Fresh Milled Flour Sourdough Vanilla Cake (No Refined Sugar)
Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by Kayla Ruetten
Achieving the comforting taste and texture of vanilla sheet cake without refined sugar or flour is something to celebrate. This fresh milled flour sourdough vanilla cake is so simple yet seems decadent, especially with a cream cheese frosting (also refined sugar free). If you are new to fresh milled flour and sourdough, this vanilla sheet cake is a super easy dessert recipe to start with. With just a handful of ingredients, this recipe comes together fast enough for even a week night treat.
Health Benefits of Fresh Milled Flour & Sourdough
If you have been gluten-free for awhile, due to sensitivities, like our family has, you might be able to successfully introduce fresh milled flour like we have. (Even if sourdough didn’t work for you!). See more on this below.
Fresh milled flour contains 40 essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, protein, and fiber. It seems many people who cannot tolerate flour do well with fresh milled flour. Especially when adding the fermented sourdough to the batter. Fresh milled flour is:
- Complete with 40 of the 44 essential nutrients our bodies need.
- Rich in B vitamins, including B1, B3, and B6
- High in minerals, such as magnesium, zinc, potassium, vitamin E, phosphorous, manganese, and iron
- Full of fiber and protein
Why You Will Love This Fresh Milled Sourdough Vanilla Cake
- Taste. The flavor comparison of freshly milled flour to store-bought flour is like a fresh picked apple to a store-bought one. If you’ve been nervous to make the switch, it is so worth it! Enjoy the rich flavors and fluff.
- Quick & easy to prepare. You can make this recipe with just a few ingredients and no rise time, folding, or yeast needed.
- Healing diet friendly. This recipe has fresh milled flour, which is completely different than using store-bought flour. It is lightyears healthier and less inflammatory than even from scratch sourdough using store-bought flour. Whether you are eating GAPS, Paleo, whole food, or just becoming more ingredient aware, this recipe is can be a compatible next step following many healing diets.
- Naturally sweetened. This cake and frosting contain no refined sugar, just sweetened with honey, which aids our bodies rather than depletes them.
- Simple ingredients. No need for any specialty or unfamiliar ingredients. Just the basics.
Gluten-Sensitivity
As our family healed from food allergies using a gut healing protocol, we learned how to re-create favorite recipes with healthier alternatives. With myself and all our children being gluten-sensitive, we were so thrilled to discover we tolerate fresh milled flour well. We, like many others, tried from scratch sourdough first, using store-bought flour. We continued to have inflammatory reactions from this. Now we make our sourdough and starter using only fresh milled grains and this has made all the difference for us. We have also, remarkably, been able to consume straight fresh mill flour baked goods (not fermented with sourdough first) without reactions since. Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, and this is not medical advice. If you have celiac or food allergies, talk with your doctor before adding in any new foods including this recipe.
Check out the process we used to heal from food allergies, auto-immune, and eczema here.
FAQ and a Dairy-Free Option (Yay!)
- Is it ok to use coconut or another fat in place of butter in this recipe?
Yes, you can use different fats or oils in place of the butter in this recipe. We usually use butter or coconut oil. - Can I layer this cake?
Yes, double the frosting recipe below and divide the batter into 2 baking dishes. Be sure your baking dishes are well greased to the cake comes out easily.
Helpful Resources to Make This Recipe
How To Make Fluffy Fresh Milled Flour Sourdough Vanilla Cake
You will be delighted how simple this sheet cake is to make!
Ingredients for Cake Batter
- 2.5 cups finely ground fresh milled flour (soft or hard white wheat berries)
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup sourdough starter
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 eggs
- 2-3 tablespoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Ingredients for Frosting
- 8 oz block cream cheese
- 1/2 cup softened/room temperature butter (1 stick)
- 1/4 cup honey
Instructions for Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grind wheat berries. 1 cup of wheat berries yields about 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh milled flour.
- Cream together room temperature/softened butter, honey, and vanilla. I like to do this with an immersion blender right in a large glass measuring cup for less dishes. Once creamed, whisk in eggs and sourdough starter.
- Mix flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Gently tap the dish against the counter to remove air pockets.
- Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until cake is golden brown on the top and bottom. Insert a knife or toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done; if it has batter, cook longer and try again in a few minutes.
- Wait until cake is completely cooled before frosting, otherwise the frosting will melt and slide. I pop the cake in the fridge or freezer for a bit to speed the process.
Instructions for Frosting
- Cream together all ingredients until smooth. I like using an immersion blender best for this but any blender will work.
- Spread on top of room temperature/cooled cake.
Fresh Milled Flour Sourdough Vanilla Cake (No Refined Sugar) Recipe
Equipment
- flour mill
- immersion blender
- large glass measuring cup
- bowl
- 9×13 baking dish
- knife (or toothpick)
Ingredients
Ingredients for Cake Batter:
Ingredients for Frosting:
- 8 oz block cream cheese
- 1/2 cup softened/room temperature butter (1 stick)
- 1/4 cup honey
Instructions
Instructions for Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grind wheat berries. 1 cup of wheat berries yields about 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh milled flour.
- Cream together room temperature/softened butter, honey, and vanilla. I like to do this with an immersion blender right in a large glass measuring cup for less dishes. Once creamed, whisk in eggs and sourdough starter.
- Mix flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Gently tap the dish against the counter to remove air pockets.
- Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until cake is golden brown on the top and bottom. Insert a knife or toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done; if it has batter, cook longer and try again in a few minutes.
- Wait until cake is completely cooled before frosting, otherwise the frosting will melt and slide. I pop the cake in the fridge or freezer for a bit to speed the process.
Instructions for Frosting:
- Cream together all ingredients until smooth. I like using an immersion blender best for this but any blender will work.
- Spread on top of room temperature/cooled cake.
We hope your family enjoys this fun, fresh milled flour sourdough vanilla cake as much as ours does! We would love your feedback in the comments below.
Resources
More Sourdough and Fresh Milled Flour Recipes
Fresh Milled Flour Sourdough Crackers
Flaky Fresh Milled Flour Biscuits (Dairy-Free Option!)
Fresh Milled Flour Sourdough Pancakes (Dairy-Free Option!)
Fresh Milled Flour Tortillas-4 Ingredients
Posts
Fresh Milled Flour & Sourdough
What is the GAPS Diet – An Easier Explanation
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- flour mill
- soft white wheat berries
- aluminum free baking powder
- 9×13 glass baking dishes
- real vanilla extract
- raw honey
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I’ve heard such great things about GAPS and this looks delicious!!