Whether it’s a fall birthday or simply back-to-school season, there always seems to be something to celebrate this time of year. And what says “celebration” better than cake?
Thanks to increased awareness and modern culinary trends, gluten-free cakes are fairly easy to find in bakeries these days – but still, nothing beats the pride and satisfaction that come from treating your loved ones to something homemade. And baking with quinoa flour is fun, and surprisingly easy to do – as long as you have a good recipe on hand. Here are some of our favorites:
Quinoa and Almond Flour Cake, from Farm on Plate (pictured)
The light, airy texture and not-too-sweet taste of this gluten-free cake makes it versatile. You could easily top it with your frosting of choice, or simply enjoy it as-is with a nice cup of coffee or tea. Also, with no refined sugar or artificial ingredients, it’s a treat that you can feel better about eating.
Healthy Quinoa Carrot Cake, from Queen of Quinoa
More proof that almond flour and quinoa flour are a match made in Heaven, this gluten-free version of a household favorite is packed with complex flavor. It’s got warm spices, chopped nuts and grated carrots – so it’s sure to taste as good as any carrot cake you’ve ever had.
Quinoa Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Brown Sugar Streusel, from My Natural Family
A fancier, decorated version of zucchini bread, this cake is far better suited to a party than breakfast. The zucchini and quinoa flour create a moist and dense texture, while the streusel topping (a combination of sliced pecans, chocolate chips and light brown sugar) makes the finished product feel festive and decadent.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Layer Cake, from Martha Stewart
It looks and tastes just like a traditional layer cake, but it’s completely free of gluten! Along with the recipe for the cake layers, this site also provides tips for proper baking (including how to ensure that the layers rise properly) and a recipe for seven-minute frosting.
Best-Ever Chocolate Quinoa Cake, from Making Thyme for Health
If you’re an avid Pinterest user, you may have already seen this recipe make the food blog rounds. No quinoa cake round-up would be complete without it, despite the fact that it doesn’t actually use quinoa flour. Instead, it calls for 2 cups of cooked quinoa (Ancient Harvest Traditional White Grains would work nicely) and a blender or food processor to ensure proper mixing. While the ingredients and methods may seem unconventional, reviewers agree that this really is one of the best chocolate cake recipes ever – regardless of whether or not you are gluten-free.
For even more wonderful gluten-free recipes, be sure to visit the recipes page at AncientHarvest.com.
