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This easy gluten free chocolate cake is rich, dense, and deeply fudgy—all made in just one bowl with no melted chocolate. Top it with a silky 2-ingredient ganache, or whip it into a fluffy chocolate frosting.
It’s been the go-to birthday cake in my house for years, and readers have baked it for everything from casual weeknights to multi-tiered weddings. No one guesses it’s gluten free—they just know it’s delicious.
“EXCELLENT! No one knew it was gluten free. It was so moist, delicious & not overly sweet. Thank you for my new go to chocolate cake recipe!”
BEHIND THE RECIPE
Tips from Nicole
I first made this cake for one of my kids’ birthdays years ago, when I was determined to find a chocolate cake that didn’t feel like “the gluten free version.” I wanted something easy, with no fussy steps or fancy ingredients, but still rich and satisfying enough that everyone would want seconds.
This cake delivers all of that, and it’s my go-to for weeknights, birthdays, and anytime someone asks for chocolate. It’s not fancy. Just fudgy, dependable, and flexible enough to make your own.
What you’ll need to make this cake
- Gluten free flour – Use a high-quality all purpose gluten free flour blend for structure and a tender crumb. (Better Batter or Nicole’s Best work beautifully here.)
- Sugar – Just enough granulated sugar to sweeten the cake and keep it tender
- Cocoa powder – No melted chocolate needed. Cocoa powder delivers all the deep chocolate flavor you want in a fudgy cake. Dutch-processed preferred, but natural works too.
- Baking soda – Gives the cake lift and reacts with the acid in the sour cream to help keep it moist.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and deepens the chocolate flavor.
- Eggs – Add richness and structure. Bring them to room temperature so they mix evenly into the batter.
- Oil – A neutral oil keeps the cake moist and tender without weighing it down. No butter to melt—just pour and mix.
- Sour cream – Adds moisture and tang, with just enough fat to make the cake soft but not greasy.
- Vanilla – Enhances the chocolate flavor and adds warmth and depth.
- Water – Warm water helps bring the batter together and bloom the cocoa powder for an even richer flavor.
How to make gluten free chocolate cake
Whisk together the dry ingredients: gluten free flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and sugar. Add the sour cream, oil, eggs, vanilla, and warm water, and mix until well combined. The batter will be thick. Spread it evenly in a greased 9-inch round or square pan.
Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
How to make an easy chocolate frosting
Ganache is the easiest chocolate frosting you can make: just heavy cream and chopped chocolate. Pour it over the cake for a silky glaze, or whip it into a fluffy spread.
To make ganache, heat heavy cream until it just begins to simmer. Pour it over chopped chocolate, let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Pour it over the cooled cake and let it drip down the sides.
For whipped ganache, start with 2 more ounces of chocolate. Chill the ganache until scoopable, then whip until it’s light and fluffy.
My Pro Tip
Expert tips
1. Bring cold ingredients to room temperature
Cold eggs and sour cream can cause the batter to clump or bake unevenly. Float the eggs in warm water and microwave the sour cream briefly to speed things up.
2. Use Dutch-processed cocoa powder for richness
Natural cocoa works, but Dutch-processed gives this cake a deeper, more complex chocolate flavor.
3. Don’t overbake
Pull the cake when a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Overbaking leads to dryness, even in a fudgy cake.
4. Want even more chocolate flavor? Use coffee.
Replace half the warm water with brewed coffee (regular or decaf) to intensify the chocolate taste without making the cake taste like coffee.
5. For layer cakes, double both the cake and the frosting
This recipe makes one generous layer. To build a stacked cake, increase the yield to 16 and divide the batter between two pans.
6. Store frosted cake in the fridge if needed—this one won’t dry out
Thanks to the oil and sour cream, this cake stays soft and moist, even chilled. Just wrap it well.
Ingredient substitutions
Dairy free
The only dairy in the cake is sour cream, which you can easily replace with nondairy sour cream (like Violife or Tofutti) or thick plant-based yogurt (like Kite Hill).
To make dairy free ganache, use canned coconut cream or any vegan heavy cream (like Califia Farms, Country Crock, or Silk).
Egg free
This recipe uses 2 eggs. Try replacing each with a chia egg or flax egg. Flax eggs offer more structure, but may add a mild flavor the cocoa powder should mask.
Cocoa powder
Dutch-processed cocoa makes this cake extra rich, but natural cocoa (like Hershey’s) works, too.
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Electric mixer (handheld or stand)
Ingredients
For the chocolate cake
- 1 ½ cups (210 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend, (See Recipe Notes)
- ⅜ teaspoon xanthan gum, (1/4 teaspoon + 1/8 teaspoon) omit if your blend already contains it
- 14 tablespoons (70) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (168 g) sour cream, at room temperature
- ½ cup (112 g) neutral oil, (vegetable, grapeseed, peanut, canola all work)
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs, at room temperature, beaten
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (6 fluid ounces) warm water, (about 80°F)
For the chocolate ganache topping
- ¾ cup (6 fluid ounces) heavy whipping cream
- 8 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (for whipped ganache, you'll need 10 ounces)
- 1 cup (115 g) confectioners’ sugar, (optional for whipped ganache)
Instructions
Make the cake.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, xanthan gum, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and sugar.
- Add the sour cream, oil, eggs, vanilla, and warm water. Mix until smooth. The batter will be thick but pourable.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out mostly clean or with a few moist crumbs attached (about 30 minutes). Do not overbake.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the ganache topping.
- In a small saucepan, heat the cream until it just begins to simmer. Place the chopped chocolate (use 10 oz for whipped ganache) in a medium bowl and pour the hot cream on top.
- Let it sit for 1 minute to melt, then stir until smooth and glossy. Pour over the cooled cake and gently spread to the edges so it drips down the sides. Let it set before slicing.
To make whipped ganache
- If you used only 8 ounces of chocolate and haven’t cooled the ganache yet, melt 2 more ounces and stir it in now. Let the ganache cool at room temperature until it’s no longer warm to the touch.
- Cover and refrigerate until it’s scoopable. Transfer to a large bowl and beat with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until fluffy and lightened in color (about 5 minutes).
- Add confectioners’ sugar, if using, and beat until smooth.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
For a layer cake
To make a two-layer cake, double the recipe by clicking the 2[X] button in the recipe, and use a larger mixing bowl. Divide the batter evenly between two greased 9-inch pans.
Bake at 350°F, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs (about 30 minutes total).
make ahead/leftovers
Storage instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days—or up to 4 days if it’s fully frosted.
This cake is so moist and tender, it even stores well in the refrigerator without drying out. Use that option if you won’t finish it within a couple days.
For longer storage, let the cake cool completely, then wrap it tightly in freezer-safe wrap. Freeze frosted or unfrosted for up to 4 months. Defrost at room temperature before frosting and serving.
You can also make the frosting ahead. Store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature before spreading—or re-whip it briefly for a lighter texture.
Common issues
If your cake rises and then falls as it cools, your oven may be too hot. Most ovens run hot, so I recommend using a standalone oven thermometer and replacing it regularly.
No, butter has more moisture and less fat than oil, so the texture won’t be the same.
Yes, as long as it’s liquid at room temperature.
Yes! A 9-inch square pan works with no changes.
For an 8-inch square pan, bake about 5 minutes longer.
For an 8-inch round pan, make sure it’s 3 inches deep, and increase the bake time by about 5 minutes.
To bake in a 9×13-inch pan, increase the recipe by 75% (change yield from 8 to 14 slices) and bake for about 40 minutes.
You can, but reduce the oven temperature to 325°F after 15 minutes to prevent overbaking. Glass heats slowly but retains heat longer, so it can cause burning around the edges.
Just let it sit at room temperature until soft enough to scoop, then whip as directed.
Related Recipes
Love this cake? Here are a few more chocolate desserts readers come back to again and again:
- Flourless Chocolate Cake – Ultra-rich and naturally gluten free, with a silky texture that melts in your mouth.
- Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes – Lighter, fluffier, and just right for parties or lunchbox treats.
- Gluten Free Chocolate Bundt Cake – A showstopper that bakes up beautifully in a bundt pan—no special skills required.
- Gluten Free Brownies – With a crinkly top and irresistibly chewy center, these are everything a brownie should be.
looks good. Not ganache.. but it still looks yummy
I’m honestly not sure what that means, Nik, but okay…
Hi Nicole! Thank you so much for all your recipes – I finally feel like I’m cracking the code on my gluten free baking (with your help of course!) Could I use your mock cup for cup blend for this recipe instead of better batter? Thanks so much :)
Of course, Cat! You can always use my mock Cup4Cup blend anywhere a recipe calls for an all purpose gluten free flour. If you’re going to go through the trouble to make the mock Cup4Cup, though, I would make my Better Than Cup4Cup. It’s actually my favorite all purpose blend. :) And thank you for the kind words. Cheers to your continued success!
Such a lovely and simple cake. Thanks for giving us my husband’s favorite birthday treat, along with the whipped ganache topping. No one ever realizes the cake that they are raving about is gluten free.
I love that, Sheridan. It’s our go-to chocolate cake, and that’s an important thing to have. It sounds like your family agrees! Thanks so much for the nice note.
Sorry I couldn’t seem to get the reply button to work but thank you so much for your advice, super helpful!
You’re very welcome, Louise. I’m afraid it does get harder as they get older. My son is now 16 and it’s just … hard. But hopefully I’ll have more advice for you when your son gets older. :)
This was absolutely delicious and easy to make, thank you so much. I made this for my son’s 9th birthday today, his first as a coeliac. I am NOT a baker and had purchased all of his previous cakes but I just couldn’t find any suitable options right now. I wasn’t brave enough to try whipping the ganache so kept this as standard. I found it took longer to cook (maybe 10 plus minutes) than the 30 minutes indicated. I am in the UK and so used Doves Gluten-free Plain flour. Despite my lack of experience, it turned out perfectly and I am so grateful, thank you!
I think your son was a similar age when he was diagnosed, so out of interest what did you do about other children’s birthday parties? We haven’t faced this situation yet due to Covid but wondering whether to just expect him to go without cake or stash some plain cupcakes in the freezer. I appreciate any suggestions on this(particularly any freezable recipes if applicable!) if you have any. Thanks!
Hi, Louise, I’m so glad you were able to bake your son’s birthday cake. That way, you can make it just as he likes it—and it’s a way to pamper him. At least that’s always how I saw it for my son. Your question about birthday parties is a good one. It was something I struggled with, since my son has always hated being singled out. I would quietly speak to the other child’s mom when I dropped my son off (or call ahead of time to see what they were planning to serve and explain what I needed). Then, I would make some pizza right before the party, wrap it well on a disposable plate (to hopefully make it mimic what they were eating at the party), and bring it to the party warm, if possible. I would also bring cupcakes (my funfetti cupcakes recipe is ideal because they’re “fancy” even without frosting if that’s hard to transport). The cupcakes I would ensure were fully cooled ahead of time. If you want to make that days ahead, just cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze. Then allow to defrost still wrapped tightly at room temperature before bringing it to the party. Hope that helps!
Hi Nicole, I just read your comment and I smiled. I have done the same for my son several time in school events, birthday parties, etc., and he’s 16 now. He just had a prom dance where they served dinner. So I called who was in charge in advance and asked what they were serving. I cooked the same dish and brought it for him, and they served him his GF dinner. It has worked so far. I’m just nervous about college, etc. But I know he will be old enough to take care of himself. Meanwhile, I try to do the best I can to make sure he’s not singled out.
I feel every word of that, Cynthia! My son is now a sophomore in college, and I have had to let go entirely, of course. He isn’t nearly as strict as I would be with potential cross-contamination, but he is mindful and luckily risk averse by nature, and it’s his life. It’s been hard, and being singled out is the absolute worst, but he’s learning to stand up for himself. I wish you all the best.
Made this cake for my family and it was delicious and didn’t take very long. It literally cooled while we ate dinner and iced right before serving.
So glad, Kate! It’s really a super easy cake, and well worth the small effort.
I just made this cake & it’s reeeeally delish! (: Perfect texture! Firm but still moist! (: Thanks!
“Firm but still moist” is a perfect description of this cake, Viola. So glad you loved it!
Thank you Tiffany for mentioning you used Robin Hood flour and it worked out! I was going to do this recipe but they don’t sell these specific things where I live so not exactly easy to follow. I love comments that show flexibility in baking <3
Am I able to make these into cupcakes? If so how long would the bake time be? Thanks so much
I don’t recommend that, no, Angela. Please use my recipe for gluten free chocolate cupcakes. You can always just use the search function for whatever other recipes you’re seeking!
I just baked this recipe. I used the Robin hood gluten free flour. It has xanthan gum in it as well. It turned out fairly well. I doubled the recipe and split between four 6″ pans. It baked up in about 35min :)
I’m afraid that’s not one of my recommended flour blends, Tiffany. If you use one of the proper blends, I think you’ll find that the recipes turn out better than “fairly well.”