For those of you that love a warm slice of coffee cake, here’s a delicious cake that’s actually good for you. Instead of white flour and sugar, it’s made of real food, like almonds, eggs, and coconut, which will nourish your body.
Unlike the soggy, sad, gluten free cakes that you may have encountered elsewhere, this one is tender and light and tastes like a “real”coffee cake. I highly recommend putting wild, dehydrated pecans on top as the flavor is incredible. Of course, you can vary this with different types of nut topping, or leave the nuts off altogether if you’re not in the mood.
This recipe is a quickie and can be ready to pop in the oven in about 15 minutes. Another 30 minutes or so to bake and you have a warm, homemade, gluten free, low carb dessert with crisp pecans on top that makes the house smell like cinnamon and everyone happy.
- For the Topping:
- 3 Tablespoons cinnamon
- 4 Tablespoons xylitol or sweetener of your choice, divided
- 1 1/2 cups roughly chopped pecans or whole pecans if using the smaller ones from the Pecan Shop, may substitute roughly chopped almonds, macadamia nuts or hazelnuts
- 4 teaspoons melted butter or coconut oil for dairy free
- For the Cake:
- 5 large eggs
- 5 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, or coconut oil for dairy free
- 1 1/3 cups almond meal
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3/4 cup whole milk or coconut milk for dairy free
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup xylitol or erythritol (I use some of each) or "Just Like Sugar"
- Make the Topping:
- In a small bowl, stir cinnamon and 2 Tablespoons of xylitol (or other sweetener) together. Set aside.
- In another small bowl add remaining 2 Tablespoons of xylitol (or other sweetener) pecans, and melted butter or coconut oil. Stir to coat pecans. Set aside.
- Make the Cake:
- Grease a 9"x 9" x 1 1/2"-2" deep baking pan with butter or coconut oil. Preheat oven to 350°.
- Batter may be mixed by hand, with an electric mixer or a standing mixer.
- Put eggs in a large bowl and beat. Add all other cake ingredients and beat on medium to mix well. Taste for sweetness and add more sweetener as necessary. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Sprinkle cinnamon mixture on top of batter. Swirl into top 1/2" of cake batter with the edge of a knife. It won't be even or pretty so don't worry.
- Sprinkle nuts on top of cinnamon mixture.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cake feels firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. May be served warm.
- Cake may be made 6 hours ahead of time and kept covered and unrefrigerated.
I just made it with walnuts. I can’t wait to taste it!! Thanks Lisa
You’re so welcome!
I just saw this recipe! Sounds delish. Question – what kind of coconut milk? Could you sub almond milk?
Thanks, Therese
Hi Therese,
I use any kind of canned coconut milk. Just make sure it doesn’t say “low fat.” Also make sure it doesn’t say coconut cream. I haven’t tried it with almond milk but my guess is that it would probably work. Almond milk is more watery and not as thick as coconut milk though so you’d most likely need to use a little less.
Here’s a picture of a brand of coconut milk. They’re all very similar.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/154104effada3c00d736b3f92d7fc51775f25bb6b6833d7c76da4aec466defc8.png
Thank you!