Gluten-Free & Lactose-Free Cocoa Pound Cake – Moist and Rich

1/ Preparation: Bring the butter to room temperature in advance.
Preheat the oven to 160°C (fan / convection).
Line a 28 cm loaf pan with baking paper.

2/ Combine the dry ingredients: In a bowl, lightly mix the following until there are no lumps:

• Gluten-free flour


• Cocoa powder


• Baking powder


• Salt


• Vanilla sugar

3/ Cream the butter and sugar: In a separate bowl, mix the butter and sugar with a spatula until pale, smooth, and creamy.

4/ Add the eggs gradually: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Use a whisk and mix gently to prevent the batter from separating.

5/ Add dry ingredients and milk alternately: Add to the batter in the following order: dry ingredients → milk → dry ingredients → milk. Mix gently with a whisk, then finish with a spatula to combine evenly.

6/ Add coffee and chocolate chips: Add the hot coffee and mix lightly. (Optional) Add chocolate chips and fold them in gently.

7/ Pour into the pan and rest: Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the surface. Make a shallow line down the center.Let it rest for about 10 minutes.

8/ Baking: Bake at 160°C for 50–60 minutes. (Depending on your oven, baking time may vary.) Insert a skewer—if it comes out clean, the cake is done.

9/ Cooling and finishing: Remove from the pan and let it cool completely. Slice only after it has fully cooled.

🌟 Our Family’s Favorite Tips 🌟

⭐️ Even better the next day: This cake often tastes even better the next day.
The cocoa and butter flavors settle and blend together, creating a more balanced and rich taste.

⭐️ Soften the butter to room temperature: Make sure the butter is soft—when you press it lightly with your finger, it should leave a small dent. If the butter is too cold, it won’t mix well and the cake can turn out slightly heavy. ⭐️ Coffee as a secret touch: Adding a small amount of coffee helps deepen and enhance the cocoa flavor. It won’t make the cake taste like coffee, so feel free to use it even if you’re not a big fan. ⭐️ About the ingredients we used: For this recipe, we use gluten-free flour and lactose-free butter and milk. Here in Dubai, these products are quite easy to find, which makes baking like this much more convenient.

⭐️ Adjust for your oven: Every oven behaves a little differently, so feel free to adjust the temperature and baking time as needed. Our oven tends to brown quickly, so we bake at a slightly lower temperature for a shorter time. Depending on your oven, you may need a bit more heat or a longer baking time.

⭐️ You can also use regular flour: You can substitute the gluten-free flour with regular cake flour. Just be careful not to overmix the batter, as gluten can develop and make the texture a bit heavier.

⭐️ Enjoy simple variations: You can add orange peel or nuts for a slightly European-style café cake. Feel free to try your own variations and enjoy!

⭐️ Curious about the original?: If you’re interested in the classic version, feel free to check my traditional 👉 quatre-quarts recipe as well. (It’s not gluten-free, but it gives you a nice idea of the original cake.)