Cyclic linguistic attractors?

Apr. 2nd, 2026 08:54 pm
[syndicated profile] languagelog_feed

Posted by Mark Liberman

A student who's been working on LLM-style AI transformations of symbolically-represented music recently tried mapping a (fragment of a piece) back and forth between two genres, e.g. baroque and pop. She found that after a couple of steps, the results reach a fixed point and don't change any more.

This is different from what used to happen with machine translation between different languages. The Wikipedia article on Round Trip Translation tells us that

Although the use of RTT for assessing MT system quality or the suitability of a text for MT is in doubt, it is a way to have fun with machine translation. The text produced from an RTT can be comically bad. At one time websites existed for the sole purpose of performing RTT for fun. Other variations send the text through several languages before translating it back into the original or continue translating the text back and forth until it reaches equilibrium (i.e., the result of the back translation is identical to the text used for the forward translation). RTT as entertainment appeared in Philip K. Dick's novel Galactic Pot-Healer. The main character runs book titles and sayings through RTT then has his friends try to guess the original. The Australian television show Spicks and Specks had a contest called "Turning Japanese" which used RTT on song lyrics. Contestants needed to correctly guess the title of the song from which the lyrics were taken.

But I wondered whether things might be different now that MT is pretty good, at least between well-document language pairs. So I took the first two sentences from a CNN news story, and ran them back and forth with French via Google Translate — and indeed, after a couple of cycles, the process seems to have converged on a fixed point:

President Donald Trump has fired Pam Bondi as attorney general.

She will be replaced for now by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who will serve as acting attorney general, Trump said.

Le président Donald Trump a limogé Pam Bondi de son poste de procureure générale.

Elle sera remplacée, pour l'instant, par le procureur général adjoint Todd Blanche, qui assurera l'intérim, a déclaré M. Trump.

President Donald Trump has dismissed Pam Bondi from her position as Attorney General.

She will be replaced, for the time being, by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who will serve as interim, Mr. Trump stated.

Le président Donald Trump a relevé Pam Bondi de ses fonctions de procureure générale.

Elle sera remplacée, pour le moment, par le procureur général adjoint Todd Blanche, qui assurera l'intérim, a déclaré M. Trump.

President Donald Trump has relieved Pam Bondi of her duties as Attorney General.

She will be replaced, for the time being, by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who will serve as interim Attorney General, Mr. Trump stated.

Le président Donald Trump a relevé Pam Bondi de ses fonctions de procureure générale.

Elle sera remplacée, pour le moment, par le procureur général adjoint Todd Blanche, qui assurera l'intérim, a déclaré M. Trump.

President Donald Trump has relieved Pam Bondi of her duties as Attorney General.

She will be replaced, for the time being, by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who will serve as interim Attorney General, Mr. Trump stated.

I don't have time this afternoon to check whether the same thing happens with longer cycles, other passages, longer passages, other languages, other translation systems, three- or four-way language cycles, etc. — readers are welcome to try.

But I suspect that many similar experiments are now similarly likely to converge on cyclic linguistic attractors in machine-translation space…

 

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Posted by Belal Nawar

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Wednesday,1 April, 2026 that Egypt will increase the minimum monthly wage to EGP 8,000 (USD 147.25) per month from July.  Madbouly said the decision includes a 1,000 EGP increase and forms part of measures to be reflected in the 2026/27 state budget. Speaking during a weekly cabinet press conference, Madbouly said the government expects the wage bill for the 2026/27 fiscal year to rise by 21 percent, describing it as the largest increase in a long period.  He added that the authorities plan to continue periodic salary increments at a 15 percent rate, while also granting exceptional increases for specific public service categories, including teachers and healthcare workers. The move follows earlier minimum wage revisions for private sector workers, including an increase to 7,000 EGP (USD 128.84) in March 2025. That adjustment was the sixth minimum wage rise over three years, with earlier increases in May 2024 from 3,500 EGP to 6,000 EGP (USD 110.44), and further steps before that across 2022–2024. Earlier on Wednesday, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, met with Madbouly, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk, and Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed…

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The post Egypt Raises Minimum Wage to 8,000 EGP From July 2026 first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

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Posted by Egyptian Streets

  For many Egyptians, working abroad has long been a way to earn a living, support family back home, or simply find opportunities that do not exist locally. But for some women, that path just got narrower. Egypt’s Ministry of Manpower announced on Wednesday, 1 April, a new decision that will restrict women’s ability to travel abroad for certain kinds of jobs, specifically, work in private homes or in cafés and restaurants. It also includes roles like housekeepers, caregivers, cooks, and personal assistants, as well as jobs such as waitresses or counter staff. Officials say the move is mainly about protection, making sure Egyptian women are not exposed to unsafe working conditions or exploitation overseas. Yet the story behind the decision is more layered. According to the ministry, the policy came after reports from Egypt’s labor office in Riyadh, where some women were found working in roles that already fall outside official regulations for overseas employment. No further clarity was provided though. Recruitment agencies have been told to immediately comply, with warnings that breaking the rules could lead to suspension or losing their licenses altogether. However, the decision raises important…

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The post For Women in Egypt, Working Abroad Just Got Harder first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

Musical communication

Apr. 2nd, 2026 11:05 am
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Posted by Mark Liberman

There are many other episodes, for example Episode 25, featuring the musical genre Ambient Hyper Pop Shark Core Acoustic New Metal among many others:

For some (partial and antique) background on that one, see "Genres" (8/22/2014).

And the latest (four days ago) episode has a focus on cultural attitudes and accents, though no musical references:

https://youtu.be/krbD4G-ZWgw?si=PRI1vbEQ9i0Q50Qm

"Strategic Authenticity Initiative"

Apr. 2nd, 2026 10:44 am
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Posted by Mark Liberman

Following up on Tuesday's DP link, today we have Wyatt G. Croog, "Harvard Launches 'Strategic Authenticity Initiative' to Help Students Seems Normal", The Harvard Crimson 4/1/2026:

In an effort to address growing concerns that its students are “deeply unsettling in conversation,” Harvard University announced Monday the launch of the Strategic Authenticity Initiative, a university-wide program designed to help students convincingly simulate being regular people.

The initiative, funded by three grants and one concerned parent, will offer workshops on:

1. Making eye contact without turning it into a networking opportunity

2. Having hobbies that are not a startup

3. Telling a story that does not end up in a LinkedIn article

“Employers told us our students are impressive but vaguely exhausting,” a spokesperson said. “We’re trying to round the edges without compromising the crest.”

Participants will undergo immersive training exercises, including:

1. Attending a party and not mentioning internships or a class

2. Responding “that’s crazy” without pivoting to themselves

3. Asking to get a meal without entering a yearlong diplomatic process

[…]

Meanwhile, Yale University admin dismissed the initiative as “performative,” before hosting a 90-minute discussion on whether authenticity is real.

Readers are invited to add their own examples of similar April Foolish issues.  Wikipedia has List of Student Newspapers, but a quick scan of a few of them comes up April Fool-less.

 

Spacewoman

Apr. 2nd, 2026 12:30 am
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Posted by Dorothy Snarker

So Kristen Stewart is going to make her lead TV/streaming debut playing Sally Ride in a new Prime Video show. The limited series will follow Sally’s journey to become the first U.S. woman in space and also her role in the investigation of the Challenger explosion tragedy. No word on whether they’ll cover Sally’s sexuality, which she famously hid until after her death. But you gotta imagine if Kristen is playing her, they’ll make her queerness front and center – I mean, we have to believe, right? I gotta hand it to her, when K-Stew plays a real person she sure picks really interesting and complicated women. Savannah Knoop/J.T. Leroy, Joan Jett, Jean Seberg, Princess Diana. Now that’s what I call range -- all the way to outer space.

p.s. This also serves as a bonus tank top because I kinda skimped out on the content Tuesday.

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Posted by Egyptian Streets

  Around eight years ago, in 2018, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched the “Hope” campaign to raise awareness about attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers in armed conflicts, ending with the powerful message that in Palestine, even hope is struggling to survive. Although it was released years ago, the campaign has recently resurfaced and gone viral online amid renewed violence against Palestinians in Gaza.  At the heart of the campaign is a short film produced by Spanish agency Sra. Rushmore and Blur Films Madrid. In the nearly two-minute film, a father races through a war-torn area with his young daughter, Raya, who is badly injured and bleeding from her abdomen. He tries to calm her and urges her to stay awake until they reach the hospital.  When they arrive, the hospital has been bombed. The film ends with the stark message: “No hospitals. No hope.” It carries the plea: Healthcare is #NotATarget. The film, which won the Grand Prix in the Film Craft Lions at Cannes Lions in 2018, highlights a daily reality in many conflict zones. Attacks on healthcare workers and facilities are common, leaving…

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Posted by Farah Samir

Egypt’s Central Crisis Management Committee has recommended suspending early closing-hour rules for shops and commercial venues during the upcoming Coptic holiday week, according to a cabinet statement on Tuesday, 31 March. The recommendation was made during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and is set to be presented to the cabinet for final approval. If approved, the measure would temporarily lift recently imposed 9 PM closing hours for shops, restaurants, cafes, and other venues during the holiday period, expected to take place this year from 5 April to 12 April. Coptic Holy Week, which runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, is a period typically marked by increased gatherings, outings, and commercial activity. During the meeting, officials also reviewed the broader economic impact of the ongoing regional conflict, including rising energy costs and disruptions to global supply chains. Authorities discussed measures to ensure the availability of essential goods and petroleum products, while maintaining strategic reserves and monitoring market prices. The committee also reviewed steps taken to manage the crisis, including efforts to rationalise energy use and secure raw materials for key industries such as pharmaceuticals and medical supplies….

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The post Egypt Considers Lifting Early Closures for Coptic Holidays first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

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Posted by Belal Nawar

The Egyptian pound weakened further on Tuesday, 31 March, as the US dollar continued to hover close to the EGP 55 level in parts of the banking system, with regional tensions and broader pressures on trade supply chains weighing on market sentiment.  Data compiled from several banks at the close of business showed the dollar trading at up to around EGP 54.8 for buying and EGP 54.9 for selling at institutions including Suez Canal Bank and National Bank of Kuwait, compared with Monday’s higher end levels of roughly EGP 54.5 for buying and EGP 54.6 for selling. Other lenders quoted narrower spreads in the range of approximately EGP 54.5 to 54.53 for buying and around EGP 54.6 for selling, suggesting broadly aligned pricing across the system.  At the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), the dollar was quoted at EGP 54.5 for buying and EGP 54.66 for selling, largely unchanged from Monday, with only marginal movement.  Alongside the dollar, other major currencies showed mixed performance. The euro rose to around EGP 62.67 for buying and EGP 62.8 for selling, while sterling also increased slightly to about EGP 72.18 for buying and…

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The post Egyptian Pound Slides Further as Dollar Nears EGP 55 and Growth Forecasts Are Cut first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

140 in 1400 List

Apr. 1st, 2026 11:15 am
zhelana: (Original - Dolphin)
[personal profile] zhelana
Finished This month

Finish 2026 photoshopping
Buy painting supplies
Work through a book of writing exercises


Progress This Month
progress this month )

Cup Runneth Over

Apr. 1st, 2026 12:30 am
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Posted by Dorothy Snarker

I’ve been jonesing for more (Gordon Ramsay-free – sorry, he is just not the cooking dude for me). So, obviously, I had to check out Padma Lakshmi’s new food competition show “America’s Culinary Cup.” Is it basically “Top Chef,” but with an anxiety-inducing train-station scoreboard and less charismatic fellow judges? Yes. Does it still have Padma Lakshmi in a neverending series of stunning gowns? Am I bummed one of the lesbians got kicked off this week? Obviously. But, we still have at least one left. Don’t worry, I’m still watching “Top Chef” again too. I mean, their host is sapphic so we keep wining no matter what. Now that’s what I call eating well. Ahem.

Tank Top Tuesday: Legend Edition

Mar. 31st, 2026 09:13 pm
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Posted by Dorothy Snarker

Just because I was feeling nostalgic this week already, how about some vintage Helen Slater. Since that new Supergirl movie is coming out soon, how about our O.G. Supergirl. That of course led me to the “Legend of Billie Jean,” which as we all know is the root for ⅓ of all Gen X lesbians. Anyway it’s a Tuesday and yes, of course, that counts as a tank top.
[syndicated profile] egystreets_feed

Posted by Belal Nawar

Telda has launched a new in-app investment service on Sunday, 29 March, designed to bring securities investing to a wider audience in Egypt.  The digital financial platform says the feature allows users to invest in equities listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) as well as in a range of investment funds, using a mobile application experience that combines trading, account setup, and everyday access to funds in one place. According to Telda, the service lets users execute buy and sell orders, track stock prices in real time, and subscribe directly to fund units through the app, removing the need for traditional brokerage channels.  Users can also open investment accounts digitally within minutes by using their national ID, eliminating the barriers associated with visiting physical branches or completing manual paperwork.  Telda also integrated the investment feature with its existing card ecosystem, enabling users to fund their investment accounts seamlessly and access returns through their Telda cards.  The company says deposits and withdrawals can be conducted without transfer fees or waiting periods, and that investment returns can be used for everyday spending purchases or withdrawn via ATMs. Ahmed Sabbah, CEO of Telda,…

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The post Telda Launches In-App Securities Trading and Fund Subscriptions for Egypt’s EGX Investors first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

"The Daily PensylvanIranian"

Mar. 31st, 2026 12:11 pm
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Posted by Mark Liberman

Penn's student newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian, traditionally publishes an April Fool's issue every year, generally a week or so before April 1. This year's version has not (so far) been put out as a paper version, or even in the standard online form, but only as a set of images.

Echoing the title pun, this year's front page features Iran-related jokes. The two featured articles are headlined "Unemployed Senior Really Banking on Job Offer from the Military Draft" and "Iran Announces New AI-yatollah, First Chatbot Supreme Leader":

Below the fold, there's "Alpha Phi to Monitor Situation in Iran", "Alert: All men [WHARTON EXEMPTED] ages 18-25 to Report for Service", and "Al-Qaeda Claims Responsibility for 1920 Commons Dinner Last Night":

Geoff Pullum documented a few Linguistics April Fool's in-jokes years ago (here and here), and I'm sure there have been others that escape my memory at the moment.

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Posted by Farah Samir

Egypt has launched a new transit service to transport cargo from Europe to Gulf countries via Damietta Port, according to a statement by the Ministry of Transport on Monday 30 March. The service will handle both refrigerated and dry goods arriving from Europe through the Ro-Ro shipping line linking Damietta Port with Trieste in Italy, before being transported onward to Safaga Port and then to Gulf destinations. The move is part of Egypt’s broader strategy to position itself as a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade. Officials said the new model aims to streamline the movement of goods by reducing procedural requirements, including exempting transit shipments heading to Gulf countries from prior registration in the Automated Cargo Information (ACI) system. Authorities said coordination between the Damietta Port Authority, the Ro-Ro line operator Pan Marine Group, customs officials, and other stakeholders has helped speed up operational and clearance procedures through the use of digital systems. The development reflects ongoing efforts to modernise port operations, particularly through the expansion of digital infrastructure and logistics services. Launched in November 2024, the Damietta–Trieste Ro-Ro line has been positioned as a key link…

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The post Egypt Launches New Europe–Gulf Cargo Transit Service via Damietta Port first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

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Posted by Egyptian Streets

  Israel’s parliament passed a law on Monday, 30 March, making the death penalty the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks, fulfilling a demand from far-right coalition partners. The measure has ignited fierce debate over its discriminatory nature and comes amid reports highlighting systemic injustices faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The legislation targets individuals convicted of “intentionally causing the death of a person within the framework of an act classified as terrorism.” In the occupied West Bank, it mandates hanging within 90 days of sentencing in military courts, with life imprisonment permitted only in unspecified “special circumstances.”  No pardons are allowed, though the prime minister may request a delay of up to 180 days. Palestinian officials and factions reacted with outrage. The Palestinian Presidency condemned the law as a “breach of international law” and a “doomed bid” to intimidate Palestinians. Fatah stated that it “legalizes killing policies.” U.N. experts expressed concern over vague definitions of “terrorism” that could lead to executions for non-terrorist conduct. Amnesty International cautioned that the measure could entrench an “apartheid system,” clash with the global abolition movement, and potentially…

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The post Israeli Knesset Approves Death Penalty for Palestinian Prisoners first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

At the world's mercy

Mar. 31st, 2026 04:44 pm
ein_myria: (Default)
[personal profile] ein_myria
Just received my physical copies of At the World's Mercy vols 1-2. I actually forgot I had pre-ordered this many months ago from Rosmei. The paper stock is of a nicer quality than the US print on demand books I've bought in the past. The freebie extras were also quite nice.

Music Monday: Hard Memories

Mar. 30th, 2026 11:45 pm
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Posted by Dorothy Snarker

When this cover of Bob Dylan’s seminal protest song came out we didn’t know that one day a bloated orange psychopath would start yet another shitty war in the Middle East yet. We definitely didn’t know that same orange turd was gonna become president – twice. I mean, at this point we didn’t even know he’d one day shill for that shitty stuffed crust Pizza Hut pizza. We also didn’t know Tom Cruise was in a crazy churchcult. And we didn’t know this was probably the last we’d hear from Edie Brickell because she was gonna marry Paul Simon. As, ignorance continues to be bliss. Happy Monday, kittens.

Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Cake

Mar. 30th, 2026 12:46 pm
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Posted by Nicole Hunn

Closeup image of a square slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles on a white plate, with a piece on a fork that is set in front.

Make this decadent gluten free dairy free chocolate cake without any dairy-free butter or milk substitutes for a cake that's designed to be made without dairy. It's rich in chocolate flavor, stays fresh at room temperature for days, and is even tender when chilled.

A square slice of gluten free dairy free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles on a white plate with a small bite taken still on a fork, with sprinkles scattered in the background.

Why this recipe works

This rich chocolate cake doesn't call for any nondairy substitutes that you may not already have, so you can bake it for a dairy free friend without having to buy something special at the store. Plus, the flavor of vegan butter can have an artificial taste due to added culturing agents.

Since this cake was originally made with mayonnaise instead of a combination of an egg and oil, it's easily adapted to being made with vegan mayonnaise for an egg-free, dairy-free cake with deep cocoa flavor.

Recipe ingredients

Here are a few things to keep in mind about each of the ingredients in this cake and what role they play in a successful result:

Overhead view of labeled ingredients including gluten free flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, water, egg, coffee, oil, sugar, chocolate, and vanilla bean paste in a jar.
  • Boiling water: Water of course adds moisture to bring the cake together. We use boiling water to dissolve the cocoa in boiling water in a process called “blooming,” which deepens the chocolate flavor.
  • Cocoa powder: Adds lots of rich chocolate flavor. Since this cake has baking soda in it to neutralize any acid in your natural cocoa powder, you can use natural cocoa powder or Dutch-processed, or even Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder, which is a blend of the two.
  • Brewed coffee: Deepens the chocolate flavor without adding any noticeable coffee taste. You can use decaf or caffeinated coffee, or replace it with more water.
  • Dairy free chocolate: Adds more chocolate flavor and creates a fudgier, more dense and rich texture. You can use vegan chocolate disks or chopped chocolate. Be sure to use melting chocolate that is made for baking, and avoid chocolate chips which contain added wax to prevent them from melting in the oven.
  • Egg: Adds structure, some lift and keeps the cake from falling as it cools.
  • Oil: Adds fat for richness and mouthfeel, and keeps the cake moist for longer at room temperature and even when chilled.
  • Sugar: Adds sweetness and tenderizes the cake's crumb by locking in moisture.
  • Salt: Enhances the other flavors.
  • Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is as delicious in chocolate cake as it is in our gluten free vanilla cake, deepening all the other flavors. Use vanilla bean paste for extra flavor.
  • Gluten free flour blend: Any well-balanced gluten free flour blend that is designed to work well to make cakes should work, as long as it has finely ground rice flour or the cake will be gritty. I like Better Batter's classic blend, Bob's Red Mill's 1-to-1 blend with an additional 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum (the blend has some gum but not enough), or Vitacost's Multi-Blend gluten free flour with added xanthan gum as listed in the recipe. Avoid Nicole's Best here, since it contains dairy.
  • Baking soda – Helps give the cake lift, and neutralizes acidic ingredients like natural cocoa powder, if you're using it.
Overhead view of a frosted square chocolate cake with colorful sprinkles on parchment paper, with a knife and a small bowl of sprinkles nearby.

How to make gluten free dairy free chocolate cake (step by step photos)

This visual guide demonstrates how to make this cake in your own kitchen and includes an explanation for each step. For the exact ingredient amounts and instruction, please see the recipe card below.

Make the hot chocolate mixture
In a 4 cup/950 ml heat-safe measuring cup or medium-size bowl, whisk boiling water, hot brewed coffee and 1/2 cup cocoa powder. The cocoa powder will resist combining so keep whisking until it's smooth.

Add chopped dairy free chocolate to the hot mixture and whisk it in so it melts, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes so the cocoa powder blooms, or develops its full flavor potential.

Add the remaining wet ingredients
The chocolate mixture should be warm, but no longer hot, so it's cool enough enough that it won't cook the egg when you add it. Add an egg, oil, sugar and vanilla. Whisk vigorously to emulsify the egg, oil and water together into a stable mixture that ensures even moisture distribution in the cake. This creates a glossy mixture that won't turn greasy.

Whisk the dry ingredients
In a large separate mixing bowl, whisk together gluten free flour, xanthan gum, salt and baking soda to avoid any pockets of leaveners.

Combine wet and dry ingredients
Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredient mixture so you can incorporate them together gradually, decreasing mess and creating a more uniform batter quickly and easily.

Finish the cake batter
Whisk together the dry and wet ingredients. As you mix, it will turn smooth and glossy. Make sure to scrape the bottom of mixing bowl to incorporate any dry patches into the batter.

If you'd like to add chocolate chips, you can mix in up to 4 ounces of dairy free chocolate chips now using a spatula. You can also scatter up to 1 ounce more on top of the raw cake after transferring it to the pan.

Transfer the batter
Scrape the batter into a lined baking pan, and smooth it into an even layer with a small spatula. The batter will be thick enough to spread, but not so thick that spreading is difficult.

Bake the cake
Bake at 350°F until the cake is rounded at the edges, and a tester inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, at most. If the tester comes out wet but you're concerned you may overbake the cake, reduce the oven temperature to 325°F or even lower until done.

Cool in the pan
Let the cake cool completely in the pan while it rests on a wire rack. The cake is so moist that, if you try to turn the cake over onto a wire rack and remove the pan before it's completely cool, it will stick to the rack.

Expert tips

Avoid olive oil

Olive oil has a distinct fruity and earthy flavor that will compete with the chocolate flavor of this cake. Any neutral oil without any flavor of its own will work though. Try canola, vegetable, grapeseed, avocado, or peanut oil.

Try canned dairy free frosting

I love the taste of shelf stable frosting in the can, and many of them are gluten free and dairy free. Miss Jones brand canned frostings are gluten free and dairy free; so are many Pillsbury and Duncan Hines frostings, but always read labels to be sure. To give canned frosting more of a homemade consistency, attach one beater to a handheld mixer, insert it in the can, and beat until smooth before using to frost the cooled cake.

Don't skip the coffee

Brewed coffee deepens the chocolate flavor and we use so little that you really don't taste it, so I recommend using it even if you don't like the taste of coffee. You can also double down on the coffee and replace some more or all of the hot water with more coffee. Espresso granules dissolved in the boiling water should also work well.

Ingredient substitutions

Egg free

You can try using a 150 grams of a vegan mayonnaise in place of the egg and oil, or try an egg replacer like Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer, a chia or flax egg, or JustEgg liquid egg replacer (in the refrigerated case).

Oil

This recipe was originally developed to use mayonnaise in place of oil and eggs. I found that the crumb of the cake was too fragile, so I reworked it for a cake made with 2/3 cup of oil and 1 egg. The result is a more tender cake with a crumb that's still very moist but less fragile. If you'd like to avoid using oil as an individual ingredient, though, you can replace the oil and the egg with 2/3 cup (150 grams) full-fat mayonnaise at room temperature.

Coffee

If you want to avoid coffee altogether, you can use more boiling water in its place. Decaffeinated coffee works just as well. Keep in mind that chocolate and cocoa powder also add some caffeine.

Chocolate

You can't leave out the cocoa powder and chocolate to make this into a vanilla cake, but if you'd like, you can leave out the chocolate as a separate ingredient. The cake will have a more mild chocolate flavor and will be overall less rich. For a vanilla version, try our vanilla-flavored gluten free dairy free cake.

A square slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles on a white plate with a fork beside it and a small bowl of sprinkles nearby.

Storage instructions

This cake is moist enough that it will stay fresh on the counter, covered well, for a couple of days. Wrap the cooled and unfrosted cake tightly in plastic wrap, and store it at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. Once you frost the cake, it's really hard to wrap it tightly, so it's best to serve it the same day after frosting.

For longer storage, wrap this cake tightly in freezer-safe wrap like Glad Press ‘n' Seal. You can freeze it frosted or unfrosted, but it's easiest to store the uncut cake unfrosted.

If you have leftover cake that's already been frosted, slice it into squares and wrap each frosted square tightly on its own, then freeze. Defrost at room temperature, or in the refrigerator.

Closeup image of a square slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles on a white plate, with a piece on a fork that is set in front.
Print

Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Recipe

This gluten free dairy free chocolate cake is rich in chocolate flavor with a soft, tender crumb and a rich chocolate frosting.
Course Cake, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword dairy free gluten free chocolate cake, gluten free dairy free chocolate cake
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Setting time for frosting 20 minutes
Servings 9 slices
Calories 586kcal

Ingredients

For the cake

  • ¾ cup boiling water
  • ¼ cup strong brewed coffee hot (See Recipe Notes)
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-processed)
  • 2 ounces dairy-free chocolate discs, or chopped
  • 1 egg at room temperature (See Recipe Notes)
  • cup neutral oil vegetable, canola, peanut, grapeseed, and avocado all work (See Recipe Notes)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 ¼ cups all purpose gluten free flour blend (See Recipe Notes)
  • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
  • 1 /4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

For chocolate frosting (optional)

  • 10 ounces dairy-free dark chocolate chopped
  • ¾ cup canned coconut cream (See Recipe Notes)

Instructions

For the cake.

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8-inch square or 9-inch round baking pan. Set the pan aside.
  • In a medium-size, heat-safe mixing bowl or measuring cup, place the boiling water and brewed coffee and the cocoa powder, and whisk until well-combined. The cocoa powder will resist combining, so just keep whisking.
  • Add the chocolate discs or pieces to the hot mixture and whisk until melted and smooth. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to deepen the chocolate flavor.
  • To the chocolate mixture, add the egg, oil, sugar, and vanilla, and whisk until smooth and well-combined.
  • In a separate large mixing bowl, place the flour blend, xanthan gum, salt, and baking soda, and whisk to combine well.
  • Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the wet mixture.
  • Whisk until very smooth and well-combined. Keep whisking until the batter begins to thicken.
  • Transfer the cake batter to the prepared pan, and smooth into an even layer using a spatula or broad, flat knife.
  • Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until done.
  • Doneness should be determined by a few things: the cake should be puffed and rounded at the edges. It also shouldn’t jiggle when moved back and forth, and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean (and certainly not wet).
  • Place the cake pan on a wire rack and allow it to cool completely in the pan. If you've used mayonnaise instead of an egg and oil, chill the cake pan in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes for cleaner slices.

For the topping

  • Place the chopped dark chocolate in a small, heat-safe bowl.
  • Place the coconut cream in a small, heavy-bottom saucepan and over a low flame just until melted and then simmering. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate.
  • Allow the chocolate and hot cream to sit, undisturbed, for about 5 minutes before whisking until completely smooth.
  • Pour the glaze directly over the cooled cake, and allow it to set at room temperature.
  • To whip the chocolate ganache into frosting, allow it to cool at room temperature, then cover and refrigerate it until beginning to set (about 20 minutes).
  • Using a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the frosting until lighter in color and relatively fluffy (about 3 minutes).
  • Frost the cakes as desired, then slice into 9 equal pieces and serve.

Notes

Flour blend notes
I recommend Better Batter's original all purpose blend, Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 (in the blue bag) with an additional 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum (it contains gum but not enough), or Vitacost's Multi-Blend Gluten Free Flour with added xanthan gum. Nicole's Best doesn't work here because it contains dairy. 
If you'd like to make your own blend, please see my all purpose gluten free flour blends page. 
About the brewed coffee 
You can use decaffeinated coffee. You can also replace the brewed coffee with more water.
Egg and oil
In place of the egg and oil, you can use 2/3 cup (150 grams) regular, full fat mayonnaise. I can only recommend Hellmann's brand regular mayonnaise. Avoid anything flavored, any sort of light mayo, or mayo made using olive oil (which is really just light mayo by another name). The cake will rise a bit less and be a bit more fragile. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 586kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 374mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 39IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 5mg

FAQs

How is this cake dairy free if I use mayonnaise?

Mayonnaise is, indeed, dairy free. There is sometimes confusion about whether mayonnaise is dairy free, presumably since it's so creamy and looks like dairy. It's a stable mixture of egg and oil.

Can I make cupcakes with the same cake batter?

I haven't tried making cupcakes with this batter, but I think it would work. Fill the muffin tins 2/3 of the way full and check for doneness at about 20 minutes.

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Posted by Belal Nawar

The Egyptian Gymnastics Federation has officially released on Sunday 29 March the final list of countries confirmed to participate in the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup 2026 for both men and women, taking place in Cairo from 3-6 April at the Cairo Stadium indoor halls complex. According to the federation, the tournament will feature 33 countries, including host nation Egypt, alongside teams from across multiple regions such as Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, and Chile. While the championship will be a major sporting event, the federation emphasized that promoting Egypt’s civilization and heritage is among the key objectives behind hosting the competition. Federation President Ehab Amin said that sports tourism is central to Egypt’s approach to international events, explaining that such tournaments offer an opportunity to introduce participating delegations to Egypt’s rich cultural legacy. He added that the federation has prepared informative guides and materials highlighting major tourist and historical destinations. Among the attractions featured in the federation’s plans are Khan El Khalili, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the Pyramids of Giza, with additional visits to key sites scheduled in parallel with the event. Amin also noted that Egypt’s hosting role…

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The post 33 Countries Confirmed for Cairo Artistic Gymnastics World Cup 2026 first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

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