Sometimes it can be difficult to find dessert recipes that cater to a variety of dietaries without sacrificing on taste. Enter: today’s roundup of my favourite gluten free cake recipes. These are some of my favourite recipes from my website and cookbook. Many of them cater to a number of different dietary restrictions at once, meaning you don’t have to make a million different desserts. They’re all delicious and undetectably dietary restriction friendly.

An aerial close up view of a gluten free lemon poppy seed cake topped with an icing drizzle and candied lemon peel slices

Gluten free cake recipes

These gluten free cake recipes aim to cater to as many dietary requirements as possible. There are lots of dairy free, egg free and vegan options, as well as nut free cake options. Wherever possible, I try to include as many recipes that are made without xanthan gum.

These gluten free cake recipes vary from incredibly easy to moderate in difficulty. There’s something for everyone and for every special occasion, and I hope you enjoy them!

For more gluten free, low FODMAP and special diet desserts and cakes, see:

A side on view of a gluten free carrot cake on a wooden stand against a dark backdrop. A person stands behind the cake and sprinkles icing down onto the cake. The cake is covered in lactose free cream cheese icing and decorated with olive branches

Gluten free cakes

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Gluten free chocolate cake

This gluten free chocolate cake is an incredibly easy yet delicious dessert. It uses a single flour (white rice flour) and contains no xanthan gum or nuts. You can ice the cake with whatever you like, but I think the icing on the cake is the brown butter chocolate buttercream.

Easy gluten free chocolate cake

A simple yet impressive gluten free chocolate cake without nuts or gums.

Check out this recipe

A side on image of a gluten free chocolate cake on a silver cake stand atop a white linen tablecloth. The cake has a slice taken out revealing the soft crumb and waves of chocolate buttercream. It stands against a rusty deep red backdrop

Vegan, gluten free chocolate cake

This vegan and gluten free chocolate cake is a recipe from my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen. It is dairy free and egg free (obviously!) but also xanthan gum free and nut free. An excellent option for catering to many dietary requirements at once.

An aerial image of a gluten free vegan chocolate cake on a white marble table. The cake has been topped with vegan chocolate buttercream and a sprinkle of sea salt flakes and is cut into slices.

100% buckwheat flour vegan chocolate cake

This delicious vegan gluten free chocolate cake is made entirely from buckwheat flour – no starches, other whole grains or psyllium husk. It has a unique and delicious flavour that is recommended for buckwheat lovers only. It’s a recipe from my buckwheat flour e-book.

A brightly lit aerial view of a gluten free vegan buckwheat chocolate cake on a white speckled ceramic plate against a white stone bench top.

Gluten free rhubarb cake

This gluten free rhubarb cake is a plush and delicious vanilla almond meal cake that is filled with delicious rhubarb. The sweet and sour flavours play off perfectly in this easy and delicious tea cake.

Gluten free rhubarb cake

An easy and delicious rhubarb cake with a soft and fluffy crumb with the subtle taste of almond meal.

Check out this recipe

An aerial side on image of a gluten free rhubarb cake in a pale pink cake tin atop a white marble table. The cake is golden brown and topped with pink rhubarb and almond flakes.

An aerial image of a gluten free rhubarb cake topped with icing sugar and flaked almonds. The cake is golden brown and sits atop a white speckled ceramic plate. The centre of the image is a slice about to be taken from the cake

Easy gluten free lemon drizzle cake

This lemon drizzle cake uses creamed butter and sugar to provide an airy and sweet crumb. It uses only rice flour, and is free from nuts or xanthan gum. You can also use this recipe for any buttery tea cake style cake you’d like – topped with some blueberries would be delicious.

Gluten free lemon drizzle cake

A delicious gluten free lemon drizzle with minimal ingredients.

Check out this recipe

A side on image of a gluten free lemon drizzle cake being sprinkled with icing sugar. The cake sits atop a white marble table against a black backdrop and is topped with drizzled icing and dried lemon slices. Icing sugar sprinkles down from the top of the image

A side on view of a gluten free lemon drizzle cake being sprinkled with icing sugar

Gluten free lemon poppyseed cake

While we’re on the topic of lemon: how about this gluten free lemon poppyseed cake? It contains lemon in the batter and icing, which contrasts perfectly with the sweet crumb and earthy, nutty poppyseeds.

Gluten free lemon poppy seed cake

An easy gluten free cake that is full of flavour and texture.

Check out this recipe

A side on image of a gluten free lemon poppyseed cake on a blue plate atop a white marble table. The cake is topped with lemon icing and candied lemon. It is surrounded by extra lemons and sunlit glasses of water.

A side on view of a sunlit loaf of gluten free poppy seed loaf topped with lemon icing and candied lemon peel

Egg free, gluten free banana cake

Banana cake is probably one of my all time favourites, and this version couldn’t be easier (or more delicious). The cake is nut free, xanthan gum free and egg free. With the right icing and milk, it’s also vegan. If there’s a better way to use up some ripe bananas, I can’t think of it.

Gluten free banana cake

An egg free, nut free and gluten free banana cake with an easy vegan option. Something for everyone!

Check out this recipe

An aerial view of a gluten free banana cake on a white speckled plate atop a white marble table. The banana cake is topped with cream cheese icing, sliced bananas and crushed walnuts

Gluten free lemon olive oil cake

The subtle taste of a good olive oil in a dessert is incredibly underrated, if you ask me. Add in some lemon zest and a little almond meal and you’re on track for a heavenly yet simple cake. Perfect without any additions, you could also use this cake recipe as a base for a fruity version as well.

Gluten free olive oil cake

A delicious gluten free lemon olive oil cake that is quick to make and xanthan gum free.

Check out this recipe

A side on brightly lit image of a gluten free olive oil cake chopped with pistachios and icing sugar. The cake sits atop a white marble table and is surrounded by water glasses, a slice of cake on a white ceramic plate and pinch bowls filled with pistachios

A side on image of a gluten free lemon olive oil cake in contrasting light against a black backdrop

Gluten free carrot cake

We all love a carrot cake, right? This one is jam packed with delicious spices, carrots and optional walnuts. A lactose free cream cheese icing seals the deal.

Gluten free carrot cake

A delicious and gorgeous gluten free carrot cake with lactose free cream cheese icing. Literal olive branches optional but encouraged.

Check out this recipe

A side on view of a gluten free carrot cake. The cake is a layer cake, topped with naked cream cheese icing. The sides of the cake are decorated with olive branches, and a lit sparkler stands in the middle of the cake. The cake sits on a wooden cake stand on a white linen backdrop

Vegan, gluten free spiced pumpkin mug cake

Is mug cake a cake? It is today! This spiced pumpkin mug cake is the perfect way to use up some steamed or canned pumpkin. It’s a delicious, autumnal dessert for one that is also vegan/egg and dairy free, xanthan gum free and nut free.

Gluten free pumpkin mug cake

Gluten free, vegan, single serve deliciousness

Check out this recipe

A side on view of a brightly lit gluten free pumpkin mug in a white speckled ceramic mug. The mug cake is topped with vanilla ice cream with a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar. A spoonful of the mug cake has been eaten from the bottom right corner, revealing the orange crumb beneath.

An aerial image of a gluten free pumpkin mug cake in a white ceramic speckled mug atop a white speckled ceramic plate. The mug cake has a spoonful removed and is topped with melting vanilla ice cream and cinnamon sugar. A bottle of maple syrup extends over the right side of the image to pour syrup over the ice cream. The syrup and ice cream mingle together in the crevice left from the eaten cake.

Vegan, gluten free chocolate mug cake

Permit me one more mug cake recipe? This chocolate mug cake is vegan, gluten free, xanthan gum free and nut free. It also happens to be one of my absolute favourite desserts, and the best part is it’s ready in 5 minutes.

Gluten free vegan chocolate mug cake

A delicious 5 minute dessert made from easy (gluten free) pantry ingredients.

Check out this recipe

An aerial view of a gluten free chocolate mug cake in a white speckled mug atop a white speckled plate. The mug cake is topped with melting vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

A gluten free vegan mug with a big scoop of chocolate ice cream on top

Gluten free chocolate olive oil cake

It’s always best to end with something chocolate based, right? This gluten free chocolate cake is double (or triple) chocolate, and is finished perfectly with the subtle flavour of olive oil. Make the ganache icing or the chocolate buttercream – they’re both a perfect way to finish the cake.

Gluten free chocolate olive oil cake

A delicious gluten free and xanthan gum free cake with the perfect amount of chocolate (lots).

Check out this recipe