How I Made a Gluten-Free Neapolitan Cake for My Son’s Birthday

When your child asks for a Neapolitan birthday cake, you smile… and then quickly realize you’re about to bake three different cakes. 😅

But as a gluten-free mom on a mission, I was up for the challenge - and honestly? It turned out even better than I imagined.

This year for my youngest’s birthday, I created a gorgeous gluten-free Neapolitan layer cake using my favorite chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry cake recipes. Each layer is moist, full of flavor, and you’d never guess they’re gluten-free. Best of all? You can make this cake too—and I’ll walk you through how I did it!

🍓🍫🍰 Why Neapolitan?

My son has been on a Neapolitan ice cream kick and he got the brilliant idea he wanted a Neapolitan cake. And he fortunately (or is it unfortunately) knows his mom loves a good challenge!

👩‍🍳 How I Made It (Step-by-Step)

To keep it manageable, I halved each of my cake recipes so I didn’t end up with three full-sized cakes (and a ton of leftover batter). Here's what I used:

✅ Cake Layers:

• The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

• The Best Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake

• The Best Gluten-Free Strawberry Cake

I baked each layer individually, letting each one cool completely on a wire rack before stacking. I used 8-inch round pans for consistency, and they came out perfectly uniform in height.

🍥 Frosting & Assembly

To hold the layers together, I used my go-to Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. It’s rich and chocolatey, and honestly, it paired beautifully with the chocolate layer. But if I’m being totally honest? Next time I’ll use my Vanilla Buttercream Frosting so it doesn’t overpower the more delicate strawberry and vanilla flavors.

Here’s how I built it:

1. Layer 1: Chocolate cake with a thin layer of frosting

2. Layer 2: Vanilla cake, followed by another layer of frosting

3. Layer 3: Strawberry cake on top

Then I frosted the outside with the remaining buttercream and added some sprinkles and piped accents for fun.

💡 Tips for Making a Gluten-Free Neapolitan Cake

• Halve each recipe for a manageable stack (unless you want a towering 6-inch cake!)

• Cool each layer completely before stacking to prevent sliding or melting

• Use toothpicks or dowels if transporting

• Try using vanilla or cream cheese frosting if you want a more neutral balance

• Store in the fridge but bring to room temp before serving for the best texture

🎉 Final Thoughts

This cake was such a fun way to celebrate my son - and it was a total hit with everyone, gluten-free or not. Each bite had a little chocolate, a little strawberry, and a little vanilla. And most importantly? It was made with love (and a little bit of strategic planning!).

If you try making this Neapolitan cake, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @TheGlutenFreeEngineer or share it in our gluten-free community.

Happy baking!
Carrie