Here are my easy-to-make Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes that are tender, velvety, and have a dairy-free option.
If you're more of a cake person, you can use this gluten-free red velvet cupcake recipe to make a gluten-free red velvet cake!
If you love cake and cupcakes you'll want to check out my Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake next. My Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake is also scrumptious.
For more ideas head over to my Gluten-Free Desserts.
Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes
This year my youngest daughter (turned 12) requested Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes for her birthday.
Her first request was that they were topped with a Nutella Buttercream, not the traditional cream cheese frosting that I normally top them with.
Growing up, Red Velvet Cupcakes were ALWAYS topped with cream cheese frosting. It took a bit of convincing, but finally she agreed that we could use cream cheese frosting.
Up until now, I haven't posted these gluten free red velvet cupcakes on the blog. But by popular request, I am sharing them here and I am excited for you to try them.
What does a Red Velvet Cupcake taste like?
The way I like to describe a gluten-free red velvet cupcake taste is that it's a combination of flavors that pull together to form a unique, and delectable cupcake.
With the gluten-free white cake base, a little cocoa, the buttermilk (or dairy-free buttermilk), and vinegar you get a taste that's like no other - and it's incredible.
Top Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for the ultimate cupcake.
I mean, you could top them with a buttercream or chocolate buttercream frosting. It'll still be amazing.
Did you know that red velvet cupcakes originally were topped with a cream cheese frosting that had a hint of lemon? Yep. I usually leave the lemon out, but it's definitely worth trying if you are feeling adventurous.
How to make a gluten-free red velvet cupcake
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Position rack in center of oven. Line a 12 serving cupcake pan with paper liners; set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa and salt; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and oil. Mix in the egg, buttermilk (or dairy free buttermilk), vanilla, and red food coloring until combined. Stir in the white vinegar and hot coffee (or hot water).
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Scoop the batter evenly into each cupcake well, about ¼ cup per well.
Bake for 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove the cupcakes cakes from the oven and let them cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting: In a medium mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese (or dairy-free cream cheese), butter (or dairy-free butter) and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, a half cup at a time, beating well until you reach desired consistency.
Frost cupcakes.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
This gluten-free red velvet cupcake recipe will be a favorite!
Can I make these Red Velvet Cupcakes Dairy-Free?
Oh my gosh, yes, you can make these gluten-free red velvet cupcakes dairy-free. My favorite way to swap out the traditional buttermilk called for in red velvet cupcakes is with flaxmilk + vinegar.
You can use other dairy-free milks but the flaxmilk gives you the extra acidity, and thickens really well with vinegar. You get that sour, buttermilk taste, but without the dairy. Use dairy-free cream cheese and dairy-free butter to make the frosting dairy-free. Simple.
But isn't Red Velvet the same as chocolate cake with red food coloring?
Ah ha! I have asked myself the same question. There isn't a lot of cocoa in red velvet, and although some chocolate cakes use buttermilk or vinegar to enhance the flavors of the cake itself, it's the combination of flavors that gives it a little zing, rather than your smooth chocolatey flavors.
The acidity in the buttermilk and vinegar combined with the cocoa and food coloring give you the red velvet coloring.
These cupcakes are incredibly easy, and the texture is out of this world. You can use this same recipe to make a cake. I've written up the instructions for an 8" cake over on my Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake post.
Other gluten-free cupcake recipes
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes
Gluten-Free Blueberry Cupcakes
You can never have too many cupcake recipes! Pin this gluten-free red velvet cupcake recipe for later.
Easy right? What other questions do you have about gluten-free red velvet cupcakes? Leave me a question in the comments and I will get back to you.
Until then, if you are looking for more yummy gluten-free red velvet recipes you'll love Flippin Delicious's Red Velvet Fudge.
Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes
Easy to make Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes that are tender, velvety, and have a dairy-free option.
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cupcakes:
- 1 cup gluten-free flour blend (142g) (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa (.5 oz)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- ½ cup buttermilk (or ½ cup flaxmilk + 1 teaspoon white vinegar, let sit 2-3 minutes)
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar (omit if making dairy-free buttermilk with vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons red food coloring (up to 2 tablespoons for a deeper color)
- ¼ cup plain hot coffee (or hot water)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature (or dairy-free cream cheese)
- ¼ cup butter (½ stick), room temperature (or dairy-free butter)
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Position rack in center of oven. Line a 12 serving cupcake pan with paper liners; set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa and salt; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and oil. Mix in the egg, buttermilk (or dairy free buttermilk), vanilla, and red food coloring until combined. Stir in the white vinegar and hot coffee (or hot water).
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Scoop the batter evenly into each cupcake well, about ¼ cup per well.
- Bake for 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove the cupcakes cakes from the oven and let them cool completely before frosting.
- For the frosting: In a medium mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese (or dairy-free cream cheese), butter (or dairy-free butter) and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, a half cup at a time, beating well until you reach desired consistency.
- Frost cupcakes.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days..
Notes
Dairy-free option included.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1 cupcakeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 370Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 287mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 5g
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
Tag @glutenfreepalate on Instagram and hashtag it #glutenfreepalatebaker so we can see all the deliciousness!
Michelle
My daughter requested that we make Red Velvet cupcakes for her boyfriend and his family for Valentine's Day. I am gluten free and so are several members of his family. These turned out amazing and were a delightful treat for us and them!! They really raved about them, too. I loved the soft texture and that you used Bob's 1 to 1. Thank you so much!!
chrystal
Hi Michelle,
I am so glad your family liked them 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by and letting me know.
All my best,
Chrystal
Steve
Doubled this recipe to make 2 layer cake with 9" cake pans. I ended up baking each half separately for 26-30 minutes and it turned out amazing. The first pan didn't come out flat so I rotated it halfway through baking. The texture is fantastic, no one believed it was gluten-free. Thank you for the amazing recipe!
chrystal
Hi Steve,
Thanks for stopping by to let me know you like this red velvet recipe! We've made it into a layer cake a few times. Everyone who's tried it also couldn't believe that it was gluten-free.
Best,
Chrystal
Sarah
I'm newly gluten free so everything is an experiment. My daughter was trying to be so thoughtful coming up with every possible solution that didn't involve cake - but you need CAKE when it's your 16th birthday. Thank you so much for this recipe...my first, from scratch, gluten free cake...that was so delicious that everyone in my gluten eating family was happy to make the switch any time I wanted to make this cake. So thank you...thank you for giving me the memories of eating my daughter's 16th birthday cake with her...and thank you for the most amazing cake I've eaten in a long time!
chrystal
Awe, Sarah, I am so, so glad you and your family liked this recipe. And happy birthday to your daughter! I'm glad you found me and I hope you find many more recipes that you can enjoy with your family.
All my best,
Chrystal
Bridget
Hi!
I'm reading the recipe and it says 1/4 C hot coffee.
In the cake instructions, it says double recipe but reduce coffee to 3/4 C. I was just looking for clarification, since doubling per the recipe would be 1/2 C. Thanks!
chrystal
Hi Bridget,
Thanks for the catch! I removed that. You can double the recipe 🙂
Best,
Chrystal
Diane
Do you have any suggestions on how to make this Paleo instead of using gluten-free flour?
chrystal
Hi Diana,
I don't have a suggestion at this time but I do have a paleo double chocolate muffin that makes a delicious cupcake.
Best,
Chrystal