Today, January 27, is National Chocolate Cake Day. I’ve got you covered with an updated collection of 30 Gluten-Free Chocolate Cakes so you’ll be ready for all your celebrations throughout the year.
Because we cannot simply celebrate chocolate cakes on a single day, right? Again, there are so many occasions that call for chocolate cake. Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, weddings, anniversaries, showers, graduation … Honestly, almost every possible special occasion could benefit from the addition of a divine gluten-free chocolate cake.
In this recipe collection, you’ll see classic chocolate cakes, flourless chocolate cakes, fruit-enhanced chocolate cakes, chocolate sheet cakes, mug cakes, raw chocolate cakes, molten chocolate cakes, and more. Let’s get to them!
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cakes Shared on gfe
~ Chocolate Mocha Cake ~ gluten free, vegetarian
April says: “My Gluten Free Mocha Cake is fudgey, moist, and everything you want a chocolate-y cake to be.”
Gluten-Free Chocolate Mocha Cake
~ Double Chocolate Clementine Cake ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, vegetarian
Double Chocolate Clementine Cake
This double chocolate version of Nigella Lawson’s famous Clementine cake will totally delight you! And the way the Clementines are used in this recipe is pretty amazing.
Slice of Double Chocolate Clementine Cake
~ Flourless Chocolate Banana Honey Walnut Cake ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free
You all know I love flourless recipes. The bananas, eggs, and walnuts work the magic in this naturally gluten-free cake. It’s ideal for Passover but you can definitely enjoy it all year long.
Slice of Flourless Chocolate Banana Honey Walnut Cake
~ Flourless Chocolate Cake (The Ultimate Chocolate Cake) ~ gluten free, vegetarian with dairy-free options
The easiest flourless chocolate cake you’ll ever make and also the best one you’ll ever eat in my opinion! You don’t even have to separate the eggs for this recipe (as you do for most flourless chocolate cake recipes). Admittedly, I LOVE that factor.
Flourless Chocolate Cake (Naturally Gluten Free–No Special Ingredients Needed)
This cake is perfect for large gatherings as a tiny sliver is all guests really need. This cake is rich and decadent. I often refer to it as “death by chocolate.” By the way, I like it cold or at room temperature and my sister loves to heat a slice in the microwave and enjoy it with her morning tea. FYI—It freezes just fine. In fact, some readers like to freeze individual slices in plastic wrap so they can pull out dessert for exactly the number of folks needed.
Flourless Chocolate Cake (photo by reader Brandae Filla)
~ Flourless Chocolate Quinoa Cake ~ gluten free, vegetarian
Yes, I just said “chocolate quinoa cake” and I’m not talking about a recipe that’s made using quinoa flour. This flourless chocolate cake is made using quinoa that you cook yourself (per the instructions in the recipe) and then blend with other ingredients to make the batter. This cake is rich and satisfying and gives you some extra health benefits because of the inclusion of quinoa!
Flourless Chocolate Quinoa Cake Decorated to Celebrate Independence!
Slice of Flourless Chocolate Quinoa Cake
~ Mediterranean Chocolate Cake (aka Chocolate Olive Oil Cake) ~ gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian
Mediterranean Chocolate Cake makes a wonderful birthday cake!
This single-layer round cake is my “go-to” recipe for birthday celebrations as family members request it again and again. (Here’s Mom proving my point!) The Mediterranean factor is the olive oil used. What a rich taste and perfect texture it provides in this recipe! (Note: Be sure to use extra virgin olive oil or light olive oil. “Regular” olive oil can overpower the chocolate.)
Mom enjoying her birthday cake!
A slice of Mediterranean Chocolate Cake. Consumption in progress.
~ Mile-High Chocolate Cake ~ gluten-free, vegetarian
What could be better than chocolate cake? Three-layer chocolate cake, aka Mile-High Chocolate Cake. This recipe from Olivia Dupin of Liv Gluten Free is a stunner, no doubt! She likes to use a pumpkin filling between her layers but you can use any filling or icing that you prefer for this recipe. If you have a pretty cake stand that has gotten pushed to the back of the china cabinet, now is the time to pull that baby out!
Mile-High Chocolate Cake, shown with Pumpkin Custard Filling
~ Molten Chocolate Cake ~ gluten free, vegetarian, with dairy-free option
Molten Chocolate Cake is sort of a cross between a chocolate cake and a souffle. It’s sometimes called Chocolate Lava Cake. The basic ingredients are butter, eggs, sugar, chocolate, and in some recipes, flour. The recipe that I’m sharing is actually flourless and makes three ramekin-sized individual cakes. Which makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day or that special dinner for two—and you will still have a single cake left over, for sharing the next day.
Molten Chocolate Cake. Flourless and naturally gluten free.
Un-Molten Chocolate Cake. A lighter version that is just as enjoyable.
Grain-Free Chocolate Polka Dot Cake
This grain-free recipe from Starlene at GAPS Diet Journey is so cute with its sliced almond “polka dots”! It also comes with a very luscious frosting.
A slice of tasty Chocolate Polka Dot Cake topped with ice cream.
As its name states, this recipe is a simple and good chocolate cake that is gluten free and also happens to be dairy free, egg free, milk free, and vegan. It’s based on the original Wacky Cake, the World War II-era cake that could be made without the ingredients that were so often in short supply during that time. FYI: This recipe can also be used to make cupcakes.
Simple and Good Chocolate Cake
~ Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Cake ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian
Add the ingredients to your slow cooker when you start cooking dinner and enjoy this warm and amazing Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Cake shortly after your meal. Warning: You’ll have to resist the urge to stand by the slow cooker with a long large spoon and keep taking just another taste!
Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Cake ready to eat.
There are so many different names for this very popular sheet cake. It doesn’t matter what you call it or even if you make a slight variation of my recipe, this delicious cake will always be a hit! It makes a perfect cake for a special event—such as a birthday, anniversary, or shower—because it can be made easily and quickly and serves a good number of guests.
A slice of Texas Sheet Cake (Is that what you call this cake?)
More Gluten-Free Chocolate Cakes from Friends
~ Chocolate Cake from Allergy Free Alaska (gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian)
Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Cake from Allergy Free Alaska
~ Chocolate Cake from Gluten-Free Alchemist (gluten free, vegetarian, with dairy-free option)
~ Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling from Fearless Dining (gluten free, vegetarian)
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling (and Topping) from Fearless Dining
~ Chocolate Caramel Cake from Let Them Eat Gluten-Free Cake (gluten free, vegetarian)
Chocolate Caramel Cake from Let Them Eat Gluten-Free Cake
~ Chocolate Cloud Cake from Let Them Eat Gluten-Free Cake (gluten free, vegetarian)
Chocolate Cloud Cake from Let Them Eat Gluten-Free Cake
~ Chocolate Decadence from Flo and Grace (gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegan)
Chocolate Decadence (Bet you’ll be surprised by the ingredients!) from Flo and Grace
~ Chocolate Mocha Layer Cake from Sarah Bakes Gluten Free (gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan)
Chocolate Mocha Layer Cake (the perfect combination for so many!) from Sarah Bakes Gluten Free
~ Chocolate Wedding Cake from Successfully Gluten Free (gluten free, vegetarian)
Gluten-Free Chocolate Wedding Cake from Successfully Gluten Free
~ Easy Chocolate Cake from Mama Knows Gluten Free (gluten free, vegetarian, with dairy-free option)
Easy Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake from Mama Knows Gluten Free
~ Flourless Chocolate Cake from My Gluten-Free Kitchen (gluten free, vegetarian)
Flourless Chocolate Cake from My Gluten-Free Kitchen
~ Flourless Dark Chocolate Torte from My Gluten-Free Cucina (gluten free, vegetarian)
Flourless Dark Chocolate Torte (Naturally Gluten Free) from My Gluten-Free Cucina
~ Flourless German Chocolate Cake from Everyday Gluten-Free Gourmet (gluten free, vegetarian)
Flourless German Chocolate Cake from Everyday Gluten-Free Gourmet
~ German Chocolate Cake from Against All Grain (gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, primal)
Grain-Free German Chocolate Cake from Against All Grain
~ German Chocolate Cake from Elana’s Pantry (gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, paleo, primal)
Grain-Free German Chocolate Cake from Elana’s Pantry
~ German Chocolate Cake from GF Jules (gluten free, vegetarian, with dairy-free, egg-free, vegan options)
Gluten-Free German Chocolate Cake from GF Jules
~ German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan Frosting from Cassidy’s Craveable Creations (gluten free, grain free, sugar free, keto, with dairy-free options)
Gluten-Free German Chocolate Cake (Keto) with Coconut Pecan Frosting from Cassidy’s Craveable Creations
~ No Joke Dark Chocolate Layer Cake from Zenbelly (gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free, primal, vegetarian, with dairy free, paleo, primal options)
No Joke Dark Chocolate Layer Cake from Zenbelly
Flourless Quinoa Chocolate Cake from Everyday Gluten-Free Gourmet
~ Quinoa Chocolate Cake ~ gluten free, vegetarian
Celeste of Life After Wheat says: “Something magical happens when you blend the quinoa with the rest of the ingredients in this gluten free quinoa cake. It makes the most tender, chocolatey and delicious cake with so little effort. Top it with our whipped ganache frosting and bring it to your next party and we pretty much guarantee you’ll be everyone’s new best friend.”
Gluten-Free Quinoa Chocolate Cake from Life After Wheat
~ Raw, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Black and White Chocolate Cake {Paleo} from Unconventional Baker (gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo)
Gluten-Free Black and White Chocolate Cake (also Raw, Paleo, and Vegan) from Unconventional Baker
~ The Ultimate Chocolate Birthday Cake from In Johnna’s Kitchen (gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan)
The Ultimate Chocolate Birthday Cake from In Johnna’s Kitchen
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cakes Made in the Microwave (aka Gluten-Free Chocolate Mug Cakes)
And when you need just a little bit of cake and you need it fast, try one of these 3-minute chocolate cakes that are made in the microwave.
~ 3-Minute Chocolate Cake ~ gluten free, vegetarian, with grain-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, paleo options
This is an individual chocolate cake that you make in your microwave. There are so many delicious variations on the basic chocolate cake recipe (for example, Almond Chocolate Cake and Maple Chocolate Cake)—and they’re all shared in the post.
Readers contact me all the time to tell me that this cake has been a lifesaver for them when they need a chocolate treat. My friend Cherie of Our Gluten-Free Life recently shared: “It is the perfect recipe to have on hand when you remember your kiddo has a birthday party to go to and you forgot a safe dessert.” Brilliant!
3-Minute Chocolate Cake (thanks to gfe reader Shelly for this photo!)
The combination of chocolate and beer, especially dark beer, is very flavorful. As long as you use truly gluten-free beer, you’ll end up with a delicious gluten-free chocolate cake! Note that truly gluten-free beer is beer that is made from all gluten-free ingredients. Truly gluten-free beer is NOT beer that’s labeled or considered “gluten-removed” or “gluten reduced.” Such beers are actually neither of those two things. They’re simply beers processed in a way that the gluten in them has been broken down into small enough fragments that it doesn’t show up accurately in traditional testing for gluten content.
3-Minute Gluten-Free Chocolate Beer Cake
Now tell me … which chocolate cake recipe do you want to make and enjoy immediately?
Originally published January 27, 2022; updated June 13, 2023.
Balvinder says
Its hard to decide which one I would like to make first. They all look so tempting!
Shirley Braden says
Hi Balvinder! It’s great to see you here at gfe again! 🙂 I think the cake one wants to make on any given day really depends on the occasion or who’s eating so those factors can definitely help you make your decision. 😉
Shirley
April J Harris says
Oh how I love chocolate cake! Thank you for including my Gluten-Free Mocha Cake in this delicious round-up, Shirley! Pinning this post for when those chocolate cake cravings strike.
Shirley Braden says
April–Your cake is so beautiful and appealing. The mocha factor must make it off-the-charts good! We almost always make a chocolate cake for family birthdays but rarely any other time. So we really look forward to those birthdays! 😉 Thanks so much for sharing this post on Pinterest, dear!
Shirley