Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (2024)

Last updated - ; Published - By Rhian Williams 60 Comments

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ThisGluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake consists of moist and fluffy, perfectly rich sponges sandwiched together with melt-in-your-mouth vegan buttercream and sweet, tangy jam. It's refined sugar free, comes together in one bowl and makes a simple yet elegant dessert that's perfect for any occasion!

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (1)

What is a Victoria Sponge Cake?


Victoria sponge Cake, also known as Victoria Sandwich Cake, was named after the 19th-century British monarch Queen Victoria. It consists of two butter sponge cakes sandwiched together with jam and buttercream or whipped cream.

What type of jam should you use for Victoria Sponge Cake?

Strawberry or raspberry jam are most commonly used, but you can use any type of jam or spread, or evenvegan lemon curd.

For a completely refined sugar free cake, make sure to use a refined sugar free jam or spread.

How to make the cake

Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.

Tip: Make sure to use a measuring jugto measure out the exact amount of plant-based milk!

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (2)

Tip: Line them with greasedbaking paperto make the sponges come out easier.

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (3)
  • Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (4)
  • Leave the sponges to cool down on acooling rackonce they’re out the oven.
Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (5)

How to make the buttercream

Victoria Sponge Cake is usually sandwiched together with buttercream, so I decided to make a cashew-based vegan buttercream. If you'd prefer, you can use a coconut milk-based vegan whipped cream instead.

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (6)
  • Whizz until completely smooth, adding more water or plant-based milk to thin out if necessary.
Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (7)
  • Place one of the sponges on a cake stand or a plate and spread the buttercream over it - you can use apalette knife for frostingfor this.
Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (8)
  • Carefully spread over the jam.
Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (9)
  • Place the other sponge on top and sandwich together.
  • Dust with icing sugar (powdered sugar), if desired.

Tip: If you want the pretty icing sugar effect but want to keep the cake completely refined sugar free, you can dust it with cornflour (cornstarch) instead.

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (10)

Substitutions you can make

  • You can use any type of oil: coconut oil, olive oil or vegetable oil.
  • You can use any type of plant-based milk: almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, cashew milk, oat milk etc.
  • You can use any type of liquid sweetener: maple syrup, agave syrup, brown rice syrup etc.
  • You can replace the ground almonds (almond meal)withground walnuts.
  • For a nut-free version: replace the ground walnuts with ground sunflower seeds or use 30g (¼ cup) coconut flour instead of 150g (1 ¼ cup) ground walnuts, use a nut-free plant-based milk and replace the buttercream with a coconut milk-based vegan whipped cream.
  • You can use plain flour,wholemeal (whole wheat) flouror spelt flourinstead of the gluten-free flour if you’re not gluten-free.
  • For a completely refined sugar free cake, make sure to use a refined sugar free jam or spread.

Flavour substitutions you can make

  • You can replace the raspberry or strawberry jam with any other jam or spread or even vegan lemon curd.
  • You can replace the buttercream with a coconut milk-based vegan whipped cream instead.

How long does this cake keep for?

This Victoria sponge Cake does taste best when fresh, but keeps covered in thefridge for up to afew days.

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (11)

More vegan cake recipes

  • Coconut Cake
  • Lemon Blueberry Cake
  • Cherry Bakewell Cake
  • Purple Carrot Cake
  • Black Forest Cake
  • German Chocolate Cake
  • Brooklyn Blackout Chocolate Cake
  • Jaffa Cake
  • Almond Cake
  • Olive Oil Cake
  • Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake
  • Yogurt Cake
  • Ginger Cake

If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog,I’d really love to hear anyfeedback! Please give it arating, leave acomment, or tag a photo@rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipesonInstagram! Thank you.

Watch how to make this recipe

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (12)

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake

ThisGluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake is perfectly sweet, moist and fluffy and filled with the most indulgent buttercream!

4.23 from 71 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: British

Keyword: gluten-free victoria sponge cake, vegan gluten-free cake, vegan victoria sponge cake

Servings: 8

Calories: 379kcal

Author: Rhian Williams

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 60 g (¼ cup) coconut oil (or sub olive or vegetable oil)
  • 200 ml ( cup) unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
  • 8 tablespoons maple syrup (or sub any other sweetener)
  • 150 g (1 ¼ cup) ground almonds (almond meal) *
  • 150 g (1 ¼ cup) gluten-free flour blend (or sub plain flour if not gluten-free)
  • 2 heaped teaspoons baking powder (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
  • ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

For the buttercream**:

  • 75 g (½ cup) cashew nuts soaked in cold water overnight or in hot water for 15 minutes
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or sub any other sweetener)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk (or sub water or any other plant-based milk)

To assemble:

  • 4 tablespoons raspberry jam (or strawberry jam - ensure refined sugar free if necessary) ***

Instructions

For the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).

  • Place the coconut oil in a large bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave (skip this step if using any other oil).

  • Once melted, add the milk to the same bowl along with the vinegar, maple syrup and ground almonds.

  • Sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.

  • Mix well, adding a tiny splash more milk if it’s looking too dry.

  • Transfer mixture between two greased baking tins lined with baking paper (I used two 7inch/18cm baking tins).

  • Bake in oven for around 15 minutes until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean.

  • Once done, turn the cakes out onto wire racks and leave to cool completely before frosting.

For the buttercream:

  • Drain soaked cashews and add to a food processor or blender with all the other ingredients (a hand-held blender works too).

  • Whizz until completely smooth, adding more milk or water if necessary.

To assemble:

  • Place one of the sponges onto a plate or cake stand and spread all of the buttercream evenly on top of it.

  • Carefully spread the jam evenly across the buttercream.

  • Place the other sponge on top and sandwich together.

  • Dust with icing sugar (powdered sugar), if desired. If you want the pretty icing sugareffect but want to keep the cake completely refined sugar free, you can dust it with cornflour (cornstarch) instead.

  • Tastes best when fresh but keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days.

Video

Notes

*You can alternatively usealmond flour.

**If you'd prefer, you can use a coconut milk-based vegan whipped cream instead.

***You can replace the raspberry or strawberry jam with any other jam or spread or even vegan lemon curd.

Nutrition Facts

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 379Calories from Fat 198

% Daily Value*

Fat 22g34%

Saturated Fat 8g40%

Sodium 83mg3%

Potassium 152mg4%

Carbohydrates 43g14%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 22g24%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 133mg13%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Made the recipe?Tag @rhiansrecipes on instagram and use the hashtag #rhiansrecipes!

Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog – thank you.

More Baking & Dessert Recipes

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  • Gluten-Free Vegan Orange Poppy Seed Muffins

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Chris

    Hi Rhian, could a nut-free version of this be made? We have nut allergies in the family.
    Many thanks,
    Chris

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Hi Chris, yes you can replace the ground almonds with ground sunflower seeds, or a fifth of the amount coconut flour. I hope that helps! Thank you.

  2. Megan Oliver

    Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (17)
    Love this recipe! Do you know how well it freezes?

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Thank you so much! Yes it should be ok to freeze!

  3. Deepa Patel

    Umm was ok used gf flour and almond flour but rose ok but as suspected I should have used my instinct and NOT added two heaped tsp of baking powder sadly they have a salty after taste plus it would be ok I think with two level tsps or even slightly less as it asks for bicarbonate of soda as well

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Hi thanks for your feedback. The taste of baking powder can really vary between brands. I use Dove's Farm baking powder which has a very neutral taste! Hope that helps.

  4. Katy

    Hi Rhian, we use Doves Farm g/f flour but not sure whether to use plain or self-raising? Many thanks. Love your recipes! x

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      The recipe is made for plain flour! Or if using self-raising, use half the amount of baking powder.

  5. Vanessa

    Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (18)
    I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have found your blog. I suffered many traumatic brain injuries and can no longer have any sugar at all after having been a self-taught and proficient traditional baker for a very long time. Your blog is the only one I can source for recipes- I’ve searched endlessly, and all others just have far too much sugar. Many times I even halve the amount in your recipes just because of my own personal intolerance and yet they all come out perfect and so lovely. It’s Thanksgiving time here in the US and there was a gorgeous sugar/dairy/white flour laden no-bake cranberry tiramisu a blogger had posted. I am smitten with it and was wondering if you think I could use this sponge cake to create one myself. I was wondering if I could perhaps bake it up and then slice it rather than using ladyfingers. I also am wondering if you have any ideas for me as far as a pastry cream and a cranberry sauce or curd that would be good for layering in the tiramisu. The one I admire is finished with a dusting of crushed freeze-dried raspberries & sugar but I’m thinking of omitting the sugar altogether since it’s just a decorative touch similar to powdered sugar, which I sub arrowroot or cornstarch always. Cheers to you and please never stop creating- you are so valuable!

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Hi Vanessa, thank you so much for sharing your story. I'm so so happy to hear that you like my recipes. I actually already have a tiramisu recipe on my site, which you can use as a guideline: https://www.rhiansrecipes.com/gluten-free-vegan-tiramisu/
      I also have a sugar-free cranberry sauce recipe here: https://www.rhiansrecipes.com/cranberry-sauce/
      I hope that helps! Cranberry tiramisu sounds so delicious!

« Older Comments

Gluten-Free Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake - Rhian's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why did my gluten-free cake turn out gummy? ›

Gluten-free baked goods often benefit from extra liquid to hydrate the flour blends, eliminate grittiness, and achieve a less dense or dry texture. However, it's very important to drive off this extra moisture during baking, or you'll wind up with a gummy texture.

Why is my vegan cake not fluffy? ›

CAKE NOT RISING

This can be caused by a few things already mentioned such as using the wrong egg replacer or over mixing. I always recommend using fresh raising agents. Generally, baking soda and baking powder only stay active for 3 months after opening.

What makes a gluten-free cake rise? ›

2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of gluten-free flour is necessary to ensure proper leavening. Baking soda and buttermilk can be used to leaven instead of baking powder, but 1-1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar should be added for each 1/2 teaspoon baking soda used.

Why is gluten-free cake chewy? ›

With gluten-free baking, we use a combination of gluten-free flours, starches, and a binder (like xanthan gum). These ingredients take longer to set than regular gluten-containing flour, meaning they may remain slightly “gummy” or sticky until they have cooled.

What is the trick to baking with gluten-free flour? ›

Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

How do you keep gluten free cakes moist? ›

Tips for best results
  1. Add some almond flour: Using a small amount of almond flour in your baking can enhance the taste and texture dramatically. ...
  2. Add more fat or liquid: It might just be that you need a bit more moisture in your recipe, especially if you're converting a regular “gluten-ful” recipe to gluten-free.
Jan 8, 2022

Why do vegan cakes need vinegar? ›

Vinegar works a little bit differently from flax and chia; it reacts with the baking soda in the recipe to create extra lift, resulting in the lightest, fluffiest vegan chocolate cake you'll ever have. And no, you won't taste the vinegar—it simply enhances the overall flavour of the cake without distracting from it.

Why don t vegan cakes rise? ›

Leavening Agents: Eggs play a crucial role in leavening non-vegan cakes, but in vegan baking, bakers must find suitable alternatives to provide the necessary rise and lightness. Baking powder, baking soda, and vinegar combinations are commonly used to replace the leavening properties of eggs.

What is the secret to light fluffy cakes? ›

Leavening agents, such as baking powder and baking soda, play a crucial role in making cakes rise and achieve a fluffy texture. These agents produce carbon dioxide gas when combined with liquid and heat, creating air pockets that lighten the batter.

Do gluten free cakes need more liquid? ›

Add extra liquid: Gluten-free flours tend to absorb more liquid than regular flour, so you may need to add more liquid to your recipes to compensate. This can help to keep your baked goods moist and prevent them from becoming dry and crumbly.

Should I let my gluten-free cake batter rest before baking? ›

Let Your Batters & Doughs Rest

We recommend covering your batters and doughs and letting them rest for at least half an hour. Note: This will also help batters become thicker and doughs to firm up.

Why is my gluten-free sponge not rising? ›

YOUR CAKE IS SINKING IN THE MIDDLE OR NOT RISING

You may not have used enough raising agents. I do recommend experimenting with double action baking powders. Otherwise try using 25 percent more chemical raising agents (baking soda or baking powder) if you're converting a recipe to gluten free.

Can you overbeat a gluten free cake? ›

Over-mixing can beat too much air into the batter and cause it to collapse. Less is more with mixing a gluten free cake batter — try to blend the batters for less than one minute.

Do you need xanthan gum in gluten free cakes? ›

If the gluten free flour you are using doesn't contain xanthan gum, then you'll want to include it in your list of recipe ingredients. Even more so if you're making cake, muffins, bread and pizza crust, as these recipes typically rely on the structure gluten provides.

Can you taste the difference in gluten free cake? ›

03/8Does gluten-free cake taste different? Often, it is understood that gluten-free cakes do not taste good. However, contrary to this popular belief, gluten-free cakes taste much more delicious than any other regular cake. But, it depends on how well you have followed the recipe, as it needs to be strictly followed.

Why are gluten free baked goods gummy? ›

Gummy on the inside- bake for a longer time. Gluten free bread takes much longer than a regular loaf to bake and therefore a sticky crumb is generally the result of under baking. It is easy to see why this can happen, gluten free bread dough needs more moisture and is often difficult to knead with conventional methods.

How do you make gluten free bread less gummy? ›

here are some tips for making gluten-free bread that is soft and fluffy:
  1. Use a gluten-free flour blend that is specifically designed for bread baking. ...
  2. Add psyllium husk powder to the dough. ...
  3. Let the dough rest for a few minutes after mixing. ...
  4. Don't overmix the dough.
Jul 3, 2023

Why did my cake come out gummy? ›

Why does my cake have a gummy streak in the center? Developing too much of the flour's gluten can make the cake rise beautifully in the oven, but sink as soon as you pull it out. The sinking part is what makes the dense and gluey streaks. This can be result of over-creaming the eggs, butter and sugar.

How do you fix a gummy cake? ›

Trimming Troubles: If the cake is only slightly gummy, consider trimming off the outer layer to remove any overly dense or undercooked portions. Moisture Management: Brush the trimmed cake with a simple syrup or flavored liquid to add moisture and enhance the cake's tenderness.

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