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Once you smell this Gluten Free Pumpkin Coffee Cake while it bakes, you won’t want to wait to get your hands (or fork) on a slice. Warm pumpkin spice, a nutty pecan crumb topping, and maple drizzle bring the perfect flavor of fall to your breakfast table. It is truly one of the best gluten free pumpkin recipes to enjoy with a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Gluten Free Pumpkin Coffee Cake Made with Almond Flour
Autumn! My favorite season! I love the crisp weather, the sound of the wind rustling through the drying out leaves, and the smell of those leaves as they gather on the ground. Those days where it is cool enough to need jeans, but not so cold that you need to wear a heavy jacket are heaven.
And I love the flavors of things like Gluten Free Apple Cider Donut Cake and Gluten Free Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Cake. It’s these fall treats that are the only thing that can pull me away from my usual dessert cravings that involve chocolate and peanut butter.
But pumpkin spice goodness isn’t just for dessert. ‘Tis the season to make gluten free pumpkin coffee cake for breakfast. It also makes a great afternoon snack or a nighttime sweet tooth satisfier!
I “borrowed” the gluten free coffee cake recipe from Erin of Texanerin Baking. Then I put a pumpkin twist on it. The slightly nutty flavor lends itself perfectly to the fall flavors and spices, and, of course, that pumpkin cream cheese swirl. Finally, top it with a maple cream cheese drizzle, and you have the perfect blend of everything you love about autumn in one moist, tender slice.
Now just pour a cup of coffee or tea and cut yourself a piece and enjoy the perfect bite of fall!
What You Need to Make Pumpkin Crumb Cake
Don’t be fooled by this seemingly long list of ingredients. I assure you, it’s really as simple as stirring together the pumpkin swirl ingredient in a bowl and mixing up the batter and streusel in a food processor. All of the full amounts and details are in the recipe card. But here is an overview, plus some tips and tricks.
Ingredients
For the pumpkin swirl:
- Pumpkin puree: Be sure it’s not pie filling.
- Cream cheese: You can use regular or light cream cheese, and make sure it is softened to room temperature.
- Egg yolk
- Light brown sugar
- Pure vanilla extract: Make sure it is gluten free.
- Pumpkin pie spice: Buy a jar or make your own.
For the crumb cake:
- Gluten free flours: This recipe uses a combination of almond flour for structure and a nutty flavor, coconut flour to absorb moisture, and oat flour for texture and whole grains. For the oat flour, you can buy it or place instant or old-fashioned certified gluten free oats in a food processor and pulse until it forms a flour.
- Salt
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Light brown sugar: Firmly packed.
- Canola oil: You can also use vegetable, avocado, or another neutral oil.
- Plain Greek yogurt: nonfat, low fat, or whole milk yogurt all work.
- Chopped pecans
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Large eggs
- Pure vanilla extract
- Milk: Dairy or nondairy milk can be used.
For the maple cream cheese drizzle (optional):
- Cream cheese: Again, make sure it is soft.
- Maple syrup: The real stuff gives it a better flavor than artificial pancake syrup.
Equipment
- 8 INCH SQUARE CAKE PAN – I love that this cake is baked in an 8 inch square baking pan, so it doesn’t make a ton. I’m not always feeding a crowd and don’t want to always have too many baked goods in the house, which makes this the perfect size for our family of four. Even though these pans are nonstick, I do like to line the pan with parchment paper so I can easily pull out the entire cake.
- FOOD PROCESSOR – The cake batter and streusel topping are actually made in a food processor. It doesn’t get any easier!
- MINI SPATULAS – I have these mini spatulas that I use all the time. There are three different shapes and each works better for different things. They are so convenient for scraping things out of the crevices of your food processor and smoothing the batter into the pan. Since this is baked in an 8 inch baking pan, you don’t really need a giant spatula.
How to Make Pumpkin Coffee Cake
Make the pumpkin swirl. Combine the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
Preparations. Grease an 8″x8″ baking pan or line it with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 325°F.
Make the dry mixture. In a food processor, pulse together the almond flour, oat flour, coconut flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar until combined, then blend in the oil and Greek yogurt. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
Make the streusel. Return some of this dry mixture to the food processor and pulse with the pecans and additional pumpkin pie spice to form crumbs.
Finish the batter. To the reserved dry mixture, stir in the baking soda and baking powder, then add eggs, vanilla and milk. Stir until smooth and pour into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the pecan crumb mixture evenly over the top.
Bake. Now, bake it in the oven at 325°F for 40-45 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean (perhaps only a little of the pumpkin mixture on it, but not cake batter) and it will not jiggle in the middle.
Cool and glaze. Place the cake pan on a cooling rack and cool completely. While it cools, blend together the maple syrup and cream cheese to form a glaze. Leave the pumpkin coffee cake in the pan or lift it out with the parchment paper and drizzle with the glaze.
Tips for Success
Don’t let your cake get stuck. You can just spray the pan well with nonstick cooking spray. But I prefer to line it with parchment paper to ensure it comes out nicely. This also allows you to lift out the entire cake to cut even squares.
Be careful not to overbake. While you want a toothpick to come out clean, don’t be fooled by seeing a little of the pumpkin swirl mixture on the toothpick. Once it is done, it should be mostly clean and the cake won’t jiggle in the center anymore.
Tips for the glaze. I like to refrigerate the glaze for a short time to thicken it up a bit before using it. Also, if your cream cheese isn’t softened enough and you don’t end up with a smooth glaze, you can press the mixture through a fine mesh sieve several times.
Change it up. You can also use this same base recipe and technique to make Eggnog Coffee Cake and Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake.
How Long Will Leftover Coffee Cake Last?
You can keep this Gluten Free Pumpkin Coffee Cake wrapped tightly on the counter for a day or two. That means it is certainly something you can make the day before a holiday or fall brunch. But I recommend refrigerating it so that it will last about 4 days. Then you can make it over the weekend to enjoy all week.
It also freezes nicely. Just wrap slices or the entire cake tightly in plastic wrap. You can place the wrapped cake in a plastic freezer storage bag for extra protection from freezer burn. It is best enjoyed within two months. Just take it out of the freezer and thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, or pop is in the microwave.
More gluten free pumpkin breakfast recipes
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats will kickstart your morning, no Starbucks run is needed.
- Flourless Oatmeal Nutella Pumpkin Muffins are pumpkinny, chocolaty, and whipped up in a blender in minutes.
- Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Oatmeal will make you think you are eating chocolate pudding for breakfast.
- Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes are the classic stack of fall happiness.
- Pumpkin Pie Greek Yogurt Parfaits totally justify leftover pie for breakfast, and you can use and Mini Crustless Pumpkin Pies that don’t get eaten on Thanksgiving.
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter from Mom on Timeout can be slathered on pretty much anything.
Gluten Free Pumpkin Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the pumpkin swirl:
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- 2 ounces regular or light cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
For the crumb cake:
- 1 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup oat flour (our can purchase or place instant or old-fashioned oats in a food processor and pulse until it forms a flour)
- 3 Tablespoons coconut flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 2 Tablespoons canola oil (or vegetable, avocado, or other neutral oil)
- 2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk (can also use almond milk)
For the maple cream cheese drizzle (optional):
- 1 ounce regular or light cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
For the pumpkin swirl:
- Combine the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
For the crumb cake:
- Grease an 8″x8″ baking pan or line with parchment paper.
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the almond flour, oat flour, coconut flour, salt, 1 t pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar until combined.
- Add the oil and Greek yogurt, and and pulse until well combined.
- Transfer this mixture to a large bowl and set aside.
- For the topping, return 1/2 cup of the flour mixture to the food processor.
- Add the pecans and additional 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and pulse a couple of times to combine and form loose crumbs.
- To the reserved dry mixture, stir in the the baking soda and baking powder.
- Add the eggs, vanilla and milk and stir until smooth.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Drop and drizzle small spoonfuls of the reserved pumpkin mixture across the top of the batter.
- Sprinkle the pecan crumb mixture evenly over the top of the batter.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean (perhaps only a little of the pumpkin mixture on it, but not cake batter) and it will not jiggle in the middle.
- Cool the cake completely, and drizzle with the maple cream cheese drizzle, if desired, or another glaze, or just sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Store the cake, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For the maple cream cheese drizzle:
- Blend together the maple syrup and cream cheese. I like to throw it in the fridge to thicken up a bit before using. Also, if your cream cheese gives you a hard time and won’t make a smooth glaze, you can press the mixture through a fine mesh sieve several times.
Did you make this?
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This sounds yummy! What can I use instead of coconut flour? And also instead of Greek yogurt? I can’t have those two things. So a great substitute would be helpful because I really want to make this! Thanks.
Thanks for your comment. As far as substitutions go, you can use sour cream instead of Greek yogurt. The coconut flour is pretty important to making the recipe work, because it absorbs a lot of the moisture. If you don’t need it to be gluten free, you can use all-purpose flour instead. Otherwise, you can try just using a little more almond flour, but I can’t promise a good result because I’ve never tried making it that way. Good luck!
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It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me
to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
Great work!
Thanks for sharing this GF recipe. It does seem reasonably easy to make.
It was definitely pretty straighforward. And yummy!
Wow this sounds fantastic! Such a yummy combination!
Thanks – I do love pumpkin and pecan in the fall!
Yum! Gonna try this with bean flour instead of oats:) Pinned! I posted scrappy pumpkin note board to the Tatertots party. Swing by. GF since 2004
I hope your little guy gets better soon so that he can stop bugging you, Brianne 😉 Gluten free recipes always scare me away with the unique flours (I really don’t want to buy a bag of xanthum gum or whatever it’s called. I’ll never use it all!) so I appreciate that this recipe utilizes flours I can easily obtain and incorporate into different recipes. Crumb cakes are the best and you’re right, you definitely needed the maple cream cheese drizzle (because there’s no reason in the world NOT to!).
Great looking dessert, and I absolutely love the combination of pecans and pumpkin. Bet that maple cream really make it pop too! Thanks for sharing!
This looks so good! I need to do more gluten free baking! Pinned and thanks for linking up to Wake Up Wednesdays!
No way! I came over here from my pumpkin roundup thread and as soon as I saw this cake, I knew I had to share it on FB (do I have permission to download + tag + link? :))
Then I skimmed over the ingredients and thought, “Oooh! This sounds great! Totally my kind of cake.”
Then I actually read it. Hahaha. Thank you for linking to me! I’m so happy that you liked the cake. And your version sounds sooo much better. And hey – you noticed I only use non-funky flours! I’m impressed.
This totally made me day. Thank you. 🙂
(By the way, the rating stars aren’t working!)
I actually meant to tell you I adapted your recipe, but have been crazy after my son’s surgery. But as soon as I read your recipe, I wanted to try it, and when you said berries, I thought apples or pumpkin. I may try apples too. Feel free to share. Thanks!
I am always looking for great gluten free recipes. Finally a pumpkin one! Pinned. Can’t wait to make this 🙂
Thanks! I hope you do get to try it!
what a gorgeous cake, and I LOVE that it’s GF
Thanks Heather!
YAY! Pinning this now! Will be making this for my brother’s g/f soon!
Hope she loves it! Enjoy!
Pumpkin swirl and pecans? And the CRUMB. Boy, do I love the crumb. Dying over this beauty, Brianne!!
Thanks Hayley – crumbs make everything better!
Decadent and luscious AND gluten-free?! Looks great!
Thanks Amy!
This looks great!! I love how it’s gluten free and not loaded with sugar. Pinned!
Thanks Meghan! Though I think eating a quarter of it negates that it isn’t terribly unhealthy 🙂
Yum times a million. I want this. Right. Now.
Haha, thanks!
I adore pumpkin desserts…and if it’s topped with streusel, even better! What a yummy treat, Brianne!
Streusel makes everything better!
Aaand I’m hungry again 🙂
I hear ya!!
I love finding a good gluten free recipe that doesn’t involve going out and buying 7 different flours I probably won’t use again. This is a keeper for sure!
I know. I try to keep gluten free as simple as possible.
Your cake is just beautiful! I would love some with my morning coffee!
Thanks! I’m a tea girl myself 🙂
Oh wow, this looks fantastic! Those laundry lists are what so often scare me away from gluten-free baking, to be honest. This sounds entire doable, not at all scary, and absolutely irresistible. Mmmmm…..
Yes, I’ve started finding recipes like this that make gluten free baking more approachable.
I just went crazy trying to come up with something for my cousin, who has a wheat allergy, and I was out of gluten free flour mix. Now I wish I could go back in time and just make these! They look amazing.
After discovering recipes like this, I’m ready to toss all the different flour combos and just keep these things on hand.
This cake is the perfect celebration of fall! There is no way anyone would know it’s gluten free!
Definitely does not have the usual gluten free flavor with the oat and almond flour combo.
What a gorgeous cake and beautiful photography!
Thanks Isabel. Prettier than last week’s recipe 🙂
What an absolutely perfect autumn treat. Pecans, pumpkin and crumb topping – 🙂
All of my favorite autumn flavors.
gah, I saw this pictured this morning on instagram and couldn’t wait to get here to tell you how fabulous they look! This recipe is amazing and I absolutely love that it’s gluten free.
Thanks Nicole – yeah this is one set of photos that I actually was super-happy with. Tastespotting didn’t agree 🙁
What a nice gluten-free crumb cake. With I could have some with my tea this morning as I am drooling over all these delicious foods for #SundaySupper!
Thanks so much! I had to hide it in the freezer to not polish off the second one.
I find that many gf cakes are almost better than regular ones. I already pinned this one. It has all the right flavors Brianne, and maple drizzling? absolutely perfect!
Thanks Paula! Yes, I think if ypu use the right flours, they add so much more flavor than regular white flour.
You write with such eloquence and love of Mother Nature’s autumn landscapes. I do hope your boy recovers soon and you can enjoy, Brianne! In the meantime, your dessert does sound like its bringing big smiles to everyone in your household. I appreciate the pared down list of ingredients and the savings for the budget =)
It really is my favorite time of year.