Sticky gluten free ginger cake recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (2024)

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It feels like forever since my last baking recipe, but I’ve had so many requests for a gluten free ginger cake recipe this just had to be my next bake.

Sweet and sticky, this gluten free ginger cake only gets better with time.

It’s an ideal bake for the colder days, with the warm spice of ginger with hints of cinnamon and allspice to keep you warm all winter long.

So what makes this gluten free ginger cake so special? For starters it’s made with golden syrup and treacle, so it has a really sweet and sticky texture.

It also has a jar of finely chopped stem ginger in syrup in the recipe, so you get a great texture and spicy kick from this.

This cake is best made a few days before you eat it (if you can wait that long!) as it just gets stickier with time.

This gluten free bake always reminds me of bonfire night.

It’s not quite like the traditional parkin – which is made with oatmeal – but more of a cake.

It’s a little bit like the ginger cake bars I used to love as a child before I was diagnosed with coeliac disease.

I think ginger cake is a real timeless classic that everyone will love. You can make it as spicy as you like!

Sticky gluten free ginger cake recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (1)

Table of Contents

  • A real crowd-pleasing bake
  • My gluten free ginger cake recipe
  • Need some more gluten free baking inspiration?
  • Gluten free ginger cake Recipe

A real crowd-pleasing bake

If you’re after a gluten free cake everyone will love, then this gluten free ginger cake is definitely it. It just ticks all the boxes! I feel like it’s a favourite of everyone I know.

Does anyone remember the Jamaica Ginger Cake from pre-coeliac days?

I absolutely adored those cakes and this is definitely closest thing I’ve ever found to it. Maybe next I should try make a replica of the Golden Syrup Cakes?

This would also be a great gluten free cake recipe for nearer – dare I say it – Christmas. Iknow it’s only September right now but I feel like ginger is a definite Christmas favourite.

Maybe I’ll make a special festive adaptation of this recipe nearer the time. Let me know if that’s something you want to see and I’ll get working on it!

Sticky gluten free ginger cake recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (2)

My gluten free ginger cake recipe

So if you want a gluten free cake which is spicy, sticky and sweet – this gluten free ginger cake recipe is the one for you.

Let me know if you give it a go – I love seeing your bakes!

Sticky gluten free ginger cake recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (3)

Yield: 16 squares

Gluten free ginger cake

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This gluten free ginger cake is super sticky and a real crowd-pleaser. It's even better for being left a couple of days before eating - if you can wait that long!

Ingredients

  • 300 g plain gluten free flour
  • 2 tbsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 150 g unsalted butter
  • 150 g dark brown sugar
  • 150 g golden syrup
  • 175 g treacle
  • 250 g jar of stem ginger in syrup, (drained and finely chopped)
  • 50 ml syrup from the stem ginger
  • 250 ml milk
  • 1 heaped tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 2 large eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 160'C. Grease and line a 20cm square baking tray.
  2. Add the butter, syrups and sugar to a large saucepan and place on a low heat. Keep stirring until the butter has melted and it's fully combined. Remove from the heat for 1-2 minutes to cool slightly.
  3. Add the milk, eggs and bicarbonate of soda to a jug and lightly whisk. Once it's cooled slightly, pour the milk and egg mix into the butter/sugar mix and whisk together using an electric whisk until combined.
  4. Sift the flour and spices into the mix and whisk together until fully combined. Fold in the chopped stem ginger, and then pour the batter into the baking tin. It should be a thick, runny batter. Smooth the surface out and place in the oven.
  5. Bake for 45-60 minutes, until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean and the cake is starting to come away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven and leave in the tin on a cooling rack until completely cool before slicing into squares.

Notes

If you can bear to leave it, this cake tastes best when eaten a couple of days after it has been baked as it gets even stickier! Keep in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 square

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 253Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 35mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 4g

Need some more gluten free baking inspiration?

If you want to have a go at some of the other gluten free baking recipes on the blog, why not give some of these a try? They’re perfect to satisfy any sweet cravings – and all so easy to make!

  • Gluten free apple and blackberry crumble
  • Super indulgent gluten free chocolate cake
  • Gluten free sticky toffee apple upside-down cake

If you do make this recipe please let me know! I’d love to see your photos using #theglutenfreeblogger,share them inmy Facebook groupor tag me onInstagram.

And if you have any recipe suggestions, please let me know in the comments what you’d like to see next!

Like this recipe? Make sure youpin this recipe card below for later!

Sticky gluten free ginger cake recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (4)

Categorized as:
Baking, Cakes, Gluten Free Recipes

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About Sarah Howells

Hi, I'm Sarah! Diagnosed with coeliac disease 20 years ago, I'm on a mission to create the best gluten free recipes since sliced bread. No fruit salads or dry brownies here.

Read More About Me

Sticky gluten free ginger cake recipe - The Gluten Free Blogger (2024)

FAQs

Why did my gluten free cake turn out gummy? ›

Gluten-free baked goods often benefit from extra liquid to hydrate the flour blends, eliminate grittiness, and achieve a less dense or dry texture. However, it's very important to drive off this extra moisture during baking, or you'll wind up with a gummy texture.

Why do gluten-free cakes not rise? ›

Gluten-free flour blends don't have the same elasticity as flour containing gluten so often the cakes don't rise as much or will sink after rising. To combat the flat cake problem, I add ½ tsp of bicarbonate of soda to the recipe even when using a self-raising gluten-free flour blend.

How do you keep gluten free cake from drying out? ›

Add extra liquid: Gluten-free flours tend to absorb more liquid than regular flour, so you may need to add more liquid to your recipes to compensate. This can help to keep your baked goods moist and prevent them from becoming dry and crumbly.

Why are gluten-free cakes so dry? ›

Some gluten free flours will produce a cake which is on the dry side. This might be due to the lack of gluten but can be for many other reasons. Lots of gluten free flour is rice based and this can result in a dry and slightly gritty texture.

What is the trick to baking with gluten-free flour? ›

Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

How do you keep gluten free cake from sticking? ›

Gluten free batters and doughs can be stickier than those made with wheat flour, making them more prone to sticking to pans and surfaces. To prevent this, make sure to generously grease your baking pans with oil, butter, or cooking spray. You can also line pans with parchment paper for added insurance.

What gluten-free flour is best for cakes? ›

What's the best gluten-free flour for baking? Bob's Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking mix is my favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for baking. It has a mild texture and plenty of "stick" thanks to a blend of sweet rice flour, brown rice flour, and sorghum flour, plus some starches and xanthan gum.

Should I let my gluten-free cake batter rest before baking? ›

Let Your Batters & Doughs Rest

We recommend covering your batters and doughs and letting them rest for at least half an hour. Note: This will also help batters become thicker and doughs to firm up.

How do you add moisture to a gluten-free cake? ›

Add more fat or liquid: It might just be that you need a bit more moisture in your recipe, especially if you're converting a regular “gluten-ful” recipe to gluten-free. Try adding anywhere from ¼ to ½ cup of liquid or fat to the recipe and see if that helps.

What is the secret to moist gluten-free baking? ›

Moisture – for some reason gluten-free cakes tend to get a little dry. Any gluten-free cake will dry out super-fast and get hard on the outside if it's not properly refrigerated and covered. I swear by always using buttermilk and adding a little more fat into the batter to compensate for the dryness.

How to make gluten-free more moist? ›

Increase liquids to fully hydrate flour. You may also want to go with a full-fat liquid, as the fats in whole milk, cream or coconut milk can improve tenderness. Another easy way to add moisture and fats? Include almond flour in your gluten-free blends for healthy fats, plus protein and nutrients.

What ingredient tenderizes the gluten in a cake? ›

Fat tenderizes the gluten. Examples of fat are butter, margarine, hydrogenated vegetable shortening, or oil. Leavening agents are added to most shortened cakes to make the cakes rise and become porous and light. Examples are baking powder or baking soda and sour milk.

Can you overbeat a gluten-free cake? ›

Over-mixing can beat too much air into the batter and cause it to collapse. Less is more with mixing a gluten free cake batter — try to blend the batters for less than one minute.

How do you know when a gluten-free cake is done? ›

Ultimately, the toothpick test is just one data source to rely upon: with the trio—toothpick, edges, & centre—you can reliably know your gluten-free baked goods are, well, baked! If your toothpick comes out with wet batter on it, your cake definitely needs more time.

Do gluten free cakes need to bake longer? ›

Gluten-free goods tend to brown faster and take longer to cook through. So they need to be baked at a slightly lower temperature, for a slightly longer time. Every recipe is different, but in general, try lowering the temperature by 25 degrees and baking the item for 15 minutes longer.

Why is my gluten free dough gummy? ›

If your bread comes out of the oven and its gummy and sticky inside that is usually the result of too short a bake time or the flour you used (see my troubleshooting guide for more info). Additionally, the bonds or network that xanthan gum makes are somewhat fragile.

How to fix a gummy cake? ›

Trimming Troubles: If the cake is only slightly gummy, consider trimming off the outer layer to remove any overly dense or undercooked portions. Moisture Management: Brush the trimmed cake with a simple syrup or flavored liquid to add moisture and enhance the cake's tenderness.

Why is my gluten free bread gummy? ›

If the gluten-free sourdough is not hydrated enough, it may result in a dense and gummy texture instead of a well-developed crumb. 3. The proportions of the different gluten-free flours used might not be well-balanced. Adjusting the ratios or experimenting with different brands of flours could help improve the texture.

Why is my gluten free bread gummy inside? ›

Gummy on the inside- bake for a longer time. Gluten free bread takes much longer than a regular loaf to bake and therefore a sticky crumb is generally the result of under baking. It is easy to see why this can happen, gluten free bread dough needs more moisture and is often difficult to knead with conventional methods.

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