Introduction

This gluten free cinnamon coffee cake is a delightful treat perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. It combines moist cake layers swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with a buttery, crumbly topping for a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

The image shows twelve square pieces of crumb cake arranged in a 3 by 4 grid on parchment paper over a metal tray. Each piece has two visible layers: a light golden yellow cake base with a soft texture and a thick, uneven top layer of crumbly brown cinnamon streusel. One piece is slightly pulled away from the grid to show the moist texture inside with swirls of cinnamon. Crumbs are scattered around the tray, and a metal knife rests nearby on a white marbled surface. A small white bowl filled with brown sugar and a glass of milk sit blurred in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1/2 cup salted butter, softened
2/3 cup applesauce
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup almond flour
1 1/4 cup oat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp salted butter, melted
1 tbsp oat flour
2 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
1/4 cup salted butter, slightly softened (room temperature)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup almond flour
1/2 cup oat flour
2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, applesauce, eggs, white sugar, and vanilla extract until well blended.
Step 3: Add almond flour, oat flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until the batter is smooth and consistent.
Step 4: For the cinnamon sugar filling, mix the melted butter, oat flour, white sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl until evenly combined.
Step 5: Prepare the crumble topping by combining room temperature butter, light brown sugar, almond flour, oat flour, and cinnamon. Use your hands or a fork to create coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Step 6: Grease or line an 8×8 inch baking dish. Pour half of the cake batter into the dish and spread evenly.
Step 7: Spoon half of the cinnamon sugar filling over the batter and use a knife or skewer to gently swirl it through.
Step 8: Pour the remaining cake batter over the swirled layer and spread evenly. Add the remaining cinnamon sugar filling on top and swirl again.
Step 9: Bake the cake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven.
Step 10: Remove the cake from the oven and evenly distribute the crumble topping over the surface, pressing gently into the cake, especially in the center.
Step 11: Return the cake to the oven and bake for another 18 minutes, until the crumble is golden and the cake is cooked through.
Step 12: Let the cake cool completely before cutting into squares. Enjoy!

Tips & Variations

For extra depth, try adding a pinch of nutmeg to the cinnamon sugar filling.
Substitute oat flour with gluten free all-purpose flour if oat flour is unavailable.
Use dairy-free butter and replace eggs with flax eggs to make this cake vegan-friendly.
Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of maple syrup for added indulgence.

Storage

Store any leftover cake covered tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat slices gently in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or until warm. This cake also freezes well; wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Serve

The image shows a batch of crumb cake cut into rectangular pieces on a parchment-lined metal tray placed on a white marbled surface. Each piece has two visible layers: a thick, moist yellow cake layer at the bottom with specks of brown swirls inside, and a crumbly, uneven textured brown streusel topping that looks crunchy. One piece is slightly pulled away and angled forward, revealing the soft cake and streusel layers clearly. There are a few crumbs scattered around on the surface and near a silver knife to the right. A blurred white cup is in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of almond and oat flour?

You can substitute with regular all-purpose flour, but the texture and flavor will change. Almond and oat flours give this cake its moist, tender crumb and gluten free quality.

Is applesauce necessary in this recipe?

Applesauce helps keep the cake moist while reducing the amount of butter needed. If you don’t have applesauce, you can substitute with mashed bananas or an equal amount of yogurt, though the flavor will vary slightly.