Fluffy, tender coffee cake with a perfect crumb that’s easy to make (1 bowl!), naturally sweetened, vegan, and gluten-free. Laced with cinnamon sugar and topped with cinnamon pecan crumble!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and lightly grease one 9-inch round springform pan or two 6-inch round cake pans (as the original recipe is written). You may also be able to bake in a 9x13 dish, but the cake won’t be as tall. Dust greased pan(s) with a little gluten-free flour and shake out excess. Set aside.
CRUMBLE TOPPING: To a large mixing bowl add the coconut sugar, gluten-free all purpose flour, chopped pecans, coconut oil, and maple syrup and stir to combine. It should be the texture of wet sand (a little gritty, a little clumpy). If too wet, add some more gluten-free flour. If too dry, add a bit more maple syrup. Transfer to a small dish and set aside.
LIQUID INGREDIENTS: In a liquid measuring cup, measure out dairy-free milk and add vinegar, applesauce (or yogurt for more rich, moist cake), maple syrup, and vanilla. Whisk/stir to combine. Set aside.
DRY INGREDIENTS: To the large mixing bowl from earlier, add almond flour, potato starch, arrowroot or corn starch, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt (optional) and whisk to combine.
Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until well incorporated and no large lumps remain. The batter should be semi-thick but pourable. Add more almond flour if too wet or dairy-free milk if too thick.
Add half of the batter to your prepared pan and gently shake to spread. Then add the cinnamon swirl layer (coconut sugar and ground cinnamon) in an even layer.
Top with remaining cake batter and spread into an even layer with a spoon. Top evenly with crumble topping.
Bake on center rack for ~40 minutes for a 9-inch spring form, 30-35 minutes for 2 6-inch round cake pans, or 35-40 minutes for a 9x13 dish. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges and surface are golden brown.
Let cool completely in the pan before serving (if using a springform pan, cool for 15 minutes with the ring on, then remove the ring and allow to cool on a cooling rack). Serve as is or with vanilla dairy-free yogurt, coconut whipped cream and berries, or a powdered sugar glaze (recipe in notes).
Store cake covered at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Video
Notes
*For optional glaze combine 1 cup (112 g) sifted organic powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1-2 Tbsp (15-30 ml) dairy-free milk of choice in a mixing bowl and whisk into a pourable glaze. If too thick, add more dairy-free milk. If too thin, add more powdered sugar. Drizzle over cake once cooled. *Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with fortified almond milk and arrowroot starch and without optional ingredients.