A piece of classic coffee cake is the perfect accompaniment to your morning cup of coffee. This keto coffee cake recipe is not only decadent, but it's paleo, gluten-free, and dairy-free too.
For another yummy breakfast option, try these keto cinnamon rolls next. Do you love making low carb baked goods? You might want to try our recipes for keto pumpkin bars and keto brownies.
Keto Coffee Cake Recipe
Is there anything more versatile than a cake that can be served as breakfast, snack, or dessert?
The best coffee cakes are light and airy, yet moist, and there's no reason why a low carb coffee cake should be any different.
This keto coffee cake recipe combines simple ingredients like almond flour, cinnamon, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to make the cake base.
Sugar free maple flavored syrup adds a keto friendly sweetness and a hint of maple flavor. We also use it in our keto blueberry muffins.
The optional streusel topping is made with just 3 ingredients - almond flour, oil, and sugar free sweetener.
You can also add a scoop of keto whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon for the ultimate garnish.
Is vanilla extract gluten-free?
In its purest form, true vanilla extract is always gluten-free. I recommend always using pure vanilla extract or a vanilla extract that is certified gluten-free for the best vanilla taste.
While you may be able to find gluten-free imitation vanilla flavor, manufacturers may use additives that are not gluten-free if not specified.
When in doubt, check your local health or specialty foods store or order from a website that offers a large assortment of gluten-free products, such as Thrive Market.
Is there coffee in coffee cake?
Contrary to popular belief, there is actually no coffee in a coffee cake recipe. Typically, a slice of coffee cake is served with a cup of coffee for sipping or dunking.
How to Make Keto Coffee Cake
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
- Add oil, maple flavored syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract, and mix until well combined.
- Spoon batter evenly into your prepared pan. Use the back of the spoon to level it out.
- Optional crumb topping: In a small mixing bowl, mix ½ cup almond flour, 3 tablespoons of oil, and ¼ cup of sweetener.
- Sprinkle the crumb mixture on top of the cake, and press it down into the cake batter lightly with the back of a spoon.
- Cool before slicing and serving.
Tips for Making Keto Coffee Cake
You don't have to be a trained pastry chef to make a great coffee cake. Here are some ways to make sure that your keto almond flour coffee cake has the best taste and texture:
Always use fresh almond flour. Since almond flour is made of almonds, it can go rancid if not used within the recommended stay fresh date.
Be sure to check your almond flour stock regularly so that you'll know it's at peak freshness. For another cake recipe that uses almond flour, try our keto lemon cake.
Don't skimp on the eggs and oil. Remember that almond flour absorbs liquids more rapidly than wheat flours, so it's important to get the measurements correct.
Why is my coffee cake dry?
There are a few reasons why your coffee cake may have come out less than moist.
Over mixing: Mixing your ingredients too much can alter the texture of your coffee cake and give it a much more dry crumb.
Always make sure that your ingredients are mixed thoroughly, but don't overdo it, or else you'll end up with dry cake.
Over baking: Oven models vary, so I recommend starting with the lowest recommended baking time first to ensure that your low carb coffee cake isn't over baked.
Over baking can dry out your cake, allowing too much of the wet ingredients to absorb or evaporate during the cooking process.
To check your low carb almond flour coffee cake for doneness, insert a knife or cake tester into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done baking.
If not, give it another few minutes before removing from the oven.
How to Store Leftover Coffee Cake
This keto cinnamon coffee cake recipe is so delicious that we doubt you'll have a whole lot leftover. However, if you do find that you have leftovers, you can store it in an air tight container at room temperature.
When stored properly, your low carb coffee cake will taste best when eaten within a week.
LET'S GET SOCIAL, you can follow Four Score Living on Pinterest. You can also leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Did you make this keto coffee cake recipe? I'd love to know what you thought of it in a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Keto Coffee Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups fine ground almond flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup oil of choice we used avocado oil
- ¼ cup sugar-free maple flavored syrup or sweetener of choice
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
Optional: For the crumb topping:
- ½ cup fine ground almond flour
- 3 tablespoons oil of choice
- ¼ cup sugar-free sweetener we used Lakanto golden
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8x8 baking pan and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
- Add oil, maple flavored syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract, and mix until well combined.
- Spoon batter evenly into your prepared pan. Use the back of your spoon to level it out.
- Optional crumb topping: In a small mixing bowl mix ½ cup almond flour, 3 tablespoons oil, and ¼ cup sweetener. Sprinkle mixture on top of cake and press down lightly with the back of a spoon.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until the center is set.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Heidi
Did a search for “keto coffee cake”, i.e., coffee-flavoured cake. This one popped up. Question: where is the coffee among the ingredients?
Dane
Hi Heidi,
Thanks for taking the time to ask. Contrary to popular belief, there is no coffee in coffee cake. I know, doesn't make any sense. It's named coffee cake as it is to be enjoyed in the morning with a cup of coffee.
Dane
M
How many slices in the cake? It says one serve is one slice, but the whole recipe makes 1 cake - how many slices is that? Thanks for a great recipe
Four Score Living
Good Morning,
Thank you for stopping by! This recipe yields 9 servings.
Happy baking!
The Four Score Living Team
Laura
Baking soda? Not baking powder? What is the acid to activate the soda?
Four Score Living
Hi Laura, there's enough acidity in the almond flour to activate it, but you're welcome to use baking powder if you like.
Sarah
Do these freeze well?
Four Score Living
Yes, this coffee cake freezes well.
Ashley
I plan on making this for next week, is there any other subs for almond flour ? *Almond allergy*
Thanks!
Four Score Living
Hi Ashley,
Sorry, I don't have a sub at this time for the almond flour.
Linda Robinson
I used butter and it turned out fine. It was really moist and delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Four Score Living
I am glad you liked it. Thank you for letting me know.
Michele
Thank you fir the recipe! Do you think vegan (flax) eggs could be substituted?
Four Score Living
Yes, flaxegg will work. Just note the texture will be a little softer.
AnnMarie
I just wanted to let you know. This recipe was not only easy, it was delicious. Both my husband and I have been on a keto diet for 10 months and while we still are trying to lose weight I have been looking for something to satisfy our sweet tooth to help us from derailing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Four Score Living
I am so glad you both loved it. Thank you for stopping back by to let me know.
Jennifer
I was out of oil so used melted butter. I was running out of maple syrup so used half honey. So good and easy! ❤️
Bobbie Montgomery
Can you use regular maple syrup instead of sugar free?
Four Score Living
Yes, you can use regular maple syrup.
Ellen Anthony
Clearly, Mama and Sukanya didn't have enough German grandmothers in their lives. I've never thought that coffee cake should taste like coffee, I think it should have plums baked into it. Hooray for culinary diversity!
Four Score Living
My German grandmother loved to add plums or shredded apple, yum! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Sukanya
I want to understand something. So this cake will not have a coffee flavour AT ALL?
Four Score Living
Coffee cake is traditionally a cake served with coffee. It doesn't have coffee in it.
Mama
Hello!
I don’t see any coffee in the recipe. The cake looks really good!
Four Score Living
Hi! Coffee cake doesn't usually have coffee in it 🙂 It's a lighter cake that is typically served with coffee.
Suzanne
Can I sub butter for the oil? I feel like delicious crumbs should be made with butter.
Four Score Living
Yes, you can use butter.
Leslie
I chanced upon this while looking for a coffee flavoured cake and decided to give it a go, without the topping. I used rapeseed oil, honey, 2 eggs + a banana as I ran out of eggs, and 3 tbsp of instant espresso powder in the dry mix. It turned out divine! Thank u.
Four Score Living
Hi Leslie,
I am so glad you liked it. Thank you for sharing what you used.
Sydney
I have made several low-carb/keto cakes, and this is by far the BEST cake I’ve tasted!! It satisfies my sweet tooth no doubt! This will be the ONLY cake I make for keto from here on out!!
Four Score Living
I am so glad you love it! Thank you for taking time to stop back by and let me know.