Try this Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake for breakfast or brunch! It's made with wholesome ingredients, is easy to put together and tastes amazing!
I first developed this recipe back in 2012 during my first year of blogging and honestly? I hadn't made it since. I don't often revisit recipes from waaaaay back in the archives because truthfully I'm a much better cook now. I have a much better sense of flavor, understand how flours work together and in general, just feel like I'm a better recipe developer.
But I'm slowly working my way through older posts, giving them new photos and tweaks to the recipes, because I want to a) make sure every recipe on this site actually works and tastes good and b) better reflects the SQ brand.
So today we're making this incredible Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake and I'm so excited to (re)share it with you!
Since sharing that post, I've stopped using gums in my baking, so I did have to tweak this recipe slightly from the original. BUT I'm thrilled to say the new version is even better than the last!
We're starting with a base of whole grain flours. I've successfully used sorghum, millet and quinoa flours. Then we add in our almond flour, which I'm sure you've heard to talk about before, but gives baked goods (especially cakes) the most amazing texture and crumb. To finish it off, we're using tapioca starch, which helps give the cake some lightness and also a bit of spring.
For our wet ingredients, you can use a few different options:
- Any oil should work (I've used coconut and olive with equal results)
- Any milk will work (I've used coconut and almond)
- Eggs *might* be able to be replaced with a flax/chia egg, but I haven't tested that yet
And then we basically just stir it all together, fold in our lemon zest and blueberries and move on to the topping!
A little fact about me? I L-O-V-E (like big time ❤) any dessert or treat that has a crumb topping. The combination of a fluffy cake/muffin or soft fruit, with a sweet, crunchy topping is pure heaven in my book.
So this coffee cake? It's epic.
For the crumble, we're going with a blend of coconut oil, coconut sugar, oats, almond flour and pecans. The sugar makes the whole cake just a tiny be sweeter, while the oats and pecans add a lovely little crunch. And the almond flour? That's there to help it stick together a bit more and make it all clumpy and perfect.
I do want to say, cakes can be a bit intimidating. Trust me, I pretty much shy away from baking a cake any chance I get. But this one? It's easy to put together, can be made in two bowls and takes just about 45 mins to make.
And the beauty of a breakfast cake is that it also only requires one pan to bake; you pop it in the oven and you’re done. Unlike pancakes and waffles, which need constant attention, breakfast cakes are easy-going and mellow, plus with my adaptations, they’re healthy and nutritious.
This particular coffee cake also gives you the freedom to play around with different ingredients and flavors.
If you don't like blueberries, or want to nix the whole fruit thing in general, you can totally just leave the berries out. Or you could swap them with something different.
Here are some other ingredients you could try:
- Any berry like strawberries, raspberries or blackberries
- Any citrus zest like orange, lime or grapefruit (although that might be a bit bitter)
- Any other chopped fruit like apples, pears or peaches
Basically, what I'm trying to show you is that the base for this coffee cake is incredibly versatile and can be changed based on what is in season at the time!
And guys, if you're looking to make an entire brunch spread? I think you'll love these Blackberry Lime Quinoa Muffins, Triple Berry Quinoa Salad, Wholesome Almond Flour Waffles and/or Kimchi Tofu Scramble!
Hope you ❤ this lemon blueberry coffee cake recipe! I can't wait to see what you end up serving it with. Make sure to snap a pic and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @simplyquinoaand using #simplyquinoa!
xo Alyssa
More Almond Flour Cake Recipes:
- Lemon Almond Flour Cake
- Blood Orange Cake
- Quinoa Carrot Cake
- Cranberry Orange Gluten-Free Coffee Cake
Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake
Ingredients
for the cake
- 1/2 cup millet or sorghum flour
- 1/2 cup toasted quinoa flour
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons almond flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca starch
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 organic eggs beaten
- 1/4 cup oil of choice I like coconut or olive
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut milk
- Zest of one lemon
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
for the crumb topping
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9" round baking pan (or spring form pan) with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, combine your eggs, oil, vanilla and 1/2 cup coconut milk. Beat these into the dry ingredients until a very thick batter begins to form. Slowly add the rest of your coconut milk, one tablespoon at a time. You want the dough to be slightly thicker than a cake batter. Fold in the lemon zest and blueberries.
- Transfer the mixture into your baking pan and set aside.
- Prepare the crumb topping by combining all the ingredients into a small bowl and beat until you have a sandy texture. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the top of the cake.
- Bake in the center of your warmed oven for 40 - 45 minutes. Test with a cake tester by placing it in the center of the cake. If there is nothing on the stick when you remove it, the cake is ready!
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 - 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
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The nutty layer of this lemon blueberry cake is making this cake to look more yummy! Mouthwatering recipe! I love the recipe, surely will try this one. And I also started following you on facebook waiting for your next amazing recipe.
Hope you enjoy it!!
Could you use flax eggs instead?
Thanks!
I haven’t tested this with flax, but it might work!
Is there a good substitute for coconut flour and sugar? I’m allergic. Thanks 🙂
I haven’t tested this without either of the ingredients, I’m sorry!
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What an addition! Breakfast got more amazing.
I love the cross-section of sweet blueberries, too. 🙂
Tart cherries and sweet berries – nothing better!! French toast is so good 🙂
This sounds fantastic! I’m now following you on Pinterest!
My favorite brunch item is definitely french toast! yum!
Now following you on Pintrest, and I was already a Facebook fan!
I am fairly new to gf, and I just discovered quinoa, so I am always interested in new recipes! This looks AMAZING and I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!
Already subscribed to your posts, I just can’t figure out where attune is on pinterest?
Now following attune foods on both facebook and twitter!
Now following bob on pinterest 🙂
Gotcha on pinterest now…
Now following Bob’s RedMill on both facebook and twitter, funny because I was just browsing their site this morning!
Was already following you on facebook, but now twitter! (I’m just new to the whole twitter world, it’s so confusing!)
My favorite brunch item would definitely be anything pastry like, coffer cakes, muffins, biscuits, croissants!
I am now following you on Pinterest
I currently follow you on Facebook
My favorite breakfast/brunch food would probably be a Bagel Egg Sandwich with sauteed tomatoes, onions and spinach 🙂 But you coffee cake looks amazing!
I am picturing myself eating this coffee cake on a cool summer morning next to the pool. Great recipe, love the photos.
and lastly, i subscribed by email 😀
follow attune on pinterest as well
follow bob’s red mill on pinterest tooo!
follow you on pinterest
like bob’s red mill on facebook and follow them on twitta too 🙂
like you on facebook and follow you on twitta
Oh man this sounds awesome! I love lemon and blueberries together 🙂
Pingback: Alyssa
I make a similar recipe for a blueberry and pineapple breakfast cake, using quinoa flakes! You should check it out here: http://everydayvegangirl.blogspot.com/2012/04/brunch-or-breakfast-idea-blueberry-and.html
I follow you on pinterest now!
I love breakfast cakes like this for brunch…such a nourishing, hearty meal that includes great whole grains and fruit!
Followed you on twitter!
Followed you on FB!
This recipe looks delicious!
I usually do a bagel with almond butter and honey, but what you made here looks very appetizing and very moist! Thanks for the opportunity to win some Bob’s Red Mill.
I follow you on twitter: ljskop
I follow Attune on twitter: ljskop
I follow Bob’s Red Mill on twitter: ljskop
I love almond cake for brunch; a cousin in Italy made one with zabaglione in it and it was wonderful.
I Follow the Queen of Quinoa on Facebook and Twitter!
I Follow Bob’s Red Mill on Facebook and Twitter!
I Follow Attune Foods on Facebook and Twitter!
I Follow the Queen of Quinoa on Pinterest!
I Follow Bob’s Red Mill on Pinterest!
I follow Attune Foods on Pinterest!
I follow you via email!
Your breakfast cake looks delicious! My favorite type of breakfast food!
Following attune on Facebook!
Following bobs red mill on Facebook
Following you on pinterest!
Following you on Facebook 🙂
I love these brands and enjoy using them to make clean treats 🙂
My favorite brunch is breakfast tacos, but it might be Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake after I win these ingredients!
I follow Attune Foods on Pinterest.
I follow Bob’s Red Mill on Pinterest.
I follow you on Pinterest.
I follow Attune Foods on Facebook and Twitter.
I follow Bob’s Red Mill on Facebook and Twitter.
I follow you on Facebook and Twitter.
This looks amazing. I usually eat some granola or some toast as a mid-morning snack. I guess I need to be a little more inventive. Great Post!
Could I use cooked quinoa or does it need to be quinoa flour? Looks delicious! Happy new year!
In this case it needs to be a flour – not necessarily quinoa – but you wouldn’t be able to substitute cooked quinoa. If you don’t have quinoa flour, you can either a) make your own in a spice grinder or blender or b) substitute it for another gluten-free flour (like brown rice, sorghum or millet). Hope that helps!
Hi Queen of Quinoa, thank you so much for your reply and helpful suggestions. I do like to make my quinoa flour and look forward to making another one of your delicious recipes! Thanks for all them! I am happy that I found you;)