Let Us All Eat Cake: Gluten-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Cakes [A Baking Book]

by Catherine Ruehle, Sarah Scheffel

Overview

A delightful collection of gluten-free takes on your favorite cake recipes, from everyday coffee cakes, layered cakes, and cupcakes to show-stopping special occasion masterpieces.

Celebrate your favorite holidays and special occasions from birthdays to bake sales, Halloween to Christmas—and even the everyday—with delectable gluten-free cakes. In this delightful collection, Catherine Ruehle, a pastry chef and cake artist turned wellness foods chef, shares sixty classic cake recipes that are every bit as indulgent as the gluten-heavy ones we adore, but gluten-free, all-natural, and with alternatives given for vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free renditions. A few of the luscious cakes that await: Pink Velvet Strawberry Cake made electrifyingly pink with strawberries instead of food dye, Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes that children of all ages will be thrilled to find in their lunchboxes, and a dramatic White and Dark Chocolate Checkerboard Cake that’s a cinch to prepare in advance.

With positivity and careful guidance, Ruehle provides basic and advanced decorating, piping, and plating techniques to take your cakes from pretty to breathtaking. So go ahead: lick the frosting off the beaters, cut yourself a nice big slice, and let us all eat cake!

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781607746300
Publisher:	Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Publication date:	09/09/2014
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	24 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

CATHERINE RUEHLE is a renowned cake artist, pastry chef, television personality, certified holistic health coach, and wellness foods chef. She was the owner of Sublime Bakery and, after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, started her own health coaching company. Ruehle has been featured on Food Network, Style Network, WE Network, as well as in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, among others.

SARAH SCHEFFEL is a cookbook editor currently enrolled at The Natural Gourmet Institute for Culinary Arts.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction 
“A party without cake is just a meeting.”
—Julia Child

Cakes have the power to elevate an otherwise ordinary moment into something truly extraordinary. They are at the center of life’s celebrations, from birthdays and weddings to graduations, anniversaries, and baby showers. We cheer up our friends by baking cakes, reward ourselves with cupcakes, and invite our children to lick frosting off the beaters. So what happens when you or your child can’t enjoy that slice of cake because you can’t eat gluten? I can tell you from firsthand experience. 

When a Pastry Chef Has to Give Up Gluten 
For the past twenty years working as a professional pastry chef and cake artist, I’ve piped enough buttercream to stretch from Washington, D.C., to my hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, drizzled enough chocolate ganache to float a boat, and sifted a mountain of flour that would be a challenge for even a seasoned climber to scale. My first restaurant boss and mentor, Chef Michel Nischan, gave me the big break that turned a self-taught baker into a bona fide pastry chef. Creating cakes and pastries under Chef Nischan’s direction was exhilarating, and it was clear at age twenty-five that I had found my calling; the New York Times raved about my desserts, calling them “breathtaking in both artistry and taste.”

From there, I worked in turn as a caterer, restaurant manager, and cake designer, creating custom cakes for weddings, birthdays, and other gala events, and opened Sublime Bakery, a retail bakery and cake studio in Fort Worth. From its inception, Sublime stood at the forefront of custom cakes, incorporating organic ingredients before they were mainstream and championing gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free baked goods before they became trendy. It came to be known as the place to turn to if your kiddo had a laundry list of allergies; we would always find a way to make a cake or cupcakes for them. 

My dearest Sublime memory is of a sweet little boy named Jack; he was four when he first came in with his mom and his big brother, Pete. Pete explained that Jack had never had a “real” cupcake from a bakery because of his numerous food allergies and intolerances. Jack’s mom had heard that we baked cupcakes that were gluten free and vegan, so they had come to check it out. Jack’s eyes grew huge when I handed him a chocolate cupcake straight from our pastry case. This was a totally new experience for him; in the past, he’d always had to do without when the family got treats at a bakery. But he didn’t hesitate for a second—he just dived right in, face first. His joy was as pure as anything I’ve ever witnessed.

Little did I know that I, too, would soon need to eliminate all gluten from my diet. It happened when I was a con-testant on the Food Network Challenge, where I quickly became known as the contestant who always goes big: on the wedding cake show, I created one of the tallest cakes in Food Network Challenge history—seven feet three inches tall, to be exact. But during my fourth appearance, in the midst of preparing yet another big cake—a five-foot-tall Tyrannosaurus rex cake—I experienced a painful tingling and paralysis in my hands. I was simply unable to complete my cake before the competition buzzer went off. The diagnosis: rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors prescribed a lifelong regime of toxic medications and painkillers, but I did my own research and, through trial and error, created a program for myself to heal my body and control the debilitating symptoms—which included eliminating food triggers like dairy, refined sugar, and, yes, gluten from my diet. Soon after, I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I became certified as a wellness coach so I could help others suffering from chronic illnesses. 

My diagnosis—and the miraculous relief that the elimination of gluten and dairy provided—inspired me to develop gluten-free (and dairy-free) versions of all my favorite cakes. My goal was to create cakes and cupcakes that would be every bit as good as the originals. 
So I invite you, and everyone you know with gluten sensitivities or food allergies, to grab a fork and a slice of cake and dig in with gusto. Because we all deserve to have our cake—and eat it, too! I hope you’ll enjoy baking, decorating, and eating my gluten-free cakes as much as I’ve enjoyed creating them.

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This beautiful Bundt was the first cake I hoped to make deliciously gluten free.
I began by layering in the lemon flavor, using fresh juice and zest in both the
batter and the glaze. Don’t even think about using bottled juice here: the fresh flavor, aroma, and oils of fresh lemon are crucial to the success of this cake.

Lemon Blueberry Bundt
with Glistening Lemon Glaze

Lemony Blueberry Bundt
3 cups Gluten-Free Whole Grain Flour Blend (page 191)
2 teaspoons baking powder 
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup milk or unsweetened coconut milk (from a carton),
at room temperature 
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon organic lemon zest 
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter or Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks, at room temperature
2 cups organic cane sugar 
2 eggs or Flax Egg Replacer (page 194), at room temperature
1 cup frozen organic blueberries

Glistening Lemon Glaze
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped organic lemon zest
4 to 6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar (to make your own, see page 192) 

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a 10-inch-diameter Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray or coconut oil.

To make the cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour blend, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt. In a small bowl, mix the milk with the lemon juice and zest. Set both bowls aside.

Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl and beat again for 15 seconds. Add the sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy, 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl and beat for 15 seconds. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 20 seconds and scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the milk mixture to the batter and mix on low for 30 seconds, and then on medium for 30 seconds. The batter will look separated at this point.

With the mixer running on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, about 1 cup at a time. Scrape down the bowl after the second and third additions. When all the flour has been added, mix on medium speed for 30 seconds.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the blueberries using a rubber spatula.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the cake
is light golden brown and set to the touch. (Don’t use a toothpick test: this cake is very moist, and the blueberries may make the toothpick appear wet when the cake is actually done.) Transfer the cake in its pan to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, and confectioners’ sugar. Use the smaller amount of sugar for a thinner glaze, and the larger amount if you want it thicker. 

When the cake is cool to the touch, remove the cake from the pan to cool on a wire rack set over a parchment-lined baking sheet, referring to page 172 for guidance if necessary. When completely cool, pour the glaze over the top of the cake.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 days or in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. Or you can freeze it, tightly wrapped in a double layer of plastic wrap, up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature before removing the plastic and serving.

Table of Contents

Introduction 

1  Breakfast, snack & coffee cakes
Nana Banana Snack Cake 
Angel Food Cake with Fresh Berries 
Buttermilk Bundt Cake with Peaches 
Poppy Seed Bundt with Clementine Glaze 
Lemon Blueberry Bundt with Glistening Lemon Glaze 
Honey-Lavender Tea Cake 
Mocha Coffee Cake 
Apple-Cinnamon Coffee Cake with Almond Streusel 
Pumpkin Spice Cake with Creamy Cinnamon Glaze 
Polenta Breakfast Cake with Honey-Citrus Syrup 
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake 
Fruitcake with Citrus-Ginger Syrup 
Gingerbread Cake with Fresh Ginger and Citrus Glaze   
Chocolate and Vanilla Marbled Cakes 
Texas Sheet Cake 

2  Layer cakes
Triple Lemon Cake 
Very Vanilla Cake with Fudgy Frosting 
Peaches and Cream Cake Hummingbird Cake with White Chocolate
Cream Cheese Icing 
Maple Walnut Cake with Cinnamon Maple Buttercream 
Southern Coconut Cake 
Pink Velvet Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream 
German Chocolate Cake 
Boston Cream Pie 
Carrot Cake with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing 
Cinnamon Spice Cake with Almond Buttercream 
Caramel Cream Cake 
Chocolate Layer Cake 
Chocolate Peppermint Cake with Peppermint Buttercream 

3  Cupcakes filled & frosted
Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes 
Banana Cream Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache 
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes 
Chocolate Obsession Cupcakes 
Salted Caramel and Apple Cupcakes
Mocha Latte Cupcakes 
Ancho Chile, Chocolate, and Cinnamon Cupcakes 
Chocolate Hazelnut Cupcakes 
Orange-Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes 
Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes 
Chocolate-Cherry Kirsch Cupcakes 
Lemon Meringue Cupcakes 
Margarita Lime Zingers 

4  Plated slices & little cakes
Chocolate Raspberry Ruffled Cakelets 
Baked Alaska Bombes 
Flourless Chocolate Torte with Cherry-Berry Puree
S’mores Cakes 
Molten Chocolate Truffle Cakes 
Cinnamon Mini Cakes with Caramelized Pears 
and Golden Sugar Halos 
Chocolate Orange Gâteaux with Grand Marnier Crème Anglaise 
White and Dark Chocolate Checkerboard Cake 
Chocolate-Glazed Raspberry-Vanilla Jelly Roll with Chambord Crème Anglaise 

5  Decorated special-occasion cakes
Pretty as a Package Cake 
Wild at Heart Cake 
Pink Princess Cake 
Camo Cake 
Two-Tiered Whimsy Cake 
Fright Night Mummy Cake 
White Christmas Bûche de Noël 

6 Essential frostings, fillings & glazes
Almond Buttercream 
Big-Batch Coconut Buttercream 
Caramel Buttercream 
Chocolate Buttercream 
Chocolate Ganache Buttercream 
Chocolate Hazelnut Buttercream 
Cinnamon Maple Buttercream 
Coconut Buttercream 
Espresso Buttercream 
Lemon Buttercream 
Peppermint Buttercream 
Strawberry Buttercream 
Very Vanilla Buttercream 
Peanut Butter Buttercream 
Salted Caramel Buttercream 
Ancho Cinnamon Ganache 
Chocolate Ganache 
Chocolate Cherry Ganache 
Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache 
Chocolate Peppermint Ganache 
Orange Chocolate Ganache 
White Chocolate Ganache
Glossy Chocolate Glaze 
Espresso Cinnamon Glaze
Caramel Filling 
Chocolate Icing 
Swiss Meringue Icing 
Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing 
White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing 
Fudgy Frosting 
Pastry Cream 

7  Tips, tricks & decorating techniques 
Mixing and Baking 
Ready for Filling and Frosting 
Decorating Cakes 

Your Gluten-Free Baking Pantry 
Allergen-Free and Vegan Cakes Chart 
Sources 
Acknowledgments 
About the Authors 
Index

Editorial Reviews

This is the perfect book of classic and sophisticated cakes that just happen to be gluten-free. From Boston Cream Pie to Bûche de Noël, you will find a cake for every occasion. As a former pastry chef, I cannot get enough.” 
-Aran Goyoaga, creator of Cannelle et Vanille and author of Small Plates and Sweet Treats

“Catherine Ruehle has created a simple-to-follow book that addresses the many facets, traps, pitfalls, and substitutions of baking gluten-free layered cakes, cupcakes, celebration cakes, icings, and fillings. There are also some very handy tips for decorating these specialties. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a helping hand navigating the tricky world of gluten-free baking.”
-Kerry Vincent, Hall of Fame sugar artist, Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show director, and television personality

“As a long-standing chef and father of two sons living with diabetes, I understand the role food plays in both human health and enjoyment. This fantastic book offers both! The recipes are thoughtful, well constructed, and easy—greatly enhancing the fun factor of making cakes.”
-Michel Nischan, chef and food equity advocate

From the Publisher