These Gluten-Free Red Velvet Muffins are all the deliciousness of red velvet cake but in a cute, portable, muffin form! The soft, rich muffin base with that signature red color and a buttery streusel topping is a total treat. Whether you’re gluten-free or just love a good muffin, these are perfect for breakfast, snack time, or whenever you need a little red velvet in your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these without gluten-free flour?
Of course! If gluten isn’t a concern, you can swap out the gluten-free flour for regular all-purpose flour. Just keep everything else the same.
Why is there cocoa in red velvet?
Great question! The cocoa adds just a subtle hint of chocolate flavor, which is what gives red velvet its signature taste. It’s not as rich as chocolate cake, but it has that nice, balanced sweetness.
Do I need to use red food coloring?
If you want that classic red velvet look, yes! But if you’re not into food coloring, you can totally leave it out and just have a tasty (non-red) muffin.
What’s the secret to a fluffy muffin?
The heavy cream adds a richness that keeps these muffins moist and fluffy. Also, don’t overmix the batter! Stir until just combined, and you’ll have perfect, tender muffins every time.
Fun Places to Serve These Muffins
Brunch with Friends – These red velvet muffins will steal the show at any brunch gathering. Their bright red color makes them a fun and festive choice.
Birthday Breakfast – Serve these beauties as part of a birthday breakfast spread. It’s like giving someone a mini red velvet cake to start their day!
Picnics – These muffins are super portable and make a fun, easy dessert for a picnic. Just toss them in a basket, and you’re ready to go.
Valentine’s Day Treats – These muffins are a great way to celebrate love day! The red color fits right into the holiday’s theme, and they’re a cute, thoughtful treat to share.
How to Store Leftovers
If you somehow manage to have leftovers (unlikely!), store these muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want them to last longer, pop them in the fridge—they’ll keep for about a week. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months! Just let them thaw overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to eat them.
Tips for Making This Recipe with Kids
Mixing the Streusel Topping – Kids love getting their hands in the mix, and making the streusel topping is the perfect job for them! Let them mash the butter into the gluten-free flour and sugar for a crumbly topping they’ll be proud of.
Adding Food Coloring – Red food coloring is like magic to kids! Let them squeeze it in and watch the batter turn that fun, bright red.
Scooping the Batter – Muffins are a great way to teach little ones about portion control. Let them use an ice cream scoop or large spoon to fill the muffin tins.
So, the first time I made these Gluten-Free Red Velvet Muffins, I was on a mission to make something both delicious and allergy-friendly for a friend who was gluten-sensitive. I was nervous because, you know, gluten-free baking can sometimes be tricky, right?
But let me tell you—these muffins were fire! They came out fluffy, perfectly sweet, and that crumbly streusel topping was the star of the show. My friend was so thrilled, and now they’ve become a go-to for me whenever I need an easy, show-stopping gluten-free treat. Plus, they’re super fun to make with the kiddos!
Why This Recipe Works
Gluten-Free, No Problem – The Pillsbury gluten-free flour makes these muffins taste just like the real thing. No gritty texture here—just soft, tender muffins with a perfect crumb.
Rich Flavor – With the combination of cocoa, heavy cream, and a hint of red velvet magic, these muffins are full of flavor without being too sweet or too heavy.
Streusel Topping – The buttery, crumbly topping adds a delicious contrast to the soft muffin base, making these muffins feel a little fancy without any extra fuss.
Easy to Make – These muffins come together in no time, making them perfect for a last-minute treat or when you’re baking with kids.
These Gluten-Free Red Velvet Muffins are the kind of treat you’ll want to make again and again. They’re easy, delicious, and sure to impress anyone—whether they’re gluten-free or not!
What ingredients do you need for these gluten free red velvet muffins?
2 cups of Pillsbury gluten free flour
1/2 cup of sugar
1 Tablespoon of cocoa
1 Tablespoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 egg
1 cup of heavy cream
1/3 cup of cooking oil
1 teaspoon of Red food coloring gel – more if a darker red color is desired
STREUSEL TOPPING:
1 cup of pillsbury gluten free flour
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
3/4 stick of butter – softened not melted
pinch of salt
1 can of already prepared Cream Cheese Frosting
How do you make these red velvet gluten free muffins?
Set the oven to 400 degrees.
First, make the Streusel topping: In a bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, and pinch of salt.
Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter, like you would do with pie crust.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and pour the topping out onto the parchment paper, and smooth out the mixture evenly on the parchment paper.
Bake in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring or turning the mixture about every 3 to 4 minutes until it’s a light golden brown.
Remove from the oven, and slide the parchment paper off of the hot cookie sheet, and onto the counter to cool.
Once the mixture is cool, break up any large chunks into smaller pieces, to resemble Streusel topping, and place it in a bowl.
Line a 12 count muffin tin with paper liners, and set aside.
In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt, and mix well to blend all ingredients.
In another bowl, beat the egg until it’s light lemon yellow color, and then add the cream, oil, and food coloring gel, and blend until the egg mixture is all the same color of dark red.
Add the egg/cream mixture to the large bowl with the dry ingredients, and mix with a whisk, or large spoon, until all the flour mixture is mixed with the wet ingredients, and the red color is mixed completely.
If you think you’d like the color a little darker, add a few more drops of food coloring at this time, and mix well to blend.
Spoon the batter into the muffin cups until they are 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack.
When muffins are cool to the touch, dip the muffins into the bowl of Streusel topping, and press lightly to make sure it sticks to the tops of the muffins.
Drizzle with cream cheese frosting. Serve, and Enjoy!
Storage
Store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
Common Problems and How to Avoid Them
Problem: The muffins are too dense.
Solution: This can be caused by overmixing the batter, which develops the gluten and makes baked goods tough. Stir until the ingredients are just combined.
Problem: The muffins are dry.
Solution: Overbaking can cause dry muffins. Keep a close eye on the muffins towards the end of baking time, and check for doneness with a toothpick.
What are some other great red velvet recipes to try?
If you are looking for a full list of fun and delicious sweet breakfast recipes be sure to check out this list –> The Best Sweet Breakfast Recipes
Gluten Free Red Velvet Muffins With Cream Cheese Streusel
These muffins are so good, and the topping is really wonderful. They're not as sweet as a cupcake, so they're great for Brunch or buffets, and make a stunning addition to any breakfast table. They're really easy to make, and you can make them the night before, so they're ready when you want to serve them. You'll love this recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 cups of Pillsbury gluten free flour
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1 Tablespoon of cocoa
- 1 Tablespoon of baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 1/3 cup of cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon of Red food coloring gel - more if a darker red color is desired
- STREUSEL TOPPING:
- 1 cup of pillsbury gluten free flour
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
- 3/4 stick of butter - softened not melted
- pinch of salt
- 1 can of already prepared Cream Cheese Frosting
Instructions
- Set the oven to 400 degrees.
- First, make the Streusel topping: In a bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, and pinch of salt.
- Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter, like you would do with pie crust.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and pour the topping out onto the parchment paper, and smooth out the mixture evenly on the parchment paper.
- Bake in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring or turning the mixture about every 3 to 4 minutes until it's a light golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, and slide the parchment paper off of the hot cookie sheet, and onto the counter to cool.
- Once the mixture is cool, break up any large chunks into smaller pieces, to resemble Streusel topping, and place it in a bowl.
- Line a 12 count muffin tin with paper liners, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt, and mix well to blend all ingredients.
- In another bowl, beat the egg until it's light lemon yellow color, and then add the cream, oil, and food coloring gel, and blend until the egg mixture is all the same color of dark red.
- Add the egg/cream mixture to the large bowl with the dry ingredients, and mix with a whisk, or large spoon, until all the flour mixture is mixed with the wet ingredients, and the red color is mixed completely.
- If you think you'd like the color a little darker, add a few more drops of food coloring at this time, and mix well to blend.
- Spoon the batter into the muffin cups until they are 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool on a wire rack.
- When muffins are cool to the touch, dip the muffins into the bowl of Streusel topping, and press lightly to make sure it sticks to the tops of the muffins.
- Drizzle with cream cheese frosting. Serve, and Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 356Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 53mgSodium 240mgCarbohydrates 40gFiber 1gSugar 15gProtein 4g
Before you go, Grab Your Free Printable Recipe Kit!
Keep track of all your favorite recipes and ingredients with this free printable book!
Hi! I’m Nellie. I am an entrepreneur, a busy mama of 3 and a wife to my high school sweetheart. I have been sharing content for over 12 years about how to cook easy recipes, workout tips and free printables that make life a little bit easier. I have been featured in places like Yahoo, Buzzfeed, What To Expect, Mediavine, Niche Pursuits, HuffPost, BabyCenter, Mom 2.0, Mommy Nearest, Parade, Care.com, and more!
Get comfortable and be sure to come hang out with me on social. Don’t forget to grab your free fitness journal before you go!