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Home » Recipes » Baking & Desserts

Vegan Coffee Cake (Gluten-Free)

Last updated - September 16, 2023; Published - October 16, 2020 By Rhian Williams 22 Comments

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A collage of two vegan coffee cake photos

This Vegan Coffee Cake is the best: it has a moist, fluffy sponge with a sticky cinnamon sugar filling and a "buttery" crumble (streusel) topping. It's also gluten-free and refined sugar free, and perfect for dessert or breakfast!

A square slice of vegan coffee cake with cinnamon sugar filling and brown crumble on a plate with a bite taken out of it
Does coffee cake have coffee?


In Britain, coffee cake means a round layer cake that is made with a coffee-infused sponge and coffee-infused buttercream frosting with chopped walnuts mixed in or used to decorate the top of the cake. My Gluten-Free Vegan Coffee Walnut Cake is an example of this.

This Vegan Coffee Cake recipe is an American coffee cake, which does not contain coffee. It is called coffee cake because it is a cake that is often eaten with coffee. American coffee cake consists of a vanilla sponge, which is traditionally made extra moist and fluffy by the addition of sour cream, buttermilk, yogurt or cream cheese and topped with a cinnamon-infused crumble (streusel) topping. A mixture of cinnamon and sugar is also often added to the middle of the sponge to create a swirl effect.

This eggless, dairy-free coffee cake it is made using a dairy-free buttermilk substitute.

How do you make dairy-free buttermilk?


Mix any plant-based milk with vinegar in a measuring jug.
Let it sit for 10 minutes.

Tip: This trick works with any kind of non-dairy milk, as the vinegar curdles the milk so that it resembles buttermilk.

What kind of pan should you use to make coffee cake?


This coffee cake can be made in a round springform baking tin, in a bundt tin, in a loaf tin, or can even be made into coffee cake muffins.

For this recipe, I used a square baking tin, measuring 23cm/9inch. I recommend lining the tin with greased baking paper to make it easier to remove the cake after.

How do you serve coffee cake?


Fresh fruit such as raspberries or blueberries.

Coconut whipped cream.

Drizzled with cream cheese frosting.

How to make this recipe

Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.

  • Mix together all the ingredients for the crumble topping in a glass mixing bowl.
  • Place in the fridge to firm up while you prepare the rest of the cake.
Raw vegan coffee cake streusel topping in a bowl
  • Mix together the cinnamon and coconut sugar in a small bowl.
Cinnamon and coconut sugar in a bowl
  • Mix together the ingredients for the cake batter in a glass mixing bowl.
Raw vegan coffee cake batter in a bowl
  • Transfer one half into a square baking tin.

Tip: Line the tin with greased baking paper to make it easier to remove the cake after.

Raw coffee cake batter in a square baking tin lined with baking paper
  • Use a spoon to sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly across the surface of the cake batter.

Tip: Make sure not to go too close to the edges on each side. 

Raw vegan coffee cake batter topped with cinnamon and coconut sugar in a square baking tin lined with baking paper
  • Carefully spread the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon sugar.
A second layer of raw vegan coffee cake batter in a square baking tin lined with baking paper
  • Remove the crumble topping mixture from the fridge, and use your fingers to crumble it over the top so that the cake batter is evenly covered.
Raw vegan coffee cake batter with raw streusel topping in a square baking tin
  • Bake in the oven for around 20 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
Vegan coffee cake with streusel topping in a square baking tin
  • Leave to cool completely before cutting into squares.

Serving suggestions

  • Fresh fruit such as raspberries or blueberries.
  • Coconut whipped cream.
  • Drizzled with cream cheese frosting.

How long does this Coffee Cake keep for?

This coffee cake does taste best when fresh, but keeps for up to a few days.

How do you store it?

This coffee cake keeps for up to one day at room temperature (provided it's not too hot where you live!) or keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days.

Can you freeze it?

Yes - it keeps in the freezer for up to one month. Leave to thaw at room temperature.

Substitutions you can make

  • You can use any type of oil: coconut oil, olive oil or vegetable oil.
  • You can use any type of plant-based milk: almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, cashew milk, oat milk etc.
  • You can use any type of liquid sweetener: maple syrup, agave syrup, brown rice syrup etc.
  • You can replace the ground almonds with ground walnuts.
  • For a nut-free version: replace the ground walnuts with ground sunflower seeds and use a nut-free plant-based milk.
  • You can use plain flour, wholemeal (whole wheat) flour or spelt flour instead of the gluten-free flour if you’re not gluten-free.
  • For an oil-free version, replace the coconut oil with smooth almond butter or pecan butter.

How to change the flavour

  • Add fresh or frozen berries to the cake batter: raspberries, blueberries, blackberries etc.
  • Add apple chunks or grated apple to the cake batter.
  • Add chopped peaches to the batter.
  • Add fresh or frozen cherries to the batter.
  • Add chopped pecan nuts to the crumble topping.
  • Make a pumpkin-flavoured cake batter - use my Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Bread recipe.
  • Make a banana-flavoured cake batter - use my Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Cake recipe.
Two square slices of vegan coffee cake with streusel topping stacked on top of each other

More vegan desserts

  • Chocolate Lava Cake
  • Apple Crumble Bars
  • Coconut Macaroons
  • Lemon Bars
  • Strawberry Trifle
  • Sugar Cookies
  • Strawberry Shortcake
  • Blueberry Crumble Bars
  • Lemon Pudding
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
  • Pumpkin Loaf Cake
  • Pumpkin Bars
  • Almond Cake
  • Olive Oil Cake
  • Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake

If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog, I’d really love to hear any feedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes on Instagram! Thank you.

Watch how to make this recipe

A square slice of vegan coffee cake with cinnamon sugar filling and brown crumble on a plate with a bite taken out of it

Vegan Coffee Cake (Gluten-Free)

This Vegan Coffee Cake is the best: it has a moist, fluffy sponge with a cinnamon sugar filling and a "buttery" crumble (streusel) topping.
4 from 18 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: american coffee cake, gluten-free coffee cake, vegan coffee cake
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 16 squares
Calories: 234kcal
Author: Rhian Williams

Ingredients

For the crumble topping:

  • 60 g (¼ cup) coconut oil (or sub vegetable or olive oil)
  • 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 75 g (⅔ cup) ground almonds (almond meal) *
  • 75 g (⅔ cup) gluten-free flour blend (or sub rice flour, or plain all-purpose flour if not gluten-free)
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)

For the cinnamon sugar filling:

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons coconut sugar

For the cake:

  • 200 ml (⅘ cup) unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar ** (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
  • 60 g (¼ cup) coconut oil (or sub olive or vegetable oil)
  • 8 tablespoons maple syrup (or sub any other sweetener)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 150 g (1 ¼ cup) ground almonds (almond meal) *
  • 150 g (1 ¼ cup) gluten-free flour blend (or sub plain flour if not gluten-free)
  • 2 heaped teaspoons baking powder (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
  • ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

Instructions

For the crumble topping:

  • Place the coconut oil in a large bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave (skip this step if using any other oil).
  • Add the coconut sugar, ground almonds, gluten-free flour, cinnamon and almond milk and mix well, until you get a crumble-like texture.
  • Place this mixture in the fridge to firm up while you prepare the rest of the cake.

For the cinnamon sugar filling:

  • Mix together the cinnamon and coconut sugar in a small bowl.

For the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Measure out the milk and, leaving it in the measuring container, add the tablespoon of vinegar and stir - leave to sit for around 10 minutes, while you make the rest of the cake.
  • Place the coconut oil in a large bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave (skip this step if using any other oil).
  • Once melted, add the milk and vinegar mixture to the same bowl along with the maple syrup, vanilla and ground almonds.
  • Sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
  • Mix well, adding a tiny splash more milk if it’s looking too dry.
  • Transfer half of the cake batter into a square baking tin lined with baking paper (I used a 23cm/9inch square baking tin).
  • Use a spoon to sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly across the surface of the cake batter, avoiding going too close to the edges on each side.
  • Carefully spread the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon sugar.
  • Remove the crumble topping mixture from the fridge, and use your fingers to crumble it over the top so that the cake batter is evenly covered.
  • Bake in the oven for around 20 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
  • Leave the cake in the baking tin to cool completely before cutting into squares.
  • Tastes best when fresh, but keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days.

Video

Notes

*You can alternatively use almond flour.
**You can sub 2 tablespoons lemon juice.
For an oil-free version, replace the coconut oil with smooth almond butter or pecan butter.
Nutrition Facts
Vegan Coffee Cake (Gluten-Free)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 234 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Sodium 48mg2%
Potassium 35mg1%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 4g8%
Calcium 74mg7%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Made the recipe?Tag @rhiansrecipes on instagram and use the hashtag #rhiansrecipes!

Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog – thank you.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Su

    October 17, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    5 stars
    This looks delicious, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Rhian Williams

      October 17, 2020 at 9:53 pm

      Thank you so much!

  2. JAN Alford

    October 17, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    Hi, but I can’t see any coffee in the ingredients!!!!! Jan

    Reply
    • Rhian Williams

      October 17, 2020 at 9:55 pm

      This recipe is an American coffee cake, which does not contain coffee. It is called coffee cake because it is a cake that is often eaten with coffee. American coffee cake consists of a vanilla sponge, which is traditionally made extra moist and fluffy by the addition of sour cream, buttermilk, yogurt or cream cheese, topped with a cinnamon-infused crumble (streusel) topping. A mixture of cinnamon and sugar is also often added to the middle of the sponge to create a swirl effect.

      In Britain, where I'm from, coffee cake means a round layer cake that is made with a coffee-infused sponge and coffee-infused buttercream frosting with chopped walnuts mixed in or used to decorate the top of the cake. My Coffee Walnut Cake recipe (https://www.rhiansrecipes.com/gluten-free-vegan-coffee-walnut-cake/) is this type of coffee cake!

  3. Rebecca

    October 18, 2020 at 7:11 am

    Hi Rhian! Thank you so much for your posts and for making cooking so available for vegan, gf folks!

    What types of gf flour mixture should we make if we don't have access to the specific flour that's linked in your recipe?

    Reply
    • Rhian Williams

      October 18, 2020 at 12:34 pm

      Thank you so much! You can use white rice flour and 2 tablespoons tapioca flour for the cake and white rice flour for the crumble topping!

  4. Pamela Fitzpatrick

    October 29, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    Can applesauce substitute for the oil? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Rhian Williams

      October 30, 2020 at 2:06 pm

      Yes - a few tablespoons!

  5. Desicart

    November 05, 2020 at 7:38 am

    5 stars
    This look so fresh and delicious.Thank you so much for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Rhian Williams

      November 05, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      Thank you so much!

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A collage of two vegan coffee cake photos
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Hi, I’m Rhian! I make easy, undetectably vegan + gluten-free recipes, including healthy comfort food and naturally sweetened desserts using plant-based ingredients.

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