10 best gluten-free birthday cakes
These are the indulgent free-from goodies you need to celebrate the big day
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Your support makes all the difference.Whether you suffer from coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, it can be a real struggle living a “free-from” life. While gluten-free menus are cropping up everywhere and supermarket aisles are booming, it’s the everyday things that still seem difficult – like the office party or your child’s birthday.
But being gluten-free doesn’t mean you have to miss out. We took on the task of reviewing the best gluten-free birthday cakes, from supermarket favourites to handcrafted offerings. While the cakes are all gluten-free, many accommodate for additional allergies too.
We reviewed each item on presentation, price, cross-contamination prevention and of course the big question: does it taste like the real thing?
1. Sponge Personalised Cake: from £7.50, Sponge Cakes
Sponge Cakes’ premise is simple: delicious cakes sent to your door with nationwide next day delivery, provided you order before 2pm. Exciting enough, but when we realised that we could customise them, upload our own photo and make them without gluten (and dairy, if needed) we were sold. The company bakes gluten-free on dedicated days, completely cleaning between these days to ensure there are no issues with cross-contamination. We opted to have a personalised sponge photo cake and it arrived perfectly intact. It was full of thick icing and rich jam, with multiple taste testers confirming it tasted just like the real thing. Top marks for originality and delivering on taste.
2. The Hummingbird Bakery Made Without Vanilla Sponge: from £45.25, The Hummingbird Bakery
Unfortunately, these luxury cakes are currently only available across London, but they’re certainly worth the trip. Our offering was beautifully presented in the famous Hummingbird Bakery packaging and packed with decadent buttercream and sprinkles. It’s certainly one of the priciest of the bunch, but it didn’t scrimp whatsoever on the quality of ingredients and the size. Hummingbird Bakery does take precautions to avoid cross-contamination and has consulted Coeliac UK on how to do so. However, it does acknowledge there is a risk, since it bakes gluten-containing cakes in the same bakery.
3. Homemade With Love Cupcake Bouquet: from £27.40, Mums Bake Cakes
Mums Bake Cakes is a network of talented bakers across the country. Because there is such a wide network, there’s every chance of finding a local baker who specialises in “free-from” cakes too. We entered our postcode on the website and were connected with a local baker who offered a variety of gluten-free cakes. Our “bouquet” of cupcake flowers was almost too beautiful to eat – an impressive touch for when you want something different to a traditional cake. It was delivered by the baker themselves and with a detailed allergy card – listing all the ingredients and allergens it contained. Each baker has their own page with a bio and customer rating, so you can double check before you order.
4. M&S Made Without Wheat Party Cake: £8, Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer is known for having a great “gluten-free” range, and is actually in partnership with Coeliac UK. This buttercream and jam-filled sponge is no exception. The cake is everything you’d expect from M&S: great price with great ingredients. It’s not the most decadent of the bunch but it does the job and, given its simple decoration, it’s the perfect fit for a range of celebrations.
5. Primal Bakers Paleo Birthday Cake: £20, Primal Bakers
Here’s one for those with multiple dietary requirements. This birthday cake is designed for those on a paleo diet – so those who are not only gluten-free but also eliminating dairy and sugar. As a health-conscious cake, it’s reasonably priced. Rather than using processed ingredients, it uses coconut flour, honey, eggs and 70 per cent chocolate. We must admit that its ingredients meant it lacked sweetness when compared to the rest of the bunch. However, if you’re in the market for the healthiest birthday cake, we’ve probably found it. Delivery is nationwide.
6. Pure Bake Red Velvet Celebration Cupcakes: from £1.50, Pure Bake
As we’ve included London-based bakes in our offerings, it’s only fair to look at what’s available outside the capital too. Pure Bake is a new company in Southampton that specialises in creating free-from celebration cupcakes. We tested a range of its gluten-free cupcakes, but its red velvet version with a choice of real or cashew cream got top marks. It was remarkably rich and moist (an unexpected surprise since some gluten-free flours taste a little on the dry side). Pure Bake’s delivery covers Southampton and most of Hampshire, and the easiest way to order is by email or telephone.
7. Sainsbury’s Deliciously Free From Chocolate Tray Bake: £7, Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s offers multiple free-from cakes (more than any of the other supermarket we came across) but this tray bake with chocolate frosting and decorations is our favourite. Often gluten-free cakes are on the small side, but this one is huge, making it a great option for office parties or large get-togethers. At £7, it’s not much more than a regular cake, but it’s also suitable for those on a dairy-free diet. While we would have preferred more frosting, it gives the best value for money of the bunch.
8. Asda Free From Chocolate Party Cake: £8, Asda
There are a couple of supermarket offerings on our list. Asda doesn’t offer anything unique in terms of its presentation (the star design is a little plain, but it does make it gender- and age-neutral). The cake itself is delicious. It is packed full of chocolate with a thick and gooey layer of frosting – even more impressive when you consider that it's also dairy-free. No wonder it won Gold in the children's category of the last FreeFrom Food Awards.
9. Crestwood Cakes Giant Cupcake: from £45, Crestwood Cakes
Crestwood Cakes is a West Midlands bakery which specialises in gluten- and dairy-free celebration cakes. After struggling with allergies, the owner wanted to set up a local service that caters to those with intolerances. Separate equipment is used for each intolerance, and it always bakes gluten-free first thing to avoid cross-contamination. The handmade giant cupcake tastes great but what sets it aside from the supermarkets is the chance to order something bespoke. All cakes can be customised with different toppings, sponges and personalised decorations. Best ordered by email or telephone, but delivery isn’t nationwide, so double check before you buy.
10. Borough 22 Gluten Free Doughnuts: from £20, Borough 22
We realise we’ve gone slightly off the birthday cake track for our last entry, but given that gluten-free doughnuts are extremely difficult to get your hands on, any coeliac would be ecstatic to receive these for their birthday. Available individually in Selfridges (Birmingham, Manchester and London) as well as by the box with a greeting card online (nationwide delivery), Borough 22 offers sugary-sweet, gluten-free, vegan doughnuts in all kinds of flavours. Its products are separately certified by an independent laboratory to ensure they're suitable for coeliacs.
The Verdict: Gluten-free birthday cakes
For its personalised offerings and easy delivery, Sponge Cakes gets our vote. However, the array of choice on offer in our supermarkets is impressive too. Asda narrowly beats off the competition there, with its chocolatey rich celebration cake tasting just like the real thing. Finally, a special mention goes out to Borough 22 and their amazing doughnuts.