Vegetarian Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

Total time2 hr 5 min

Prep time30 min

Cook time35 min

This deep, fudgy layer cake is built for chocolate lovers who want something rich enough for a celebration. Sifted Dutch-process cocoa gives both the cake and the frosting that intense, dark color and flavor, while a hit of hot coffee deepens the chocolate notes in the batter itself. The layers bake up moist and tender, thanks to a thin, pourable batter that spreads evenly and rises into a soft, springy crumb. Once cooled, the layers get stacked and coated in a fluffy, spreadable frosting swirled with vanilla and a pinch of salt to balance all that sweetness. It's an approachable weekend baking project that comes together in a handful of straightforward steps, no special pastry skills required. This one is a genuinely solid pick for a vegetarian dessert table, delivering all the bakery-style richness without any fuss.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the cake

2 cups gluten free flour blend
King Arthur Baking Company Gluten-Free Measure For Measure Flour Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Baking Flour Pillsbury Best Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend - 24 Oz Bob's Red Mill Baking Flour, 1 to 1, Gluten Free King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour
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¾ cup dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp xanthan gum (omit if your flour blend already contains it)
1 tsp fine salt
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
½ cup neutral oil (such as canola oil or vegetable oil)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup hot brewed coffee or hot water

For the frosting

1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
3 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
⅓ cup heavy cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp fine salt

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and grease the parchment.
2
In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour blend, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt until evenly combined.

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