Lemon Sponge Cake with Strawberry Buttercream (Using Cassava Flour)

It’s become my tradition to share a cake recipe in celebration of my birthday. One year it was a Healthy Ice Cream Cake and another year it was a grain and gluten free Chocolate Cupcake with Peanut Butter and Banana Frosting. I have a special relationship to chocolate, peanut butter, and banana as a flavor combination – who doesn’t love those three things together?! In the spirit of my April birthday, spring, and to showcase my love for all things lemon (another favorite flavor of mine-see here and here), this year I decided to make a Lemon Sponge Cake with Strawberry Buttercream.

This year I also wanted to highlight a completely different ingredient that I haven’t baked with yet. I have heard so many great things about cassava flour (Otto’s brand in particular); it is easy to use and works great in baked goods. I knew I had to try it out for myself. Many of my clients go grain free even if it is for a short time during the healing process, so I am always looking for more recipes to share with them (and with you).

The verdict: cassava flour really is amazing! It is grain free, gluten free and contains beneficial resistant starch. Resistant starch helps feed your good gut bacteria which helps produce short-chain fatty acids. Those fatty acids support the health and healing of cells in the small and large intestine.

Lots of grain-free desserts use almond flour which I love to use as well but not everyone can tolerate nuts. Nuts are higher in more inflammatory fats so you never want to overdo it when it comes to eating nuts. To support a healthy inflammatory response it is all about balance. I have also experimented with coconut flour in the past as another option for grain-free baking but never enjoyed the texture. Cassava flour is a great nutrient-dense solution while still being grain and gluten free.

When experimenting with this cake I discovered a couple of things that I wanted to mention. If you want a slightly fluffier cake, then I recommend separating the eggs and whipping the whites. Folding the whipped eggs whites into the batter before baking helps add more air and results in a lighter cake. If you are in a hurry or don’t feel like taking the extra time to perform this step, then you can simply add in the whole eggs. This cake will still work and be delicious, but it will be slightly denser.

If you don’t like strawberries or want to switch things up, then you could absolutely use whatever fruit you have on hand or enjoy. I bet this would be amazing with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, or peaches. Inside the cake you could also use grapefruit, lime, or oranges instead of lemon. I can’t wait to make all kinds of combinations. When you make this be sure to share it and tag me over on my Instagram page – I want to know what combo you chose!