Gluten free cake

I have found that I am glutin intolerant this year - it makes a HUGE difference! So will watch this thread with interest as o ly buy the very occasional glutin free loaf now no cakes or biscuits.

Does it have to be a 'conventional' birthday cake Anya ...?

I'm happy to consider an 'unconventional' cake JG

OK - I have a recipe for a gluten free Berry Yoghurt Streusel cake which is delicious but will require a cake fork to eat I'll have to call on my Technical Expert (DH) to advise on how to send the recipe

I bought a gluten free Victoria Sponge Cake mix from Waitrose the other day - it will make one cake, 12 muffins or 18 fairy cakes. I haven't tried it so can't really comment but it's a pretty useful store cupboard item.

Nigella's Clementine Cake - very easy to make too. Google should find it for you.

Delia's sponge recipes all work with gf flour in place of ordinary!

Wow! Can see I'll be busy in the kitchen this weekend.

Thanks folks!

This one is lovely.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/flourless-lemon-polenta-drizzle-cake

I'm a bit lost for choice now. Will try some of these this weekend

Ha ha - I bet you wished you'd never asked will be busy this weekend

Cakes aren't really a problem using GF flour, as long as you add a tsp of xanthan gum as well to stop them being a bit too crumbly, and a little extra liquid. The flour is very white and doesn't darken in the same way, so if you want to make a chocolate recipe that you like, add a tsp xanthan gum (our Sainsbury stocks it) an extra oz of water and extra chocolate.

Never heard of xanthan gum. Do they sell it on the home baking aisles in supermarkets?

Yes, with the baking powder etc. Its in a tall white tub with black writing.

Thanks.

I'm going to try Nigella first. Then the lemon polenta. I'm especially fond of all cake of cakes with citrus flavours.

Is gluten free the same wheat free? Told by doc today to reduce wheat in my diet.

Not exactly NanKate you can get gluten free wheat flour, but there's gluten in other foods too.

in this country we do tend to eat too much wheat based products.

Did your GP explain why he wants you to cut down on wheat?

Yes Anya I had a colonoscopy today and the Doc told me I had mild IBS and Diverticular problems but fortunately no cancer.

He said I should reduce wheat in my diet. He gave me an advice sheet but it isn't specific about a wheat free/ reducing diet.

Sorry to hear that NanKate

You need to cut out/down on breads, buns, cakes, biscuits , pastry, etc (anything with flour in it) and most cereals are wheat based. If you read the labels on the back of the product it ought to say if it has wheat/flour in it. Some alcoholic drinks too.

If you can try to cut it out completely for a just a week you might be amazed how much better you'll feel.

Thanks Anya good advice, I will try it.

Good for you NanKate and during the week concentrate on things you can eat such as meat, fish (not battered!), cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruit.

That way it won't seem such a depriving diet

NanKate you might want to check out the FODMAP eating plan - thought to improve IBS symptoms in more than 70% of people that follow it. I follow a gluten free and FODMAP diet and it has been very beneficial for my IBS symptoms.

If you google FODMAP - you will find lots of information. If your GP is familiar with this diet he/she might agree to refer you to a FODMAP Dietician who can guide you through.

Good luck

Fodmap is very restrictive though, when I first realized that all my symptoms were food related, I did toy with trying that, but when I saw what I had to cut out I decided to see if cutting gluten would do it and WOW what a huge difference so have settled on that. I actually do not miss anything as we never have cake biscuits or pastry - always on a diet!!!

Anya, here is a choc cake recipe I make on a regular basis,so know it's good.
300 gram. Soft Stork marg
300 gram caster sugar
4 large eggs
300 gram Dove SR gluten free flour
Teaspoon gluten free baking powder (it will work without it though)
Teaspoon vanilla extract( it will work without this too)
3tablesp.cocoa powder, Green and Blacks is good.
3tablesp. Milk.
Mix sugar and butter first then add the dry things, plus beaten eggs,and milk and van extract.make sure the mixture is slightly gloopier than a normal dropping consistency, if not add a drop more milk. Cook as a normal sponge cake, in either one or two cake tins.
Make usual choc butter icing fir inside and melted choc on top. This makes a lovely cake and it tastes as a normal cake would.

Just to say, if you want a smaller cake use 200 grams of everything and a large one ( really large) use 400 gramms.add an extra egg for the very large one, and extra milk.