Gluten-Free Coffee Cake

Coffee Cake

Coffee cakes are sweet breads made from a yeast dough or quick bread batter. Generally prepared to go along with a beverage, coffee cakes make fine choices for hot coffee or tea, and are often the main course for a light snack. Serve coffee cake for any event requiring a sweet bread, such as breakfast, afternoon tea, or even a picnic. Many favorite recipes for coffee cake, especially quick breads, can be converted to gluten-free versions by using appropriate ingredient substitutions during baking.

Gluten-Free Coffee Cake Recipe

This recipe for gluten free coffee cake contains a brown sugar and rolled oats streusel topping. Sprinkle the prepared streusel over the bread batter just before baking to create a sweet and crunchy topping for the bread.

  • 1 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons gluten free baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 large egg, beaten

For the Gluten-Free Streusel Topping:

  • 1/2 cup gluten free brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup gluten free rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons gluten free flour mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a standard sized loaf or bread pan.
  2. In a mixing bowl, prepare the gluten free streusel topping by mixing by hand the gluten free brown sugar & rolled oats, gluten free flour mix, and cinnamon. Pour the melted butter over the top and stir until crumbly. Set aside for later.
  3. Sift the gluten free flour, sugar, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt together.
  4. Stir the milk and oil together, and whisk in the beaten egg. Pour this over the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
  5. Transfer to the prepared baking pan, and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until lightly browned and the center tests done.
  6. Remove from the oven, and let cool inside the baking pan for 10 minutes before removing and cooling to room temperature on a baking rack.

Variations to Coffee Cake Recipes

You can change the quick bread recipe above to suit a different taste, using different spices or toppings.

  • Add chopped walnuts, pecans or slivered almonds to the gluten-free streusel topping recipe for crunch.
  • Omit the cinnamon in the streusel and add in a teaspoon of freshly grated lemon or orange zest to the coffee cake batter.
  • Stir chopped fresh apples into the batter before baking.
  • Add in a pinch of cardamom and mace to the quick bread for holiday baking.

Gluten Free Quick Bread Baking

Many quick bread recipes can be changed to gluten-free versions by changing wheat flour to a gluten-free flour mixture. However, using a gluten-free flour is just one step involved in converting a recipe. Other ingredients may contain hidden sources of gluten, so read the product's ingredient label carefully for suspicious ingredients.

  • Leavening: Yeast is naturally gluten-free, as is baking soda, but always check the label's ingredients for baking powder. Baking powder is a mixture of ingredients which may contain gluten within certain starch additives.
  • Eggs: Eggs are gluten-free. Before adding them to a recipe, beat them to break up the yolks and whites for easier mixing into the batter.
  • Liquids: Milk and juices may be gluten-free, so just refer to the container's ingredient list for the sources.
  • Rolled Oats: While rolled oats themselves contain no gluten, they may be manufactured in facilities that also process wheat ingredients leading to cross contamination. Look for brands that offer gluten-free rolled oats.
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Gluten-Free Coffee Cake