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This mini gluten free chocolate layer cake recipe is one you’ll definitely want on hand. It’s baked in ramekins and serves just 2-4 people.
So National Chocolate Cake Day was a couple weeks ago. While I do have some glorious chocolate cakes on my blog (Chocolate Cookies and Cream Cake, Marble Pound Cakeand Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake to be exact), this mini chocolate layer recipe would have been impeccably timed if I had posted it then.
Oh well. At least you have another excuse to make chocolate cake, especially since these are adorably small and can be shared with one other person (or two, or three if you really want to stretch it). Adam and my brother think these cakes are for one. So whether you eat it by yourself or share it with someone special, I don’t care and I won’t judge!
This cake recipe is adapted from my Chocolate Cupcakes for Two recipe, which I made for Valentine’s Day last year. I’ve seen a lot of mini cakes on Pinterest but those are all baked in a pan cut to mini size. For me, that’s one too many steps AND you get wasted cake scraps so I opted to bake them in 4-inch ramekins for a true layer cake.
Baking cake in ramekins was a tiny bit trickier than I thought it would be. The cakes tend to stick a bit more to the ramekin then they do to a cake pan since mine are non-stick pans. The first time I made these, I greased and floured the ramekins and the cakes baked beautifully, they just stuck a teeny tiny bit.
So the next couple times, I experimented with using parchment, cooking spray, etc. After a few rounds of testing, I prefer spraying the ramekins with non-stick spray and then dusting them with cocoa powder. I also had major issues with the cakes not rising in the centers, they were cooked through and tasty – they just didn’t rise completely.
After 6 more batches of cake (really, I made a ton of these to get it right!) I finally got it. The cakes are delicate and I was using too much levener for the size of the cakes. While the amount works for cupcakes, it did NOT work for 4 inch cakes. After omitting the baking powder, success! And happy dances all around. My freezer is now currently stocked with mini cakes.
ALSO GUYS… I MADE MY FIRST EVER VIDEO. It’s a quick little short of me making the cake. Check it out, and follow me on YouTube while you’re at it (wink, wink).
Since these cakes are so small, they’d be the perfect size for cake smash sessions. I wish I had made these for Mackenzie’s first birthday last year. I made her a 6-inch cake and even that was too big. These are the perfect little petite cakes and would look super cute in pictures next to your adorable babies.
However, this mini chocolate layer cake recipe would be perfect to have on hand for your kids who need allergy friendly cakes for special occasions. It would be a great (and impressive) alternative to a cupcake. I frosted mine with vegan chocolate frosting (recipe coming eventually!) but you can use whatever frosting you like. Enjoy!
P.S. My littlest baby Mackenzie is turning two, so happy birthday babes – we’re celebrating with mini cakes ♥
This post contains affiliate links for the ramekins and ingredients I used to bake these cakes. Happy baking!
4.84 from 25 ratings
This mini chocolate layer cake recipe is one you'll definitely want on hand. It's baked in ramekins and serves just 2-4 people making it a great dessert to bring to a party for those with special dietary needs. It also makes the perfect sized cake for birthday cake smash sessions.
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes minutes
By: Sharon Lachendro
Print Rate Pin
Ingredients
- 1/3 C all-purpose gluten free flour
- 1/8 tsp xanthan gum
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder Dutch processed
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil or melted palm shortening
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 C unsweetened coconut milk room temperature
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp brewed coffee
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray two 4-inch ramekins with non-stick spray and dust with cocoa powder.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, xanthan gum, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together milk, oil, vanilla, vinegar, and coffee. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared ramekins and place the ramekins on a baking sheet (to make it easier to get them in and out of the oven).
Bake the cakes for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes in the ramekins and then invert onto the cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
These cakes freezer really well. You can freeze the individual layers by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap. You can frost the layers while they're still frozen and then serve when the cake is defrosted.You can also frost the cakes and freeze them whole - just defrost for a few hours before serving.
Disclaimers
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Facts are estimated and aren't always accurate. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist if you have special dietary needs.
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