If you miss a moist and delicious crumb cake since going gluten free…you know the ones I mean with those thick yummy toppings, this Simple Gluten Free Cinnamon Crumb Cake recipe is for you!
There is a video further down in this post that will show you how to make this cake for yourself.
(*Note this cake is more golden because I used blond coconut sugar instead of regular sugar. You can use either sugar in this recipe!)
Grandma’s Cinnamon Crumb Cake
Grab a cup of your favorite coffee or tea because you are going to want that on-hand for this new recipe.
Did your grandmother like to bake? I had one grandmother who rarely cooked, and another who loved to cook.
When I would visit my grandmother (the one who loved to bake) when I was a child, there was always a cake ready to be eaten :-). My grandmother’s crumb cake was always my favorite. I would pick the sweet crumbs off the top every time. I can just taste that cinnamon crumble topping!
Her easy crumb cake was a New York Style Crumb Cake, with the thick crumble topping. It was easily the best crumb coffee cake I had ever tasted.
Have you had a coffee cake like this?
This gluten free coffee cake recipe is a guess of her recipe. Unfortunately, I never got this recipe from her. I tried to combine all of the flavors I remembered like cinnamon and vanilla. Of course, this recipe is gluten free.
Healthier Cake Options
To make it healthier (totally optional!) I made this cake gluten free refined sugar free. Don’t forget that if you use blond coconut sugar as I did, the color of your crumb cake will be more golden. You can totally use regular sugar if you want your cake a lighter coffee cake color.
You can also add walnuts to the topping to add a little more protein!
More Delicious Gluten Free Cake Recipes to Try:
- Gluten Free German Apple Cake
- Gluten Free Devils Food Cake
- Gluten Free Lemon Sour Cream Cake
- Gluten Free Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Are you ready to make this recipe for yourself?
How To Make A Gluten Free Crumb Cake:
Add the dry ingredients to a bowl. See how golden the blond coconut sugar is? It is what gives this gluten free crumb cake its golden tone. As I mentioned earlier, you can use regular sugar if you prefer a lighter color.
Use a whisk to blend the dry ingredients in the bowl. You want to make sure the dry ingredients are blended thoroughly.
How to temper eggs:
Start adding the wet ingredients to a bowl. Here I have the eggs and vanilla added. To temper the mixture so the hot melted butter won’t cook the eggs, I add a tiny bit of the hot butter while whisking quickly. Continue to gradually whisk in the hot butter in small increments.
The next step to making this delicious gluten free coffee cake is to pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients.
Your cake batter will look like this. Again, if you use regular sugar, you will not have this golden colored cake batter.
Pour your batter into a greased 8×8 cake pan. I used coconut oil spray to prevent sticking. Spread out the batter and set the cake aside. It is time to make that thick crumbly topping :-). Now is a good time to preheat your oven to 350F degrees.
How to make a Crumb Topping:
Add the crumb topping ingredients to a bowl. I did use refined organic sugar for this. You can use coconut sugar if you want to stick with unrefined sugars, but it will not melt and crumble quite the same.
TIP: Make sure your butter is VERY cold. I put my butter into the freezer for 20 minutes before adding it it. This will keep the topping crumbly.
Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the crumb topping ingredients.
How do you know the texture is right in your crumb topping?
You want your mixture to resemble small crumbs when you are done. It can take 5 minutes of using the pastry blender to achieve this.
Spread the crumb topping over the cake batter. Now your cake is ready to bake.
Enjoy!!
Here is a quick crumb cake recipe video to walk you through all of the steps.
(*Please note this post has affiliate links. Ordering through my site will not change the price you pay. A tiny commission will come to Fearless Dining to help offset the cost of running this blog. I truly appreciate the support.)
Things You Need to Make This Recipe:
- Blond coconut sugar. It is lighter colored than the brown coconut sugar and gives your baking a golden color.
- One of these gluten free flour blends, Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 or Authentic Foods Multiblend. If your blend doesn’t contain Xanthan gum, add 1 teaspoon.)
A delicious crumb cake recipe that is perfect for snacking.
- 1 1/2 cups gluten free flour blend
- 1 cup sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- For Topping:
- 1/3 cup cold butter
- 1 cup gluten free flour blend
- 3/4 cup sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
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In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
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In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients and mix well.
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Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until blended.
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In a small bowl, add the ingredients for the topping. Use a pastry blender to cut the cold butter into the ingredients so that it makes crumbles.
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Pour the cake batter into a greased 8x8 baking pan.
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Pour the crumble mixture on top and lightly press into the batter.
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Bake for 40-45 minutes until done.
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Allow to cool then slice.
More Delicious Gluten Free Recipes to Try:
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- Instant Pot Cabbage and Meatballs
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- Honey Mustard Slow Cooker Chicken
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- Homemade Sloppy Joes
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- Gluten Free Blueberry Cobbler
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- Gluten Free Cream Puffs
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- Classic Shepherd’s Pie
Sandig45
Hi Rita, I honestly am not sure. I have never baked with Stevia. Possibly for the cake portion, but I am not sure if Stevia melts in the same way sugar and coconut sugar melt for the crumbly topping. If you do try it, and it works, please come back and let us know so others can know the answer. Have a nice weekend :-).
April J Harris
This looks like such a lovely coffee cake! I adore anything with cinnamon, and I’m sure this would be amazing with a coffee or tea.
Sandig45
Awww, thank you April. I love anything cinnamon too :-).
Linda @ With A Blast
Love the look of the topping ! This is the perfect cake for tea time as well 🙂
Sandig45
I bet this crumb cake would be wonderful with tea :-).
Monica | Nourish & Fete
Agreed that this type of baking is a bit unusual in Europe – but as an American living in Europe, I sure love to see it – that crumb coating looks to-die-for!! I’d cut a too-large piece to enjoy with an afternoon coffee – heaven!!
Sandig45
So glad this is tempting…I lived in Europe when I was in college doing an exchange program and I did miss many American treats.
Nicky Corbishley
Think your grandma would be proud of your version of her cake, love the crumb topping. Just sent my mother-in-law the link to this, as she is gluten intolerant and I’m sure she would love it.
Sandig45
Thank you so much Nicky…I hope she would be proud :-).
Brian Jones
That looks glorious, that style of cake is very unusual in Europe, you do see it but very rarely, I love the crumb coating!
Sandig45
Thank you so much Brian…my grandmother always made the best crumb coating on her cakes and muffins 🙂
Natalie
I love crumb cakes and this cinnamon version looks so homey and delicious. The texture of this cake seems incredible and so good! Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Sandig45
Thank you so much natalie…enjoy 🙂
Rita
Hi, can’t wait to try this recipe. I was wondering if I can substitute the coconut sugar with stevia? Thank you love your recipes.