Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake
A two-layer red velvet cake with a soft, tender crumb, a light cocoa flavor and the classic buttermilk and vinegar tang, frosted with a thick cream cheese frosting. A favorite for Christmas, Valentine's Day and birthdays.
At a glance: This medium baking recipe yields 12 servings in about 3h 10m (40 min prep, 28 min cook). It uses 15 ingredients — including gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, xanthan gum, granulated sugar — and walks through 7 steps. Updated . Browse more baking recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.
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Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake: When preparing this baking recipe, use pans dusted with gluten-free flour blend, not a baking spray that contains flour. Flour dust travels. Bake this on a day the kitchen is not also handling flour that contains gluten, use clean bowls, beaters and baking sheets, and keep the gluten-free flour blend in its own sealed container.
Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake: The cake uses a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and xanthan gum instead of flour that contains gluten. Use cocoa powder, food coloring, vanilla, cream cheese, powdered sugar and a flour blend labeled gluten-free.
Ingredients
Shop links on this page are for gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, plus more for the pans, xanthan gum, granulated sugar. Buy the package that says gluten-free. A shared production line is the usual risk with these pantry items. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Confirm the product is labeled gluten-free before you buy.
Instructions
Tips & Notes
- Let the red velvet layers cool completely before frosting. Even slightly warm cake melts cream cheese frosting and makes the layers slide.
- Use brick-style cream cheese for the frosting, not the spreadable tub kind. Tub cream cheese has more water and makes a runny frosting.
- Gel food coloring gives a deeper red with less liquid than the small liquid bottles. Start with 1 tbsp liquid or 1 tsp gel and add more to reach the shade you like.
Common questions
How long does Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake take?
Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake takes about 3 hours 10 minutes, including resting time: 40 minutes to prep and 28 minutes to cook, for 12 servings.
What should I check before making Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake with celiac disease?
Written with gluten-free ingredients. Use products labeled gluten-free, check labels, and ask your clinician about your own needs.
What cross-contamination risk is specific to Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake?
Check gluten-free all-purpose flour blend , plus more for the pans, xanthan gum, granulated sugar before they go into Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake. Use pans dusted with gluten-free flour blend, not a baking spray that contains flour. Flour dust travels. Bake this on a day the kitchen is not also handling flour that contains gluten, use clean bowls, beaters and baking sheets, and keep the gluten-free flour blend in its own sealed container.
Which gluten-free swaps does Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake use?
Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake relies on a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, xanthan gum. Keep those gluten-free-labeled products in place of a gluten-containing flour or sauce. If the blend already lists xanthan gum, do not add a second binder unless this recipe says to.
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