a gorgeous cake!!! I’m going to attempt it!! Thank you so much for the recipe.
Sandi Gaertner
You are very welcome Elizabeth 🙂
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate
Such a pretty cake! Love all the layers.
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you Chrystal 🙂
Alisa Fleming
Lovely! You do make it look so easy Sandi, but I have to admit that I’m terrified of layer cakes like this! My husband would probably say it’s my fear of the Jenga tower falling probably 🙂
Sandi Gaertner
OMG that is too funny. I am awful at Jenga.
Kelly @ TastingPage
I love how many layers you have and of course how beautiful this cake is. What a wonderful treat!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Kelly.