Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

Recipe by King Arthur Test Kitchen
121 Reviews 4.5 out of 5 stars

Moist, fluffy, rich gluten-free chocolate cake is light-textured but also decadently fudgy. (No one will miss the gluten in this super tender chocolate cake.) Make it a layer cake filled with your favorite frosting for a celebration-worthy centerpiece.

Prep
15 mins
Bake
30 to 33 mins
Total
48 mins
Yield
two 8" or 9" round layers
Save Recipe
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake - select to zoom
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake - select to zoom
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake - select to zoom
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake - select to zoom
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake - select to zoom

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two 8" or 9" round pans.

  2. In a medium mixing bowl (not the bowl of your stand mixer), whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa, cake enhancer, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum.

  3. Place the oil, eggs, water, and vanilla into your mixer bowl, and beat well. (Use a stand mixer or electric hand mixer to for this step; mixing by hand doesn't do a thorough enough job.)

  4. Blend in the dry ingredients 1 cup at a time, beating for 1 minute and scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl after each addition.

  5. Once all of the dry ingredients have been added, beat at medium-high speed for 2 minutes, to make a smooth batter.

  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pans.

  7. Bake the cakes for 30 to 33 minutes, about 3 to 4 minutes past the point where a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean. The cakes' internal temperature should be 210°F.

  8. Remove the cakes from the oven, and let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn them out of the pans to cool completely on a rack.

  9. Finish the gluten-free chocolate cake layers with your frosting of choice; our Super-Simple Chocolate Frosting is an ideal pairing for chocolate-lovers.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Be aware: some of your baking ingredients can be a hidden source of gluten. Learn more at our blog post: For gluten-free baking, think beyond just flour. For additional information on King Arthur-produced products, read the complete details of our allergen program, including our contact-prevention practices.

  • Want to bake a Bundt-style cake? Choose a standard-size Bundt-style pan, and bake for about 40 minutes, till the cake tests done.

  • Insulated Cake Strips help your layers bake level, rather than domed in the center.

  • Want to bake cupcakes? Line 20 muffin cups with cupcake liners. Add batter to fill each about 2/3 full. Bake cupcakes in a preheated 350°F oven for about 22 minutes, until the center of one of the middle cupcakes springs back when lightly touched.

Baker’s Resources