Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Birthday Cake

Celebration cakes can be tricky when you’re avoiding dairy or gluten, but they don’t have to be bland, dense, or crumbly. As a mom of three, I’ve tested a lot of healthy birthday cakes over the years, and this dairy-free, gluten-free cake is the one I keep coming back to.

It’s fluffy, flavorful, and made with coconut flour not almond flour, but without the usual grainy texture. I’ve used it for birthday parties, baby showers, and kid-packed gatherings where allergies matter (but taste still wins).

With two layers, a simple dairy-free frosting, and colorful sprinkles, this dairy-free birthday cake is easy to make and kid-approved. In fact, I've made this exact cake for four of my daughters' birthdays and every time their faces light up.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Below is a quick shot of the ingredients you need to make the gluten-free, dairy-free birthday cake. There aren't many, which means you probably already have most of them in your gluten-free pantry. Peekat the image as well as some tips and substitutions.

Applesauce: This is what helps keep the dairy-free vanilla cake light instead of dense, which can often happen with coconut flour. If you don't have any on hand, you should be able to use yogurt here.

Olive oil: You can use olive oil or avocado oil for this recipe. However, coconut oil will change the texture and shouldn’t be substituted.

Honey: The gluten-free vanilla cake is naturally sweetened with honey! This makes the cake itself sweet but not too sweet. That way, you can adjust the flavor a bit based on the icing.

Dairy-free icing: The recipe uses a vegan cashew-based butter I get locally for the icing. However, any dairy-free butter should work. Just know that a nut-based butter will cause the icing to melt quicker than a traditional, lactose-free one.

How to make the birthday cake paleo: The only non-paleo part of the birthday cake is the icing. To make the cake paleo-approved, use homemade paleo, powdered sugar instead.

Important Tips To Know Before You Bake

Since coconut flour absorbs so much liquid, I recommend halving the recipe and mixing each layer in its own bowl. This keeps the texture light, otherwise, the batter can turn dense and uneven if split after mixing.

Because the cake is soft, chill the layers for an hour before icing to prevent tearing. If using multiple icing colors, whip the frosting first, then divide and color.

For smooth piping, use the icing right after whipping. If it firms up in the fridge, it won’t pipe well. Runny frosting? Add more icing sugar or decorate in batches, chilling the cake between layers.

How To Store It

Prepping in advance: The cake is iced best when it’s had time to cool fully. Thus, it can be stored in the fridge for a day or two before adding the frosting.

However, make sure the vanilla birthday cake has had time to cool fully before wrapping it in plastic wrap and putting it in the fridge. Otherwise, moisture could get in and it would alter the texture/making the cake soggy.

Storing leftovers: Once the cake is fully finished, it can be stored in the fridge until ready to eat! Simply let it sit out 3-5 minutes before eating. The cake will stay fresh for 5-7 days.

Freezing the birthday cake: The vanilla cake can be stored unfrosted in the freezer for up to a month. Make sure to wrap each layer individually in plastic wrap before placing it into a freezer bag. When you need it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight before icing it.

How To Frost A Double-Layer Cake

If you're new to cake decorating (like I was!), use these easy steps to ice your cake. I invested in this cheap cake decorating kit, and it helped immensely.

1. Add the first layer to your turntable and spread icing on top, this will be the filling, so make it as thick or thin as you like.
2. Place the second cake on top and repeat, covering the top with icing while rotating the turntable.
3. Frost the sides using a smaller spatula to smooth icing evenly around the cake.
4. Decorate by piping flowers along the seam between the layers and on top using a piping bag and your preferred tip.

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