Best Gluten-free Cakes

Gluten-free cakes are easy to make, and they are easy to find in stores, too. Gluten-free products are no longer seen as a lesser option, and sometimes people can not tell the difference between gluten-free products and standard products.

Baked goods, such as cakes, cookies, and anything pastry orientated, are relatively easy to recreate but gluten-free. They taste just as good, with all the same familiar flavors. The only difference is the flour used to make them.

For example, rice flour, tapioca starch, and cornstarch are popular alternatives to wheat flour, and they are often finer, giving a softer feel to the mouth.

It can be challenging to find gluten-free cakes in stores, especially with all the cakes and cake mixes that you can see in the aisles. However, there are a lot of gluten-free cake products available, and they are delicious.

I mean, what is better than cake? A slice of warm, homemade cake or muffins from a box - they’re just as good as each other!

So, if you are looking for the best gluten-free cakes, look no further. This article will provide you with some of the top gluten-free cakes and cake mixes available to buy. 

OUR TOP PICK

These cinnamon ‘smartcakes’ are gluten-free, sugar-free, and low carb. They are a popular choice for gluten-free cakes and are deliciously soft and warming. The cinnamon makes these cakes incredibly tasty, with hints of pure vanilla, too.

The cakes are made of a proprietary fiber blend consisting of oat fibers, corn fibers, and flaxseed. This means that they are gluten-free, and the oat and corn blend means they do not fall apart like particular gluten-free cakes of the past.

They also contain olive oil, salt, eggs, purified water, monk fruit, whey protein, citric acid, and spices. If you are wondering, monk fruit is a small, green gourd that resembles a small melon.

It is sweet and is used to sweeten things that do not contain sugar, naturally. The mix of cinnamon and pure vanilla also helps these cakes be deliciously sweet.

They are entirely natural, and they do not have any nasty additives, meaning you will feel happy after you eat them. These cakes contain dairy and egg allergens, so they are not suitable for those who are dairy and gluten intolerant. 

EDITORS CHOICE

This carrot cake mix is popular and tastes gourmet. XO Baking Company was founded after the owner was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009, meaning she had to look for alternatives.

After being disappointed with the lack of carrot cakes mixes, she decided to make her own that all gluten-free people would enjoy. This carrot cake is decadent and is gluten-free, rice-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO.

It is light and moist and topped with a lovely vanilla cream cheese frosting, like the classic carrot cake we all know and love. XO Baking Company wanted to give those who are gluten-free the chance to enjoy foods they previously enjoyed.

This cake mix contains enough to make a two-layer carrot cake, allowing you to make it however you like. The cake mix contains flavorful ingredients that are sure to make it taste great.

It contains brown sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, vanilla flavoring, nutmeg, and dehydrated carrots. The mix contains real carrots, so it will even have a better taste than some of those prepackaged cakes in the store.

These cake mixes are expertly made, with gluten-free individuals in mind. After all, there is nothing worse than a gluten-free cake made just because it is gluten-free. If they don’t taste good, what’s the point?

Reviewers have stated that the cake is perfectly moist and decadent. The mix is made from gluten-free premium cassava flour, potato starch, and organic coconut flour. 

BEST VALUE

Bob’s Red Mill specializes in gluten-free food products in a specialized gluten-free facility. Can you think of anything better than a moist chocolate cake? This cake mix allows you to make a perfect chocolate cake at home.

This cake mix is gluten-free and vegetarian, with no dairy ingredients either. The ingredients include: sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, corn starch, baking powder and only requires the addition of eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and water.

The gluten-free flour is made of sweet white flour, brown rice flour, potato starch, whole grain sorghum flour, tapioca flour, and xanthan gum. With such a mix of flours, you are sure to get a lovely texture in this cake.

It is a beautiful, fudgy chocolate cake mix, which is very moist and chocolatey. You can ice this cake with rich chocolate icing, and it’ll taste just divine. 

RUNNER UP

Famous nut brand Blue Diamond has a range of gluten-free products made with almond flour. This indulgent chocolate cake mix is made with almond flour and natural cocoa, producing a rich, fluffy and unforgettable cake, and you can make it easily from home.

With only oil, water, and eggs, you can make a whole cake or 12 cupcakes. Blue Diamond has mastered the art of using alternative flours, and they have done it wonderfully.

They use the highest quality almonds, ground to the finest grind, making it an easy and reliable alternative to wheat flour. It is perfect for gluten-free diets, as well as paleo, keto, and low-carb diets too.

Blue Diamond also has a few different kinds of gluten-free mixes. For example, they also have the chocolate brownie mix, chip cookie mix, classic vanilla yellow cake mix. These are all made without gluten and are just as good as regular baked goods.

This chocolate cake is moist, rich, fluffy, and an excellent alternative to wheat flour cake mixes. 

RUNNER UP

These snack muffins from Katz are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and kosher. There are 16 muffins per box, and they are perfect for snacking on the go. They are flavorful, and they contain real chocolate chips.

Some people have said they did not even realize these muffins were gluten-free. There are no artificial sweeteners or preservatives in these muffins. They leave the gluten-free bakery frozen and arrive fresh at your door.

The muffins are also free of corn, peanuts, and tree nuts, making them suitable for many individual needs. These muffins are cooked, then flash-frozen, ensuring excellent flavor does not leave the muffins.

Katz love to use simple but fresh ingredients. This pays off, as they are known as one top producers of gluten-free cakes and snacks. Their gluten-free flour consists of tapioca starch and brown rice flour.

The muffins also contain real chocolate (cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate, and sugar), as well as brown sugar, canola oil, and water. They really are guilt-free cakes. 

RUNNER UP

Pound cake is delicious and easy to make, and easily customizable. This pound cake by Magnolia mixes is orange-flavored and is gluten-free! The gluten-free flour is comprised of potato starch, rice flour, and tapioca flour.

Other ingredients include sugar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and orange powder. The cake mix is 100% gluten-free, made in a dedicated gluten and nut-free environment, ensuring high standards within the law.

The combination is nut-free and soy-free too, and the ingredients are easily accessible, so you know exactly what you are eating. All of the company’s cake mixes are made by hand at a food-safe facility.

Their orange pound cake is old-fashioned and a classic choice for a cake. It is moist and light, with lovely sweety citrus flavors throughout the cake. To make this pound cake, you will need butter, eggs, and sour cream.

The sour cream balances out the sweet citrus of the cake and makes it moist. If you are dairy-free, there are dairy-free alternatives to butter, as well as sour cream.

RUNNER UP

This is another cake mix on the list, and it is exceptional. You would never know that these brownies are gluten-free. These brownies have excellent reviews and are incredibly fudgy and rich.

They are made with cane sugar, tapioca starch and rice flour, cocoa, baking powder and soda, cornstarch, and vanilla. All you need to make these brownies is eggs, melted butter or oil, and water. They are certified gluten-free, as well as non-GMO certified.

Their ingredients are of the highest quality and carefully sourced. It has been said that these brownies are the ruling gluten-free brownies, and they have the perfect texture.

They are moist, dense, and fudgy, yet light and sweet. King Arthur has other gluten-free cake mixes, such as pancakes, banana bread, muffins, and yellow vanilla cake. 

RUNNER UP

This banana bread cake mix is made with almond flour and has a lovely natural taste to it. The flavor of almonds compliments fruits such as bananas, so being gluten-free is just a bonus!

The mix is made from real bananas, and it is excellent for healthy, nutritious baking. The mixture does not contain any artificial sweeteners or additives.

Founder of Simple Mills, Kaitlin Smith, believes that using real purposeful ingredients makes a delicious and simple cake. Simple Mills states that if you do not recognize the name of an element on the ingredients list, there is a chance your body will not either.

This is why they strive only to use natural ingredients. The ingredients are almond flour, banana, organic coconut sugar, arrowroot, coconut flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt.

All you need to add to the mix is water, an egg and oil/butter. These muffins are an excellent, nutritious and straightforward choice of a gluten-free snack. 

RUNNER UP

Katz is one of the leading gluten-free snack suppliers, and they have an extensive range to choose from. These filled cupcakes come in several flavors.

There are these chocolate and creme-filled cupcakes, along with strawberry, lemon, gingerbread, and caramel apple. 

The chocolate-filled cupcakes are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free as well as soy-free. They do not contain any hydrogenated fat or fructose syrup, and they contain no artificial additives. The cake is moist and soft, with a creamy, sweet filling.

They are the perfect snack cake. They contain sugar, eggs, cocoa, corn starch, vanilla, along with typical leavening agents.

The flour mix is made up of brown and white rice flour, potato starch, tapioca, and potato flour. This mix of flour will ensure a consistent and fluffy sponge.  

RUNNER UP

Katz also has a gluten-free creme-filled cake, along with their cupcake range. These cakes are decadent and sweet, with a creamy, whipped filling inside.

They make a great snack cake and are bound to please those who are gluten-free, along with anyone who loves cakes! These cakes are gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and soy-free.

The cakes are flash-frozen for optimal freshness, and they need around two hours to defrost. Katz believes in using simple ingredients to create simply delicious cakes! The ingredients are eggs, sugar, water, ginger, oil, molasses, and leavening agents.

The gluten-free flour is made up of white and brown rice flour, corn starch, tapioca starch, potato starch, and potato flour. 

RUNNER UP

This indulgent dark chocolate and white chocolate gluten-free cake is a great choice. It is a deliciously moist cake, with layers of white chocolate mousse between the layers of decadent sponge.

The cake is light and contains no trans fat or artificial flavorings or colors. The Original Cakerie only uses clean, premium ingredients, and they are transparent and clear in their ingredients list.

Instead of any cheap, artificial ingredients, they use real whipped cream, real fruit, and real chocolate. The company is run independently by a team of excellent bakers and manufacturers.

The ingredients present in this cake are sugar, cream cheese, water, cream, eggs, white chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, natural flavorings, and molasses.

The flour in this cake is made up of brown rice flour, cocoa, potato starch, white rice flour, and tapioca starch. The flour is made up of several different starches, meaning that it successfully binds together as a normal cake.

This cake is an excellent choice for those who are gluten-free who want a little bit of indulgence. 

Alternatives to wheat flour in cakes:

There are so many alternatives to wheat flour or other glutinous flour nowadays. Some of the popular and widespread choices are rice flour, almond flour, and coconut flour. They all have different properties and can add even more flavor to your cakes.

There is also chickpea flour, buckwheat flour, sorghum flour, arrowroot flour, oat flour, cornflour, and tapioca flour. Tapioca flour is made from starch that is extracted from the cassava root.

This is widely used in gluten-free products. Corn Flour is widely used, and is used to thicken liquids, making it a good choice for cakes, too. 

Best Gluten-free Cakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is gluten and what is the purpose of gluten in cakes?

Gluten is a group of proteins that are found in cereal grains. It is found in ground flour which is widely used in baking. Wheat flour is the most popular and common glutinous flour found in bread, cake, pasta, and cereals. There is also barley, rye, and oats, which all contain gluten.

In baking, gluten is ‘the glue’ of the cake. It is a protein and is necessary for keeping the structure of a cake together and moist. It essentially helps all the ingredients bind together. Luckily there are now gluten-free alternatives. 

What is the texture of gluten-free cake?

Gluten-free cake should be fine and moist. It is evidently different to normal cakes, but it can be slightly finer and even firmer. If the gluten-free cake has white rice flour without a mix of other starches (such as potato starch), it may be gummy and chewy.

This will be because rice flour has too much starch, and it will harden and become gummy. To solve this problem, it is necessary to reduce the amount of tapioca starch, or white rice flour, and mix with alternatives such as almond flour, coconut flour, and buckwheat flour.

Rice flour helps with cake structure, but it may help to mix it with other flours and starch. 

How do you make a gluten-free cake more moist?

It’s always important for a cake to be moist, no matter if it’s gluten-free or not. Make sure when you are making the mix to beat the mixture well. This will add more air into the mix, meaning it will be fluffier. Do not overbeat, as it will lose any structure and may be hard.

Additionally, add some extra leavening. Gluten-free flours are naturally heavier and need more moisture to soak up. Adding some more baking soda or powder will give the cake that extra lift, instead of making the mixture too wet.

It may also be useful to use a mix of starch and gluten-free flours rather than just 100% rice flour. This will ensure that the cake gets enough structure, but the texture is fine. Gluten-free flour on its own is heavier but makes the cake slightly gritty, sometimes.

Brown sugar can make cakes moist as it has more moisture and sticks together, so it will make the cake moister. This is true for sugar in general, as sugar adds moistness to all cakes. 

Final Thoughts

There are lots of cakes on the market for those who cannot or do not want to have gluten. You no longer have to worry about having a sticky, clumpy cake, as more time and effort has been put into the research of gluten-free cakes and bakes.

There are so many great alternatives out there, and this article is only a fraction. Being gluten-free does not mean you have to sacrifice your favorite cakes! 

Ray Brooke
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