Nutty Coffee Cake Recipe

Why have a regular coffee cake when you can have a nutty coffee cake? Though the word "nutty" may invoke images of chopped pecans or walnuts going into the batter, this nutty coffee cake actually takes a much subtler approach. "This recipe utilizes a cup of almond flour in place of solely all-purpose flour," recipe developer Jaime Shelbert explains. "It lends a beautiful texture and offers extra nutritional benefits." Not to mention, a subtle nutty flavor!

Now, no coffee cake would be complete without that crumbly, streusel top, and this recipe is no exception. You'll enjoy layers of coffee cake and crumbles, which happen to pair perfectly with a hot beverage. "Pair [this coffee cake] with your favorite specialty coffee drink, black coffee, tea, or milk," Shelbert suggests. She also notes that this cake makes for a great snack, dessert, or even breakfast — it's more versatile than you may expect a sweet treat to be. This nutty coffee cake is incomparably better than anything you could buy from the store, a reality you'll confirm as soon as you take that first sweet bite. 

To make this nutty coffee cake, you'll start with all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, almond flour, baking soda, and granulated sugar. You'll also need some unsalted butter, applesauce, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. 

Preheat your oven to 350 F and grease either an 8x8- or 9x9-inch square baking pan. 

Next, you'll focus on making that crumbly streusel topping. In a bowl, add 1 cup all-purpose flour, the brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt, then give everything a good stir. Add in 6 tablespoons melted butter and stir it up again — this time, sugary crumbles should form. Set the streusel aside for a bit as you work on making the cake batter.

To make the cake batter, start with the dry ingredients. Into a large bowl, add the remaining all-purpose flour, the almond flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Whisk these ingredients together, and set them aside for a minute. In the bowl of a mixer, add the applesauce, ½ cup melted butter, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix until these ingredients are thoroughly combined. Finally, dump the dry ingredients right into the bowl with the wet ingredients, and stir until they're just combined, forming a cohesive batter. 

Now, it's time to assemble the cake into layers. Start by pouring half of the cake batter into your prepared pan, then sprinkle half the crumble mixture on top. Pour the remaining batter in, then finish it off with the remaining crumble mixture on top.

Pop the coffee cake into the oven and allow it to bake for 35-40 minutes. There are two ways to tell if it's done: First, the top should be nice and golden-brown. Second, you can insert a toothpick into the middle of the cake — if it comes out clean, the cake is good to go.

Once your cake is done baking, you're ready to dive into the warm, homemade goodness. "This coffee cake is moist and delicious and the perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee," Shelbert describes. "The crumble topping adds the best cinnamon-sugar flavor and a bit of crunch." She also notes that you could take things to the next level by mixing together powdered sugar and milk — which creates a simple glaze — to drizzle over the top. Also, if you happen to enjoy this coffee cake for breakfast, she says that you can "round it out with something containing protein, such as eggs or unsweetened Greek yogurt." With one bite of this nutty coffee cake, we think you just might go nuts for it.