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Switch up the birthday festivities with a delicious Gluten Free Birthday Cookie Cake made with almond flour, almond butter, coconut sugar, and a creamy chocolate frosting!
The most delicious cookie cake recipe
Birthday cakes are great, but have you ever had birthday cookie cake welcome you with candles into your next year of life? Something about a cookie cake is so fun, and today I’m teaching you how to make one gluten free style!
This gluten free birthday cookie cake is an easy and fun recipe to prepare. It’s made with ingredients like almond flour, coconut sugar, and almond butter for a glutenless lineup that tastes incredible.
Make this for the next birthday celebration, or enjoy it this weekend just because!
Ingredients in this birthday cookie cake recipe
To make a yummy gluten free cookie cake, we’ll be using ingredients like almond flour, coconut sugar, and almond butter. We’ll complete the dessert with a creamy chocolate frosting!
Cookie Cake
- Almond flour: First up for the cookie base is 1 1/2 cups of almond flour. This will help create a chewy cookie!
- Baking soda: Use 1/2 tsp of baking soda to help the cookies bake evenly.
- Sea salt: Next, 1/4 tsp of sea salt will add a delicious flavor to the cookies.
- Eggs: Use 2 eggs to bind all of the ingredients together.
- Coconut sugar: Gotta have a sweet cookie! Use 1/3 cup of coconut sugar to get the perfect flavor.
- Almond butter: 1/3 cup of almond butter adds a delicious flavor component while also making for a nice and chewy cookie texture. You can use any nut butter here!
- Coconut oil: For the oil portion, use 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil.
- Vanilla: Add extra flavor with 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
- Chocolate chips: Last up for the cookie cake base will be 3/4 cup of chocolate chips!
Frosting
- Coconut cream: To make the frosting, begin with 1/2 cup of coconut cream.
- Chocolate chips: Combine that with 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips for a delicious chocolatey and creamy frosting.
- Sprinkles: Optionally add your favorite sprinkles.
Tools needed to make this birthday cake
To create a cookie cake you will need a cake pan or pie dish, parchment paper, nonstick spray, a medium mixing bowl, a stirring utensil, a large mixing bowl, and a whisk.
Then, grab the following sized measuring cups: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 3/4 cup, and 1 cup.
How to make a gluten free birthday cookie cake
Making a birthday cookie cake is easy, especially since the “cake” portion just involves standard cookie-making methods! The recipe will take about 15 minutes of prep time along with 20 minutes of baking time and 40 minutes of frosting chill time.
Cookie Cake
To begin, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cake pan or pie dish with parchment paper and nonstick spray.
In a medium bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking soda, and sea salt.
Then, whisk together the eggs and coconut sugar in a separate, larger bowl.
Add the almond butter, coconut oil, and vanilla to the large bowl and combine.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until well combined.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Then, pour the batter into the prepared pan and press it into the sides. Add more chocolate chips on top if desired.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
Frosting
To create the frosting, use a double boiler to melt together the coconut cream and chocolate chips. Stir as it melts.
If unfamiliar, a double boiler is a boiling pot of water with a bowl on top. The cream and chocolate will sit in that bowl and will melt from the steam of the boiling water.
Once the cream and chocolate are melted and combined, turn off the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes. Then, refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Add the frosting to a piping bag and pipe onto the top of the cookie cake. Add sprinkles if desired.
How this gluten free birthday cookie cake recipe is healthier
Not only is this cookie cake gluten free, it’s also a healthier alternative to many premade cookie cakes you’ll find in grocery stores. I made four main ingredient swaps to pack this cake with more nutrients and fewer preservatives!
Almond flour
First up is almond flour. This is a wonderful substitute for white all-purpose flour not only for gluten free purposes, but for flavor, texture, and nutrients too! Because almond flour is made without grains, it’s better for blood sugar.
Coconut sugar
Next up is coconut sugar. This is a seamless substitute to use because the sugar swaps in at an easy 1:1 ratio! You can use it in virtually any baked good.
Almond butter
Almond butter is great to use in place of processed peanut butter, especially if using an all-natural kind! I always recommend all-natural to avoid consuming the icky chemicals and preservatives found in many nut butters.
Coconut oil
Lastly, coconut oil was used in place of vegetable or canola oil. This is another easy swap to make that helps the ingredients bind well. It doesn’t affect the flavor if you use a refined version!
Additional topping ideas
Cookie cakes can be made complete with any toppings that your heart desires! Some more great ideas include:
- Chopped candies (Reese’s Cups, Twix Bars, etc.)
- M&Ms
- Pretzel crumbles
- Nut butter or chocolate drizzle
- Crushed Oreos
Storing leftovers
Your leftover cookie cake can be stored on the counter at room temperature. Keep it in a tightly sealed container to maintain freshness and enjoy within 2-3 days.
Optionally store it in the refrigerator to preserve the great taste for a couple of extra days!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Looking for some more gluten free treats that will wow any crowd? Try these! From cake pops and cookies to tarts and lemon bars, there’s something for everyone.
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Gluten Free Birthday Cookie Cake
Switch up the birthday festivities with a delicious Gluten Free Birthday Cookie Cake made with almond flour, almond butter, coconut sugar, and a creamy chocolate frosting!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1/3 cup almond butter (or other nut butter)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
Frosting
- 1/2 cup coconut cream
- 1.5 cups chocolate chips
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line cake pan or pie dish with parchment paper and nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, mix together almond flour, baking soda, and sea salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and coconut sugar.
- Mix in almond butter, coconut oil, and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until well combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips
- Pour batter into prepared pan and press into the sides. You can add more chocolate chips on top.
- Bake in oven for 18-20 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
Frosting
- Using a double boiler (boiling pot of water with a bowl on top), melt together coconut cream and chocolate chips, stirring as it melts.
- Once melted, turn off heat and let cool for 10 minutes before refrigerating for 30 minutes.
- Pipe onto top of cookie cake, then add sprinkles if desired.
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Su says
Hi, can u tell me what’s the texture of this cookie.? Soft, chewy, a little crispy?
Thanks!
Erin says
Hi Su, they are soft! Let me know how yours come out!
Iris says
What size cake pan should I use ?
Erin says
Hi Iris, you can use a 6 inch or 8 inch. Let me know how it comes out!
Kate says
This is a winner! Made it once and whole family loved it. Husband loved it so much requested it for his 40th birthday celebration !
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kate, so glad it was a hit!!
Alyssa says
This cake was absolutely amazing! Made it for my husband’s birthday and he said this was hands down the best cake he’s ever had. No doubt I will be making this again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alyssa, so happy you loved it! Happy belated to him!!
Dani says
Cookie cake is my absolute favorite and I couldn’t wait to make this recipe! This recipe was so simple and turned out amazing!!! It was very soft and stayed that way for days. So impressed! Can’t wait to make this again:)
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Dani, so happy you loved the cake so much!!
Casey Colodny says
Texture was that classic chewy, crumbly cookie cake you look for!! mmmm and that ganache!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Casey, so happy you loved it! 🙂
Jennifer Burns says
I’m making this this weekend! But what is coconut cream and where do I find it?? Love all of your recipes!!
Erin says
Hi Jennifer, hope you love it and it is like coconut milk but thicker and depends where you are! You can get it from Thrive Market, Amazon, probably your local grocery store! Let me know how the cake comes out!
Kathryn Piree says
Loved how easy this was to make and that I had everything on hand. I under baked it just slightly and it was so so good. Will definitely make again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kathryn, so glad you loved it! 🙂
Avery says
I was so excited to make this and it exceeded my expectations! This recipe was SO delicious! It’s packed with flavor and is such a great treat! Will definitely be making it again!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Avery, so happy you loved the cake! 🙂