Tender and moist golden sour cream gluten free coffee cake topped with a that classic nubby, sweet streusel crumb topping. So easy!
What sort of crumb does a coffee cake have?
A coffee cake is meant to be a tender, but dense cake. Unlike the very best vanilla cake, for this gluten free coffee cake we don’t sift the dry ingredients. It’s a golden cake.
The crumble topping is clearly everyone’s favorite part. When you slice into this cake, if absolutely nothing falls off the topping, it’s terribly disappointing. Those belong to the baker, no calories at all.
I’ve made many coffee cakes over the years, and this sour cream coffee cake is the very best of them all. Don’t be put off by the texture of the raw cake batter.
Because it’s made with sour cream as the liquid, rather than buttermilk or even milk, the batter is very thick. Sour cream lends a very slight tangy flavor that cuts through the sweetness of baked goods.
It also adds body and richness, and a bit of lightness to an otherwise dense dessert like this lovely coffee cake. More cases in point: one bowl gluten free banana bread and one bowl gluten free chocolate cake.
How to make the proper crumble topping
The secret to ensuring a crumble topping that holds its shape and doesn’t simply melt into the cake batter is temperature. The topping is made with melted butter to ensure easy blending. But then it must be chilled.
The topping batter can easily be made a day or two ahead of time and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. It can even be added to, say, banana bread if you’re feeling fusiony.
Oh, and to ensure there’s no confusion: there is no coffee in the cake. The name “coffee cake” is bestowed upon this delightful creation since it’s meant to be enjoyed with the newspaper and a great big cup of (you guessed it!) … coffee.
Ingredients and substitutions
Dairy
There is a lot of butter in this recipe, both in the crumble topping and in the cake itself. The best replacement for the butter in both places is probably Melt or Miyoko’s Kitchen brand vegan butter.
If you can’t use one of those vegan butters, try using Earth Balance buttery sticks (but cut back on the salt a bit). For the crumble topping, if you can’t use vegan butter, try using Spectrum nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening. You need something that will hold its shape during baking, and Earth Balance won’t do that.
In place of sour cream, try using a good quality nondairy sour cream. You can also use plain Greek-style yogurt in place of sour cream interchangeably.
Eggs
There are two eggs in this recipe, and you might be able to replace each of them with one “chia egg” each. For each, place 1 tablespoon ground white chia seeds + 1 tablespoon lukewarm water into a small bowl, mix, and allow to gel.
Cornstarch
If you can’t have corn, try using arrowroot powder or even potato starch in place of cornstarch. If you’re already using a higher starch all purpose gluten free flour blend, like Cup4Cup, replace the 18 grams of cornstarch in this recipe with an equal amount of that high starch flour blend.
HELLO! I’m Nicole! I make gluten-free food enjoyable & affordable. If they can make it with gluten, we can make it without. That’s a promise!
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i made this today and it it is fantastic! Great flavor and so very moist. Again, thank you for sharing your most wonderful recipes.
Can I use 2% yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yum! This was delicious – thanks for the recipe!
I am totally making this for breakfast and surprising the heck out of my kids. Who ever heard of cake for breakfast before school? And I just bought some hazelnut torani syrup for my coffee. Mmmmmmm. You can come over anytime. But I have to warn you, nothing is ever clean. And my dog is going to lick you, a lot.
Hi, Kristy,
The dog part sounds like my house. We’re working on our little white dog with a “NO LICK” admonishment. No real luck so far!
xoxo Nicole
Nicole, I can’t begin to tell you what a BREATH OF FRESH AIR you are!! (Well, I guess I CAN tell you, because I just did!)…I am SO THRILLED to have found you!! As a “neighborhood gourmet” cook, recently diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, I thought my days of eating delicious food were over…gone…kaput…culinary deliciousness vanished into the cosmos! I was sad and deprived and…well…HUNGRY! It seemed as though I couldn’t eat anything other then rabbit food…bird seed…and since I am neither a rabbit, nor a bird, I was a miserable HUMAN BEING! You have inspired me!! Not only will I eat again…I will EAT CAKE!!! Muuuaahhhhhh!!! :)
Hi, Deanne,
I’m so glad you feel a renewed sense of possibility! I love how you called yourself a “neighborhood gourmet”! I think I know precisely what you mean – how perfectly descriptive. Well, it seems you don’t need me to tell you that you can eat well while eating gluten-free. :)
xoxo Nicole
Sorry I’m late for coffee & crumb cake. Had a chance to spend time with my granddaughter today. Sounds like all had a grand time. I know I’ll be making this one soon! Sounds yummy! Could have used the coffee as well! lol
ps: you know…i think you DO look like the cartoon….and who WOULDN’T like you??? We ALREADY love you!!
XOXOXO- Pam & the gang
Pam you really made me giggle. I wish I looked exactly like that cartoon. She’s so jaunty.
xoxo Nicole
mmmmmm crumb…ummmnummm (in my best Homer Simpson voice) I (heart) crumb….cake is good, too.
I am SO making this…not that I MIND making it…for Scott…uh-yeah….and Molly…eyeahhhhhhhh..that’s the ticket!
Make it for Molly, Pam. She can’t very well make it for herself. :)
xoxo Nicole
yeah, you’re right…no thumbs to hold the spoon…Molly it is! ( I can see her tail waggin’ now..)
I have warm water with lemon and delicious Pukka tea to follow – would that work ;)
I don’t see any coffee cake on my plate…did my favorite coffee make it into your mug? Damn, I gotta work on this teleporting stuff…..
Coffee is brewing as I type, it smells heavenly. And I’m wearing my new slippers too. Can’t wait for my slice of cake. Thanks for breakfast, “homey”.
Well, thank goodness, JoAnn. I knew you wouldn’t disappoint.
Hey, tell me about your new slippers? I need a new pair. I’m on my feet most of the day, and my dogs are barking by nighttime. :)
xoxo Nicole
I bought them at Target. Suede top, faux fur inside, and a hardish sole. As the primary caregiver of my elderly parent I too am on my feet all day, (she keeps me hopping), and I’ve found these to be most comfy. After I wore them for about a week my feet sent me a thank you note. ;)
J
I think I need a hardish sole. And perhaps a harder soul.
You’re a good daughter. :)
xoxo Nicole
Got the coffee ready!
This looks so good. I love crumb cakes.
Then you’re in for a treat, Dana. This is a the perfect crumb cake. :)
xoxo Nicole
Fresh coffee here at my house!