The Best Gluten Free White Cake is tender and moist, while dense enough not to crumble at the touch of a fork, this is exactly what I want in a white cake.
Topped with creamy fresh strawberry frosting, or a classic buttercream, this cake has received more thumbs up over the past couple of months than anything else I’ve baked. The flavor combination is absolutely perfect with both almond and vanilla flavors.
Several years ago, my best friend asked if I would make her a gluten-free white cake. In my relative newness to gluten-free baking, I assured her that I could do that. Ha.
It took me 6, maybe 7-8, different recipe attempts, (I stopping counting after I dumped the third mess into the trash.) The taste and/or texture was never quite right.
If you are familiar with gluten free baking, then you likely already know that recipes for traditional chocolate desserts are fairly simple to convert to gluten-free most of the time.
This is evidenced by The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Cake, no one ever believes that one is gluten-free. This is not true for all dessert recipes.
Chocolate provides so much flavor that without it, the more “unique” flavors of the gluten free flour alternatives will often show through. This made it much harder to achieve a classic white cake flavor.
GLUTEN FREE CAKE
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m rather picky about my gluten-free baking. (It has caused many an eye roll from my husband as I decide something just isn’t quite right, while he and my kids are happily devouring it. ha)
Because I am not restricted from eating the traditional versions myself, I often make both items side by side to taste the both versions and see if the gluten free recipe measures up. “Good enough for gluten free” isn’t something I ever want to share with you.
I’m thrilled to tell you that this is THE CAKE. This cake absolutely positively measures up. Over the past few years, I’ve made this cake with the exact recipe below countless times now and I’ve served it to over a dozen people.
It received rave reviews from every single person and they all questioned me more than once regarding whether or not it was really gluten free. (That, my friends, is a sign of gluten free recipe success!)
Check out all of the Gluten Free Dessert Recipes on this website!
Kitchen Tip: I use this sheet pan, this cake pan, or this cupcake pan to make this recipe.
GLUTEN FREE CAKE RECIPE
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease (2) 8″ round cake pans with butter and line the bottom of each pan with a greased parchment circle.
-
Stir together the dry ingredients and set aside.
-
Beat the eggs and the sugar together until creamy.
-
Add half of the dry ingredients and beat again.
-
Add the buttermilk, butter, vanilla and almond extracts and beat to combine.
-
Add the remaining dry ingredients and beat just until combined.
-
Divide the batter between the greased cake pans.
-
Bake in the center of the oven for 35-40 minutes, until the cake is very lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
-
Remove and let cool at least 30 minutes, before inverting onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
-
Frost as desired.
The Best Gluten Free White Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
- 2/3 cup potato starch
- 1/3 cup tapioca starch
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup butter melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease (2) 8" round cake pans with butter and line the bottom of each pan with a greased parchment circle. Stir together the dry ingredients and set aside. Beat the eggs and the sugar together until creamy. Add half of the dry ingredients and beat again. Add the buttermilk, butter, vanilla and almond extracts and beat to combine. Add the remaining dry ingredients and beat just until combined.
- Divide the batter between the greased cake pans. Bake in the center of the oven for 35-40 minutes, until the cake is very lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove and let cool at least 30 minutes, before inverting onto a wire rack to finish cooling. Frost as desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 4/1/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 12/17/18}
Katrina Wildey says
Made this gf white cake with double boiler frosting and coconut for my birthday. It was so light and fluffy, and delicious. It is the best white cake I have ever had!!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the cake, Katrina!
Angel says
My GF friend can’t tolerate xanthan or other gums. Is there a substitute for xanthan or can I leave it out? Thanks!
Mary Younkin says
Hi Angel, the xanthan is important for holding the cake holds together. However, this is a pretty sturdy cake and I’d try it without the gum before deciding it won’t work. It’s worth a shot.
Amy says
Last year, I used this recipe and marbled it with a chocolate one to make a marbled cake — it turned out pretty well. This year, I’m making cupcakes to deliver to my daughter’s friends … but the recipe didn’t come anywhere close to making 40 cupcakes, for me. I may have overfilled a couple of papers, but not enough to have made this sort of difference — it made about 24 cupcakes. I haven’t yet decided whether to make more or just limit it to 1 cupcake per person (I was planning on bringing extras to everyone). Anyway, in case anyone else is thinking of making cupcakes, I wanted to put this out there. I love the recipe, though! Thanks!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy that you’re enjoying the cake recipe so much, Amy
Penny Vere says
I’d love to try this and currently out of brown rice flour and only have white rice flour, I don’t have access to special ingredients very often. Do you think this will make a difference. I am not sure whether it is a texture thing or a nutritional thing between the white or brown. Thanks looking forward to trying this.
Mary Younkin says
White rice should work as well, Penny.
Chloe Swick says
I’m so excited to try this recipe! I do have a question though. Your recipe calls for 4 whole eggs, correct? Most recipes for white cake only call for egg whites. Does the cake remain white even with the egg yolks? Thanks!
Mary Younkin says
The photos aren’t edited for color, Chloe. As long as you aren’t using farm fresh eggs, it shouldn’t turn the cake yellow.
Natalie says
Have you ever tried this dairy free? I don’t tolerate dairy OR gluten 🥺 (feeling bad for me is the correct response- it sucks lol).
Mary Younkin says
Yes! This recipe works well with Earth Balance butter and almond milk, Natalie. Happy baking!
Yolanda Evans says
Can you make this dairy free, without the buttermilk? With changing the taste?
Mary Younkin says
I’ve made this with Earth balance butter and almond milk for a dairy free option, Yolanda. It works great.
Barbara Borntrager says
This has a soft, fine texture close to wheat flour cupcakes. I reduced the sugar to 1 cup and found it sweet enough, especially if you add frosting. I’ll be adding this to my recipe binder to make again. Also, it made 24 regular size cupcakes.
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled that you are enjoying the cake, Barbara.