Full question
The Clementine Cake recipe says to use gluten free baking powder. Can I use xantham gum instead and just follow the same recipe?
Our answer
Nigella's Clementine Cake is made with ground almonds (almond meal) instead of flour so it can be gluten free. However you do need to check if the baking powder is gluten free to guarantee that the whole cake is gluten free. Baking powder is mostly gluten free nowadays but should always be checked as sometimes wheat starch may be added to help to prevent the powder from caking together. Usually if you check the ingredients list on the package of baking powder it will tell you if gluten or wheat starch is present.
Xanthan gum is an ingredient that is used to thicken mixtures. Sometimes it is added to gluten free baked goods to help to stop them from being too crumbly. But it does not help cakes to rise in the oven, so there is no reason to use it as a substitute for baking powder in the Clementine Cake. If you require the cake to be gluten free but can't find gluten free baking powder then it is better to make the cake and just omit the baking powder.
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What 1 Other has said
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Posted by Grannybaba on 7th January 2018
Show more commentsThank you for this lovely Clementine Cake recipe. It will become my go to dessert for Passover, sans baking powder and using oranges instead. Very happy to note that it freezes well.