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Prep Time : 20 minutes Cook Time : 35 minutes Share this gluten free, dairy free cake with friends and family, and they'll never know it's not "regular" cake. This GF DF cake is perfect for any occasion. Jump to Recipe This decadent dairy free gluten free chocolate cake is made with a ‘secret ingredient' that makes it super tender without any added butter or eggs. What makes this dairy free gluten free chocolate cake so special?The “secret ingredient” that replaces eggs and butter in this cake is mayonnaise. Mayonnaise is a stable emulsion made of eggs and oil. I promise it doesn't make the cake taste like mayo. I'm not a mayo person for the sake of it; I just love this cake. I don't generally like to bake with neutral oils like canola and vegetable oil, since they tend to create an oily-tasting cake. Baking with mayonnaise allows us to bake without any dairy substitutes, but still bake a moist and tender, super decadent chocolate cake that is also dairy-free. If you love mayonnaise, you won't taste it in this cake. If you can't stand mayonnaise, you still won't taste it in this cake. This isn't a dense cake at all. It's really a snacking cake, like the kind you might have hanging around in the refrigerator or on the counter, and it's also the perfect recipe for an allergy friendly chocolate cake. You might even do what my grandmother used to do, which is to slice little pieces off the edge as a service to others. That helps to “even” the edges so it looks more appetizing. If you'd prefer a more “classic” chocolate cake, and you can have dairy, try our one bowl gluten free chocolate cakerecipe. It's the standard against which all other cakes are measured. What you'll need: gluten free dairy free cake recipe ingredientsOther than mayonnaise, the ingredients in this gf df chocolate cake are quite ordinary. You'll want to source them carefully, though, especially if you're baking this for someone who can't have dairy and you're not used to baking dairy free. What chocolate is gluten free and dairy free?My favorite dairy-free and gluten free chocolate chips are from Enjoy Life brand. They're super rich and high quality. All of Enjoy Life's products are free of the top 8 most common allergens, which include gluten and dairy, making them safe for most people to enjoy (life 🤭). If you need baking chocolate bars to chop, I really like Hu Kitchen brand, which is dairy free and gluten free. Scharffen Berger brand is the higher-quality baking chocolate that I usually turn to, and some varieties don't contain any dairy ingredients. Some other brands of gluten free dairy free chocolate bars are some varieties from Alter Eco, Green & Black's, and Endangered Species—but they're all quite expensive. Is there chocolate in this cake batter?Like our chocolate crazy cake, this cake is made chocolate-flavored with cocoa powder, not with melted chocolate in the batter. It calls for dairy-free chocolate chips to be mixed into the smooth batter, but they're optional. When I'm serving this chocolate cake without frosting, I like to melt 1 ounce of chopped chocolate in the boiling water that's mixed with the cocoa powder. It helps to add some more chocolate flavor and richness to the cake itself. The frosting itself also calls for dairy-free chopped chocolate that's mixed with hot coconut cream to create a dairy-free chocolate ganache. If you're dairy-free, you need to be sure your chocolate is also dairy-free. More dairy free, gluten free cake recipe notesThe ingredients list is below in the recipe card, of course, but here are a few things to keep in mind as you gather your wares to make this cake:
What you won't need for this dairy free, gluten free cakeMost dairy free baked goods, like DF cakes, use lots of dairy alternatives. This cake is unique, since it doesn't require any of the “usual” dairy-free substitutes. So here's a list of all the ingredients you won't need to make this moist, tender, dairy free chocolate cake:
Is this dairy free gluten free chocolate cake Paleo?No! This cake is not Paleo, since it's made with a classic rice-based all purpose gluten free flour blend. Rice is not Paleo. It isn't made with almond flour, either, which has a much shorter shelf life, and is typically very expensive (but worth it, usually!). The best Paleo chocolate cake is, indeed, made with almond flour. Tips for making the best gluten free, dairy free cakeCarefully select and measure your gluten free flourAs always, choose your all purpose gluten free flour blend carefully, and measure by weight. Here, I usually use Better Batter since I always have it on hand in bulk, and it works so well. But my Better Than Cup4Cup blend works perhaps even better (just use more of that flour blend to replace the cornstarch, as a separate ingredient). You must measure flour, especially, using a digital kitchen scale for reliable baking results. Dry measurement cup sizes are not standardized, and it's impossible to measure accurately using them, anyway. Use parchment paper in your cake pansI like baking in cast aluminum pans best, since they never warp, are light in color so don't encourage over browning, and bake so evenly. But they're not usually nonstick, so be sure to grease them well with cooking oil spray, and line the bottom of your cake pan with parchment paper to ensure easy release. Let your dairy free, gluten free cake cool before frostingUnless you want your frosting or icing to disappear into your cake, always let it cool completely before you frost it. A warm cake will melt your frosting and ruin its texture, even if you refrigerate it after to firm it back up. How to frost your GF DF cakeI include a dairy-free ganache frosting recipe, including instructions on how to make it into a whipped ganache frosting for this cake. It's super decadent, and not overly sweet, as the only sugar in the frosting comes from the chocolate. You can also use your favorite dairy free buttercream frosting, or serve this cake without any frosting at all. A light dusting of confectioners' sugar on a completely cooled cake would make a nice touch. Keeping gluten free, dairy free chocolate cake fresh — storage tipsThis cake is moist enough that it will stay fresh on the counter, covered well, for a couple of days. For longer storage, I recommend freezing it. Can I make this gluten free dairy free chocolate cake in advance?Yes! Since this cake has a really tender crumb, you can make and cool it, then wrap it tightly (unfrosted!) in cling wrap, storing it on the counter for at least 2 days. Once you frost the cake, it's really hard to wrap it tightly, so it's best to serve it the same day after it's been frosted. Can I freeze this gluten and dairy free cake?For longer storage, wrap this cake tightly in freezer-safe wrap like Glad Press ‘n' Seal. You can freeze it frosted or unfrosted, but it's easiest to store the uncut cake unfrosted. If you have leftover cake that's already been frosted, slice it into squares and wrap each frosted square tightly on its own, then freeze. Defrost at room temperature, or even in the refrigerator, for a dairy free, gluten free treat any time. Dairy free gluten free chocolate cake: Ingredients and substitutionsCan you make this dairy free chocolate cake without mayonnaise and/or eggs?This cake is made with mayonnaise, which contains eggs and oil in perfect emulsion. I haven't tested it with “vegan” mayonnaise. I am very curious to see if it would work, but I can't give any guidance. If you can't have eggs, I recommend making our gluten free chocolate crazy cake, which is vegan. It descends from a Depression-era special that doesn't call for eggs at all. You must use regular, full-fat mayonnaise. Not a “light” version, or one made with olive oil (which is also “light”). Avoid mayonnaise with added flavors, too. If possible, use Hellmann's, since I think anything else tastes quite different. How to replace cornstarch in this dairy free gluten free chocolate cakeCornstarch is used in this recipe to tenderize the cake by increasing the starch component that's already in your all purpose gluten free flour. This assumes that you're not already using a higher-starch blend, like Cup4Cup. If you're already using a higher starch blend, use more of that blend in place of the cornstarch. If you're not, but you need to avoid corn, you can use arrowroot, or even potato starch, in its place. Do you have to use brewed coffee in this gf dairy free chocolate cake?No, you don't have to use brewed coffee at all. But it does deepen the chocolate flavor. It doesn't make the cake taste like coffee, though. In place of the brewed coffee, you can use more boiling water. You can also replace some hot water with more coffee. Decaffeinated coffee is fine. So is caffeinated coffee. How do I make this a sugar free, dairy free, and gluten free cake?You may be able to make this cake with Lankato brand monkfruit granulated sugar alternative. Alternative sugars tend to dry out a cake's batter, so pay close attention to the texture of your cake batter, and add more hot water by the teaspoonful to match the texture you see in the photos and video on this page. FAQsIs this a GFCF cake recipe?Yes! This cake is not only gluten free, it's completely dairy free, so it's appropriate for a GFCF diet. Can I use almond flour, coconut flour, or oat flour in this GF DF cake recipe?No, this cake was developed to be made with an all purpose gluten free flour blend, which is necessarily rice-based. A cake made with any of those flours would have to be developed to be made with them, as they aren't all purpose flours. Why is there coffee in this dairy free, gluten free cake recipe?Adding brewed coffee to chocolate desserts is a time-honored way to help enhance chocolate flavor. You don't taste the coffee, so rest easy if you're a no coffee person like my (very wrong) husband. Do you have a non-chocolate gluten free, dairy free dessert?Yes! Our lower fat gluten free banana muffins are naturally dairy free. You can also try our delicious Paleo-style almond flour sponge cake for a dairy free, non-chocolate dessert. Can I make gluten free, dairy free cake mix in advance?Yes! You can measure out most of the dry ingredients for this cake and whisk them together to save for whenever you're ready to make this gf df cake. But don't add the cocoa powder to that mix, since you'll need to bloom that in the hot water separately at the start of the recipe. What causes a lactose free, gluten free cake to crack on top?A cake that cracks on the top is usually baked in an oven that's too hot, which caused too much of a quick rise at the start. Many ovens run hot, including mine, so I rely on a freestanding oven thermometer that I replace frequently, to ensure proper baking temperatures. Why did my gluten and dairy free chocolate cake sink?A cake that rises and then falls as it cools is usually not baked all the way through, even though it may have looked done on the top. If the center isn't as firm as the rest of the cake, it will cave in on itself as it cools and the air created during the baking process escapes. Always follow a recipe's doneness test, which here is to insert a cake tester (like a toothpick) in the center and make sure it comes away with no more than a few moist crumbs attached. If the cake tester is wet, the center isn't fully baked. How to make the best dairy free gluten free chocolate cake, step by step
Share this gluten free, dairy free cake with friends and family, and they'll never know it's not "regular" cake. This GF DF cake is perfect for any occasion. Course: Cake, Dessert Cuisine: American Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 35 minutes Yield: 1 cake (8-inches) For the cake
For chocolate topping (optional)
For the cake.
For the topping.
For the brewed coffee. For
the coconut cream in the topping. Cake recipe adapted heavily from The New York Times chocolate snack cake. Originally published on the blog in 2021. In 2022, more text and resources added to the post; recipe unchanged. Dairy Free Gluten Free Chocolate Cake RecipeShare this gluten free, dairy free cake with friends and family, and they'll never know it's not "regular" cake. This GF DF cake is perfect for any occasion. Course: Cake, Dessert Cuisine: American Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 35 minutes Yield: 1 cake (8-inches) Author: Nicole Hunn For the cake
For chocolate topping (optional)
For the cake.
For the topping.
For the brewed coffee. For the coconut cream in the topping. Cake recipe adapted heavily from The New York Times chocolate snack cake. Originally published on the blog in 2021. In 2022, more text and resources added to the post; recipe unchanged. Do glutenYes. Gluten-Free Cake freezes brilliantly. You can freeze the cake before decorating with buttercream or icing but I have also frozen many slices of gluten-free cake wrapped up well and tightly. Leave it out to fully defrost before consuming.
Can you freeze a dairy free cake?Yes, you can freeze the unfrosted layers or even the whole cake! Let them thaw in the fridge overnight.
How long can you freeze glutenAs long as your freezer maintains a steady temperature of 0°F, AQF's gluten free mixes can be safely frozen indefinitely.
Do glutenWhen stored properly, you can keep items like gluten-free bread and cake frozen for a few months. However, you should refrigerate any gluten-free desserts with frosting instead if you want to preserve their decorative look. Frosting doesn't hold up well under freezing conditions and may become difficult to eat.
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