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Knock-off Lovella's Genoa Cake - Gluten-free !


Lovella's Cake of Genoa looked so delicious I couldn't resist making a gluten-free copy-cat cake.
I made it for our bible study group this week... there was seven of us....and the cake disappeared quickly with complements and second helpings and requests for the recipe!
So here it is !
Cake Layers
  • five eggs
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 cup white rice flour
  • 1/4 cup tapioca starch
  • 1/4 cup potato starch
  • 1 heaping tbsp. sweet rice flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum

(Alternative flour mix that I had good results with -- 1/4 cup white or brown rice, 1/4 cup white corn, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 tbsp potato starch)

Beat eggs and sugar until thick and creamy, add salt and vanilla.

Mix all dry ingredients together well....... and then add to egg mixture , beating until smooth.

Divide batter into two greased round cake pans, ( I put waxed paper on the bottom to facilitate easy removal )

Bake at 350' for about 40 minutes and cool in pan.

Butter Cream

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 3 eggs or 6 yolks (I've done it both ways, but the six yokes is definitely better!)
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 pkg Oeker's Vanilla Sugar (you can of course use Vanilla extract, but I LOVE the flavor of Oeker's Vanilla Sugar)
  • 1/2 cup very soft butter

Combine the sugar and cornstarch and Oeker's Vanilla sugar, add yokes (or eggs) and beat until fluffy .

Stir in the milk.

Cook until thickened.... remove from heat ..place plastic wrap directly on custard and let cool to room temperature.. Be patient !

Then mix in soft butter until perfectly smooth and place in fridge until firmed to spreading consistency .

Put Butter Cream filling between the layers and then cover top and sides as well.

Cover with toasted almond flakes ... and I drizzled chocolate over the top. (3 chocolate squares melted in the microwave with a little sugar and milk- ***note- let the milk boil and the squares just turn soft , then stir until they are melted, I find letting them melt completely takes the shine and smoothness out of the chocolate )

Vic liked his piece of cake served with homemade berry sauce.

14 comments:

  1. goodness gracious this looks luscious.]

    were do you get yout xanthum gum julie?

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  2. Charlotte, xanthan gum should be available in your grocery store.. or in a health food store. It takes the place of gluten- holds things together!
    And the cake is delicious, giggle, even though I say so myself !!

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  3. You are so creative with the Gluten Free!!! The cake looks terrific, and I'll have to remember it in case I need something for my sister. I just need to get more of the "ingredients" to keep around the house. I also have several friends for whom I need to keep to gluten free.

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  4. Yummy..pass me a slice of that cake please!! And it does look so pretty, Julie!

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  5. It is so good to have variations of recipes. Your cake looks so yummy and such a nice presentation! Such a treat for your Bible study group. Kathy

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  6. Wow...serve it any which way & it always looks fantastic! You are making this gluten-free diet look most appealing, Julie.

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  7. This looks absolutely beautiful, Julie! It always amazes me how the same things can be created in so many different, but beautiful ways.
    We are made in His image....

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  8. Oh Julie...there you go again! Wonderful. And may I say...I have been keeping my eye out now for gluten free recipes and although I do not have a gluten free kitchen I still can make recipes even if I can't always safely share them. I found one today for a chocolate chip cookie....what else?! HA. Anyway...this looks super good! You did well. I have never heard of Vanilla Sugar...I am going to look for that for sure. One tip for readers...many ingredients I am finding in T&T Supermarket (a local Huge Asian Market). You may not have one near you but check our any Asian market. Just make sure you take the name of the brand and look it up on the gluten free registery...you can find if there are any nasty surprises in there. But the prices are soooo much cheaper than a health food store. I bought a three cup package of rice flour for only 69 cents!. Yep! I'll be back Julie....you are always taking up the challenge.

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  9. Julie. . .you are amazing. .how fantastic. . .thank you for doing this knock off. . I love how you embrace these challenges.

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  10. The buttercream was amazing however found the cake tough to cut with a fork when eating. Very good flavour.

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. ohh ... the cake should be light and fluffy - although I have had it fail on me once or twice too.

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  13. I am going to try it again in a little while and see what happens. I really enjoyed the buttercream, I have to say.

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