This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Vegan Gluten free Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting. Soft and delicious vanilla cakes sweetened with dates. 1 Bowl Cake. No Egg, No gums Gluten free Vegan Recipe. Can be refined sugar free. Jump to Recipe
I have had Gluten-free vanilla cake in my to do list for a long while. Gluten-free baking is tricky and gluten free vegan baking is even more. But finally We have a soft amazing Vanilla Cake!
The cake uses almond, oat and rice flours and uses mainly dates for sweetening. The cakes can be made refined sugar free easily. Make the 2 cakes and frost separately or layer for a great gluten free birthday cake. Use a vegan butter cream frosting and sprinkles. or this chocolate frosting and add sprinkles or shaved chocolate. You can also bake the batter into one 8 by 8 inch brownie pan and add the frosting of choice.
This Gluten free Vanilla Cake is eggless, dairyfree, gum-free, Needs 1 Bowl, and is Soft, Delicious, and freat for snacking or using for layer cakes. For regular flour vanilla cake, use this cake to bake into 1 or 2 pans. If you make this cake, do let me know how it turned out!
More Glutenfree Cakes and Bakes from the blog
- GF Cashew Butter Chocolate Marble Cake.
- Gluten-free Cinnamon Roll Bread yeast-free.
- GF Carrot Banana Bread – Also grain-free.
- Sweet Potato Crumb Cake. GF
- GF Christmas Cake
- Lemon Donuts grainfree
- Pumpkin Bars grainfree
Some savory! Gluten free Pizza Crust, GF Cauliflower flatbread.
How to make Soft gluten-free cakes
- Gluten free flours tend to dry out while baking, so add high moisture ingredients(applesauce, date paste, non dairy yogurt etc) and definitely some high moisture nut flours for baking.
- Gluten free baking does much better when baked less tall and in smaller sizes. Larger volumes are more prone to failures with errors or conditional issues such as brands of flours, oven temperate, pan etc.
- As with my gluten-free christmas cake, this cake can be fluffier with some leavening added before baking, such as 1/2 tsp citric acid to the dry ingredients, or folding some whipped aquafaba into the batter.
- Store the cakes covered with a light towel to cool. GF bakes tend to lose moisture quickly during and after baking, Covering them allows for the moisture to stay in.
Vegan Gluten free Vanilla Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
Wet:
- 15 Soft Medjool Dates *
- 3 tbsp sugar, unrefined, coconut or other for sweeter *
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp oil
Dry:
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup oat flour, use certified glutenfree if needed), or use other flour such as sorghum, amaranth, or more almond flour
- 1/3 cup white rice flour
- 1/4 cup potato starch
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp spices such as cinnamon for additional flavor
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup non dairy milk
- 6 dates**, , add 2 tbsp sugar for sweeter
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch or potato starch
- 2/3 cup vegan chocolate chips, I use half dark and half semi sweet
- a few drops of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt
Instructions
- Line two 6 inch pans with parchment or grease really well. Preheat the oven to 350 deg F 180 C
- Blend the ingredients under wet until well combined and smooth. The dates should break down really well. Blend for 1 min, then rest for 5 mins then blend again for a min, 2 to 3 times
- In a large bowl, add all the dry ingredients, whisk well.
- Add the wet to the dry and mix to combine. If the mixture is too flowy, add a tbsp or so more flour.
- Pour into pans, even it out, and bake for 25 to 28 mins. Check from the center of the pan. Cool for 5 mins, then remove from pan. Let cool completely under a light towel before frosting.
Make the frosting:
- Blend the dates with the milk and starch until smooth. Pour into a pan and heat over medium heat to bring to just about a boil. Take off heat. Add chocolate and let sit for 2 mins
- The whisk well until well combined and smooth, Chill for 15 to 30 mins until desired thick consistency.
- Add a dollop of the frosting on the first layer and spread. Place the second cake on top. Add another dollop and spread then spread the rest of the frosting all over. Add sprinkles, roasted hazelnuts, or chocolate shavings on top. Serve with whipped coconut cream or vanilla ice cream.Store on the counter for the day. Store refrigerated for upto 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I am yet to try this recipe. Love your other recipes. Is it okay if I replace the sugar with 3 tbsp sugar with dates? if so how many? .And can I replace all the flours with just All purpose flour?
Dates will make the cake gummy, replace some of the liquid with maple syrup
Just made this as cupcakes for my GF daughter to have when she goes to birthday parties. So delicious!!
She’s so excited! I’m sure I can freeze the plain cupcakes. Do you think the icing can be frozen too?
so sweet for a party, yes, icing can def. be frozen
Thankyou for this recipe. 2 Qs : my cake was soft but crumbly. I replaced dates with coconut sugar and used quinoa flour in place of oats flour.
Another qs, my cake had that starchy taste, like when u add tapioca flour, did potato starch gave that taste? Else overall taste was good.
Dates add moisture and binding so the substitution is prob why it was crumbly. Taste wise I am not sure, maybe quinoa flour adds that flavor
Thankyou so much for your feedback. Will try again. Thankyou again.
Can you use Bob’s Red Mill gluten free flour mix instead?
I dint like the result. You can try it if you’ve used it before and liked it
This frosting is divine!! I doubled it and used Lily’s chocolate chips to keep sugar free, I will use this recipe for all things frosted 😋
Yay
Want to try this tomorrow! Can I use cocoa powder instead of chocolate chips? If yes, what measurements would you suggest? Thank you!
Hi, can I use a substitute for white rice flour? Allergic to baking powder and soda. Any substitute for that?? Thanks.
Oat flour will work. Can you use citric acid?
Allergic to oat too. Citric acid as in lime juice or vinegar?
Use 1 1/4 cup almond flour and 1/2 cup potato starch total flours. Citric acid as in powdered citric acid. If you don’t have that Then use one and a half teaspoons vinegar instead.
Thanks. Will try out.
you saying that you use only almond flour and potato starch ? i have been searching for GF VEGAN CAKE for 2 weeks now . all the recipes have failed 9 times . need a real GF VEGAN CAKE FOR A WEDDING CAKE , PLEASE HELP .
You can use just those flours and it will work. Make a trial batch
Hi Richa, I don’t have rice flour, can I substitute for corn or potato starch??
use half oat flour and half starch
Hi richa,
Thank you for the recipe. Can you tell me substitute for potato starch in this recipe?
Sure Aditi, you can use cornstarch, arrowroot, or tapioca.
Any substitute for the almond flour ?
not really. Its a major component here. If you can do other nuts, then cashew flour or macadamia nut flour will work
Okay thank you! 🙂