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Home » Desserts

Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes (Dairy-Free)

Published: Jan 19, 2023 by Felicia Lim · This post may contain affiliate links

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Red velvet cupcake with a card that says
Red velvet cupcake with a card that says
Up close view of red velvet cupcakes with frosting.
Gluten-free red velvet cupcakes on cake stand.
Collage with photos of red velvet cupcakes.

Tender and fluffy, these gluten-free red velvet cupcakes are filled with caramel and topped with a deliciously light cream cheese frosting. Totally dairy-free too, but no one would care! It’s the perfect dessert or snack for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Christmas or birthdays. Go bake a batch (or two) today!

Gluten free red velvet cupcakes on cake stand.

Red Velvet Cupcakes for a Special Occasion

I’ve always loved red velvet cake and cupcakes, and when Juan and I were still living in New York city, I’d indulge in Magnolia Bakery red velvet cupcakes whenever we passed by.

However, Juan is Celiac and would never be able to eat them (he’d just look at me while I enjoyed those cupcakes), because the Magnolia Bakery ones are not gluten-free.

That’s why I’m super excited to share these gluten-free dairy-free red velvet cupcakes today that Juan and other celiacs can enjoy! Not only are these delicious red velvet cupcakes free from gluten, they’re also totally dairy-free!

Plus, because of their beautiful and vibrant red color, red velvet cupcakes are perfect for special days, in particular Valentine’s day, Mother’s Day, Christmas or even baby showers.

cornbread in a cast iron skillet
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Top down view of classic red velvet cupcakes.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Simple Ingredients: The main ingredients required for this gluten free red velvet cupcakes recipe are easily accessible at the local grocery store (nothing fancy or difficult needed!)
  • Easy to Make: These homemade red velvet cupcakes are simple to make, and even if it’s your first time making them, you’ll be fine!
  • Totally Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free: The best part is that this recipe is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy these super cute cupcakes without issues!
Up close shot of a red velvet cupcake with frosting.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this gluten-free red velvet cupcakes recipe.

(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredients for the Cupcakes:

Ingredients for gluten free red velvet cupcakes recipe on marble board.

Ingredients for the Filling & Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients for frosting laid out on marble board.

Recipe Notes + Substitutions:

  • Gluten-Free Flour: This recipe is meant to be used with a gluten-free measure-for-measure flour (which is a 1:1 substitute for normal wheat flour) and NOT a gluten-free all-purpose flour. If you are not Celiac or gluten intolerant, feel free to use normal wheat flour instead.
  • Xanthan Gum: Xanthan gum is the replacement for gluten in gluten-free flours and helps the ingredients to better bind together. If your gluten-free flour blend does not include xanthan gum, make sure to add it in.
  • Cocoa Powder: Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder (or cacao powder) as the recipe already includes sugar for sweetening.
  • Sugar: I used normal white sugar, but feel free to use light brown sugar, dark brown sugar or coconut sugar instead. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).
  • Baking Powder: Since this is the only leavening agent used in the recipe, make sure to include it. If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use certified gluten-free baking powder.
  • Oil: I like to use sunflower oil because I always have a large bottle of it on hand. However, you may also use another vegetable oil (such as corn oil, avocado oil, olive oil, melted coconut oil) or melted vegan butter if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use melted better or ghee instead.
  • Egg: The egg helps to bind the ingredients better together. If you prefer not to use the egg yolk, you can use two egg whites instead. I have not tried making this recipe without eggs, so I don’t know how it will work out. However, if you are allergic to eggs, or want to keep this recipe completely vegan, you may try using acquafaba or an egg-replacer. (If you do make this red velvet cupcake recipe egg-free, please let me know how it goes in the comments below, I’d love to hear!)
  • Vegan Buttermilk: To keep this recipe dairy-free, I’ve used dairy-free buttermilk. To make your own dairy-free buttermilk, simply combine 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice with 1/2 cup of dairy-free milk (such as almond milk, cashew milk, tigernut milk, rice milk, soy milk, oat milk etc).
  • Red Food Coloring: Since this is a recipe for gluten-free red velvet cupcakes, red food coloring is a key ingredient to make the cupcakes red. If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use gluten-free red food coloring. If you don’t care about the color of the cupcakes, you can leave out the coloring (you’ll get chocolate cupcakes with a brown color instead).
  • Dairy-Free Caramel: For the optional caramel filling, I’ve used a dairy-free caramel to keep the recipe dairy-free. If you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal caramel instead.
  • Dairy-Free Cream Cheese: I’ve used a dairy-free cream cheese to keep the recipe dairy-free. If you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal cream cheese instead.
  • Dairy-Free Whipping Cream: I’ve used a dairy-free whipping cream to keep the recipe dairy-free. If you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal whipping cream instead.
  • Powdered Sugar: Using powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar) ensures that the frosting is sweetened without any undissolved bits of sugar inside. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using powdered monkfruit sweetener (a powdered sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar.)
  • Vanilla Extract: I like adding a bit of pure vanilla extract for extra flavor, but feel free to leave it out if you don’t care for it.
A caramel filled red velvet cupcake cut into half to show the middle.

How to Make Gluten Free Red Velvet Cupcakes (Step by Step):

1. Preheat Oven

Preheat the oven to 360F. Line a standard muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.

2. Whisk Dry Ingredients

Combine gluten-free flour, xanthan gum (if using) unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly whisk everything until you get a homogeneous flour mixture.

Dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

3. Mix Wet Ingredients

In a medium bowl, mix the vegan buttermilk, sunflower oil, and egg.

Egg mixture in white bowl.

4. Add Food Coloring

Add the red food coloring to the liquid ingredients and mix until there are no lumps left.

Red liquid mixture in white bowl.

5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients to Form Batter

Add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients, mixing until you get a homogeneous red batter.

Red velvet cupcake batter in white bowl.

6. Transfer Batter to Muffin Tin

Fill each paper lined muffin cavity with batter to half an inch from the top.

Red velvet cupcake batter in lined muffin tin.

7. Bake Until Ready

Bake at 360F for 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.

Freshly baked red velvet cupcakes still in muffin mold.

8. Cool Cupcakes Before Cutting and Removing the Middle

Remove the baked cupcakes from the oven, let them cool at room temperature either in the muffin tin or on a wire rack, then cut off the tops and remove the middle to create a small hole.

(TIP: If you don’t plan to fill the cupcakes with anything, you can skip this step and the next.)

Red velvet cupcakes with a hole in the middle.

9. Pipe Caramel into Middle of Cupcakes

Use a piping bag to pipe the dairy-free caramel inside the middle of the cupcakes

(TIP: Alternatively, you can place the caramel into a ziplock bag, then snip off a corner and pipe the caramel in).

Caramel piped in the middle of red velvet cupcakes in muffin pan.

10. Prepare Frosting

To make the dairy-free cream cheese frosting, combine the dairy-free whipping powdered sugar, dairy-free cream cheese, and vanilla. Beat with a mixer until a thick, fluffy, homogeneous cream with stiff peaks is obtained.

Whipping cream with stiff peaks in metal bowl.

11. Pipe Frosting on Top of Cupcakes

Transfer the cream to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the cream on top of the caramel filled red velvet cupcakes. Decorate additionally with candy sprinkles (if desired).

Top down view of red velvet cupcakes on marble board.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks

  • Top with Sprinkles/Cupcake Crumbs: You can top these easy red velvet cupcakes with sprinkles or crumble the part of the cupcakes not used and sprinkle them on top.
  • Decorate Cupcakes Accordingly: Change up the decoration for these gluten-free cupcakes depending on the occasion! As you can see, I’ve added decoration for Valentine’s day in the photos, but you can also use cards that say “Happy Easter“, “Happy Mother’s Day“, “Merry Christmas” etc.
  • Use Filling of Choice (or Not): I’ve used a dairy-free caramel filling to fill these cupcakes, but you can also fill it with chocolate fudge, or raspberry jam, or leave out the filling completely!
Up close shot of red velvet cupcakes on cake stand.

Recipe FAQs:

How to Store Red Velvet Cupcakes?

To store, place the gluten-free red velvet cupcakes in a single layer in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do NOT recommend freezing these cupcakes.

Does Red Velvet Cake Mix Have Gluten?

Most red velvet cake mixes are not gluten-free, which means that Celiacs or those allergic or intolerant to gluten cannot use them to make red velvet cake. There are gluten-free red velvet cake mixes, but bear in mind that many of them are not dairy-free.

Other Gluten-Free Cake Recipes You’ll Enjoy

  • Easy Blood Orange Cake (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Option)
  • Gluten-Free Lemon Yogurt Cake (Dairy-Free Option)
  • Coconut Flour Chocolate Cake (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake (No-Bake, Dairy-Free, Vegan)

Gluten-Free Desserts to Make

  • Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies (Flourless, Dairy-Free)
  • Mango Chia Pudding (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
  • Creamy Breakfast Polenta Porridge (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
  • Vegan Lemon Cheesecake (Gluten-Free, No-Bake)

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes (Dairy-Free)


★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

  • Author: Felicia Lim
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 10 cupcakes 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

Tender and fluffy, these gluten-free red velvet cupcakes are filled with caramel and topped with a deliciously light cream cheese frosting. Totally dairy-free too, but no one would care! It’s the perfect dessert or snack for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Christmas or birthdays. Go bake a batch (or two) today!


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Cupcakes:

  • 3/4 cup gluten-free measure for measure flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your GF flour blend already includes it)
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/3 cup sunflower oil
  • 1 large beaten egg
  • 1/2 cup dairy-free buttermilk
  • 1/4 teaspoon gluten-free red food coloring

Filling (Optional):

  • 4 tablespoons dairy-free caramel

For Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1 cup dairy-free cream cheese
  • 2/3 cup dairy-free whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 360F. Line a standard muffin pan with paper muffin liners.
  2. Whisk Dry Ingredients: Combine gluten-free flour, xanthan gum (if using) unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly whisk everything until combined.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the vegan buttermilk, sunflower oil, and egg.
  4. Add Food Coloring: Add the red food coloring to the liquid ingredients and mix until there are no lumps left.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients to Form Batter: Add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients, mixing until you get a homogeneous batter.
  6. Transfer Batter to Muffin Tin: Fill each paper lined muffin cavity with batter to half an inch from the top.
  7. Bake Until Ready: Bake at 360F for 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle of each cupcake comes out clean.
  8. Cool Cupcakes Before Cutting and Removing the Middle: Remove the baked cupcakes from the oven, let them cool on a wire rack, then cut off the tops and remove the middle to create a small hole.
  9. Pipe Caramel into Middle of Cupcakes: Use a piping bag to pipe the dairy-free caramel inside the middle of the cupcakes. (Alternatively, you can place the caramel into a ziplock bag, then snip off a corner and pipe the caramel in).
  10. Prepare Frosting: To make the dairy-free cream cheese frosting, combine the dairy-free whipping powdered sugar, dairy-free cream cheese, and vanilla. Beat with a mixer until a thick, fluffy, homogeneous cream with stiff peaks is obtained.
  11. Pipe Cream Cheese Frosting on Top of Cupcakes: Transfer the cream to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the cream on top of the cupcakes. Decorate additionally with candy sprinkles (if desired).

Notes

Gluten-Free Flour: This recipe is meant to be used with a gluten-free measure-for-measure flour (which is a 1:1 substitute for normal wheat flour). If you are not Celiac or gluten intolerant, feel free to use normal wheat flour instead.

Xanthan Gum: Xanthan gum is the replacement for gluten in gluten-free flours and helps the ingredients to better bind together. If your gluten-free flour blend does not include xanthan gum, make sure to add it in.

Cocoa Powder: Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder (or cacao powder) as the recipe already includes sugar for sweetening.

Sugar: I used normal white sugar, but feel free to use light brown sugar, dark brown sugar or coconut sugar instead. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).

Baking Powder: Since this is the only leavening agent used in the recipe, make sure to include it. If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use certified gluten-free baking powder.

Oil: I like to use sunflower oil because I always have a large bottle of it on hand. However, you may also use other vegetable oils (such as corn oil, avocado oil, olive oil, melted coconut oil) or melted vegan butter if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use melted better or ghee instead.

Egg: The egg helps to bind the ingredients better together. I have not tried making this recipe without eggs, so I don’t know how it will work out. However, if you are allergic to eggs, or want to keep this recipe completely vegan, you may try using acquafaba or an egg-replacer. (If you do make this red velvet cupcake recipe egg-free, please let me know how it goes in the comments below, I’d love to hear!)

Vegan Buttermilk: To keep this recipe dairy-free, I’ve used dairy-free buttermilk. To make your own dairy-free buttermilk, simply combine 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice with 1/2 cup of non-dairy milk (such as almond milk, cashew milk, tigernut milk, rice milk, soy milk, oat milk etc).

Red Food Coloring: Since this is a recipe for gluten-free red velvet cupcakes, red food coloring is important to make the muffins red. If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use gluten-free red food coloring. If you don’t care about the color of the cupcakes, you can leave out the coloring.

Dairy-Free Caramel: For the optional caramel filling, I’ve used a dairy-free caramel to keep the recipe dairy-free. If you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal caramel instead.

Dairy-Free Cream Cheese: I’ve used a dairy-free cream cheese to keep the recipe dairy-free. If you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal cream cheese instead.

Dairy-Free Whipping Cream: I’ve used a dairy-free whipping cream to keep the recipe dairy-free. If you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal whipping cream instead.

Powdered Sugar: Using powdered sugar (also known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar) ensures that the frosting is sweetened without any undissolved bits of sugar inside. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using powdered monkfruit sweetener (a powdered sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar.)

Vanilla Extract: I like adding a bit of vanilla extract for extra flavor, but feel free to leave it out if you don’t care for it.

Storing: To store, place the gluten-free red velvet cupcakes in a single layer in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do NOT recommend freezing these cupcakes.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Assembly Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: gluten-free red velvet cupcakes

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @felicialimhz on Instagram and hashtag it #dishbydish

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About Felicia

Hey you! I’m Felicia, a Singaporean girl who moved to Buenos Aires for love. A couple of things about me: I love food, writing and food photography. I wrote a grain-free ecookbook that I know you’ll love and I also do freelance writing and photography if you want to work with me. Follow me on this blog as I navigate the world of cooking gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free.

Did you make a recipe? Tag @felicialimhz on Instagram. I love to see what you cook!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Grace Lim says

    January 19, 2023 at 6:37 pm

    Good morning Felicia!

    I have always love to indulge myself with red velvet cake whenever I have an opportunity to eat them i.e. at a birthday or some kind of celebrations.

    The vibrant red color of the cup cake pictures in your post lures me to go make some for myself.

    Now that I have the recipe in hand, I can make my own red velvet cake (or cupcakes) whenever I want to eat them and the beauty of it is it can be done in less than an hour.

    Thank you Felicia for posting this recipe!

    Love you!
    Mum

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Felicia Lim says

      January 20, 2023 at 11:39 am

      Hi mummy! These red velvet cakes are delicious indeed!! Maybe next time I’ll make a cake instead.

      Reply

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I’m Felicia: a girl from Singapore who moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina for love. My husband is Celiac so I test and share gluten-free recipes on my blog! I help people with food intolerances and allergies cook and eat delicious, healthy food! Stay a while, and let's be friends! ♥

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