Learn how to make the best gluten free chocolate cake with an easy, no fail recipe! This richly chocolate recipe is so moist, fluffy, and spongy, no one will suspect they are devouring a deceptively gluten free dairy free cake!
Whether you are new to gluten free baking or a seasoned veteran, we all need need an easy gluten free cake recipe, made from scratch, that fools even the toughest critics. Everytime I serve this cake, no one suspects anything but an old fashioned, moist, homemade chocolate cake.
I’ve made this cake for countless gluten free birthday cakes and celebrations. It’s my hailed recipe because I always have the ingredients on hand, it’s affordable, and quick to throw together.
I’ll teach you how to make the best gluten free chocolate cake, with plenty of tricks, bakers tips, and variations for sheet cake, cupcakes, and dairy free adaptations.
What Makes this the Best Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe?
- No speciality ingredients are required. This recipe uses pantry items I bet you have right in your kitchen.
- It’s an easy, one bowl recipe. Just dump, mix, and bake!
- No fail – If you are new to gluten free baking, you will appreciate how it turns out fluffy, moist, and amazing every single time.
- Not only is this cake recipe gluten free, but dairy free as well!
- Versatile – It’s so quick and easy I use it for a ton of gluten free cake recipes like, Ding Dong Cake, Baked Alaska, Mint Pudding Poke Cake
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Ingredients
The ingredient list is simple, with the only speciality item required being gluten free flour.
- Favorite gluten free flour (I recommend Cup 4 Cup brand.)
- Sugar
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Use Dutch processed cocoa for richer chocolate taste.
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Milk – regular or dairy free
- Vegetable oil – coconut oil may be substituted
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
How to Make Gluten Free Chocolate Cake From Scratch
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare two 9-inch round cake pans by spraying with cooking spray, lining pans with cut-to-size parchment on bottom, and then spraying the parchment. This helps the cakes easily release from the pans. Below I have also listed alternative size baking pans that may be used.
- In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on low speed.
- Add regular or dairy free milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture. Mix on medium speed until well combined.
- Reduce speed to low and slowly add boiling water to the cake batter. Once the water is mixed in, increase to high speed and mix for 1 minute. This helps aerate the batter and make the cake light and fluffy.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire rack to cool completely before frosting with one of the recipes below.
Best Chocolate Cake Frostings
- Fluffy Buttercream Frosting – either vanilla or chocolate buttercream
- Whipped Cream Frosting – regular or chocolate whipped cream frosting
- Whipped Chocolate Ganache Frosting
- Peanut Butter Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting
What is the Best Gluten Free Flour To Use?
Gluten free baking flour blends have come a long way in the last ten years. Gluten free baking used to mean buying, storing, and measuring several different flours to make your own flour mix.
Fortunately there are several commercial brands that perform way better than any homemade mixes I’ve ever experimented with. These are the brands I find work the most consistently and have the best taste for gluten free cakes.
- Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour – This is the brand I primarily use because any gluten free taste or difference in texture is undetectable. However, it is also the most expensive and contains milk powder, so it is not dairy free.
- Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour – This is the other brand I rely on in cakes. It is widely available at grocery stores and slightly more affordable than Cup 4 Cup. However, I don’t recommend this flour for cookies, pastries, or breads.
- King Arthur Measure-for-Measure Gluten Free Flour – This version in newer on the market and has performed well in my baking tests. It’s more affordable, but I do detect a slightly gritty flavor in baked goods.
Wondering how different gluten free flour brands compare? Four of the most popular gluten free blends were thoroughly tested. See the surprising results for the best gluten free flour!
Do I Need To Add Xanthan Gum?
No, not if the gluten free flour blend contains it. All three flours mentioned above do have xanthan gum in the mix.
Please note King Arthur has two variations of gluten free flour. King Arthur’s all-purpose gluten free flour does not contain xanthan gum, so 1 teaspoon will have to added to the dry ingredients.
King Arthur Measure-for-Measure Gluten Free Flour does contain the xanthan gum already, so there’s no need to add extra.
Baking Tips for Perfectly Moist Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
- Use cake baking strips to not only keep the cake moist, but they prevent uneven layers, which can be tricky to frost and hold shape. (See image below.)
- The less sugar you use, the drier the cake will be. Please note while the amount of sugar may be reduced, it will dry out the cake slightly.
- For the most accurate measurement, spoon the flour into the measuring cups instead of dipping cups into the bag. Using more flour, even by a tablespoon or two, dries out the cake.
- Generally using oil in cakes versus butter makes them more moist.
- This gluten free cake recipe is more forgiving when it comes to baking time, but you still don’t want to overbake. Check a few minutes before baking time ends by inserting a toothpick into the middle. It should have some moist crumbs, without being liquidy.
- Enjoy the cake at room temperature. Although some frostings have to refrigerated, I highly recommend setting cakes out for several hours before serving to reach room temp. Gluten free cakes especially have a tendency to dry out in the refrigerator.
- Use this cake recipe as a base for other dessert masterpieces, such as Andes Mint Chocolate Pudding Poke Cake, Ding Dong Cake, and Baked Alaska.
Using Different Baking Pans
If you like to experiment with using different size cake pans, or make cupcakes instead of a layer cake, follow these adaptations:
Gluten Free Cupcakes
To make bake this cake as cupcakes follow Incredible Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes recipe.
9X13 Sheet Cake
To make a gluten free sheet cake instead of layer cake halve the ingredients. Spray a 9X13 baking pan and bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes clean. Cool on wire rack completely before frosting.
Freezing / Storing Chocolate Cake
Gluten free cakes do not stay fresh as long as regular cakes. Therefore, if you don’t plan on freezing the cake, make it no more than 24 hours ahead of time.
Frequently I bake the cake layers and freeze them until ready to assemble with a filling and frosting. Alternatively, the cake may be baked, frosted, and frozen whole.
Freezing Unfrosted Cake Layers: Wrap each completely cooled layer securely in plastic wrap. Transfer wrapped layer to a gallon freezer bag and freeze up to 3 months.
When ready to use, remove from freezer bag and thaw wrapped cake at room temperature for 1 hour.
Freezing Frosted Cake: Assemble the cake with filling and frosting. Transfer whole cake to the freezer so frosting solidifies. After the frosting is frozen, wrap the cake securely with plastic wrap. Cover plastic wrap with foil and freeze up to 3 months.
Thaw cake overnight in refrigerator. Carefully remove plastic wrap and foil. Continue to thaw at room temperature for 5-6 hours.
Freezing Cake Slices:
I often do this to save myself from eating a whole cake! Slice the leftover cake in serving sized portions. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once the pieces are solid, transfer slices to a gallon freezer bag or airtight container.
Thaw pieces on the counter for 1 hour or defrost in the microwave at 20% power, carefully avoiding overheating and melting the frosting.
Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Adaptations
If you are looking for a dairy free gluten free chocolate cake recipe, you’ve come to the right place!
The only recipe adaptation you’ll have to make is replacing the milk with a dairy free milk, such as almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk. If you prefer using coconut oil, that may also replace the vegetable oil.
More Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
- Gluten Free White Cake – The best, easy, from scratch, vanilla cake recipe perfect birthdays and celebrations!
- Gluten Free Coffee Cake – A homemade, easy recipe made with sour cream for extra tender crumb and has dairy free adaptations.
- Almond Flour Brownies – One bowl recipe for thick, gooey grain free and gluten free brownies homemade brownies.
- Gluten Free Sugar Cookies – Make the best gluten free sugar cookies from scratch that are soft, easy to roll out, and taste amazing.
- Gluten Free Angel Food Cake – A light, airy dessert no one will suspect is gluten free!
SAVE THIS Moist Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD!
Let’s be friends on Pinterest! I’m always sharing great recipes!
Moist Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cup all purpose gluten free flour (I highly recommend Cup 4 Cup gluten free flour)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened baking cocoa
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk or non-dairy milk
- ½ cup vegetable, canola, or coconut oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare two 9-inch cake pans by spraying with cooking spray, lining pans with cut-to-size parchment on bottom, and then spraying the parchment. Set aside.
- In a large bowl add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine or, using your paddle attachment on stand mixer, mix until combined.
- Add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture. Mix on medium speed until well combined. Reduce speed to low and slowly add boiling water to the cake batter. Once the water is mixed in, increase to high speed and mix for 1 minute.
- Distribute cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire rack to cool completely before frosting with fluffy vanilla or chocolate buttercream.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?? DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AND RATE BELOW!
Recipe Notes
Using Different Baking Pans
Gluten Free Cupcakes
To make bake this cake as cupcakes follow Incredible Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes recipe.9X13 Sheet Cake
To make a gluten free sheet cake instead of layer cake halve the ingredients. Spray a 9X13 baking pan and bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes clean. Cool on wire rack completely before frosting.Freezing / Storing
Gluten free cakes do not stay fresh as long as regular cakes. Therefore, if you don’t plan on freezing the cake, make it no more than 24 hours ahead of time. Freezing Unfrosted Cake Layers: Wrap each completely cooled layer securely in plastic wrap. Transfer wrapped layer to a gallon freezer bag and freeze up to 3 months. When ready to use, remove from freezer bag and thaw wrapped cake at room temperature for 1 hour. Freezing Frosted Cake: Assemble the cake with filling and frosting. Transfer whole cake to the freezer so frosting solidifies. After the frosting is frozen, wrap the cake securely with plastic wrap. Cover plastic wrap with foil and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw cake overnight in refrigerator. Carefully remove plastic wrap and foil. Continue to thaw at room temperature for 5-6 hours. Freezing Cake Slices: Slice the leftover cake in serving sized portions. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once the pieces are solid, transfer slices to a gallon freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw pieces on the counter for 1 hour or defrost in the microwave at 20% power, carefully avoiding overheating and melting the frosting.Dairy Free Chocolate Cake
The only recipe adaptation you'll have to make is replacing the milk with a dairy free milk, such as almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk. If you prefer using coconut oil, that may also replace the vegetable oil. Adapted from Add a PinchNutrition
❊SHOP THE RECIPE❊
Items used to make this recipe*:
Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour Baking Strips Cake Pans
*affiliate links
Staci says
This is not just the best gluten free chocolate cake, it is the best chocolate cake! And, love that it tastes great with a pre-made flour blend, so simple and fast! I used Bobs Red Mill, if it tastes even better with Cup for Cup, can’t wait to try it.
Melissa says
Hi Staci,
Yay, big with for gluten free! I’m so glad you love the cake as much as I do!
Best,
Melissa
Andrea says
This cake is the best Gluten free cake I have ever tried. It is so moist and delicious. We live in higher altitude, so I had to cook longer, but it came out amazing!
Melissa says
Hi Andrea,
So glad to hear! I’m glad you were able to adapt it for higher altitude. Having used to do this myself, I know it can definitely add another baking challenge!
Best,
Melissa
Megan D. says
Best GF cake EVER! I cannot believe how moist it is! Thank you for sharing!!!
Melissa says
Oh, thanks so much, Megan! I’m so happy you found your forever recipe!
Best,
Melissa
Jamie says
I made this with strawberry slices and chocolate cream cheese frosting… ummmm yes!!! So good! Attempting a regular flour version today.
Melissa says
Hi Jamie,
I’m so glad! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know. That version sounds absolutely amazing!
Best,
Melissa
Dana says
Could you use butter instead of oil?
Melissa says
Hi Dana,
I haven’t tried it with butter, but I don’t think it would be a problem. Cream it with the sugar and then add the remaining ingredients. Let me know how it works out!
Best,
Melissa
Cathy Nichols says
Hi, I have loved all of your recipes and appreciate your efforts and sharing. My chocolate cake was a bit rubbery and gummy. Any idea what I did wrong.
Thanks Again,
Cathy
Melissa says
Hi Cathy,
I’m really sorry to hear that! It could be either the flour you used (some have a tendency to be gummy) or it did not bake long enough. Gluten free baked goods need a little longer for the moisture to evaporate so I usually have a tendency to overbake versus regular flour where you want to pull out as soon as it’s done.
Let me know if you have any follow up questions!
Best,
Melissa
Cathy Nichols says
Thanks so much for the quick reply!
Peg says
I just made this cake and it is delicious! I used Cup4Cup, and I also used allulose as the sweetener because we are sugar free as well. It is so light and fluffy, not dense at all. Peanut butter cream cheese frosting makes it perfection. Definitely a keeper. Thank you!
Melissa says
Hi Peg,
I’m so happy this cake works just as well in a sugar free version. Peanut butter frosting on it sounds absolutely divine! Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Melissa
Debi says
Thank you for posting this delicious recipe!! It was truly yummy, this cake recipe made my son’s birthday celebration even more special! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Melissa says
Hi Debi,
Yay! I’m so glad the recipe made your son’s birthday special. Thank you so much for taking the time to write. I appreciate it!
Best,
Melissa
Mari says
Best gluten free chocolate cake ever. I followed recipe to the dot. I’m in love. My daughter loved it and the one that is not gluten free also loved it. My husband too!!! It is a keeper. Thank you so much!!!!
Melissa says
Hi Mari,
This is fantastic! I’m so happy you were able to find a recipe to please all! I appreciate you taking a moment to write.
Best,
Melissa
Roz says
Best chocolate cake I have had since starting my GF journey! Definitely a keeper! I liked it so much that I will be trying some of the other cakes too!
Melissa says
Hi Roz,
I’m so happy this cake was such a hit! I’ve turned this chocolate cake into so many versions over the years, it is definitely a tried and true recipe.
Best,
Melissa
Audrey says
It is the best cake I have ever tasted!! I totally recommend it, especially with the butter cream icing.
Melissa says
Hi Audrey,
This makes me beyond happy! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how much you enjoyed it. 🙂
Best,
Melissa
Christine says
My 12 year old daughter made this cake for us. It was delicious and easy enough for her to do by herself! Made even better with peanut butter buttercream and chocolate ganache. Definitely a keeper.
Melissa says
How great for her! That cake sounds absolutely amazing. I wish I had a piece of it right now…
Best,
Melissa