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Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe

Enjoy a classic gluten free chocolate cake paired with fresh strawberries, homemade whipped cream and sweet delicious chocolate in every bite. This gluten free dessert recipe is perfect for birthdays, celebrations, Tuesday and beyond.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake with Strawberries & Whipped Cream

We love strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate together. Creating a delicatable gluten free chocolate strawberry cake recipe was a must. It is moist, bursting full of flavour and simple to make in any pan size.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe Idea

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe with Strawberries & Whipped Cream

5 from 29 votes
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Prep 1 hour 50 minutes
Cook 40 minutes
Total 2 hours 30 minutes
This delicious, moist chocolate cake recipe is perfectly paired with sweet, fresh strawberries and smooth whipping cream in every bite. Enjoy this any time of year, for every occasion, with any fruit variation!
Servings 12 people
Course Dessert

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake Ingredients
  • 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 cup salted butter
  • cup cocoa powder
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Glaze Ingredients
  • ½ cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate
  • 3 Tbsp water
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Ingredients
  • 1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 lbs. whole strawberries

Instructions

Chocolate Cake Layers Instructions
  1. Spray two 8″ cake pans with cooking oil.
  2. In your mixing bowl, combine flour, xanthan gum (if needed), sugar, baking soda, and salt.
    2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, 1 tsp xanthan gum, 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine butter, cocoa, and 1 cup water.
    1 cup salted butter, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1 cup water
  4. Bring just to boiling, whisking constantly.
  5. Remove from heat and add to dry ingredients, beat until combined.
  6. Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla to mixing bowl and beat for one minute on low-medium speed.
    1/2 cup buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract
  7. Pour batter into greased pan.
  8. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes.
  9. A toothpick inserted into cakes near center will come out with moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter.
  10. Place pans on a cooling rack to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
  11. Let cool completely.
Strawberries Instructions
  1. While the cakes are cooling, wash the strawberries.
    2 lbs. whole strawberries
  2. Set aside 3-6 strawberries that look nice and leave them whole for dipping later.
  3. Cut the tops of remaining strawberries, then slice each strawberry in half.
  4. Set aside.
Chocolate Glaze Instructions
  1. Add semi-sweet chocolate chunks, water, and butter to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds, until chocolate is melted.
    1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate, 3 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp butter
  2. Whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.
    1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Instructions
  1. To the chilled mixing bowl, add the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and pure vanilla extract.
    1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  2. Use the whisk attachment to beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.
  3. Set aside.
Cake Assembly
  1. Dip the reserved whole strawberries in the chocolate glaze and set on wax paper.
  2. On your cake stand or platter, place one of the cake layers.
  3. Place half of the strawberries on the cake layer.
  4. Drizzle with half of the chocolate glaze.
  5. Gently spread half of the whipped cream.
  6. Repeat layers exactly the same, except don’t spread the whipped cream all the way to the edge – leave about 3/4″ -1″ ring
  7. Place the dipped whole strawberries on top
  8. Chill in refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours.
  9. Carefully slice and serve.
  10. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Details

Calories –573.72kcal

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

*If your gluten free flour blend has xanthan gum or guar gum in it already, then omit the xanthan gum called for in this recipe. 

Tried this gluten free recipe?

Let us know how it was!

Not a fan of strawberries and whipped cream? Swap with your favourite fruits and toppings to make this gluten free chocolate cake recipe your own and turn this cake into a gluten free favourite.

We love whipping up some Fresh Homemade Whipped Cream for everything cakes and it absolutely goes delicious with this cake too.

When we are in a rush putting together our cakes, we love turning to Good Pantry Buttercream Frostings. They offer frosting flavours available in Vanilla, Chocolate AND Maple flavours. Good Pantry buttercream frostings are made with 100% real butter and other quality whole food ingredients. Nothing artificial!

All three flavours are smooth and creamy with an amazing homemade taste and just the right consistency for spreading or piping cakes, cupcakes and more. They are proud to say that their buttercream frostings are 100% peanut/nut free, gluten-free and kosher.

Try this Gluten Free Cake Recipe in Five Different Cake Pans

Each of these cake pan variants can be baked at 350 degrees fahrenheit, and is recommended to cool completely before frosting/decorating.

One Pan Cake:
Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. 
Pour prepared batter into prepared pan.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes.

King Arthur Cake and Brownie Pan

Bundt Cake:
Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan.
Pour prepared batter into prepared pan.
Bake 50 to 55 minutes.
Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack.

Cupcakes: (approximately 30)
Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups.
Fill cups 2/3 full with cake batter.
Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

King Arthur Baking Cupcake Pan

Doughnuts: (approximately 12)
Fill rounds 2/3 full with cake batter.
Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Round Layered Cake:
Grease and flour two to three 8-inch round baking pans.
Pour prepared batter into prepared pans.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes.
Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. 

One of our favourite gluten free all-purpose flours that we commonly use for our cake recipes is Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour or Great Value Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour. It is recommended to sift your flours to help add to the airy texture of your chocolate cakes.

Are there gluten free chocolate cake mixes?

Looking for an easier start to baking a chocolate cake recipe from scratch? There are several different chocolate cake mixes that are gluten free including the popular Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake Mix.

What is the best gluten free chocolate cake mix?

One of the best gluten free chocolate cake mix options available and one we keep in our gluten free pantry is King Arthur Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix

The texture is luscious, and its deep fudgy flavour was definitely the most decadent of the bunch. It would please anyone, even the gluten-tolerant and gluten eaters. You’d never know their chocolate cake mix was gluten free.

Is xanthan gum gluten free?

Yes, xanthan gum is considered a naturally gluten free food additive. It is produced through the fermentation of sugars by the Xanthomonas campestris bacterium, a process that does not involve gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, or rye. Xanthan gum serves as an important binder and thickener in gluten-free baking, providing the structural and elastic properties that gluten normally would, helping to hold baked goods together and improve their texture. 

29 thoughts on “Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe

  1. 5 stars
    Only make this if you want your relatives and children to request that you make it again and again! We have made it as a cake and also cut up the cake and made it as a Trifle as well. YUM YUM YUM!

  2. 5 stars
    I can’t stop eating this cake. Made it yesterday for a party and had some leftover. Still great the next day. fantastic!

  3. 5 stars
    This super easy recipe was an instant hit at the past two cookouts I brought them to. It’s definitely a fast and easy favorite

  4. 5 stars
    I actually halved the recipe and made it into cupcakes and froze them!!! Whenever I want some chocolate I just grab one out of the freezer and make a little mini dessert!! Yum yum!!!

  5. 5 stars
    I thought this would be difficult and time-consuming, but I was wrong. I helped my two granddaughters (ages 10 and 12) make it for their mom’s birthday, and I made them do the work. The only place we messed up was when I turned my back for a couple of seconds and the girls turned the electric mixer up to top speed and we made butter. Quick trip to store for more whipping cream! Everyone raved about this cake. And it was beautiful! Now, back in Texas, I’m looking for an excuse to make it again.

  6. 5 stars
    This worked wonderfully, but I am going to try it using raspberries on top & raspberry jam or preserves in the center next!

  7. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe. I made this for my daughters second birthday party this past weekend, and it was absolutely fabulous. Everyone complained about the serves being too big at first, then silence, a lot yummy noises, and empty plates
    I expected it to be delicious but it was even better than my expectations. Thanks again!

  8. 5 stars
    This cake recipe was hands down the most delicious gluten free chocolate cake I have ever tasted! A bit time consuming, but totally worth it. Made it for my 61st Birthday Party and there was not a single crumb left!

  9. 5 stars
    What a great looking cake. Strawberries and fresh cream are such a great combination. So summery and delicious.

  10. 5 stars
    Oh my gosh, this is fantastic! My niece requested a chocolate cake with strawberries and none of the local bakeries had it or would make it unless you asked them to a month in advance. I made this one and the whole family just raved about it. It is such a rich and decadent cake and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

  11. 5 stars
    I love this cake! It’s so moist and chocolatey, and the strawberries and whipped cream on top make the perfect combination.

  12. 5 stars
    Chocolate cake, strawberries and cream always complement each other so well. This cake was sweet, moist and full of flavour! I’ll definitely be making this again.

  13. 5 stars
    Made this today for a friend’s birthday, looked stunning! Cake was nice and moist, strawberries added great flavour and helped cut the sweetness.

  14. 5 stars
    I love this cake in that it is as pretty to look at as it is delicious. It made the perfect cake for a family celebration this week. As I am not much of a decorator, this simple decorated cake was so pretty with little fuss.

  15. 5 stars
    I made this cake with my nephew’s 10 year old son. It was simple, easy to follow directions. We had fun making it together. The taste was amazing.

5 from 29 votes

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