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    Home » Recipes » Cake

    One-Bowl Gluten Free Strawberry Cake {Dairy Free}

    Published: Jul 11, 2020 · Modified: May 5, 2022 by Christine · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    Light, fresh and delightfully sweet, this gluten free strawberry cake is the kind of cake that’s stunning and impressive but incredibly easy to make! It’s the perfect cake for birthdays, potlucks and special celebrations or just an ordinary weekday treat!

    gluten free strawberry cake slice served on a white plate

    “I’ll have another slice please!” (This is a phrase you’ll hear all the time when this cake is on the dessert menu!) And between you and me… it’s an incredibly easy cake to make. Even the fluffy strawberry frosting is easy. And aside from the frosting, it’s a one bowl cake recipe. Just one mixer bowl is all you need to mix this glorious cake. In the instructions I mention a stand mixer bowl, but you could easily use a hand mixer too – just use a large enough bowl to hold the batter.

    Mix it up and portion it in the cake pans – you’ll have strawberry cake with strawberry frosting in about an hour and 15 minutes!

    Love cake? Check out these almond flour chocolate cupcakes, vanilla flourless cake and even these red velvet cupcakes.

    Why this recipe is the best!

    I absolutely love this one-bowl gluten free strawberry cake recipe because it's the perfect sweet summertime dessert. This cake comes together so beautifully and will impress all of your guests, but it's actually super simple to make! Here are some other great things about this recipe:

    • It's easy to prep in just one bowl
    • It is both gluten and dairy free
    • The texture is incredibly light and fluffy
    • It's perfect for any celebration or get-together

    Pro tips for making this cake

    There are a few tips that will give you the best results with this gluten free strawberry cake:

    1. Use room temperature ingredients

    As with other gluten free baking recipes, make sure to allow all ingredients to come to room temperature before combining or mixing.

    2. Measure ingredients by weight

    Use a digital scale to measure your ingredients for the best result. Weight is a much more accurate measurement than cups.

    3. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes

    Letting the batter rest before baking allows time for the starches to fully absorb the liquid ingredients, keeping the texture of your cake soft and light.

    4. Helpful tools

    These are some useful tools that will make prepping your one-bowl gluten free strawberry cake quick and easy:

    • Digital scale
    • Stand mixer
    • Rubber spatula
    • 2 round 8-inch cake pans
    • 2 wire cooling racks
    • Frosting knife
    • Serving plate

    How to make this recipe

    Ingredients & substitutions

    labeled ingredients on a countertop
    • Gluten free flour mix - This recipe has been tested and retested several times with this gluten free flour mix. It works beautifully in this recipe. Other flour mixes may work, but I just haven’t tested them.
    • Xanthan gum - Xanthan gum acts as a binder in this cake and also contributes to the overall structure. Check out these tips if you'd like to substitute the xanthan gum.
    • Granulated sugar - Swerve granular sweetener is a good sugar free alternative that works well in this recipe.
    • Baking powder - There is no substitution for baking powder in this recipe.
    • Salt - There is no substitution for salt in this recipe.
    • Vegan butter - This recipe was tested using Earth Balance vegan butter. Regular butter also works really well here.
    • Vegetable oil - The vegetable oil in this cake can be replaced with melted coconut oil if desired.
    • Almond milk - The almond milk in this recipe can be substituted with regular dairy milk or another dairy free milk.
    • Eggs - For a plant-based egg substitution, JUST Egg brand has an egg-free alternative that works great in this cake.
    • Strawberry Jello - There is no substitution for the Jello in this recipe.
    • Powdered sugar - Swerve confectioners sweetener is a great sugar free substitution that works well in this recipe.
    • Strawberries - There is no substitution for the strawberries in this recipe.

    Mixing

    steps to preparing cake.

    I said one-bowl cake and I mean it! Use either your stand mixer bowl or a large bowl for a hand mixer for your gluten free strawberry cake batter. Add the dry ingredients first and mix (step 1 above), then add the butter and oil (step 2), then add the rest of the cake ingredients (step 3). And that’s it!

    Rest time

    Another thing to add to the list of important tips for gluten free baking is the rest time for batters. After mixing together the ingredients, it’s important to let the batter rest for a period of time before portioning it into the pans and baking. That period of time in this recipe is about 30 minutes (step 4 above).

    Baking and Cooling

    While the batter is resting, it’s time to preheat the oven and prepare the pans. A simple butter coating helps these cakes bake beautifully and not stick to the pans. The key is to really coat them well with butter (step 5 & 6).

    Bake the cakes for between 35 and 40 minutes and then let them cool on a wire rack. After they’ve cooled for about 20 minutes, turn them out of the pans and let them finish cooling.

    Frosting

    gluten free strawberry cake frosting ingredients

    While the cakes are finishing their cooling process, prepare the delicious frosting that will take this cake over the top!

    Softened butter is the key here – it needs to be soft enough that squeezing it easily leaves an indention. Not melted, but soft. And you can either sift your powdered sugar ahead of time or sift it directly into the bowl with the butter.

    Then mix to combine the first cup (Make sure to use a large, deep bowl as the powdered sugar may fly everywhere).

    Add in the next cup and a half and mix again.

    gluten free strawberry cake frosting on a speader

    Finish off with the last portion of powdered sugar and add the milk too. Start with the lower measurement of the milk and add more as needed. Then mix in the strawberries.

    Take a taste!

    Serving

    gluten free strawberry cake whole cake on a plate

    Frosting cakes can be as simple as frosting the top layer, then adding the other layer, frosting the top and serving. (Which is what I did with this cake) Or you can double the frosting recipe and really coat it well and even decorate it. Either way, the cake frosts easily and cuts well, so they’ll be rave reviews regardless of how fancy or simple you make it.

    FAQ's about this recipe

    Can I make this recipe into cupcakes?

    Yes! Just follow the instructions as written all the way down to preheating the oven. They’ll bake at the same temperature but you’ll portion the batter into 24 cupcake cups. The baking time will be reduced to about 25 minutes (check the middle one with a toothpick though).

    What’s the best frosting consistency for frosting this cake?

    You may have looked at the frosting ingredients and wondered why there is a range for the powdered sugar and the milk… that’s because it may vary depending on where you live, even the conditions in your kitchen. And even personal preference. I like my frosting to be a bit thinner, fluffier and easy to spread. So using the lower end of the powdered sugar and the higher end of the milk, produces this consistency perfectly. If you are looking for frosting that’s a bit more solid, use the full 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar.

    What’s the best way to store this cake?

    If you have any cake left over, the easiest way to store it is to slice it into individual slices and place them in a plastic storage container. Then refrigerate these pieces for up to 3 days.

    Other recipes you may like!

    • Easy, 10 Minute Prep Gluten Free Oreo Balls (Dairy Free)
    • Easy Gluten Free King Cake
    • Fudgy Gluten Free Texas Sheet Cake (Dairy Free)
    • One Bowl Gluten Free Apple Cake
    gluten free strawberry cake sliced

    One-Bowl Gluten Free Strawberry Cake

    Light, fresh and delightfully sweet, this gluten free strawberry cake is the kind of cake that’s stunning and impressive but incredibly easy to make!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Cooling time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 334kcal
    Author: Christine

    Ingredients

    For the Cake

    • 325 grams Gluten free flour mix about 2 ½ cups
    • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
    • 200 grams granulated sugar about 1 cup
    • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup vegan butter stick softened
    • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 ¼ cup almond milk
    • 3 large eggs
    • 3 oz. package strawberry Jello

    Strawberry Frosting

    • ½ cup vegan butter
    • 3 – 3 ½ cups powdered sugar sifted
    • ½ cup diced strawberries
    • 2 – 4 Tablespoons almond milk

    Instructions

    For the Strawberry Cake:

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour mix, xanthan gum, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix on low speed for about 30 seconds or until completely combined.
    • Add the butter and oil and mix again on low speed for 30 seconds.
    • Add the almond milk, eggs and Jello. Mix for another 30 seconds on low, stop mixer and scrape the bowl down. Turn the speed up to low medium and mix for 2 minutes.
    • Let batter rest in the bowl for 30 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 F. Prepare two 8 inch round baking pans by buttering them well with a vegan butter stick. Set aside.
    • After oven has preheated, portion batter equally into the pans, smoothing the tops out.
    • Bake for 35 – 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
    • Place 2 wire racks on the counter for cakes to cool on.
    • Once cakes test done, place them in the pans on the wire racks to cool for 20 minutes.
    • Turn the cakes over on the wire racks, out of the pans, and allow them to cool completely.
    • Place one cake layer on a serving plate and frost the top with 1 ½ cups frosting.
    • Carefully place the other layer on top and lightly press down.
    • Frost the top with another cup to 1 ½ cups frosting.
    • Refrigerate until serving. Serve straight from the refrigerator or let warm up for 20 minutes.

    For the Strawberry Frosting:

    • Add butter to a large mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to the bowl.
    • Mix on low speed until combined.
    • Add another 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, mix well.
    • Add the final amount of powdered sugar and mix well.
    • Add milk and mix on low just until spreadable consistency.
    • Mix in the strawberries and frost the cooled cake.

    Video

    Notes

    • Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.
    • Let the batter rest for 30 minutes.
    • Butter the baking pans well to prevent cakes from sticking.
    • The frosting recipe makes enough to frost the middle and top of the cake. If you'd like to cover the entire cake, double the frosting recipe.
    • Cake is delicious when served at room temperature. It can be served cold, but room temperature is best. 
    • Refrigerate leftover cake in plastic containers.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 403mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 419IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @zest_for_baking or tag #zestforbaking!

    Hungry for more gluten free recipes? Check out these tasty treats!

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    Comments

    1. Deb

      July 12, 2020 at 7:16 am

      5 stars
      Sounds yummy... Making it!

      Reply

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    Christine Brady.

    Hi, I'm Christine, a gluten free baker living in sunny Texas! Zest for Baking is where you'll find gluten free (and dairy free) recipes, tips for substituting ingredients and help navigating the world of gluten free baking.

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    Since 2013, Christine has been helping readers with gluten free baking challenges and substitution issues, all while creating delicious gluten free baking recipes that no one would guess are actually gluten free. Her Zest For Baking recipes have been featured on The Daily Meal, Bloglovin' and Dr. Axe, to name a few. When she's not hanging out on Facebook or sharing pictures on Instagram or pinning on Pinterest, you can find her in her kitchen, creating more ZestForBaking.com recipes!

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