The Ultimate Gluten-Free Coffee Cake: A Moist, Fluffy, and Perfectly Crumbly Cinnamon Delight
Imagine a sweet treat that perfectly balances a light, fluffy, and super tender cake with an irresistible, crunchy, and buttery cinnamon crumble topping. Now, imagine all of this being completely gluten-free, made with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry! This isn’t just a dream; it’s the reality of this incredible gluten-free coffee cake recipe.
You’ll be amazed at how effortlessly this cake comes together, delivering a flavor and texture so delightful that no one will ever guess it’s gluten-free. It’s guaranteed to become a cherished family favorite, whether served for breakfast, brunch, or as a comforting dessert.
This post was originally published on January 13, 2023, and has been thoroughly updated with new recipe information and helpful tips on February 5, 2024, to ensure you achieve the best gluten-free coffee cake experience.
Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Coffee Cake
This isn’t just another coffee cake; it’s a game-changer for anyone seeking a truly delightful gluten-free treat. Here’s what makes this recipe stand out:
- Unbeatable Texture: Prepare to be amazed! This cake is incredibly soft, light, and moist, a true testament to successful gluten-free baking. Many gluten-free cakes can be dry or crumbly, but this recipe defies expectations. Paired with the crisp, buttery cinnamon crumble topping, every bite is a harmonious blend of textures that will have everyone reaching for a second slice.
- Made with Simple, Accessible Ingredients: You won’t need to hunt for obscure specialty items. This recipe primarily relies on common pantry staples, making it convenient and budget-friendly. Most of what you need is likely already in your kitchen, simplifying your grocery run and making spontaneous baking sessions a breeze.
- Effortlessly Easy to Make: Forget complicated techniques or fancy kitchen gadgets. This recipe is designed for ease, allowing even novice bakers to achieve fantastic results. The steps are straightforward: simply mix the ingredients, layer the cake and filling, add the crumble, and bake. It’s a rewarding baking experience without the stress.
- Versatile for Any Occasion: This gluten-free coffee cake is a true all-rounder. It’s perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch, a delightful accompaniment to your morning coffee or afternoon tea, or a comforting dessert after dinner. Its warm cinnamon notes make it particularly inviting during cooler months, but it’s delicious year-round.
Key Ingredients for a Perfect Gluten-Free Crumb Cake
Crafting a truly exceptional gluten-free sour cream coffee cake starts with understanding the role of each ingredient. This recipe utilizes simple, easy-to-find components, with a few key notes to ensure your cake turns out perfectly every time:
Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend
The foundation of any great gluten-free baked good. I highly recommend using Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour. This blend is specifically formulated to replace wheat flour cup-for-cup in most recipes, and crucially, it already includes xanthan gum. If you choose another brand, ensure it’s a cup-for-cup all-purpose GF flour blend that also contains xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is vital in gluten-free baking as it mimics the elasticity and binding properties of gluten, preventing your cake from becoming crumbly and giving it that desirable structure and tender crumb. For more detailed information on selecting the right flours, check out my comprehensive post on gluten-free flours.
Cornstarch
A secret weapon for achieving a super light, fluffy, and finely textured crumb. Cornstarch helps to tenderize the cake by inhibiting gluten development (not a concern with GF flour, but still beneficial for lightness) and absorbing moisture, contributing to that melt-in-your-mouth consistency that is often challenging to achieve in gluten-free baking.
Butter
Butter is essential for both flavor and texture. In the cake, softened butter contributes to a rich, moist crumb. For the crumb topping, cold butter is crucial. When cut into the dry ingredients, cold butter creates pockets of steam during baking, resulting in that wonderfully crisp, flaky, and irresistible crumble. You can use traditional dairy butter or opt for high-quality vegan butter sticks for a dairy-free version.
Milk
Whole milk will impart the richest flavor and most tender crumb due to its fat content. However, unsweetened non-dairy milk (such as almond, soy, or oat milk) works perfectly fine as a substitute, ensuring your cake remains moist and delicious while catering to various dietary needs. The moisture from the milk helps hydrate the gluten-free flours effectively.
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
This is a superstar ingredient for moisture and tenderness. The acidity in sour cream or plain Greek yogurt helps to activate the baking soda and baking powder, leading to a better rise and a more tender, delicate consistency. The fat content also adds a luxurious richness and keeps the cake moist for longer. If you don’t have sour cream or Greek yogurt, an equal amount of your favorite full-fat mayonnaise can also be used, as it provides similar fat and emulsion properties for a tender cake.
Expert Baking Tips for Gluten-Free Success
Achieving the perfect texture in gluten-free baking requires a little patience and a few key techniques. Follow these expert tips to ensure your coffee cake is nothing short of amazing:
- Don’t Rush the Resting Step for the Batter: This is arguably one of the most critical steps in gluten-free baking, and it’s often overlooked. Gluten-free flours, unlike wheat flour, need ample time to properly hydrate. When you mix the batter, the starches and gums in the GF flour blend begin to absorb the liquid. If you immediately pop the batter into the oven, the flour won’t have fully hydrated, leading to a grainy, dry, and crumbly texture. Allowing the batter to rest for at least 30 minutes gives the flours time to fully absorb the moisture, resulting in a significantly smoother batter, a finer crumb, and a wonderfully tender and moist cake. Patience here truly pays off!
- Always Let the Cake Cool Completely: We know it’s tempting to dive into a warm, freshly baked cake, but resisting the urge to slice your gluten-free coffee cake prematurely is vital. Gluten-free cakes continue to “cook” and set as they cool. The internal structure firms up, and the moisture redistributes evenly throughout the cake. If you cut into the cake while it’s still warm, you risk it being mushy in the center, and the precious moisture we worked so hard to create will escape as steam through the cuts, leaving you with a dry cake once it fully cools. For the best taste and texture, allow the cake to cool entirely on a wire rack—preferably for several hours, or even overnight—before serving. Your patience will be rewarded with a perfectly moist and structured slice every time.
How to Make Gluten-Free Coffee Cake: Step-by-Step Recipe
Ready to bake the most delicious gluten-free coffee cake? Follow these detailed instructions to create a masterpiece that will impress everyone.
Gluten-Free Coffee Cake Recipe
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Ingredients
Cake
- 1⅓ cup gluten-free 1-to-1 flour
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup milk
- ⅓ cup sour cream or plain greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Filling
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
Crumb topping
- ⅓ cup butter
- ⅔ cup gluten-free 1-to-1 flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
Instructions
Filling
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In a small bowl, combine the ground cinnamon and brown sugar to make the filling. Use a fork to mix until the ingredients are well incorporated and no lumps of sugar remain. Set it aside for later.
Crumb topping
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In a medium bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, cornstarch, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk briefly to ensure all dry ingredients are evenly distributed. Add the cold, cubed butter and work it into the flour mixture using your hands (pinching and rubbing with your fingertips) or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This texture is key for a crunchy topping.
Cake
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In a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), whisk together the gluten-free flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and granulated sugar. Add the softened butter (or vegan butter) and work it into the dry ingredients using your hands, a pastry cutter, or a paddle attachment on low speed, until the mixture looks like fine, wet sand.
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In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt/mayonnaise), and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Gradually add this wet mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined.
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Pour in the milk and continue mixing until a smooth batter forms. Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is fully incorporated. Once the batter comes together, continue mixing for 2 more minutes to thoroughly hydrate the gluten-free flours. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the batter rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Do not skip this crucial step!
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While the batter rests, preheat your oven to 340°F (170°C). Prepare an 8×8-inch square baking pan by greasing it thoroughly and then lining it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to easily lift the cake out later.
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Once the batter has rested, pour about ⅔ of it into the prepared pan. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it out evenly to form the bottom layer of your coffee cake.
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Evenly sprinkle the prepared cinnamon sugar filling over the first layer of batter. Then, carefully dollop spoonfuls of the remaining cake batter on top of the cinnamon sugar layer and gently spread it out to cover the filling completely.
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Smooth the surface of the top batter layer with your spatula. Finally, generously sprinkle the prepared crumb topping evenly over the entire surface of the cake. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before attempting to slice and serve. This cooling period is essential for the best texture and moisture retention.
Notes
Make Ahead: The crumb topping can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month. This can save you valuable time on baking day!
Nutrition
Storage and Freezing Tips
To enjoy your delicious gluten-free coffee cake for as long as possible, proper storage is key. Here’s how to keep it fresh and moist:
Storing Baked Coffee Cake
Once your coffee cake has completely cooled (remember our expert tip!), store it in an airtight container at room temperature. This will keep it wonderfully fresh and moist for up to 3 days. Beyond that, the cake may start to lose some of its tenderness and become a bit drier. For best results, avoid refrigerating the cake unless absolutely necessary, as the cold air can also contribute to drying it out.
Freezing Coffee Cake for Longer Freshness
If you’ve baked a larger batch or want to enjoy this treat later, coffee cake freezes beautifully for up to a month. To freeze, ensure the cake is completely cooled. Wrap individual slices or the entire cake tightly in several layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. This double-layer protection helps prevent freezer burn. Place the wrapped cake in a freezer-safe airtight container or a heavy-duty zip-top bag. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply defrost the cake overnight in the refrigerator. For a warm treat, you can gently reheat individual slices in the microwave for 15-30 seconds or in a toaster oven until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The secret to a tender and moist gluten-free coffee cake lies in two main areas: following the recipe precisely and proper storage. Firstly, using a good quality 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum, coupled with moistening agents like sour cream and milk, is crucial. Secondly, and just as important, is the resting period for the batter—this allows the GF flours to fully hydrate, preventing a grainy texture. Finally, proper storage in an airtight container at room temperature (not the refrigerator) for no more than 3 days is essential to maintain that incredible fluffiness and moisture. Any longer, and the air exposure will inevitably begin to dry it out.
Despite its name, traditional coffee cake, including this gluten-free version, typically does not contain coffee as an ingredient. The name “coffee cake” refers to its purpose: it’s a type of cake traditionally served alongside coffee or tea, often as a breakfast treat or an afternoon snack. While some variations might incorporate coffee flavoring, this specific recipe focuses on classic warm cinnamon notes to complement your favorite hot beverage without adding actual coffee, coffee extract, or coffee grounds.
Unfortunately, this particular recipe is not easily adaptable to be fully vegan. The eggs in this recipe play a crucial structural role, providing lift and binding that are essential for the cake’s light and fluffy texture. Without them, you would likely end up with a cake that is too dense, mushy, or crumbles easily. While some egg replacers exist, they may not yield the same tender results and would require significant modifications to the rest of the recipe. For a reliable vegan option, it’s generally best to seek out a recipe specifically developed to be vegan from the start.
More Gluten-Free Breakfast and Brunch Favorites
If you’ve fallen in love with this gluten-free coffee cake, you’re in for a treat! Explore more of my delightful gluten-free recipes that are perfect for starting your day right or impressing guests at brunch:
- These gluten-free banana pancakes are incredibly moist and flavorful! Enhance your morning by adding a handful of decadent chocolate chips.
- Craving a warm, comforting muffin? My gluten-free banana muffins and vibrant cranberry orange muffins are among my top picks to savor with a fresh cup of tea or coffee.
- For those who prefer quick breads, my gluten-free chocolate chip banana bread, cozy gluten-free pumpkin bread, and bright lemon poppy seed cake are all incredibly delicious and remarkably easy to bake!
- This gluten-free waffle recipe is a breeze to make, consistently delivering that ideal crispy exterior and fluffy interior.
- Whip up a batch of gluten-free granola for a fuss-free and wholesome breakfast option. Prepare a large quantity on the weekend and enjoy it throughout your busy week!
- When you need something truly indulgent and impressive for a special brunch, try my show-stopping gluten-free pineapple upside down cake or my decadent gluten-free chocolate cake!
Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Baking gluten-free doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or texture, and this coffee cake is living proof. It’s a comforting, cinnamony hug in every bite, perfect for sharing with loved ones or enjoying all by yourself. We hope this detailed guide empowers you to bake with confidence and bring this delightful treat into your home.
Don’t be shy – give this recipe a try and experience the joy of a truly amazing gluten-free coffee cake. Happy baking!