12 Best Gluten-Free Cake Mix Brands (2023)

By Hayley Simpson / Last Modified On March 29, 2023

Boxed cake mixes are a fantastic kitchen shortcut. They’re easy to make, available in plenty of varieties, and can be used as a base to create the cake of your dreams.

Now that you’re on a gluten-free diet, you might think your boxed cake mix days are over – but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Several brands offer excellent GF cake mixes that create scrumptiously delicious baked goods in no time.

Today, we share the best gluten-free cake mix reviews and answer your burning FAQs.

Table of Contents

How Do I Find a Gluten-Free Cake Mix?

The easiest way to determine whether a cake mix is gluten-free? Check the packaging for a clear gluten-free label and read the ingredients. They should be made with gluten-free flour substitutes like coconut, rice, millet, corn, and almond flour.

The Best Gluten-Free Cake Mix Brands

We’ve done our taste-testing and it’s time to unveil the best gluten-free cake mixes in a multitude of categories.

Best Gluten-Free Cupcake Mix: Simple Mills Almond Flour Mix

There are so many things to love about this Simple Mills Almond Flour Mix:

It contains only seven clean ingredients with no artificial flavorings: almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, baking soda, arrowroot, and vanilla bean.
You only need to add eggs, water, oil, and vanilla extract.
It’s grain-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and corn-free.
There are instructions for both vanilla cake and cupcakes.
A great base to transform with extra flavorings (listed below).
Taste testers confirm that it holds up
If you want to go vegan and use flax eggs.

The downsides:

It only makes one 8-inch round cake. If you want a layered cake, you’ll need to buy two boxes.
It includes both coconut and almond flour (so it won’t suit nut-free consumers).

Best Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Mix: Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Mix

It’s hard to go wrong with a Bob’s Red Mill cake mix: Their gluten-free mixes are produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility and thoroughly tested, making them a safe choice for people with celiac disease. This particular gluten-free option is also made with all-natural ingredients, including sugar, potato starch, tapioca flour, wholegrain sorghum flour, and baking powder. The only extras you need are oil, water, and eggs.

One of our favorite things is that the package includes several size and shape variations. So you can bake two round cakes, one rectangular sheet cake, 20 cupcakes, or two loaves. There’s also the option to transform it into a white cake with one quick switch.

For the best GF cake mix, pick up this Bob’s Red Mill mix on Amazon.

Best Gluten-Free Mug Cake Mixes: Udi’s Gluten-Free Mug Cake Mixes

It would be cruel of us to do a round-up of gluten-free box mixes and not include a mug version! Udi’s Gluten-Free Mug Cake Mixes come in four delectable flavors:

Blueberry muffin
Brownie
Chocolate
Cinnamon coffee cake

Each box includes four packets. All you need to do is pour the batter into a mug, add water, stir, and pop it in the microwave. Your fluffy mug cake will be ready in about a minute – but let it cool before you dive in!

The ingredients differ, depending on the flavor. Most are made with a combination of pea, tapioca, and rice flour. One downside is that they contain palm oil. If that isn’t a concern, you can easily buy all of these Udi’s Mug Cake Mixes on Amazon.

Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix: King Arthur Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix

Ask any gluten-free baker, and we’ll bet they’ll agree that no one does a gluten-free chocolate cake mix like King Arthur. With its deeply rich chocolate flavor and tender, moist crumb, no one will notice that it’s gluten-free.

When prepared as directed, this product is also non-dairy. You can make two round cakes, a sheet cake, a 10-cup bundt cake, or 24 cupcakes. Did we mention it holds up well when slathered with delicious chocolate frosting?

There’s genuinely nothing we don’t love about this chocolate cake mix. Oh, and King Arthur Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix is also one of the most affordable on the market today. Ready to go shopping? Head to Amazon now.

Looking for other chocolate gluten-free cake mixes? These are our top picks:

Krusteaz Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix has a fudgy, brownie-like texture. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you’ll be in chocolate heaven.
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix has a deep chocolate flavor. For a rich and dense chocolate cake, this might be the one for you.
Simple Mills Almond Flour Chocolate Muffin and Cake Baking Mix. Yes, Simple Mills also has a chocolate cupcake and cake mix. You may prefer it to the aforementioned vanilla flavor.
Namaste Foods also offer a gluten-free, organic, and incredibly decadent chocolate cake mix.

Best Gluten-Free Funfetti Cake Mix: Pillsbury Gluten-Free Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix

No one can say “no” to a slice of Funfetti cake! This is the best gluten-free birthday cake option, especially when paired with our gluten-free vanilla frosting. The package includes instructions to make a sheet cake, layer cake, bundt cake, and cupcakes. There are also instructions so you can make it with eggs, egg whites, or an egg substitute.

They’ve thought of everything. But hey, it’s Pillsbury: They really can’t do anything wrong. Here’s the link to get your own Funfetti cake box mix.

Best Organic Gluten-Free Cake Mix: Namaste Foods Organic Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix

Namaste Foods is a family-owned and women-operated business hailing from Northern Idaho. The USDA-certified organic ingredients include cane sugar, rice flour, tapioca starch, baking soda, and cream of tartar.

Produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility, this box mix is dairy-free, nut-free, and vegan-friendly. There are also instructions on the package to make a vegan yellow cake. We love that they’ve included fun finishing touches and a recipe to make Gooey Lemon Bars by using this mix as the base. They’ve thought of everything in this one neat package.

The only con is the price, which is on the higher side for one cake or 12 cupcakes. But if you want an organic box cake mix, this is the one for you. Find Namaste Foods on Amazon.

Best Gluten-Free Crumb Cake Mix: Krusteaz Gluten-Free Cinnamon Swirl Crumb Cake & Muffin Mix

Chocolate, vanilla, Funfetti, and a cinnamon swirl crumb cake that wouldn’t look out of place on any breakfast table. It includes a yellow cake mix base with a cinnamon swirl through the center and a crumbly brown sugar topping.

It may sound complicated, but the step-by-step instructions for making cakes and muffins couldn’t be easier. There are also additional instructions to transform it into a Le Leche Cinnamon Cake. Is your mouth watering or just mine?

We see no cons, so pick up your gluten-free cinnamon swirl cake on Amazon today.

Best Keto Cake Mix: Swerve Sweets Chocolate Cake Mix

Swerve Sweets Chocolate Cake Mix is a keto-friendly boxed cake mix option with zero added sugar. It’s also low-GI, grain-free, and friendly for diabetic diets. The ingredients include almond and coconut flour, Swerve, cocoa, tapioca starch, baking soda, and cream of tartar. All you need to do is add eggs, water, oil, and vanilla.

The end result is a chocolate cake that reviewers say has the same texture as a regular cake. Add a berry compote and you’ve got a winning dessert. To give it a go yourself, find the chocolate cake mix on Amazon.

How To Mix a Gluten-Free Cake Mixture

How to mix your boxed cake will differ depending on the brand. We recommend following the package directions. But here are some extra tips to help you along the way.

1. Gather Your Ingredients

In addition to your box mix, you may need water, oil, and eggs. Most mixes will work when you swap the water for milk and the oil for butter (for a richer texture). If you’re using oil, we suggest using avocado oil or melted coconut oil instead of vegetable or canola oil. An extra egg will help to add moisture. You can thank us later.

2. Preheat the Oven

Check the side of your package for specific instructions. Most packages will include a note regarding high-altitude baking and how to adapt the recipe accordingly.

3. Prepare Your Cake Pans

Gather the grease of your choice and apply it to all cake pan surfaces. You can use oil, cooking spray, or melted butter. If you’re making cupcakes, line your muffin pan with cupcake liners.

4. Get Mixing

If you’ve ever watched a baking competition show, over-mixing is the biggest concern with cake batter. If you want a fluffy cake, mix the ingredients until they’re just combined. We recommend mixing by hand, but if you prefer a hand or stand mixer, mix it on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated.

5. Bake the Cake

Pour the cake batter into the pan and bake according to the package directions. When a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, you’re good to go.

6. Cool Your Cake

It’s hard to resist this step, but transfer the cake to a wire rack and let it cool completely before adding frosting. Otherwise, it will melt right off!

Why Should You Trust Gluten-Free Palate?

At Gluten-Free Palate, we live and breathe the gluten-free lifestyle. Every recipe we share is gluten-free – and many are also dairy-free, grain-free, and paleo. We do plenty of in-depth research to find the best gluten-free products to share with our audience.

Whether they’re made from scratch or from a box, we’re lovers of all types of cake. Here are some of our favorite homemade gluten-free cake recipes:

Frequently Asked Questions

How Did We Produce Our List of GF Cake Mix Recommendations?

We did plenty of research to provide the best gluten-free cake mix reviews. We evaluated each product based on features like ingredients, price, taste, and customer reviews, as well as other trusted sources in the gluten-free community.

Do Gluten-Free Cake Mixes Taste Different?

It’s true that gluten-free cake mixes can often taste different – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing! It depends on the type of flour used. For example, a cake mix made with rice flour or tapioca flour will have a neutral flavor similar to a regular cake. Almond or coconut flour gives the cake a slightly nutty flavor (which some people might prefer).

What Is The Best Brand of Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix?

We think the best brand of gluten-free chocolate cake mix is King Arthur. You’ll find a full review above, including runner-up options!

Can You Doctor Up a Gluten-Free Cake Mix?

There are plenty of simple ways to enhance the flavor of gluten-free cake mixes:

Flavoring

Fold one teaspoon of instant espresso powder into a chocolate gluten-free cake mix for a richer chocolate flavor.
Add orange or lemon zest (half of a small piece of fruit) to a plain cake mix.
Sprinkle a small packet of dry instant pudding mix into the dry boxed cake mix ingredients. Try chocolate instant pudding with chocolate cake and vanilla with vanilla cake for added sweetness and a denser texture.
Use baby food. Yep, adding half a cup of baby food is an easy way to add extra moisture to a boxed cake. We’re talking apple sauce for spice cake, mashed baby carrots in a carrot cake, and mashed avocado or pumpkin puree in a chocolate cake.
Add between ½ and 1 teaspoon of vanilla, butter, or lemon extract to a plain gluten-free boxed cake mix
As with all baked goods, adding a pinch of salt helps to draw out flavors.
Add icing or frosting.

Richness

Swap the oil for butter and the water for milk (more on that is below).
Adding an extra egg can greatly impact richness, moistness, and fluffiness.
The “instant pudding mix” trick also provides a deliciously fluffy texture

Filling

If you want to be extra fancy, consider adding a filling to cupcakes or a multi-layered cake. Think jam, macerated berries, marshmallow fluff, caramel sauce, or lemon curd.

Does Gluten-Free Cake Mix Rise?

Yes, gluten-free cake mix rises just like a regular cake mix. They all include a gluten-free leavening agent like baking powder, baking soda, eggs, or cream of tartar.

Can I Substitute Water For Milk in Gluten-Free Cake Mix?

You can swap the water in boxed cake mixes for milk. It’s a simple 1:1 swap. However, whole milk will provide a richer flavor and dairy-free milk (like almond) may slightly change the flavor. Another option for extra moistness is buttermilk, a key ingredient in Southern cake recipes.

Ready to Start Gluten-Free Baking?

The first step is getting the best gluten-free cake mix into your hands. When it’s time to amp up your baking skills, check out Udemy’s long list of gluten-free cooking classes.

Thanks for sharing!