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 tsp. xanthan gum (xanthan gum is always measured in rounded tsps)

(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.