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Home Β» Baked Goods Β» Moist, Rich Gluten-Free Sour Cream Coffee Cake

July 23, 2020 (last updated October 26, 2022)

Moist, Rich Gluten-Free Sour Cream Coffee Cake

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The gluten-free sour cream cake is moist and rich with a crunchy cinnamon crumb topping. And yes, it is supposed to be a breakfast food (also known as crumb cake) but. it has become the most requested dessert. One of my friends has nicknamed it with the name of a very addictive recreational substance. When I bring it to the kids at the camp I run, the room gets very quiet and the cake disappears.

Gluten-Free Flour

close up of large wedge of gluten-free cinnamon crumb cake on white plate with white icing dripping. Cake server on right and gray napkin in background.

I have used several different gluten-free flour blends for this gluten-free cinnamon crumb cake and they all worked well.

For a store bought blend, I use King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure flour. It is widely available, certified gluten-free and works well in many recipes. Be sure to check out this collection of King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour Recipes. Cup4Cup and Pamela’s All Purpose Artisan Blend will also work in this recipe. Both are certified gluten-free. All of these flours contain binders so there is no need to add the xanthan gum called for in the recipe.

I have had many readers asking for a gluten-free, rice-free flour blend recipe. I developed one that works extremely well in cakes, muffins, cupcakes and pancakes as well as this recipe.

My blog post on the best gluten-free flour for baking has more information about DIY gluten-free flour blends. I highly encourage you to mix up your own gluten-free flour blend. It can be a more affordable option and a great way to expand beyond rice flour. Vitacost.com is a great source for gluten-free flours. They have their own line of certified gluten-free flours and super fast shipping.

clear glass bowl  with gluten free flour blend and measuring cup on burlap mat. Wood spoon on right and strainer on left. milk and eggs in background

Baking the Crumb Cake

This gluten-free cinnamon crumb cake does best when it is baked in a tube pan with a removable bottom. It needs the help of the center tube to climb and hold it’s rise.

I personally do not have a tube pan – space in my kitchen is limited and I just don’t need one very often. So here is my solution. I use a 3″ tall, 9″ cake pan and put a metal cup in the center. Feel free to improvise with whatever you have in your kitchen.

9" cake pan with metal cup in center

Cinnamon Crumb Topping

I include more crumb topping than most crumb cakes I have tried. In my opinion, if you are going to bother to make a crumb cake it should be mostly about the crumb! I also like to have some of the crumb in the cake. So I stir some into the cake batter once it’s in the pan, then top with the rest.

overhead view of cake pan with cake batter and cinnamon crumb topping being stirred in. Gray napkin on left. White marble background.

Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free Crumb Cake

A couple of easy substitutions will make this crumb cake dairy-free. The sour cream in the cake can be replaced with vegan sour cream. I have tried it with Follow Your Heart vegan sour cream and the texture of the cake is a little bit different but still yummy. The butter in the cinnamon crumb can be replaced with coconut oil (virgin coconut oil is best) or vegan butter substitutes like Earth Balance. Butter subs tend to be salty so omit the salt from the topping recipe and expect the crumb to be more sweet and salty.

gluten-free cinnamon crumb cake topped with white icing. 1 piece cut out next to cake. 2 pieces on white plates in background

Icing

A little icing on top will give this crumb cake a pretty pop of white. A basic icing recipe is 6 Tb powdered sugar mixed with 2 1/2 tsp water. Here’s an alternative icing without powdered sugar that uses just one teaspoon of sweetener.

Wedge of gluten-free cinnamon crumb cake on white plate with white icing dripping. Cake server on right. Plate with cake wedge and gray napkin in background.

More Gluten-Free Cake Recipes

Are you a lover of all things cinnamon? Be sure to check out my fluffy, moist gluten-free spice cake, butternut squash cake, and my gluten-free coffee cake muffins.

close up of large wedge of gluten-free cinnamon crumb cake with white icing dripping

Moist, Rich Gluten-Free Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Author: Janet Harlow
Course: Baked Goods
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 9″ round
This gluten-free coffee cake has a moist, rich sour cream cake topped with a thick layer of crunchy cinnamon crumb.
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Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Recommended Products

  • Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour

Ingredients
  

Cinnamon Crumb Topping

  • 7 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1ΒΌ c gluten-free flour blend*
  • Β½ c dark brown sugar
  • β…“ c sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • Β½ tsp xanthan gum
  • ΒΌ tsp salt

Sour Cream Cake

  • 1ΒΎ c flour
  • 1Β½ tsp baking powder
  • Β½ tsp baking soda
  • Β½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsps vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 c + 2 Tbsp sugar
  • ΒΎ c sour cream
  • β…“ c oil sunflower or canola

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350Β°F. Grease a tube pan or, if you don’t have one use a 8 or 9 inch cake pan, or 8" square baking dish and place a metal cup or something oven-safe in the middle.
  • Make the Cinnamon Crumb Topping
  • Melt the butter with the vanilla extract
  • Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir well and break up any brown sugar clumps.
  • Add the melted butter and vanilla and stir until all of the dry ingredients are moistened.
  • Make the Sour Cream Cake
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla, sugar, sour cream and oil. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is pale and creamy.
  • Pour the liquid into the flour mixture and stir until smooth.
  • Spread the cake batter into the pan. Top with 1/3 of the cinnamon crumb. Use a fork or spoon to press the crumb into the batter.
  • Top with the remaining crumb and gently press down to adhere the crumb to the cake.
  • Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

Notes

*If using a gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum, guar gum or inulin, omit the xanthan gum called for in the recipe.
This recipe works well with King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten-Free Flour and several other store-bought flours. Be sure to check out this collection of King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour Recipes
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how it was! Tag @chefjanetk on Instagram.
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Posted In: Baked Goods, Breakfast · Tagged: cake, cinnamon, quick bread

Comments

  1. Bea Marie Javellana says

    January 27, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    Hi Chef! What is the recipe for the white syrup/glaze on top of the crumb cake? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Janet Harlow says

      January 27, 2021 at 6:38 pm

      Hi! Thanks so much for visiting my blog! The icing recipe is 6 Tbsps powdered sugar with 2 1/2 tsp water, that’s it. Thanks for asking, I will get it posted with this recipe. Enjoy!

      Reply

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