Gluten Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Name: Gluten Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 27 min
Total time: 67 min
Ingredients: 270 grams gluten free Bisquick baking mix (about 1 ¾ cup); 50 grams granulated sugar (about ¼ cup); 1 cup almond milk; 3 eggs; 3 Tablespoons non dairy butter (melted); 55 grams gluten free Bisquick baking mix (about 1/3 cup); ½ cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ cup butter (cold)

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This classic gluten free cinnamon coffee cake is light as a feather, topped with a delicious, sweet, buttery topping and it’s dairy free! It’s a one bowl recipe that starts with convenient GF Bisquick!

Whoever came up with a cake that can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack or dessert was a genius. Just by simple giving this cake a fancy name, viola – I can sit here and enjoy a piece for lunch! I am not one to argue when to eat cake (see also this vanilla cake and chocolate cake) so strawberry cake might just become an afternoon snack from now on!

Why is this gluten free coffee cake the best?

I’ve made dozens of coffee cakes over the years – with all types of ingredients, but none compare to a classic cinnamon coffee cake with a buttery cinnamon topping. They just don’t get better than that. Besides that amazing flavor combination, this coffee cake is also:

Super easy – it uses a baking mix so measuring the ingredients is the most time consuming part of this recipe!
Tender and soft – you may not think of a cake as being soft, but that’s the best way I know to describe it – it’s got a super soft texture that literally melts in your mouth.
Perfectly balanced – it’s not overly sweet and it’s not bland either. I would not hesitate to serve this for breakfast or for an afternoon snack.

How to make this gluten free Bisquick coffee cake

Room temperature ingredients

Except for the cold butter for the topping, all ingredients should be at room temperature. Eggs can be quickly warmed by floating them in a cup of warm water for a few minutes.

Use a medium sized bowl

Normally I would always suggest reaching for a large bowl to mix ingredients. But with this recipe, you can use the medium size. The recipe is easy to mix with just a spoon and the ingredients won't fly all over the counter.

Mix the topping

The topping is a really fun part of this recipe. To mix it, just combine the baking mix, brown sugar and cinnamon. Then use a pastry blender and cut the butter into the mix. It may take a few minutes of working it in, but you should be left with a mix that’s crumbly and buttery.

Bake and cool

After the all-important resting period, a 25 minute bake in the oven will have this coffee cake looking amazing. Cool it for a few minutes before cutting into it with a sharp knife and serving!

Pro Tips for the BEST coffee cake

Tip #1 – Let the batter rest

As funny as it may sound, this batter (as with most gluten free batters) needs a 30 minute rest time before baking. This helps hydrate the flours and creates a beautifully textured cake.

Tip #2 – Use GF Bisquick

While there are other baking mixes on the market, the recipe has only been tested with the Bisquick brand mix. Other mixes may work, but I can’t say for certain.

Tip #3 – Substituting the eggs

If you need an egg free version of this recipe, the flax eggs substitute will work well. The cake won’t rise as high as it would with eggs but the taste is exactly the same.

FAQ's about this recipe

Is this gluten free coffee cake easy to make?

It is super easy to make! I mean we’re talking measure the ingredients, portion into the bowl and mix. That’s literally it. The topping ingredients gets little more attention (with cutting in the butter) but other than that, prep work is a breeze.

Is coffee cake like a crumb cake?

Yes, the two are similar, but there are definitely some differences… Crumb cake tends to have a lot more ‘crumb’ topping. While coffee cake, on the other hand, has a much thinner topping layer. Other than that, the cake could easily pass as one another.

Can I use homemade Bisquick?

Yes! And even better I have a wonderful homemade GF Bisquick recipe that works wonderfully in this recipe.

What’s the best way to store this cake?

If you have pieces leftover, the best way to store this cake is by placing the pieces in a plastic storage container. They’ll stay for 2 days at room temperature or place them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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