Top 10 gluten-free cake recipes

From ground pistachios to whole puréed oranges, polenta and even mashed potato (yes, really!), there are so many clever baking ingredients that you can use in place of flour. Explore some of our favourite gluten-free baking recipes here, including lemon polenta cake, a flourless chocolate number slathered with velvety frosting, and an aromatic orange cake drenched in rosemary and cardamom syrup.

For more ideas, check out our best ever gluten-free cake recipes, gluten-free pancake recipes and read our top 10 tips for a gluten-free diet

1. Orange olive oil cake

Sophisticated, aromatic and utterly delicious, our orange olive oil cake gets nothing but 5/5 reviews. It’s fun to make, too – you boil a whole orange before puréeing it with a little lemon to make a smooth paste, which forms the base of your cake. Don’t forget to top with a fragrant rosemary and cardamom drizzle.

2. Strawberry & pistachio olive oil cake

Another bake that makes the most of olive oil, this strawberry & pistachio cake is made irresistibly moist by using polenta instead of flour. Fresh strawberries and ground pistachios add to the list of exciting ingredients, and it’s best served with a dollop of crème fraîche.

3. Gluten-free chocolate cake

Chocolate cake on a plate, with swirled icing

Create this tower of chocolatey goodness with the help of gluten-free flour and xanthan gum. Two rich, dense sponges are divided and topped with layers of silky smooth dark chocolate icing. Our gluten-free chocolate cake is perfect for a birthday party or other celebration – you can pipe some rosettes on top of the cake for decoration or get creative with another design.

4. Apple & almond cake

Not only is this apple & almond cake free from flour (instead, ground almonds and apple sauce bind the batter together), there’s also no refined sugar or butter needed, either. Use maple or agave syrup for subtle sweetness, plus cinnamon for gentle warmth. Top with a quick maple syrup and apple glaze.

5. Lemon & polenta cake

Polenta is such a great ingredient to have in the cupboard if you follow a gluten-free diet. This lemon & polenta cake recipe, written by Barney Desmazery, gets impeccable reviews for its moistness, sharp citrus tang and lip-smacking sugary lemon glaze.

6. Gluten-free carrot cake

An absolute classic, our carrot cake recipe takes all the gluten out and leaves all the flavour in. It’s easy to find gluten-free flour on the supermarket shelves – put it to great use in this teatime bake, which comes flavoured with cinnamon, sultanas and mixed nuts. Don’t forget the luscious cinnamon frosting on top.

7. Gluten-free lemon drizzle cake

Gluten-free lemon drizzle cake on a green board with a slice taken

Another of Britain’s favourite cakes, this time made gluten free with the most surprising ingredient yet – mashed potato! You can’t taste it, but the potato binds the batter together in place of flour, and also helps guarantee a moist sponge alongside ground almonds. More than 150 shining reviews suggest that this gluten-free lemon drizzle cake is a must-try.

8. Flourless chocolate cake

Plenty of dark chocolate and half a dozen eggs (whisk the yolks until very pale and fluffy) are essential to this flourless chocolate cake’s fudgy texture. Add coffee powder, for depth and intensity of flavour. It’s best served with fresh red berries, or a sprinkle of icing sugar.

9. Amaretto meringue cake with strawberries & cherries

A pavlova cake made from three tiers of meringue

This elegant amaretto meringue cake with strawberries & cherries is an amazing summer dessert. It’s a pavlova cake that’s inspired by the fruity filling of the Austrian dessert, Spanische windtorte, with strawberries, cream, cherries and almonds… seconds, anyone?

10. Flourless chocolate & pear cake

Barney Desmazery’s flourless chocolate & pear cake is as beautiful as it is delicious. It’s made free from gluten by using toasted, ground hazelnuts (so aromatic and buttery) in place of flour, and there’s a little brandy in there for an extra kick, too.