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Overhead view citrus coconut vegan cake with white frosting, lemon slices, and coconut shreds on white plate.

Gluten Free Citrus Coconut Vegan Cake with Coconut Cream Frosting


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4.5 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 9 slices 1x

Description

A citrus flavored gluten free vegan cake that’s perfect for Any season. So simple to make! All you need are a few ingredients to bake this cake in under 45 minutes.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Cake:

  • 1 2/3 cup gluten free multipurpose flour mix, preferably a 1:1 flour mix. (I used Bob Red Mill 1:1). See notes for other options
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup xylitol baking sugar (for less sugar content) or cane sugar works too
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup agave nectar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/21 teaspoon lemon extract (depends on how strong you want it)
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil

For the Frosting:

  • 1 can coconut cream (cream NOT milk)
  • 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Optional: sweetness powdered sugar (1/4 cup)
  • 1/2 Tablespoon lime zest

Instructions

For the Cake:

  1. SPECIAL NOTE – > Before you bake the cake and if you are making coconut frosting with this, first place 2-3 cans of coconut cream in back of fridge for 24 hrs. You only need one, but I place 3 just in case one doesn’t harden.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a cake pan or 8×8 baking dish.
  3. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl (the baking soda, flour, sugar, salt).
  4. In another bowl, mix the water, agave nectar, coconut oil, lime juice, and extracts.
  5. Combine the wet ingredients to dry ingredients and SLOWLY mix. Fold in the shredded coconut. DO NOT OVER-MIX.
  6. Gently pour batter into greased pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown. Some baking mixes and ovens might take closer to 50+ minutes. Check progress at 35 minutes by inserting toothpick or knife in center until in comes out clean.
  7. Remove from oven and let cool completely before frosting.

For the Frosting:

  1. Make sure the coconut cream can (10oz) is chilled 24 hrs and you have coconut cream not milk.
  2. Once chilled, spoon out the hardened cream mixture into a bowl.
  3. Add the sugar and vanilla; beat until fluffy and smooth. Mix in the shredded coconut last.
  4. Keep cool until ready to frost the cake.
  5. Frost the cooled cake and add lime zest on top if desired.

Notes

  • nutrition shown for recipe made with xylitol versus cane sugar.
  • See this recipe for Paleo option.
  • If you don’t have a gluten free flour mix, try using a boxed gluten free cake mix and reduce the sugar in the recipe by half. This has worked well before but not all cake mix is made the same. I would advise to test one first. Reduce cooking time if needed. 35-45 minutes.
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 35 min
  • Category: dessert
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 252
  • Sugar: 7.4g
  • Sodium: 219.5mg
  • Fat: 20g
  • Saturated Fat: 17.6g
  • Carbohydrates: 40.8g
  • Fiber: 2.5g
  • Protein: 2.4g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg