Get cozy with some coffee and a slice of this gingerbread quinoa coffee cake! A warm holiday flavor with the protein of quinoa, gluten-free and vegan, this healthy coffee cake is perfect for a winter breakfast or a weekend brunch!
And with this my dear gluten-free friends, I’ve crossed another to-do on my recipe bucket list! COFFEE CAKE! I think this is my new seasonal holiday joy and I’m so very proud about how it came out on the first try! This is so full of yum, so fun to make, and might I add pretty damn healthy too! I don’t know where exactly my obsession with the quest for making the perfect coffee cake came from, but I’m glad I got the urge! But…I have my suspicions that it had something to do with this gem.
Yes, yes, another Entenmann’s baked good. The classic Crumb Coffee Cake! Growing up, I’m pretty sure that was the only coffee cake I’d ever really have, not even that often, mind you. But I guess, just like the crumb doughnuts, this cake gave me the same satisfaction and I’m still revealing in the gluten-filled memories. Haha, processed baked goods were not the only thing I ate growing up, but they sure do give me some great inspiration for remaking those goodies to be healthy and fit those dietary needs!
Now my friends, before we delve further into coffee cakeing, let’s discuss what exactly coffee cake is. You know I love my food history and culture, and this little tid-bit always baffled me. I was always pretty angry (yes, angry) at the fact that coffee cake did not actually contain any coffee. I mean, what is up with that!? I mean, a classic coffee cake really is just flavored with cinnamon and brown sugar with that great crumble topping. And is it a cake or a quick bread? Is it breakfast or dessert?
Well first off, this “cake” is eaten WITH coffee or other hot beverage like tea. That’s why it’s called coffee cake. A pretty good accompaniment to coffee if you ask me! Some see it as a sweet bread since it can either be baked in a loaf pan or in a square baking pan like I did. So anytime you’d drink coffee, this cake is acceptable. Meaning, breakfast, brunch, or dessert is the perfect time to serve some up!
Which leads me to believe this would make the perfect Christmas morning breakfast! Come on now! Cozied up by the fire and Christmas tree, unwrapping presents and stockings, sipping some coffee or hot chocolate, I can just picture it now! Then comes in warm slices of gingerbread coffee cake and everyone just blisses out in pure holiday joy with the first fork full! Can you tell I’m excited about this coffee cake? And Christmas…
Another thing I’m ultra excited about is posting this first recipe using quinoa flour! It may be my new favorite flour (okay, after buckwheat). It has a very strong smell when you first open the package, but fear not! Once baked, it’s fabulous! However, I didn’t stop with just quinoa flour, I made the crumb topping with another one of my near and dear favorite ingredients, quinoa flakes! So I give this cake a major thumbs up in the health department! Quinoa is one of the best complete plant-based proteins!
And you know, gingerbread, so very iconic and you know I love it! Just wait until you check out just exactly that topping is made too! It actually came out a bit crunchy which was fantastic with the soft cake. So now, I hope your mouths are watering and your coffee cake cravings are reaching unbearable levels, because I’m about to blow you totally out of the part!
Gingerbread Quinoa Coffee Cake
Gingerbread Quinoa Coffee Cake
Get cozy with some coffee and a slice of this gingerbread quinoa coffee cake! A warm holiday flavor with the protein of quinoa, gluten-free and vegan, this healthy coffee cake is perfect for a winter breakfast, a weekend brunch, or healthy holiday dessert!
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 9 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- For the Cake:
- 1 Cup Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Quinoa Flour
- 1/2 Cup Millet Flour
- 2 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- 2 TB Blackstrap Molasses
- 1/2 Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Tsp Ground Ginger
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 1/4 Tsp Ground Cloves
- For the Crumb Topping:
- 1/3 Cup Quinoa Flakes
- 1/4 Cup Erythritol
- 1 TB Blackstrap Molasses
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger
- 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the cake ingredients and mix together until you have a well blended batter.
- In another mixing bowl, combine the crumb topping ingredients and use your hand to blend it all together. It should smell and feel like brown sugar!
- In a well greased 8×8 baking pan, dust in a bit of flour and then pour in the cake batter. Spread it evenly in the pan and smooth out the top.
- Sprinkle on all the crumb topping evenly over the top of the batter.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove and let cool.
Are you excited? Are you? I am! I’m hoarding 2 squares of this in my freezer at the moment for just the perfect morning…like tomorrow 😉 Cracking in to the top of the crumb and then the soft moist cake with your fork (or spoon) is one of those moments that should be captured on film and made in slow motion. You know what I mean? It’s that good!
So tell me:
+ Who here likes coffee cake?
+ Do you have a Christmas breakfast tradition? Growing up, my dad always went down the street to get us bagels, doughnuts, hot chocolate, and coffee (as my brother and I eagerly awaited ripping open our stocking and presents!)
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Jenna
Yum!! I love everything about this coffee cake- especially that it’s gluten free so I can enjoy with no belly ache. And if the definition of coffee cake is any cake enjoyed with coffee…well that’s pretty much every cake I eat 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exactly! I need to make some of this again! One of my old favorites!
Jenni
What an awesome breakfast/snack/dessert! Love the flavors here!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks! This was a favorite of ours last year!
Natalie @ A Fit Philosophy
Mmmmm What a perfect combo! Love quinoa and gingerbread! NOM!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It’s a new favorite combo for sure!!
Pauline Molinari
This coffee cake looks amazingly delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
This looks delicious Rebecca! I love coffee cake + gingerbread. What a fun combo.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! It’s the best!
Diana Auerhammer
This recipe really caught my eye with the quinoa and all. I’m always looking for super healthy recipes. My husband has a sweet tooth, a holdover from his childhood when his mom, and I LOVED her, put sugar on/in just about everything, like most red blooded American housewives did back in the 50s. It has been huge struggle for him. It affects his weight control, his food happiness factor. He fights it to this day, even though I have never used sugar when I cook and am literally neurotic about clean nutrition, non GMO ingredients, no sugars, preventing TypeII Diabetes. and on and on. This tells me that we need to eliminate all sugars, no matter how they are derived, from our children’s diets so that they don’t end up with this life long sugar tooth problem. Have you tried to make this recipe without the erythritol? What would you substitute as the sweetener? Honey would work but it might not give that semi crunchy coffee cake effect. If you come up with an alternate recipe that works I would love to have it! It’s a good one!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Erythritol is not a sugar. It’s like stevia, but more equal of a replacement with classic sugar when baking. So I’m confused?
Sam // DIY Just Cuz
Never did I imagine gluten free coffee cake could exist. It sounds excellent, though! I am pinning this for sure!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well your life is about to change!
Elaine
This looks Yummy! The gingerbread flavors remind me of Christmas!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well, it’s kinda the reason why, haha!
Creatively Homespun
This looks delish!! I have pinned your post!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner
I love all things gingerbread! This coffee cake looks very yummy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That it is!
Lauren
oh yum, this look delish! I need to try this one!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You’ll love it!
Leanne@crestingthehill
judging from all the comments, this must be an amazing coffee cake – it sounds too healthy to be so delicious so I guess it’s a win/win!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Why can’t healthy be delicious?
Kathleen
Awesome, this has everything in it that I like, great recipe and pics.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Café Noire Coffee
This looks delicious. Always looking for interesting things to make with quinoa.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! I hope you try it!
Alison [Life of Scoop]
Yum! This looks delicious and easy – the perfect treat for these cold, winter mornings!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It will definitely make you feel cozy!
Megan | BeetsNotMeats
Okay this looks ridiculously good. Pinning this to try next weekend!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! Thanks Megan!
Jessica
This looks fantastic!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Shreyashi Ganguly
Hey there Rebecca,
These look and sound so inviting. What a fantastic way to to use quinoa. I am pinning them for later use.
Cheers!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!
Gina
This looks amazing! I think that my hubby would absolutely love it. I’m pinning this recipe for later. Coffee cake is actually a family tradition of his and I never make it. His mom always made coffee cake for the kids on Christmas and now that we live in another state from her, I think that this coffee cake would sure make the holidays brighter for us. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think you just found your new tradition them! Thanks Gina! Let me know if you make it! xoxo
Raewyn
Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! I’m the only one who likes quinoa so I won’t have to share!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I think this will have everyone loving it though! Watch out!
Marla
Hi Rebecca,
What a perfect match – coffee cake & gingerbread – sounds like a great tasty and delicious recipe.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It sure is! Thank you!
Megan
Yum, this looks wonderful!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Megan!
Ellen @ Cutting Tiny Bites
Adding quinoa flour to my shopping list as we speak! I love giving my family sweet treats, and but they’ve got to be healthy! This looks like it will fit the bill perfectly. Thanks for the great recipe.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You will love baking with it! It’s a great (secret) way to add dome great power packed nutrients! XOXO Thanks dear! Enjoy!
Kari
Love everything about this! Ginger bread cake, then add some quinoa. Great gluten-free combo!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Kari!
Lucie
Droooling! I’m going to drink so much coffee once I’m done with this just to have an excuse to devour another serving 😀 I’ve been wanting to try quinoa flour for a while now so this is my perfect excuse to buy some. Plus the molasses in the topping, mmm… *daydreaming about cake* LOVE it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Do it! I am loving the quinoa flour! I can’t wait to bake more with it!
The topping was the best part! Crunchy and sweet but secretly healthy!
Randi
I LOVE COFFEE CAKE!!! I have never tried quinoa flour before, but now I’ll have to look for some! Thanks for sharing another wonderful recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Quinoa flour is fantastic!! (A bit pricy) but worth it as a little goes a long way!
Kristen @ The Endless Meal
Your coffee cake! I was hoping you would post this. It looks delicious and can’t wait to try it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Kristen!
Elise @frugalfarmwife.com
This looks so amazing! I love that you used quinoa to make it not only a delicious treat, but a great source of protein as well!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That’s why it makes the perfect breakfast!
Jess @hellotofit
so many different types of flours – love! I’ve only tried coconut flour and oat flour (besides APF)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You are missing out! Haha!
Melanie
I love coffee cake, and this recipe is so creative and looks delicious!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You must make some Melanie!
Erin
Rebecca this looks great!!! I love coffee cake and I LOVE gingerbread. I will not be passing this one up 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That’s why I had to combine the 2 loves! Thanks Erin!
Angie Scheie
Brilliant, as always! I love coffee cake and quinoa, but would never have thought of putting them together! Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are a great couple!
Susan | LunaCafe
Looks wonderful. Nothing like a tender, moist coffeecake to make my afternoon. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It’s heaven 😉
Sandy Sandmeyer
I’ve never thought of making something sweet with quinoa.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I rarely cook quinoa anything savory!
Ginger Wroot
Wow, this looks wonderful….can’t wait to make this one form gluten intolerant mom. Nice post and photos!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
She will appreciate it 😉 Thank you dear!
Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking Disorder
I’ve never seen quinoa in coffee cake – what a unique combo. Plus gingerbread too – perfect for the holidays. I’m curious to try this now!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You must! You will love it and feel good about eating it!
Sarah
This looks so good, if only I had a oven (or kitchen) right now I would whip it up. I can imagine how good my house would smell!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
In due time 😉 You’ll just have more excuses to spend the weekends baking away ALL day!
Emilie @ Emilie Eats
OMG this looks heavenly!!! I’ve never really been into coffee cake but gingerbread coffee cake? With quinoa?? I’m hooked. Great recipe!! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You are about to be a coffee cake LOVER!!
Amanda @ Grad Girl
I love that this isn’t one of those in-your-face holiday recipes that’s overloaded with sugar! Also, SO stoked to see someone using erythritol–I bake with xylitol all the time and I’m so surprised by how similar it tastes to sugar without so much of the crazy high. Beautiful recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I’ve only recently become obsessed with erythritol and loving the ease of use with replacing! Stevia and stevia syrup is great for some things, but this stuff is fantastic in big baking projects!
Jodi @ The Average RD
This looks so delicious. I am excited to give this recipe a try! Thanks for sharing:)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well thank you 🙂
Kari
What a great way to incorporate quinoa!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
One of the best seeds!
Chandice
What a fun, festive recipe. Thanks! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! It’s fantastic!
Heidi Kokborg
This cake looks amazing! Ginger and coffee sounds like such a great combo!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sans coffee, but yes 😉
Cassie @ Almost Getting it Together
Wow I’m not usually a coffee cake person but this looks so delicious… I finally bought a jar of molasses so I will have to try this!! Also, craving an East Coast bagel like whoa right now.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I am always craving an East Coast bagel hahahahaha!
Laureen Fox
Wow, look at those ingredients! Adding this coffee cake to my must make list for sure.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo! I hope you really do dear!
Leah M @ love me, feed me
I actually don’t think I’ve ever had coffee cake, but it’s something I crave regularly?? So weird haha! I remember when I first found out there was no coffee actually in it, I was so confused haha!
This seriously looks amazzzzzzing!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
WHAT!!??? Get some of this cake in your life STAT!!!
Maybe we should make a coffee coffee cake next 😉 You know, to stop the confusion!
Susie @ SuzLyfe
Pass the pan. The whole thing. Right now.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I will! You deserve it most!
Florian @ContentednessCooking
Anything with quinoa is win win ´for me! This cake surely rock your coffee table…
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I believe it will 😉 Thank you Florian!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Rebecca – you didn’t just cross “COFFEE CAKE” off your to make list – you CONQUERED GF coffee cake! This looks fantastic – loving the texture of it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha! That made my day Shashi 😉 You are such a sweetheart! xoxo
Manila Spoon
I have once tasted a chocolate cake made from Quinoa and loved it so I always get excited when I see a recipe for sweet treats using quinoa! This looks absolutely delish and great with a cup of tea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And you can never go wrong with chocolate anyway 😉
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
OMG you were right this is a recipe to be VERY excited about! Coffee cake alone, awesome! But you make it gingerbread-ified and then throwing in some funky new flour action, this is like crazy amazing awesomeness! (I think I just put way too many adjectives together in my excitement) And the texture looks really lovely too! Skip the coffee for me, I’ll just take an extra slice of this 🙂 Hope today is going okay <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We need a coffee CAKE date 😉 And I like adjectives as you know. The more the merrier! Adjectives are like spices to foods, they flavor things up so much better 😉 xoxo
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
Coffee cake with a good crumb top is easily one of my favorites! And the molasses and ginger make this amazing I’m sure 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Triple awesome 😉
Erica D.
This looks great! While I don’t have either quinoa or millet flour in my arsenal, I feel like maybe this is a good start for just pulling the trigger on buying a few bags of it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Every gluten-free girl MUST have those 2 in her pantry!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners
I have to confess I don’t think I’ve ever had an Entenmann’s cake. I have only heard of them on Seinfeld reruns, lol. I almost never bake but this is too tempting to resist and the flavors have me wishing it was in front of me right now. This will be perfect for guests over the holidays. Thanks, Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Girl do it!!! Make this cake anyway…way better and healthier 😉 hahahaha!
Thank you sweet dear!
Rosemond Cates
Oh! This looks yummy! Pinning!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Annmarie
I need to make this like, right now!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Turn that oven on!
Lauren @ Eating with a Purpose
This looks so yummy! I usually make overnight creme brulee French toast for breakfast, but it’s definitely not healthy 🙂 Will have to try your recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
But that sounds pretty amazing, hahaha!
Carmella
I do Rebecca. I. Love. Coffe cake. And it’s so funny that I came across this and your whole discussion about what makes it a cake or a sweet bread because I just made a “bread” recipe that could’ve easily been an amazing coffee cake.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sweet bread, coffee cake…as long as it’s carby and delicious 😉
lindsay
i’m liking your recipe bucket list! keep them coming! coffee cake is my FAV!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think I’m obsessed! Thanks Lindsay!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom
Rebecca, this looks great! I love the gingerbread flavors and the quinoa in this cake! Wish I had some with my coffee now!
Christie
We love all things gingerbread. I especially love that you used quinoa flour.
jennifer
looks super yummy
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks dear!
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
awwww yeah! great minds think alike! This looks amazing 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Coffee cake life!
Patricia
Looks good! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Josie
A guilt-free coffee cake? Yes please.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, the best!