Monday, March 30, 2026
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Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Cake


Make this decadent gluten free dairy free chocolate cake with none dairy-free butter or milk substitutes for a cake that is designed to be made with out dairy. It is wealthy in chocolate taste, stays contemporary at room temperature for days, and is even tender when chilled.

A square slice of gluten free dairy free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles on a white plate with a small bite taken still on a fork, with sprinkles scattered in the background.

Why this recipe works

This wealthy chocolate cake would not name for any nondairy substitutes that you could be not have already got, so you may bake it for a dairy free pal with out having to purchase one thing particular on the retailer. Plus, the flavour of vegan butter can have a synthetic style on account of added culturing brokers.

Since this cake was initially made with mayonnaise as a substitute of a mix of an egg and oil, it is simply tailored to being made with vegan mayonnaise for an egg-free, dairy-free cake with deep cocoa taste.

Recipe components

Right here are some things to remember about every of the components on this cake and what function they play in a profitable consequence:

Overhead view of labeled ingredients including gluten free flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, water, egg, coffee, oil, sugar, chocolate, and vanilla bean paste in a jar.
  • Boiling water: Water after all provides moisture to deliver the cake collectively. We use boiling water to dissolve the cocoa in boiling water in a course of known as “blooming,” which deepens the chocolate taste.
  • Cocoa powder: Provides plenty of wealthy chocolate taste. Since this cake has baking soda in it to neutralize any acid in your pure cocoa powder, you should utilize pure cocoa powder or Dutch-processed, and even Hershey’s Particular Darkish cocoa powder, which is a mix of the 2.
  • Brewed espresso: Deepens the chocolate taste with out including any noticeable espresso style. You should utilize decaf or caffeinated espresso, or change it with extra water.
  • Dairy free chocolate: Provides extra chocolate taste and creates a fudgier, extra dense and wealthy texture. You should utilize vegan chocolate disks or chopped chocolate. Make sure you use melting chocolate that’s made for baking, and keep away from chocolate chips which comprise added wax to forestall them from melting within the oven.
  • Egg: Provides construction, some elevate and retains the cake from falling because it cools.
  • Oil: Provides fats for richness and mouthfeel, and retains the cake moist for longer at room temperature and even when chilled.
  • Sugar: Provides sweetness and tenderizes the cake’s crumb by locking in moisture.
  • Salt: Enhances the opposite flavors.
  • Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is as scrumptious in chocolate cake as it’s in our gluten free vanilla cake, deepening all the opposite flavors. Use vanilla bean paste for further taste.
  • Gluten free flour mix: Any well-balanced gluten free flour mix that’s designed to work properly to make truffles ought to work, so long as it has finely floor rice flour or the cake might be gritty. I like Higher Batter’s traditional mix, Bob’s Purple Mill’s 1-to-1 mix with an extra 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum (the mix has some gum however not sufficient), or Vitacost’s Multi-Mix gluten free flour with added xanthan gum as listed within the recipe. Keep away from Nicole’s Finest right here, because it accommodates dairy.
  • Baking soda – Helps give the cake elevate, and neutralizes acidic components like pure cocoa powder, should you’re utilizing it.
Overhead view of a frosted square chocolate cake with colorful sprinkles on parchment paper, with a knife and a small bowl of sprinkles nearby.

The way to make gluten free dairy free chocolate cake (step-by-step pictures)

This visible information demonstrates the way to make this cake in your personal kitchen and contains a proof for every step. For the precise ingredient quantities and instruction, please see the recipe card under.

Make the new chocolate combination
In a 4 cup/950 ml heat-safe measuring cup or medium-size bowl, whisk boiling water, scorching brewed espresso and 1/2 cup cocoa powder. The cocoa powder will resist combining so preserve whisking till it is clean.

Add chopped dairy free chocolate to the new combination and whisk it in so it melts, then let the combination sit for five minutes so the cocoa powder blooms, or develops its full taste potential.

Add the remaining moist components
The chocolate combination must be heat, however now not scorching, so it is cool sufficient sufficient that it will not prepare dinner the egg while you add it. Add an egg, oil, sugar and vanilla. Whisk vigorously to emulsify the egg, oil and water collectively right into a steady combination that ensures even moisture distribution within the cake. This creates a shiny combination that will not flip greasy.

Whisk the dry components
In a big separate mixing bowl, whisk collectively gluten free flour, xanthan gum, salt and baking soda to keep away from any pockets of leaveners.

Mix moist and dry components
Create a properly within the heart of the dry components and pour within the moist ingredient combination so you may incorporate them collectively progressively, reducing mess and making a extra uniform batter shortly and simply.

End the cake batter
Whisk collectively the dry and moist components. As you combine, it would flip clean and shiny. Be sure that to scrape the underside of blending bowl to include any dry patches into the batter.

If you would like so as to add chocolate chips, you may combine in as much as 4 ounces of dairy free chocolate chips now utilizing a spatula. You may also scatter as much as 1 ounce extra on high of the uncooked cake after transferring it to the pan.

Switch the batter
Scrape the batter right into a lined baking pan, and clean it into a fair layer with a small spatula. The batter might be thick sufficient to unfold, however not so thick that spreading is troublesome.

Bake the cake
Bake at 350°F till the cake is rounded on the edges, and a tester inserted within the heart comes out with moist crumbs hooked up, at most. If the tester comes out moist however you are involved you could overbake the cake, scale back the oven temperature to 325°F and even decrease till executed.

Cool within the pan
Let the cake cool utterly within the pan whereas it rests on a wire rack. The cake is so moist that, should you attempt to flip the cake over onto a wire rack and take away the pan earlier than it is utterly cool, it would stick with the rack.

Skilled ideas

Keep away from olive oil

Olive oil has a definite fruity and earthy taste that can compete with the chocolate taste of this cake. Any impartial oil with none taste of its personal will work although. Strive canola, vegetable, grapeseed, avocado, or peanut oil.

Strive canned dairy free frosting

I really like the style of shelf steady frosting within the can, and plenty of of them are gluten free and dairy free. Miss Jones model canned frostings are gluten free and dairy free; so are many Pillsbury and Duncan Hines frostings, however all the time learn labels to make certain. To offer canned frosting extra of a home made consistency, connect one beater to a handheld mixer, insert it within the can, and beat till clean earlier than utilizing to frost the cooled cake.

Do not skip the espresso

Brewed espresso deepens the chocolate taste and we use so little that you simply actually do not style it, so I like to recommend utilizing it even should you do not just like the style of espresso. You may also double down on the espresso and change some extra or the entire scorching water with extra espresso. Espresso granules dissolved within the boiling water must also work properly.

Ingredient substitutions

Egg free

You’ll be able to strive utilizing a 150 grams of a vegan mayonnaise rather than the egg and oil, or strive an egg replacer like Bob’s Purple Mill Egg Replacer, a chia or flax egg, or JustEgg liquid egg replacer (within the refrigerated case).

Oil

This recipe was initially developed to make use of mayonnaise rather than oil and eggs. I discovered that the crumb of the cake was too fragile, so I reworked it for a cake made with 2/3 cup of oil and 1 egg. The result’s a extra tender cake with a crumb that is nonetheless very moist however much less fragile. If you would like to keep away from utilizing oil as a person ingredient, although, you may change the oil and the egg with 2/3 cup (150 grams) full-fat mayonnaise at room temperature.

Espresso

If you wish to keep away from espresso altogether, you should utilize extra boiling water as an alternative. Decaffeinated espresso works simply as properly. Needless to say chocolate and cocoa powder additionally add some caffeine.

Chocolate

You’ll be able to’t omit the cocoa powder and chocolate to make this right into a vanilla cake, however if you would like, you may omit the chocolate as a separate ingredient. The cake could have a extra gentle chocolate taste and might be total much less wealthy. For a vanilla model, strive our vanilla-flavored gluten free dairy free cake.

A square slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles on a white plate with a fork beside it and a small bowl of sprinkles nearby.

Storage directions

This cake is moist sufficient that it’s going to keep contemporary on the counter, lined properly, for a few days. Wrap the cooled and unfrosted cake tightly in plastic wrap, and retailer it at room temperature for 3 to five days. When you frost the cake, it is actually onerous to wrap it tightly, so it is best to serve it the identical day after frosting.

For longer storage, wrap this cake tightly in freezer-safe wrap like Glad Press ‘n’ Seal. You’ll be able to freeze it frosted or unfrosted, but it surely’s best to retailer the uncut cake unfrosted.

When you have leftover cake that is already been frosted, slice it into squares and wrap every frosted sq. tightly by itself, then freeze. Defrost at room temperature, or within the fridge.

For the cake

  • ¾ cup (6 fluid ounces) boiling water
  • ¼ cup (2 fluid ounces) robust brewed espresso, scorching (See Recipe Notes)
  • ½ cup (40 g) unsweetened cocoa powder, (pure or Dutch-processed)
  • 2 ounces dairy-free chocolate, discs, or chopped
  • 1 (50 g out of shell) egg, at room temperature (See Recipe Notes)
  • cup (150 g) impartial oil, vegetable, canola, peanut, grapeseed, and avocado all work (See Recipe Notes)
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 ¼ cups (175 g) all goal gluten free flour mix, (See Recipe Notes)
  • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum, omit in case your mix already accommodates it
  • 1 /4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

For chocolate frosting (non-compulsory)

For the cake.

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8-inch sq. or 9-inch spherical baking pan. Set the pan apart.

  • In a medium-size, heat-safe mixing bowl or measuring cup, place the boiling water and brewed espresso and the cocoa powder, and whisk till well-combined. The cocoa powder will resist combining, so simply preserve whisking.

  • Add the chocolate discs or items to the new combination and whisk till melted and clean. Let the combination sit for five minutes to deepen the chocolate taste.

  • To the chocolate combination, add the egg, oil, sugar, and vanilla, and whisk till clean and well-combined.

  • In a separate giant mixing bowl, place the flour mix, xanthan gum, salt, and baking soda, and whisk to mix properly.

  • Create a properly within the heart of the dry components, and add the moist combination.

  • Whisk till very clean and well-combined. Preserve whisking till the batter begins to thicken.

  • Switch the cake batter to the ready pan, and clean into a fair layer utilizing a spatula or broad, flat knife.

  • Place the pan within the heart of the preheated oven and bake for about half-hour, or till executed.

  • Doneness must be decided by just a few issues: the cake must be puffed and rounded on the edges. It additionally shouldn’t jiggle when moved backwards and forwards, and a toothpick inserted within the heart ought to come out largely clear (and positively not moist).

  • Place the cake pan on a wire rack and permit it to chill utterly within the pan. In the event you’ve used mayonnaise as a substitute of an egg and oil, chill the cake pan within the fridge for about half-hour for cleaner slices.

For the topping

  • Place the chopped darkish chocolate in a small, heat-safe bowl.

  • Place the coconut cream in a small, heavy-bottom saucepan and over a low flame simply till melted after which simmering. Pour the new cream over the chopped chocolate.

  • Permit the chocolate and scorching cream to sit down, undisturbed, for about 5 minutes earlier than whisking till utterly clean.

  • Pour the glaze instantly over the cooled cake, and permit it to set at room temperature.

  • To whip the chocolate ganache into frosting, enable it to chill at room temperature, then cowl and refrigerate it till starting to set (about 20 minutes).

  • Utilizing a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the frosting till lighter in coloration and comparatively fluffy (about 3 minutes).

  • Frost the truffles as desired, then slice into 9 equal items and serve.

Flour mix notes
I like to recommend Higher Batter’s unique all goal mix, Bob’s Purple Mill 1-to-1 (within the blue bag) with an extra 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum (it accommodates gum however not sufficient), or Vitacost’s Multi-Mix Gluten Free Flour with added xanthan gum. Nicole’s Finest would not work right here as a result of it accommodates dairy. 

If you would like to make your personal mix, please see my all goal gluten free flour blends web page. 
In regards to the brewed espresso 
You should utilize decaffeinated espresso. You may also change the brewed espresso with extra water.

Egg and oil
Instead of the egg and oil, you should utilize 2/3 cup (150 grams) common, full fats mayonnaise. I can solely advocate Hellmann’s model common mayonnaise. Keep away from something flavored, any form of mild mayo, or mayo made utilizing olive oil (which is de facto simply mild mayo by one other identify). The cake will rise a bit much less and be a bit extra fragile. 

Serving: 1slice | Energy: 586kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 6g | Fats: 40g | Saturated Fats: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g | Monounsaturated Fats: 15g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 374mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 39IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 5mg

Vitamin info is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

FAQs

How is that this cake dairy free if I take advantage of mayonnaise?

Mayonnaise is, certainly, dairy free. There’s generally confusion about whether or not mayonnaise is dairy free, presumably since it is so creamy and appears to be like like dairy. It is a steady combination of egg and oil.

Can I make cupcakes with the identical cake batter?

I have never tried making cupcakes with this batter, however I believe it will work. Fill the muffin tins 2/3 of the best way full and test for doneness at about 20 minutes.

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