Super Moist Gluten Free Cake (2024)

Super Moist Gluten Free Cake (1)

By Karlee / July 20, 2016

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Let’s take this all the way back. Back to my first post ever, andhow scared I was to develop a good gluten-free cake recipe. Because hey, when Bob’s Red Mill makes an awesome mix on their own, you kind of rest on your laurels. But I am all about scratch ya’ll.

Ya’ll?

That got weird.

Yes, I love scratch. And gluten-free was a sore spot for me, but mainly because I thought it couldn’t be done. I have to say that gluten is kind of wonderful to all those people without intolerance to it.

Gluten is the wonderful thing that makes pasta stretchy, makes bread chewy, and is all the wonderful-tasty-carby stuff. So, when we take it out of cake, it can be dry and crumbly, and tastes kind of like rice. Over the course of this year, I’ve problem-solved and tested to make (in my opinion) the best gluten-free cake recipe.

And not a minute too soon, because last weekend I had to make two gluten-free wedding cakes! Thank the good Lord I had this recipe in my back pocket. Below, I’ve written down my very scientific, super-interesting, recipe development, problem-solving steps.


Texture – The gluten-free flour I love to use is Cup4Cup. It has a smooth, fine texture and helps so much when making a lighter cake. I’ve also used the Namastebrand from Costco and it’s a great second and super economical. If your okay with spending a little more cash to get it right, try the Cup4Cup.

Moisture – for some reason gluten-free cakes tend to get a little dry. Any gluten-free cake will dry out super-fast andget hard on the outside if it’s not properly refrigerated and covered. I swear by always using buttermilk and adding a little more fat into the batter to compensate for the dryness.

Taste – As I’ve said before, sometimes gluten-free has a different taste. Along with using plenty of high quality vanilla extract, I also add in some lemon zest. Lemon zest is the cure-all for me. It doesn’t make the cake super citrus-y, but it does balance out the flavor perfectly.

Voilà!

Dear gluten-free cake: I finally did it! I’m no longer scared of you. You are mine now, I own you.

Give it a try andpleaselet me know how you like it. It doesn’t take much, no special technique, just a few tricks. Let me know what other things you have done to change up your gluten-free cake recipes! I’d love to hear!

More cake!

Browned Butter Cake with Bourbon Salted Caramel

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake

Champagne Cake with Italian Meringue Buttercream

Honey Cake with a Matcha Meringue Buttercream

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Super Moist Gluten Free Cake

Super Moist Gluten Free Cake (15)

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★★★★★5 from 6 reviews

The best gluten-free cake recipe with the taste and texture of a wheat-flour cake. Find out what makes this cake super moist and tasty!

  • Author: Karlee Flores
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup butter melted

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 3/4 cup sugar

4 eggs, room temp

2 1/2 cups gluten free flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cup buttermilk, room temp

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line three 8 inch cake pans with parchment and grease. Set aside.

In a standing mixer add the melted butter, vegetable oil, vanilla and sugar and whisk together. Add in eggs one at a time while scraping down the bowl in between. Don’t over beat the eggs.

Sift dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Add in half of the dry ingredients and mix on low until combined. Add in half of the buttermilk and mix on low until combined. Repeat. Scrape down the bowl again and mix on low for 30 seconds.

Divide the batter between the cake pans and smooth until even.

Bake for 20 – 25 minutes. Start checking at about 17 minutes. Don’t over brown. Bake until it’s just about to turn golden. A toothpick should come out with some crumbs.

Keywords: baking, cake, gf, gluten free, moist cake

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Super Moist Gluten Free Cake (2024)

FAQs

How to add moisture to gluten free cake? ›

Try adding anywhere from ¼ to ½ cup of liquid or fat to the recipe and see if that helps. My go-to moisture-enhancing ingredients are sour cream, canola oil, or butter. Use a different gluten-free flour: While I am firm on my stance to not use all-purpose blends, I realize not everyone has jumped on this bandwagon.

Why are my gluten free cakes so dry? ›

Some gluten free flours will produce a cake which is on the dry side. This might be due to the lack of gluten but can be for many other reasons. Lots of gluten free flour is rice based and this can result in a dry and slightly gritty texture.

How do you make gluten-free dessert less dry? ›

Moisture – for some reason gluten-free cakes tend to get a little dry. Any gluten-free cake will dry out super-fast and get hard on the outside if it's not properly refrigerated and covered. I swear by always using buttermilk and adding a little more fat into the batter to compensate for the dryness.

What gluten free flour is best for cakes? ›

Sorghum flour: great for cakes

Because sorghum is often processed on shared equipment with wheat products, you need to be careful about finding a product that is certified gluten free. Sorghum flour is a great option for cookies and cakes, but it is best combined with other gluten free flours because it is so heavy.

What is the secret to moist gluten free baking? ›

Add extra liquid: Gluten-free flours tend to absorb more liquid than regular flour, so you may need to add more liquid to your recipes to compensate. This can help to keep your baked goods moist and prevent them from becoming dry and crumbly.

What ingredient helps develop gluten and adds moisture to the baked good? ›

Starch also reinforces gluten and absorbs water during baking, helping the gluten to contain the pockets of gas produced by the yeast. Sometimes, a baker will let the dough rise several times, allowing the gluten to develop more completely and the yeast to add more of its flavors.

Should you let gluten-free cake batter rest? ›

Let Your Batters & Doughs Rest

We recommend covering your batters and doughs and letting them rest for at least half an hour. Note: This will also help batters become thicker and doughs to firm up.

Why is gluten free baking so difficult? ›

Gluten-Free Flours Require Special Measuring Techniques

Most home bakers use the dip-and-sweep method when measuring flour, but this doesn't work well with gluten-free flours and starches. These flours and starches are finer than wheat flours, making them hard to pack evenly and consistently into a measuring cup.

How to make a gluten-free cake less crumbly? ›

If the flour you are using doesn't already contain xanthan gum, combining quarter of a teaspoon to every 200g/7oz of gluten-free flour will help to improve the crumb structure of your bake. You can also use guar gum or a combination of the two.

Do gluten free cakes need to bake longer? ›

Gluten-free batters need a longer bake time.

Because gluten-free batters contain more liquid than traditional versions, they typically take longer to bake. If you remove them from the oven too soon, you may develop a gummy, mushy texture.

Does gluten free flour need more moisture? ›

Gluten free flours absorb more moisture. You can compensate by removing some flour (~1-2 Tbsp/cup, or 8-16 g) or by adding moisture. Depending on the recipe, this could be more water, milk, or an extra egg.

Why do gluten free cakes not rise? ›

Gluten-free flour blends don't have the same elasticity as flour containing gluten so often the cakes don't rise as much or will sink after rising. To combat the flat cake problem, I add ½ tsp of bicarbonate of soda to the recipe even when using a self-raising gluten-free flour blend.

What gluten free flour is closest to all-purpose? ›

Common Flours
  • Brown Rice Flour. Brown rice flour is about as close to a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour as it gets since it provides structure and a “wheat-like” flavor. ...
  • White Rice Flour. ...
  • Oat Flour. ...
  • Almond Flour. ...
  • Almond Meal. ...
  • Cornstarch. ...
  • Potato Starch (NOT Potato Flour) ...
  • Buckwheat Flour.

Is Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour good for yeast? ›

It works well in recipes that call for baking powder or yeast, making it a versatile product you'll reach for time and time again. At Bob's Red Mill, we're proud of our wide range of gluten free products.

Does oatmeal have gluten? ›

Although oats themselves don't contain gluten, they're often grown alongside other crops. The same equipment is typically used to harvest crops in neighboring fields, which leads to cross-contamination if one of those crops contains gluten.

What to do if gluten-free dough is too dry? ›

7- How do I fix crumbly gluten free cookie dough? If your cookie dough is too dry and crumbly, just add back to the mixing bowl and stir in a couple tablespoons of your favorite milk or an egg. Add more if needed – the dough needs to hold together, but most cookie doughs shouldn't be sticky.

Is there a way to add moisture to a dry cake? ›

Soak your cake in milk or cream.

Simply brush on a few tablespoons of milk or cream to the top of your dry cake or, for a truly indulgent finish, follow recipes like one-bowl tres leches poke cake, baked and soaked in a combination of whole milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk.

How to hydrate gluten free flour? ›

Gluten-free batters need to rest.

This is remediated by resting your batter for about 30 minutes so the flour has time to hydrate and soften. Resting is especially important for gluten-free baked goods that have a shorter bake time, like pancakes and cookies.

How do you add fiber to gluten free baked goods? ›

Flours are a half-cup each of: gluten-free oat, brown rice, millet and tapioca. Most of these already have lots of fiber. But then the additional fibres are: 1/4 cup chia seeds, 1/4 cup flax seeds, which you grind before adding.

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