This perfect gluten free vegan coffee cake recipe will be the star of your next brunch! Dense and moist with a generous crumb topping and plenty of cinnamon.
Around here, Sundays are usually dedicated to cooking, eating, or shopping for things to cook and eat. I had already planned on getting my hands dirty in the kitchen today, but when Twitter informed me that it was National Coffee Cake Day, things got serious.
Dense and moist with a generous crumb topping and loads of cinnamon flavor, this coffee cake needs to be on the table at brunch.
Side note: be sure to have a fresh pot of coffee ready for when the cake comes out of the oven.
Clark and I looked and looked and looked for a good coffee cake recipe online, planning to selfishly make one for ourselves and not the blog, but none of them impressed us and our precious weekend time was ticking away.
So we went off a recipe that my mom had given me for the coffee cake that I loved to eat while I was growing up, and made some tweaks here and there. Hours later, our entire apartment still smells like cinnamon, coffee, and baking [aka: heaven]. And naturally, the coffee cake found it's way to the blog.
The steps are fairly simple and when all is said and done, the whole cake comes together and is cooling on the counter in about 30 minutes time. Quick, easy, and delicious? You can't beat that.
The only difficult part of the process is waiting for the cake to bake. Just ask Clark.
The batter is going to be pretty thick and sticky and that's what you're looking for. Thick batter = dense and cakey coffee cake.
The best part? After mixing it up, that ooey, gooey, cinnamoney goodness is all over your fingers. Act accordingly.
Lets us know how you get on with the vegan coffee cake recipe in the comments!
Perfect Gluten Free Coffee Cake
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3
Description
Dense and moist with a generous crumb topping and loads of cinnamon flavor, this coffee cake needs to be on the table at brunch.
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 cup Wholesome Chow gluten-free flour**
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- pinch of sea salt
- 2 ½ Tbsp. melted coconut oil
- 1 ½ Tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 ½ Tbsp. raw agave or honey
- ½ cup coconut milk beverage (from carton, not from can)
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Topping
- ½ cup oat flour
- 2 ½ Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. coconut butter [or solid coconut oil]
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- dash of nutmeg
- dash of salt
Drizzle Glaze
- 2 Tbsp. melted coconut oil
- 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- In a small bowl, add coconut milk and apple cider vinegar and stir to combine. Set the mixture aside and allow it to curdle. [It’s not as disgusting as it sounds, promise.] If desired, you can swap this out for ½ cup of buttermilk.
- Melt coconut oil until liquid, but not hot. In a small bowl, combine syrup and agave or honey and mix well.
- Combine coconut milk mixture, coconut oil, syrup/agave mixture and stir to combine.
- Lightly coat 3 - 3 ½" tart pans or an 8" x 4" baking dish and set aside. I like using the small tart pans because it keeps the cake more moist and looks cute as a single serving!
- In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix well using a fork.
- Add the liquid ingredients and stir until a thick batter forms.
Topping
- In a medium bowl, combine oat flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and mix together. Add cold the coconut butter into the bowl and use your hands to mix it together. This part takes some finesse – keep smooshing and crumbling, smooshing and crumbling until the texture is right. The butter should be dispersed throughout with big chunks, little chunks, and some leftover granules.
Assembly
- Portion the batter into the tart pans and use the back of a spoon or your hands to spread it out.
- Layer the crumble topping over the cake, dividing evenly between the 3 pans.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Use a fork or toothpick to test the center. If it comes out batter-free, the cake is done!
Drizzle Glaze
- Melt coconut oil over the stovetop and add powdered sugar. Mix to combine, then use a spoon to drizzle over the cakes.
Notes
** I use Wholesome Chow GF flour because I think it is the absolute best. It also already includes xanthan gum. If you are using a GF flour that does not include xanthan, add ½ teaspoon to your dry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Breakfast
I used this recipe to make cupcakes rather than a cake and they were a huge hit! No one even knew they were vegan and gluten-free until I told them. Already making them for the second time & doubling!
That's so cool! I've never tried making this recipe as cupcakes – thanks for the feedback! So glad everyone enjoyed. :)
Great post.
★★★★★
Thanks!
This looks amazing and can not wait to try it!!! Could you substitute Almond Milk for the coconut milk?
You could certainly try that out! I've always used coconut milk but almond milk should substitute just fine.
Hi can u just ask ..... did you omit the actual coffee from this recipe by mistake or does this coffee cake recipe contain no coffee?
Thanks
This coffee cake does not contain any coffee. I believe it's just called coffee cake because people like to enjoy it alongside a cup of coffee.
Is this cake healthy as you stated? I would like to try baking it one day. I will leave feedback on my blog at https://writinghelpessay.net. I hope to be satisfied with the result.
If you double it, would you put it in a 8x8 pan? If not, what is the best vessel? Thanks!
You could certainly try an 8x8 pan, but I would worry about the center not cooking through. I'd recommend using smaller loaf pans instead.
mine just came out of the oven! i made it paleo by subbing coconut sugar for brown sugar and a 3:2:1 ratio of almond, tapioca, and coconut flour for the gluten free flour, and used almond milk. it smells absolutely delicious and baked in 13 minutes, although the batter was a lot thinner than the one pictured. i also halved the recipe ;)
I made this for a holiday dessert exchange at work. The flavor was good but the texture was very thick and gummy kind of like bread pudding. It looked nothing like the picture and I followed the recipe completely. No substitutions. Any clue what I may have done wrong?
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Hmmm... that's so strange. What brand of flour did you use? Did you use canned coconut milk instead of coconut milk beverage?
This looks delicious! Can you please tell me how many servings this makes and can it be cooked in 1 dish (and any changes needed if it can).
Thanks!!
Ha! I re-read the recipe and found the answers! :)
This looks delicious! Can't wait to try it. Do you think it would work to make it, freeze it, and then defrost for Christmas morning? We are traveling with food allergies, so it would be easiest to make this ahead of time in our safe kitchen. Thank you!
Hi Lisa – I haven't ever tried freezing it, but I would assume that would be just fine! Good job thinking ahead. ;)
Wow just made it and was so delicious!!! Thanks you so much, next time i would like to make these in donut form, how much do you think the cooking time should be?
So glad you liked the coffee cake! Donuts are an awesome idea –– I would start out with 8-10 minutes and check them frequently with a toothpick.
Excellent recipe - too many times I take one from a blog and it doesn't deliver - this delivers! Looked exactly the same - I used my own blend of flour and it was still fabulous. Thank you for giving me a great recipe when I want a treat - my only side note is that with my flour blend it took almost triple the time to cook - just an FYI. Great job. I look forward to more.
I wondered about adding xanthan gum too....and when I looked at the GF flour mix your recipe uses, it already has xanthan gum in it, so I'd recommend if you are using a GF flour mix that does not have xanthan gum, you should add some. typically 1/2 to 1 tsp per cup of GF flour. For a coffee cake, I'd go with the lower amount.
Hi Nan –
Thanks for bringing that up… that's a good tip. I'll add it to the notes for this recipe so that others are aware. That's one of the things I like about the mix that I used, it's already included! :)
I am a dad with a daughter who just discovered a gluten intolerance. in addition, my son has Eosinophilic Esophagitis and we've been avoiding eggs and dairy for years. Finding recipes for vegan/gluten free has become a new challenge!
I just stumbled on this recipe this morning and decided to go for it. Kids are still sleeping (snow day here today), and when they wake, I hope they enjoy this special treat. Its in the oven now! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas!
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Sorry, I didn't read through all of the comments, how many does this serve? Looks divine! Trying tomorrow.
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I would love to know what blend of gf flour you used? It sounds like you didn't use oat flour in the cake itself, right? It looks amazing!
Natalie –
Correct, the oat flour is for the topping. I used Wholesome Chow's All Purpose Baking Mix and I swear by the stuff. I just order it off Amazon and keep it stocked. So far, it's the best I've found!
Great to know! Thank you!
This looks great! I'll be making it tonight. Don't know if you know this but usually 1 teaspoon of xanthum gum per cup of oat flour will keep any cake or muffin from going crumbly. Just make sure to mix it evenly with the dry ingredients first.
Thanks for the tip! Will have to try that next time we're baking. :D
Any substitute for the sugar? Trying to stay away for now... thanks!
I haven't tried to substitute, but if I were to try it, I would weigh the amount of brown sugar and sub in an equal weight of maple syrup or honey. Let me know how it works!
Hi! Wondering if using 1 cup oat flour vs half and half of oat and brown rice will change the outcome?
We've never tried it using only oat, but it should turn out just fine! If the batter looks more dry than what's shown in the photos, add a hint more coconut milk. Report back with your results!
LOL! I look like Clark when I am hungry! ;)
The stuff can never come out of the oven fast enough!
Was going to make this for a brunch on sunday
Can I use almond milk instead of coconut milk-- will it have the same effect or do you need canned coconut milk for this recipe and if so full fat or light?? Thanks!
Almond milk works just fine, I know from experience! This recipe uses the carton type of coconut milk – the kind you might pour in with cereal.
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and also the
rest of the website is also very good.
Hi,
This is absolutely delicious! I was wondering if you have a healthier substitute for the brown sugar? Would maple syrup work? I am dying to make this!
Hmmm... this isn't an easy substitute! Maple syrup would likely make the batter too runny. Sucanat might be a better substitute and it does have a healthier nutritional profile. Whatever you use, it definitely needs to be a solid! Let us know how it works out. :)
Do you think it would still work if I substituted Bob's Red Mill GF All Purpose Baking Flour instead of oat/brown rice flour?
Thanks! :)
That would work just fine! Great question :) Enjoy!
Wondering if I could use something beside coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut butter???
Great question! You could substitute olive oil for coconut oil; almond, oat, hemp, or regular milk for coconut milk; and regular butter for coconut butter. Though these ingredients are what keep the recipe "dairy-free". If that isn't a problem for you then give it a try! It should come out just fine :).
Hi! So I surfed the world over looking for a coffee cake for breakfast. I finally settle on yours... find the darned print button... and then? Your entire post wants to print. Any chance you'll make the print button actually print the recipe? Sure, page 7 has your hunk all on his own page.... but ummm, I really just needed the recipe on one page. I'm going to try doubling this recipe for my family (ie, my own hunk and the kids) and see how it goes! It may need some tweaks though... but, Thanks for posting it!
Sorry about that...we're working on upgrading to a more printer-friendly format!
That would be great cause even with my odd changes, this recipe rocks! I totally messed with everything (flours, sugars, coconutty stuff..) and it was still great! All enjoyed it and it worked fine doubled. Thanks for posting it :) I actually made another one at the same time, and this one won hands-down. Thought you should know ;) lol
This looks amazing, I haven't had coffee cake for years ! What kind of oats did you use to make the flour? Instant, rolled, or old fashion?
Thanks
We use gluten-free rolled oats. Hope you love it, it's delicious!
Obsessed! I literally just took my first bite and had to tell you how satisfied I am, this recipe is delicious! I made the flour from scratch as well and everything came out perfect! This is tge first gluten free recipe I have ever tried. Thank you so much for making this easy for me and others converting to gluten free.
Wow, Eve! Thank you for the super-nice feedback. We're so glad that you enjoyed it and had so much success with you first gluten-free recipe. Stay tuned for lots more!
Holy Yum, Batman! I was a little hesitant to make this recipe, because it doesn't have any flax or Chia in it, I thought maybe something was forgotten when the recipe was written, but I followed it as written, adding extra cinnamon and some vanilla, and it was delish!
So glad you liked it and it turned out delicious! Thanks for the feedback!
I just tried your recipe, it smells delicious but the consistency of both the batter and topping was a little runny. I tried adding more oatmeal flour to the topping and even added whole oats but it sank instead of staying on top. I bet it will taste divine though!
Hmm... that doesn't sound right at all! Wonder what the problem was. How was the final result? Sorry there were difficulties. :( We've made it several times and it's turned out perfect!
It tasted delicious! I used 1/2 cup Arrowhead Oatmeal flour and 1/2 cup of Arrowhead brown rice flour, maybe I'll futz around with the amounts and see of the consistency gets better. I'm not sure what happened with the "topping". My apartment usually gets pretty hot, so that might also have contributed to it. I'll keep working on it, it tastes too good! Thanks!
Delish!
Thanks, Kelsey!