Gluten-Free & Lactose-Free Cocoa Pound Cake – Moist and Rich

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Atsuko
Gluten & Lactos free cocoa pound cake cup dishes
Author Profile Image

Atsuko

Founder of @Umami Sans Frontières

This cocoa pound cake is inspired by the classic French quatre-quarts, made gluten-free and lactose-free while keeping its rich and moist texture. Recently, my husband underwent blood tests and allergy testing. Although he is not allergic, the results showed that he has a stronger-than-normal reaction to gluten and lactose. Based on medical advice, we decided to gradually reduce these ingredients in our daily cooking. With that in mind, I created this recipe, hoping to make something that still feels indulgent and satisfying, even with dietary adjustments. If you are also mindful of ingredients, or simply interested in gluten-free and lactose-free baking, I hope you will enjoy trying this cake.
Expense
💵
Preparation
20 mins
Baking time
50 mins
Rest Time
10 mins

Ingredients

Cooking time: About 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients:

Pan: 28 cm loaf pan

Dry Ingredients

  • 170 g Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour
  • 30 g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 6 g baking powder
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla sugar

Batter

  • 150 g lactose-free butter, at room temperature
  • 130 g sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 70 ml lactose-free milk
  • 2 tbsp hot coffee

Optional

  • 40–50 g chocolate chips
How to make it:

1/ Preparation: Bring the butter to room temperature in advance.
Preheat the oven to 160°C (fan / convection).
Line a 28 cm loaf pan with baking paper.

2/ Combine the dry ingredients: In a bowl, lightly mix the following until there are no lumps:

  • Gluten-free flour
  • Cocoa powder
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Vanilla sugar

flour cocoa powder BP salt vanilla sugar

3/ Cream the butter and sugar: In a separate bowl, mix the butter and sugar with a spatula until pale, smooth, and creamy.

butter sugar

4/ Add the eggs gradually: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Use a whisk and mix gently to prevent the batter from separating.

sugar butter egg

5/ Add dry ingredients and milk alternately: Add to the batter in the following order: dry ingredients → milk → dry ingredients → milk. Mix gently with a whisk, then finish with a spatula to combine evenly.

all powder eggs sugar butter

6/ Add coffee and chocolate chips: Add the hot coffee and mix lightly. (Optional) Add chocolate chips and fold them in gently.

coffee batter

batter chocolate

7/ Pour into the pan and rest: Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the surface. Make a shallow line down the center.Let it rest for about 10 minutes.

batter in a pan

8/ Baking: Bake at 160°C for 50–60 minutes. (Depending on your oven, baking time may vary.) Insert a skewer—if it comes out clean, the cake is done.

baked cocoa pound cake

9/ Cooling and finishing: Remove from the pan and let it cool completely. Slice only after it has fully cooled.

GL free cocoa pound cake

🌟 Our Family’s Favorite Tips 🌟

⭐️ Even better the next day: This cake often tastes even better the next day.
The cocoa and butter flavors settle and blend together, creating a more balanced and rich taste.

⭐️ Soften the butter to room temperature: Make sure the butter is soft—when you press it lightly with your finger, it should leave a small dent. If the butter is too cold, it won’t mix well and the cake can turn out slightly heavy.

⭐️ Coffee as a secret touch: Adding a small amount of coffee helps deepen and enhance the cocoa flavor. It won’t make the cake taste like coffee, so feel free to use it even if you’re not a big fan.

⭐️ About the ingredients we used: For this recipe, we use gluten-free flour and lactose-free butter and milk. Here in Dubai, these products are quite easy to find, which makes baking like this much more convenient.

⭐️ Adjust for your oven: Every oven behaves a little differently, so feel free to adjust the temperature and baking time as needed. Our oven tends to brown quickly, so we bake at a slightly lower temperature for a shorter time. Depending on your oven, you may need a bit more heat or a longer baking time.

⭐️ You can also use regular flour: You can substitute the gluten-free flour with regular cake flour. Just be careful not to overmix the batter, as gluten can develop and make the texture a bit heavier.

⭐️ Enjoy simple variations: You can add orange peel or nuts for a slightly European-style café cake. Feel free to try your own variations and enjoy!

⭐️ Curious about the original?: If you’re interested in the classic version, feel free to check my traditional 👉 quatre-quarts recipe as well. (It’s not gluten-free, but it gives you a nice idea of the original cake.)

2 pieces of GL Free cocoa pound cake spoon

Umami Sans Frontières – Copyrights 2026
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Written byAtsuko

Founder of @Umami Sans Frontières

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