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

4.65 from 164 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? ›

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? ›

We recommend covering your batters and doughs and letting them rest for at least half an hour.

How do you make 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.

Can you still buy Jamaican ginger cake? ›

Dubbed as the original and best for over 50 years, McVities Jamaica Ginger Cake is a moist, sweet loaf cake with a delicious ginger 'kick' that is guaranteed to delight the taste buds. Did you know our secret Jamaica Ginger Cake recipe also makes the perfect pudding? That's why we call it a Sticky Pudding Cake!

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.

What gluten-free flour is best for cakes? ›

Sorghum flour: great for cakes

Made from an ancient cereal grain that has been cultivated for more than 5,000 years, sorghum flour is light in colour and texture, though it is a fairly dense flour. It is rich in protein and fibre, which helps maintain blood sugar stability and may also help with digestion.

What to avoid for gluten free baking? ›

Some baking ingredients that contain gluten (and thus are not suitable for a gluten-free diet) include:
  • Wheat.
  • Semolina.
  • Spelt.
  • Durum.
  • Emmer.
  • Einkorn.
  • Rye, sometimes referred to as pumpernickel.
  • Barley.
Mar 29, 2021

Can I just replace flour with gluten free flour? ›

If the original recipe calls for 260 grams of all-purpose flour, substitute with 260 grams of your blend. Beat the batter more. Because gluten-free flours provide less structure than all-purpose, the batter or dough you make with them may require more beating than that which you are accustomed.

Why is my gluten-free cake so dense? ›

If gluten-free cakes aren't falling apart, they often turn out heavy and unpleasantly dense. That's because gluten creates little pockets of air, so baked goods turn out springy and fluffy; gluten-free flours and grains are lacking this crucial element.

What is the best oil for gluten free baking? ›

Examples of gluten-free oils include canola oil, sunflower oil, olive oil and vegetable oil.

Why doesn't my gluten-free cake rise? ›

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.

Do gluten free cakes need to bake longer? ›

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.

What is Jamaican ginger cake called? ›

Bulla cake, usually referred to as bulla, is a rich Jamaican cake made with molasses and spiced with ginger and nutmeg, sometimes dark-colored and other times light-colored. Bulla are small loaves that are flat and round. They are inexpensive and easy to make using molasses, flour and baking soda.

What is the most popular cake in Jamaica? ›

This rich and moist Jamaican Black Cake is the centerpiece dessert that's perfect for any holiday or celebration. Black Cake, also known as rum cake, Christmas cake, and wedding cake, depending on when it's served, is a staple dessert recipe in all of the Caribbean.

What is the name of Jamaican ginger? ›

Jamaica ginger extract, known in the United States by the slang name Jake, was a late 19th-century patent medicine that provided a convenient way to obtain alcohol during the era of Prohibition, since it contained approximately 70% to 80% ethanol by weight.

Why are my gluten-free cakes so dry? ›

Some gluten free flours will produce a cake which is on the dry side. This might be due to the lack of gluten but can be for many other reasons. Lots of gluten free flour is rice based and this can result in a dry and slightly gritty texture.

How do you make gluten-free baked goods not dry? ›

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. Try adding anywhere from ¼ to ½ cup of liquid or fat to the recipe and see if that helps.

Why is my gluten-free cake gooey? ›

One of the biggest reasons for a too moist cake is if you didn't bake the cake long enough. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Too much liquid. Be sure to measure your ingredients accurately and not use too much liquid.

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.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 5784

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.