This Vegan coffee cake is fluffy, moist and bursting with cinnamon! This easy and quick recipe is delicious for any occasion. It is especially great for holidays, Christmas brunch, weekend mornings and more. This Vegan cinnamon coffee cake is also gluten free and made with pantry staples!

Vegan coffee cake with cinnamon

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • This Vegan coffee cake is quick and easy to make.
  • It has the perfect moist texture.
  • The cinnamon swirl adds the best flavor.
  • This recipe is made without chia eggs, without flax eggs and without any Vegan egg replacements.
  • In fact, this recipe utilizes only pantry staples.
  • This recipe is Vegan, dairy free, and gluten free.
  • Use oat milk to make this coffee cake nut free.
  • Check out this Paleo Almond Flour Coffee Cake for another delicious idea.
  • My other favorite Vegan cake recipe? This Vegan Pineapple Upside Down Cake!

What is Coffee Cake?

Despite its name, coffee cake does not contain coffee. Coffee cake is typically a one layer cake made with cinnamon. In addition, coffee cake usually has a crumb topping or streusel topping.

This light and fluffy cake is typically flavored with cinnamon. Common variations include blueberry, banana, chocolate and nuts.

Coffee cake can be eaten for breakfast, brunch, with afternoon tea, or as dessert. It is just sweet enough!

Ingredients & Substitutions

These are the main ingredients and substitutions for Vegan coffee cake. Scroll down to the recipe card for full ingredients list and instructions.

The cinnamon swirl is made from coconut sugar and cinnamon. Substitute brown sugar for coconut sugar if needed.

Use any type of Vegan milk. Almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk and oat milk are great options.

Apple cider vinegar reacts with the milk while baking. This allows the cake to rise.

Granulated sugar adds a great sweetness without being overpowering.

Use a lightly flavored neutral oil. Avocado oil and light olive oil are great options.

A little vanilla extract adds a great flavor.

Both gluten free 1 to 1 flour and all purpose flour work. For gluten free, use gluten free flour.

Both baking powder and baking soda help leaven this cake.

Add a pinch of sea salt to the batter if desired.

A little melted Vegan butter adds moisture! Feel free to use melted coconut oil in its place.

Cinnamon, oil and other ingredients in small bowls

Vegan Baking

Vegan baking has its challenges. Baking without butter, without eggs, and without milk can be tough.

There are several Vegan egg replacements. Chia eggs, flax seeds, and egg replacers are common in Vegan baking recipes.

For this recipe, there are no egg replacements. Since coffee cake is meant to be moist and soft, no egg replacements are required. I tested this recipe using applesauce as an egg replacement and it was much too dense.

For those reasons, no egg replacements are needed for this Vegan coffee cake. This ensures the perfect light, airy and moist texture.

Taste & Texture

This Vegan coffee cake tastes like classic cinnamon coffee cake. In addition, it is perfectly sweet, cinnamon flavored, and cozy.

The texture is light, airy, moist, soft and fluffy. The cinnamon topping gets very slightly crispy.

How to Make

Step 1

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8 inch by 8 inch pan with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a small bowl, combine coconut sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

Coconut sugar in bowl

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, add milk, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, avocado oil and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.

Runny batter in bowl

Step 4

Next, add in flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir to combine.

Thick cake batter in bowl

Step 5

Add ⅔ of the coffee cake batter to the lined pan. Then, spread out into an even layer.

Cake batter in pan

Step 6

Sprinkle ½ of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top.

Cinnamon sugar in pan

Step 7

Then, top with remaining cake batter. Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon sugar on top.

Step 8

Next, drizzle melted Vegan butter on top.

Melted butter on cake

Step 9

Then, bake for 27 to 30 minutes or until coffee cake has risen and the cinnamon sugar topping is bubbly. Insert toothpick into cake to make sure it is baked through.

Cinnamon coffee cake in pan

Step 10

Finally, remove from oven. Allow coffee cake to cool for 1 hour before slicing and serving.

Expert Tips & Tricks

Avoid over mixing the cake batter.

Use coconut sugar or brown sugar.

Use either gluten free 1 to 1 flour or all purpose flour.

Any type of Vegan milk works.

Do not over bake. Insert toothpick or knife into cake. If it comes out clean, coffee cake is done baking. If toothpick comes out with batter on it, continue baking.

Vegan cinnamon coffee cake

Variations & Add Ins

This Vegan coffee cake is delicious as is, but consider these mix ins.

Mini chocolate chips

Blueberries

Dried cranberries

White chocolate chips

Dark chocolate chips

How to Serve & Store

Serve Vegan coffee cake once cool enough to handle. Cool for at least one hour after baking.

This coffee cake goes well with hot coffee, iced coffee, milk, and Vegan hot chocolate.

Pair it with fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup. It is great served alongside this Vegan Pound Cake.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Store in fridge for up to 5 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is coffee cake Vegan?

Most coffee cakes are made with eggs and butter, so they are not Vegan. This recipe is entirely Vegan!

Do coffee cakes have dairy?

Yes, most coffee cakes are made with butter.

Is coffee cake gluten free?

No, coffee cake is typically made with flour. This recipe is both gluten free and Vegan.

Does coffee cake contain coffee?

No, coffee cake does not contain coffee.

Can I freeze this?

Yes, but the texture may be altered when it thaws back out.

Gluten free and Vegan cake

You May Also Like

If you make this Vegan coffee cake recipe, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on InstagramFacebook, and Pinterest. I would love for you to follow along!  For more ideas, check out these Vegan Recipes.

Vegan coffee cake with cinnamon

Get the Recipe: Vegan Coffee Cake

This Vegan coffee cake is soft, fluffy and bursting with cinnamon! This quick and easy recipe is great for holidays, weekend brunch, Christmas and more. It is both Vegan and gluten free!
5 from 10 votes

Ingredients

Cinnamon Swirl

Vegan Coffee Cake

Instructions 

  • First, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8 inch by 8 inch pan with parchment paper.
  • In a small bowl, combine coconut sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add milk, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, avocado oil and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
  • Next, add in flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir to combine.
  • Add ⅔ of the coffee cake batter to the lined pan. Spread out into an even layer.
  • Sprinkle ½ of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top.
  • Then, top with remaining cake batter. Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon sugar on top.
  • Drizzle melted Vegan butter on top.
  • Then, bake for 27 to 30 minutes or until coffee cake has risen and the cinnamon sugar topping is bubbly. Insert toothpick into cake to make sure it is baked through.
  • Finally, remove from oven. Allow coffee cake to cool for 1 hour before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • The coffee cake batter will be thicker than traditional cake batter.
  • Both coconut sugar and brown sugar can be used.
  • Both gluten free 1 to 1 flour and all purpose flour can be used.
  • Any type of milk can be used.
  • To test if cake is done, insert toothpick or knife into cake.  If it comes out clean, cake is done.
  • Store coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Calories: 313kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 307mg, Potassium: 31mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 120IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 102mg, Iron: 1mg

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