Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

Name: Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups Gluten-free flour mix; 2 1/4 tsp Xanthan or guar gum; 1 tsp Baking soda; 1/4 tsp Salt; 1/2 cup Cocoa (or carob powder); 1/2 cup Sugar; 1/2 cup Oil; 1 ea Egg; as needed Water; 1 1/4 cups Honey or maple syrup; 1 Tbsp Cider vinegar; 2 tsp Vanilla extract

July 31, 2000 Robin R. - Editor

About

This recipe would make a nice birthday cake if iced and / or decorated. It was tested with the Gluten-Free Flour Mix recipe on this site. Makes two 7″ diameter cakes.

If you prefer a white cake try the Rice Flour Birthday Chiffon Cake submitted by Sandy S.

Ingredients

Gluten-free flour mix		2 1/4 cups
Xanthan or guar gum		2 1/4 tsp
Baking soda		1 tsp
Salt		1/4 tsp
Cocoa (or carob powder)		1/2 cup
Sugar		1/2 cup
Oil		1/2 cup
Egg		1 ea
Water		as needed
Honey or maple syrup		1 1/4 cups
Cider vinegar		1 Tbsp
Vanilla extract		2 tsp

Directions

Sift the flours together with xanthan or guar gum, baking soda, salt and cocoa.
Stir in the sugar. Crack egg into one-cup measuring cup. Fill with water to 3/4 cup level. Beat lightly.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together oil, water/egg mixture, honey, vinegar and vanilla until well blended.
Add dry ingredients, mixing until well blended. Beat for a few minutes with electric beater. Batter will be thick after beating.
Prepare 2 cake pans, about 7 inches in diameter. Divide batter equally between the two pans. Use a spatula to smooth and even out the batter.
Bake at 350 F for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the cakes test done.
Cool for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Cupcake Option

To make cupcakes:

Line a 12-cup muffin tin with baking cups.
Fill the cups and bake at 350 F for 20 to 30 minutes or until done.

Helpful Hints

I found the thickness and texture of the batter make it difficult to smooth the top out before baking. It takes a bit of fiddling with a spatula. I was OK with it not being perfecect but if you are making this for a special occasion you can use icing or decorations to hide any imperfections.
It is very important to watch the cakes very carefully to ensure they are “just done” – not overdone. If you leave them even a bit too long in the oven they will burn.