Almond

Gluten Free Chocolate Almond Pound Cake

by:
June 11, 2011
5
1 Ratings
  • Makes 1 large or 2 small loaves
Author Notes

I don't have celiac disease, but I enjoy gluten-free baking. I always know I have a success on my hands when my family does not have any idea if a dessert is gluten-free: this is one of those recipes. This cake is adapted from the recipe for Pound Cake with Cocoa in the book Chocolat by Stephan Lagorce. - WinnieAb —WinnieAb

Test Kitchen Notes

A yummy, rich and dense cake that is reminiscent of a decadent flourless cake. The olive oil and chocolate combo is wonderful, and the touch of maple syrup certainly doesn't hurt. A dusting of powdered sugar is the perfect, simple finishing touch. - biffbourgeois —Stephanie Bourgeois

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Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup organic unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 5 eggs, preferably organic and free-range
  • 2 cups ground almond flour
  • 3/4 cup organic cane sugar or sucanat
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup organic cocoa powder
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. Melt the butter in a pan over low heat. Transfer to a small bowl and mix in the olive oil. Use a little of this to grease your baking pan(s).
  3. Whisk eggs together with the sugar. Add the maple syrup and whisk again.
  4. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and cacao powder. Add to the eggs/sugar/maple syrup and combine well with a wooden spoon. Add the melted butter/oil and mix well again.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s) and bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean/dry.
  6. Remove from pan(s) and allow to cool on a baker's rack. Dust with organic powdered sugar before serving warm or at room temperature.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

I grew up in a restaurant family (my parents owned the now closed Quilted Giraffe in NYC) and I've always loved to cook. My interest in the connection between food and health led me to pursue a graduate degree in naturopathic medicine. I don't practice medicine anymore; I have a blog called Healthy Green Kitchen that I started in May of 2009 and I wrote a book called One Simple Change that will be published in January, 2014. I live in upstate New York with my family and many pets.

10 Reviews

Laura September 21, 2023
Wow - that has got to be the worst cake I've ever made in my entire life!
Sickeningly sweet - way too much sugar and the smoke syrup.
Way too oily - and zero taste no way near enough cocoa powder in relation to the quantity of eggs, almond flour, butter etc.
Absolutely disgusting ☹️
heatshank May 14, 2017
I served this tonight with whipped cream and macerated strawberries. It was easy to put together and delicious. Great gluten-free dessert. Thanks for the recipe!
dlmontgomerytoo March 10, 2017
This is the best gluten free cake I've ever eaten. It was moist and delicious. We put a bit of sifted confectioners sugar on top and it looked lovely too. Thank you, Winnie!
Windischgirl April 29, 2015
The batter tasted yummy and my house smelled wonderfully chocolates. I did have a problem with the texture, though: crumbly, not poundcakey. I take responsibility tho: I used pecan meal as I was out of almond flour, and I wonder if the grind was too coarse. The other sub was using coconut oil in place of the butter, as I was making it for a GF, dairy-free friend. Tasted delicious and I will have to try again, without the subs. I did wonder if the addition of a starch would help, such as arrowroot or rice flour.
SuziQ52 April 10, 2019
Try following the recipe exactly without substitutes. You may be pleasantly surprised. That’s why it’s called a “recipe”; It’s a map to delicious results.
PJ November 27, 2014
This cake is amazing! We are NOT gluten free but we have family members who are and I wanted to bring a delicious cake for Thanksgiving. I saw this recipe and as an experiment, made if for my kids (who love chocolate) and my husband (who LOVES, LOVES, LOVES chocolate, but HATES nuts). I didn't tell them it was gluten free. The children couldn't get enough. My husband, even when I told him it was gluten free, (and who HATES nuts ;-) ) wants me to bake one "at least once a month". Needless to say it was a real hit in our family. I baked it in a stylized bundt pan, this cake is moist and delicious! I'm baking it today for the cousins, who are gluten free, I feel confident that they will enjoy it too.
blue_iris January 21, 2012
How large are the pans that you use?
WinnieAb January 25, 2012
I believe I used a standard loaf pan, or you can use 2 mini loaf pans...
wssmom June 14, 2011
Lovely!
dymnyno June 13, 2011
I have no interest in being gluten free ,and lucky for me , I don't have a reason to be so, but this sounds very delicious.