The ultimate two-layer gluten-free chocolate cake! It’s incredibly rich, moist and best of all, easy to bake at home. The cake batter combines gluten-free all purpose flour with cocoa powder, avocado oil, milk (dairy free option below!) and brewed hot coffee. The 8-inch cake rounds are frosted with the creamiest chocolate buttercream frosting. A perfect gluten-free cake for celebrating a birthday, to serve a a dinner party, or to bake just because! Yields 12 slices.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray 2 8-inch cake pans with non-stick spray. Line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper and spray that parchment paper with non-stick spray.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, sift together the flour, xanthan gum, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Use the paddle attachment to mix the dry ingredients on low speed.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.
With the mixer running on low speed, slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until completely combined.
Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and pour in the hot coffee. Mix on low until incorporated.
Pour the batter (it will be very thin and pretty liquidy) evenly between the two pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes. (Mine take about 37 minutes.)
Cool the cakes on a wire rack (in the pan) for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the cakes from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack.
When the cakes are cool, prepare the buttercream.
To make the chocolate buttercream:
Add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until completely smooth. Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and mix on low to combine. Mix in the vanilla extract and heavy cream.
Turn the mixer to a medium-high speed and beat for 1-2 minutes or until the frosting is light and fluffy.
*I use Rodelle's Dutch Processed Gourmet Baking Cocoa because I prefer the rich chocolate flavor. Regular cocoa or dark cocoa powder can also be used.The frosting makes enough to frost one cake. If you would like a thicker layer of frosting or if you want to pipe any details, I suggest making 1 1/2 batches or doubling the recipe.