Birthdays are a huge thing in our house, we love celebrating each other. And, who doesn’t love a Gluten Free Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting birthday cake?
Gluten Free Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
My Gluten Free Vanilla Cake recipe is made with six ingredients total. Yes! You’ve got that right. You can have an amazing gluten-free dessert for birthday celebrations that turns out perfectly every time.
Easy Gluten-Free Cake
Better yet, mixing the batter for this cake is as easy as using a cake mix. The difference? Homemade Birthday Cake tastes so much better, and it’s healthy too!
People fell hard for my Chocolate Birthday Cake, and then asked for a Vanilla Birthday Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, so I had to make another fabulously healthy dessert for y’all.
Happy Birthday Cake
This easy Gluten-Free Birthday Cake recipe is so simple that my boys used to throw it together when they were in grade school.
I love it when readers show me their little ones making my cake recipes over on Instagram.
Homemade Birthday Cake Recipe
Yup, my cake recipes from scratch are so easy an elementary school student can make them, and this homemade birthday cake recipe is one of my faves!
Gluten Free Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients
- ¾ cup coconut flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 9 large eggs
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pulse coconut flour and baking soda in a food processor
- Pulse in eggs, butter, maple syrup, and vanilla
- Grease two 6 inch springform pans
- Pour batter into prepared cake pans
- Place cake pans on a baking sheet, then bake at 350°F for 25-35 minutes
- Cool and frost with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Serve
Birthday Cake Recipe
For this birthday cake recipe, all you do is throw the coconut flour and baking soda in the food processor, then pulse in the wet ingredients –eggs, butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. That’s it!
To learn more about the main ingredient, coconut flour, check out my Ultimate Guide to Coconut Flour.
How to Make a Cake Tall
After that, transfer the batter to two greased 6-inch pans. If you want your cakes to be tall like mine, be sure to use the 6-inch pans.
If you use an 8-inch pan the batter will not fill the pan properly, in turn, your cake will be sad 😟 and flat.
Bake Cake
If you need to know how to bake cake, well, that’s even simpler. Place your cake pans with the batter on a baking sheet, put it in the oven and you’re off to the races.
Frosting Cake
Now let’s talk about frosting cake. There’s one basic step that ensures the results of frosting the cake will be gorgeous.
Let the cake cool for two hours minimum after it comes out of the oven. I have the best results frosting the cake when I bake the cake the night before, and then let it cool overnight at room temperature.

Make-Ahead Birthday Cake Recipe
When we throw a birthday bash that requires a lot of set-up, I make Vanilla Birthday Cake a couple of days ahead of time.
I bake the cakes and cool them in the pans overnight. The next morning, I remove them from the pans and then wrap them individually in foil. I store the Gluten Free Vanilla Cake in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I frost the cake with my homemade frosting the day of the birthday party.
Chocolate Frosting
My homemade chocolate frosting recipe really takes the cake here, no pun intended. I am one of those people who likes a little cake with my frosting.
Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Use a double batch of Chocolate Buttercream Frosting for this birthday cake. That’s what you see in the photo.
I serve my cakes on cake stands because they have a big wow-factor and look incredibly special this way. More on the best cake stands below!
Dairy-Free Frosting Recipes
If you don’t eat dairy, try my Dairy-Free Chocolate Frosting recipe for an all-out dairy-free birthday cake celebration.

Happy Birthday Wishes
Did you know I launched Elana’s Pantry in 2006? This year is our fifteenth birthday! I love this community so much.
We are a motley crew when it comes to food allergies and I work to create recipes that meet the needs of each person here.
Food Allergies
I want you to be able to break bread, and cake, with friends and loved ones. If a recipe doesn’t meet your food allergy needs, experiment and use substitutions to customize it for you.
That includes substitutions for this Gluten Free Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe.
Substitutions
I wish I had a crystal ball when it comes to knowing how to make perfect recipes. Unfortunately, I don’t. This means I test each recipe dozens of times.
So, the only way to know if a substitution works is to try! Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Cake Stand
Here are some of my favorite cake stands! Use them to create a breath-taking presentation when you make Vanilla Birthday Cake with Chocolate Frosting or any of the cake recipes from scratch below:
Cake Recipes
Although these cakes may not be labeled as birthday cakes, I’ve received several comments that they have become family favorites for birthday celebrations.
Low-Carb Strawberry Shortcake
Most strawberry shortcake recipes from scratch are complicated. My homemade Low-Carb Strawberry Shortcake recipe is incredibly easy to put together.
I love it because the vanilla cake is made with six ingredients total. My family loves it too and tells me it’s one of the best cake recipes with fruit they’ve ever had.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Homemade Coffee Cake is one of my favorite comfort foods, and my gluten-free coffee cake is super healthy.

Nut-Free Carrot Cake
This Nut-Free Carrot Cake recipe made with coconut flour is another cake recipe from scratch that’s healthy and super easy to assemble. Throwing a party is enough work, why make the cake difficult?
Mug Cake
My Mug Cake is the perfect single-sized treat. It’s made with five ingredients total –almond flour, cacao powder, an egg, maple syrup, and baking soda.
Make this when you’re craving dessert, but either don’t want to take time to bake a full cake or want to allow everyone to add their own toppings. This would be so much fun with a group of friends.
Strawberry Cupcakes
Back when the boys were growing up, this strawberry cupcakes recipe was the perfect nut-free treat for school!
The recipe is an exclusive from my book Gluten-Free Cupcakes, but I’ve also shared the recipe here on the website with our Elana’s Pantry community.
Get the Book! Gluten-Free Cupcakes
Speaking of cupcakes Gluten-Free Cupcakes is a great investment if you’re looking for birthday cake style recipes.
And I have a Vegan Chocolate Cupcake recipe in the book for all of my egg-free, dairy-free readers!
Gluten-Free Orange Cake with Almond Flour
Because I loved chocolate-covered orange peel growing up, I’ve always wanted to smother Orange Cake in my Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe, the same frosting used here in my Vanilla Birthday Cake recipe. I’ve had many readers try this and they all tell me it’s incredible!
Cake Recipes from Scratch
Vanilla Birthday Cake with Chocolate Frosting is one of my favorite cake recipes from scratch. Leave a comment and let me know what your favorite is!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared this Vanilla Birthday Cake with Chocolate Frosting in September 2016.















Brittney says
can I make these into cupcakes?
Elana says
Brittney, here’s a link to my Paleo Vanilla Cupcakes recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-vanilla-cupcakes/
Enjoy!
Elana
Julie says
This cake was AMAZING. I made it today for my 9 year old who is Paleo. Everyone gobbled it up! Thank you so much – making again for her party. The Best!
Elana says
Julie, thanks for your comment and it sounds like birthday congratulations are in order for your daughter! I’m so happy to hear this cake was AMAZING :-)
Alycia says
Hi, I’m curious if I could substitute agave nectar for maple syrup? I imagine I should use less as it’s seeeter I believe?
Thank you !
Elana says
Alycia, I haven’t tried that so not sure :-)
Christy says
I want to make this for my birthday. Do you have a vanilla or coconut frosting you can recommend to use on this cake? I prefer a white frosting. Thanks.
Elana says
Cristy, happy birthday! Here’s a link to my frosting recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/category/toppings/
I hope you find something you like!
Elana
Jen says
I am making this for my son’s first birthday and just did a test batch – they are delicious! I added 2 1/2 very ripe bananas to make it a banana cake, but still used all the other ingredients as listed. I also used a “jumbo muffin pan” (with 6 cups) instead of the 2 6″ pans that were called for, but same baking time. It all turned out great and I’m looking forward to using this at the birthday get-together next month!
Elana says
Jen, happy birthday to your son! I’m very happy to be part of the celebration via this recipe. I’m so glad to hear it was great :-)
Linda Young says
Elana,
Can I use coconut sugar instead of Maple syrup?
Elana says
Linda, I haven’t tried that so not sure. If you do please let us know how it goes :-)
Leia says
Hello!
Can I sub almond flour for the coconut flour?
Thank you :) I love your recipes!!!
Elana says
Leia, unfortunately that won’t work. I have some fantastic cake recipes that use almond flour in my first book, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook:
bitly: http://amzn.to/20XA3ic
Enjoy!
Elana
Zara says
Yum i made this for my 6 year old brother for is birthday! YUM
Elana says
Zara, I’m so glad to hear y’all enjoyed the cake. Happy birthday to your brother, he is lucky to have a sister like you :-)
Petra says
Dear Elana, I made the cake for my birthday, shared with friends and everyone loved it.
I don’t have two cake pans, baked it in one and after cooling cut it in two parts in the middle with strong thread. It worked perfectly.
Thank you for all your recipes. I am huge fan of yours.
Elana says
Petra, happy birthday! I’m so happy to hear everyone loved this cake!
Adele says
Hi Petra,
How long did you bake your cake for? I only have one 6″ pan too and want to make this cake for my husbands birthday.
Thanks
Connie says
Hi Petra, what size pan did you use? Did you reduce the ingredients? If so, by how much? Thanks
Vickie Hodgeman says
Elena,
Looking for a recipe for a 9×13 pan. Do you think this recipe would be successful? Maybe doubled? How long and at what temperature should it be baked?
Thanks!
Elana says
Vickie, I haven’t tried that so not sure. If you do experiment please let us know if it works!
Julie Dwyer says
First, thank you for the recipe! I am having a bit if trouble with the bottom of the cake being much more “eggy” than the too. Almost as if the eggs settle to the bottom. Have you had this happen and if so do you have any tips?
Elana says
Hi Julie, this happens when the suggested brands of coconut flour are not used. Here’s a link to help with that!
https://elanaspantry.com/ingredients/coconut-flour/
If you follow the recommendations in the link above it will turn out perfectly :-)
Elana
Lindsey F. Rossler says
Hi Elana, I want to try the cake but have a nut allergy and I’m scared to use the coconut flour. Can I use a gf combo with rice, tapioca and Quinoa flour or brown rice flour? Thank you!
Elana says
Lindsey, I haven’t eaten quinoa, rice or any other grain-like seeds since I went on a paleo diet in 2001. Sorry I can’t be of more help :-)