Gluten Free Jamaican Ginger Loaf Cake Recipe (dairy free) (2024)

My gluten free Jamaican ginger loaf cake recipe is back and better than ever! The McVitie’s one in the supermarket was my inspo for this one, but I like to think I’ve improved upon it a little too. Mine’s easily adapted to be dairy free with one swap too!

As a McVitie’s Jamaica ginger loaf cake contains gluten, it’s been yeeeeears since I’d enjoyed a slice… but that changes now! No, I haven’t been magically cured… I just made my very own gluten free Jamaican ginger loaf cake!

It’s been over a year since I first posted this recipe, so I decided to come back and update things a little. Hello!

Why is it that whenever you do anything creative, you come back and look at later and think… bloody hell, that’s rubbish!!

(I’m more talking about my old photos for this recipe, rather than the recipe itself!)

So I thought I’d come back and not only take some new snaps, but I’d sort of make a new and improved version of this recipe too. It’s been a favourite on the blog for well over a year now!

So what’s new and improved then?

(I read that in my head in a really skeptical tone for some reason!)

Well, I’ve doubledthe amount of ground ginger so it’s twice as firey and twice as warming. Also, I’ve swapped gluten free plain flour forgluten free self-raising flour as I never got the rise on it that I wanted in the past.

Lastly, I’ve also added that magic ingredient… Xanthan gum!

In case you have no idea what that is, it basically makes gluten free baking function. That’s all you need to know. It stops the cake from falling apart and becoming crumbly!

And I promise you – this cake is soooo easy and simple to make!

Ok it’ll never be as simple as picking up a McVitie’s Jamaica ginger loaf cake from a supermarket shelf. But I promise you, this one is better!

(I would say that though, wouldn’t I?!)

So I can’t promise that whipping up mygluten free Jamaican ginger loaf cake will be as fast as nipping down to the supermarket, but I think the smell of fresh baking more than makes it worth it, don’t you think?!

Ok, here’s the recipe! You can easily make this vegan by replacing the egg with 3 tbsp of aquafaba and using a dairy-free alternative to butter btw.

Gluten Free Jamaican Ginger Loaf Cake Recipe (dairy free) (4)

Gluten Free Jamaican Ginger Loaf Cake Recipe

My gluten free Jamaican Ginger loaf cake recipe is a new and improved version of the McVitie's one I used to buy in supermarkets. Mine's dairy free too!

SERVINGS: 10 people

PRINT RECIPE

4.64 from 160 votes

Ingredients

  • 170 g gluten free self-raising flour (sifted, I use Doves)
  • 70 g black treacle
  • 70 g golden syrup
  • 70 g dark brown soft sugar
  • 70 g butter or dairy-free alternative
  • 3-4 tsp ground ginger depending on how firey you like it!
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp Xanthan gum
  • 3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 egg beaten

Instructions

  • Grease a 2lb loaf tin (900g) with greaseproof/parchment paper. This will not only stop it sticking, but also help you get the cake out later! I like to leave a bit of excess greaseproof paper so I can easily lift the cake out when it's cooled.

  • Preheat the oven to about 170C or 160C fan.

  • Place your black treacle, golden syrup, dark brown soft sugar and dairy free spread into a saucepan with 70ml of water. Gently heat and stir until completely melted. (Don't allow it to boil!)

  • Sift your flour, Xanthan gum and spices into a mixing bowl and then add your warm syrup/treacle mixture to it. Beat together using a wooden spoon until lovely and smooth,

  • Add half your beaten egg and mix thoroughly, then repeat with the other half.

  • In a small dish, add 2 tbsp of water to the bicarbonate of soda, mix until well combined and then add to your main bowl too. Mix once more. Your final mixture should now look nice and smooth, with a runny consistency.

  • Pour your mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 60 minutes. It should have a nice, dark exterior when it's done - but not a burnt one!!

  • Once baked allow to cool.The cake should be almost firm to touch, but will firm up more as it cools.

  • This is a cake best left to mature flavour wise for as long as you can manage. But I completely understand if you can't wait... maybe one cheeky slice straight away!

  • Enjoy!

Notes

LOW FODMAP GUIDANCE

You can easily make this vegan by replacing the egg with 3 tbsp of aquafaba and using a dairy-free alternative to butter btw.

Black treacle (molasses) and Golden Syrup are high FODMAP in excess serving sizes (Black treacle: 5g, Golden syrup: 7g).

So it might be a good idea to wait until after the elimination phase of the diet to give this a go!

Thanks for reading how to make my gluten free Jamaican ginger loaf cake recipe!If you make it, I’d love to see how it turned out so don’t forget to take a snap of your creation and tag me on Instagram!

Plus, I’m giving away a £50 supermarket voucher every month to my fave pic, so get baking!

Any questions about the recipe? Please do let me know by following me onInstagram and leaving me a comment!

Looking for something else to bake? Why not give my gluten free lemon drizzle cake a go?

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

Oh and don’t forget to pin this for later!

Gluten Free Jamaican Ginger Loaf Cake Recipe (dairy free) (6)

Gluten Free Jamaican Ginger Loaf Cake Recipe (dairy free) (7)
Gluten-Free Recipe

Gluten Free Jamaican Ginger Loaf Cake Recipe (dairy free) (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep gluten-free cake moist? ›

Any gluten-free cake will dry out super-fast and get hard on the outside if it's not properly refrigerated and covered. I swear by always using buttermilk and adding a little more fat into the batter to compensate for the dryness.

Why do gluten-free cakes not rise? ›

Gluten-free flour blends don't have the same elasticity as flour containing gluten so often the cakes don't rise as much or will sink after rising. To combat the flat cake problem, I add ½ tsp of bicarbonate of soda to the recipe even when using a self-raising gluten-free flour blend.

What makes gluten free baked goods fluffy? ›

Some ingredients that may help to create that fluffier and more elastic end result include: unflavored gelatin, xanthan gum, guar gum, and eggs. NFCA's website has a page listing gluten-free cookbooks and magazines.

What helps gluten-free cakes 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.

Which gluten-free flour is best for cakes? ›

We'd t-oat-ally recommend Doves Farm's organic oat flour. While it's not the cheapest option, wholegrain flour is high in fibre and suitable for those following vegan and kosher diets. The flour has been milled from high-quality organic British oats and is ideal for making, cakes, biscuits, breads and pancakes.

How do you keep gluten-free cake from falling apart? ›

Xanthan gum (along with other thickeners like guar gum and arrowroot) acts like a binder in gluten-free baked goods to maintain their structure. Without it, there's a good chance that your brownies or muffin will crumble and fall apart.

Should gluten-free cake batter rest before baking? ›

Gluten-free batters need to rest.

Even the best combinations of gluten-free alternative grains and flour blends can yield a gritty texture. This is remediated by resting your batter for about 30 minutes so the flour has time to hydrate and soften.

What are the tips for baking a gluten-free cake? ›

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. The best way to do this? Longer baking times.

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.

What is the trend in gluten-free bakery? ›

The Global Gluten-Free Bakery market is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between 2023 and 2030. In 2022, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption of strategies by key players, the market is expected to rise over the projected horizon.

What bread is dairy free? ›

  • Stern's Bakery.
  • Joseph's.
  • 4C.
  • Little Northern BakehouseLittle Northern Bakehouse.
  • Homefree.
  • Judee's Gluten FreeJudee's Gluten Free.
  • Livlo.
  • CARBONAUT.

What is the best gluten free flour for yeast bread? ›

If you want to buy just one gluten-free flour, we highly recommend the Pillsbury all-purpose gluten-free flour. Not only is it our favorite gluten-free flour, and easy to use in gluten-free recipes, but it's also one of the few gluten-free flours currently on the market that is recommended for baking with yeast.

What to avoid for gluten-free baking? ›

All of the following flours have gluten:
  • Enriched flour with added vitamins and minerals.
  • Farina, milled wheat usually used in hot cereals.
  • Graham flour, a course whole-wheat flour.
  • Self-rising flour, also called phosphate flour.
  • Semolina, the part of milled wheat used in pasta and couscous.

What does baking soda do in gluten-free baking? ›

Texture and Rise: Gluten-free baking often requires a bit of finesse to achieve the desired rise and texture. Baking soda's reaction with an acid can help achieve that necessary lift, while baking powder provides an extra boost when the batter or dough is exposed to heat.

What does cream of tartar do in gluten-free baking? ›

When combined with baking soda, it becomes a leavening agent (the stuff that makes baked goods puff up in the oven) by producing carbon dioxide gas. If you ever run out of baking powder, you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar for 1 teaspoon baking powder.

How do you make gluten-free dessert less dry? ›

Bake, Then Bake Some More

Gluten-free baked goods often benefit from extra liquid to hydrate the flour blends, eliminate grittiness, and achieve a less dense or dry texture.

What can I put on my cake to keep it moist? ›

The simplest version of simple syrup, or soak, is nothing more than equal parts granulated sugar dissolved into water. The basic soak alone will do great things for your cake, especially in terms of moisture.

Why is my gluten-free cake gooey? ›

-You may have had too much moisture in the mix. Reduce the liquid by 1-2 tablespoons or add 1-2 tablespoons of flour next time. -You may have added too much xanthan or guar gum.

How do I make sure my cake stays moist? ›

Jump to:
  1. Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
  2. Add Vegetable Oil.
  3. Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
  4. Use the Right Recipe.
  5. Don't Overbake.
  6. Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
  7. Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.
Apr 23, 2021

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