This gluten free one bowl birthday cake could hardly be easier to make, perfect for those last-minute gatherings! A deeply dark chocolate cake is topped with fluffy buttercream frosting for the perfect birthday treat.

Who doesn't love a one-bowl chocolate cake? Even better when it's gluten-free! I certainly love a one-bowl cake - it takes so much of the prep away when you can simply pop all the ingredients into a big bowl and mix them up! This easy recipe is for a dark chocolate cake that's topped with my favorite simple, irresistible chocolate buttercream frosting, and yes, made in one bowl.
This cake is perfect to bake as a simple, one-layer birthday cake. It has all the classic birthday cake flavors, and of course, lots of sprinkles should be involved for a finishing touch. You can double the recipe and bake two layers (double the frosting recipe as well) for a layer cake, or keep it ultra easy and do a single layer. This one is sure to please everyone after the candles have been blown out.
For more solid chocolate cake recipes, try my oat flour chocolate cake, gluten-free vegan chocolate cake, or chocolate teff cake recipes.
What You'll Love
- Just one gluten-free flour is needed. You need only one gluten-free flour to make this cake - teff flour, a wonderful, whole grain, naturally gluten-free flour. Teff and chocolate are a great pair.
- One bowl and done. I mean, a one-bowl cake that's also gluten-free and super easy to throw together? Sign me up!
- Not too sweet. This is a cake that's not cloyingly sweet. And if you use coffee in the batter it also brings a rich, slightly bittersweet note to balance the chocolate.
- Easily adapted to be dairy-free. See my simple substitution options below for how to make this into a dairy-free cake.

Ingredients Needed
Check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts and instructions.
- Butter - I always use unsalted butter in my baking recipes.
- Brown sugar - You can use light or dark brown sugar.
- Granulated sugar - To balance out the brown sugar.
- Eggs - You'll need one large egg plus one egg yolk.
- Yogurt - You can use plain or Greek yogurt - just make sure it's plain!
- Coffee - I love using coffee in chocolate cake as it gives it such a rich flavor. However, you could also use water if you prefer.
- Teff flour - Teff flour is a wonderful whole grain gluten-free flour that plays wonderfully in chocolate cakes.
- Cocoa powder - Unsweetened, please.
- Leavening - A combo of baking powder and baking soda.
- Salt: I use fine sea salt, and table salt is fine, too.

Substitution Suggestions
- Teff Flour - Substitute oat flour or sorghum flour. More about gluten-free flours.
- To Make Dairy-Free - Replace the yogurt with your favorite non-dairy yogurt of choice. Use olive oil or coconut oil for the butter.
- To Make Refined Sugar-Free - Use coconut sugar instead of the brown sugar and granulated sugar.
Storage Options
To store, place leftover gluten-free one-bowl birthday cake, tightly covered in foil or in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature to serve for the best flavor and texture.
Happy baking! If you make this gluten free one-bowl chocolate cake, I'd love to know. Please leave a comment below, reach out with any questions, and tag me on Instagram @Cucina Nicolina ❤️
Recipe

Gluten-Free One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¾ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup whole fat plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
- ½ cup strong coffee (or water)
- 1 cup teff flour (125 grams)
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper, and grease the paper and sides of the pan.
- In a large bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat the ½ cup unsalted butter ¾ cup packed light or dark brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until fluffy; scrape down bowl. Add the 1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and beat until combined. Add the ¼ cup whole fat plain yogurt or Greek yogurt and ½ cup strong coffee and mix until well combined.
- Place a sifter over the bowl and in the 1 cup teff flour, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, then sift it into the bowl.
- Beat in the flour mix on low until just combined, and scrape down the bowl a final time.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top using a rubber spatula. Rest the batter for 20 minutes, then place the cake in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is set.
- Place the cake on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely.
- Frost the top with chocolate buttercream frosting.





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