This Mini Mocha Coffee Cake is gluten free, small batch, and made with actual coffee! The coffee cake is incredibly moist, filled with a layer of chocolate sugar, and finished with a mocha streusel. Top with a dollop of Dalgona whipped coffee for an energizing breakfast – or dessert – treat!
Mini Gluten Free Coffee Cake
There is a lot to be said about this Gluten Free Mini Mocha Coffee Cake. I’ll start with the most important:
- Gluten Free – In keeping with my most recent gluten free small batch recipes, this coffee cake uses an almond flour (and paleo!) blend.
- Small Batch – Depending on which baking vessel you choose to use, this recipe can make 2 mini loaves, 1 6-inch cake, or 4-5 muffins.
- Made with Coffee – There is actually coffee in this coffee cake. We use instant coffee to flavor the mocha streusel.
- Moist – The more gluten free recipes I make, the more I find the almond flour blend naturally yields a moist cake. Just like it does in the gluten free almond coffee mini cake. But for extra measure, milk, and sour cream keep the cake moist beyond the day it is baked.
- Layers of Flavor – There are 3 components to this coffee cake recipe that impart flavor in every bite: the cake itself, the chocolate sugar center, and the mocha streusel on top.
Want even more coffee in your cake? Top it with a little Dalgona whipped coffee!
Mini Coffee Cake Made With Coffee
I hear stories of coffee cake recipes receiving feedback that it is not coffee cake because there is no coffee in the cake. Now, while this may be true for a lot of coffee cake recipes, there is another reason why it is called coffee cake.
In the States, we call it coffee cake because it is intended to be eaten with coffee. Like the mini cherry coffee cake and applesauce coffee cake recipes. While other countries have their own version of coffee cake where the cake is infused with coffee.
This small batch gluten free mocha coffee cake recipe is a hybrid of both. The cake is delightful with your morning coffee, because who doesn’t love a sweet breakfast treat. And, there is coffee in this cake. The streusel topping is flavored with instant coffee and cocoa – to make it a mocha. And trust me, this is a coffee-forward cake.
Cakes Made In Mini Loaf Pans
We covered that this is a small batch recipe for coffee cake. And with that, there are a few ways you can make the coffee cake, which I covered above.
To keep things charming, I think making the cake in a couple of mini loaf pans makes for a cute presentation. Not to mention, they make great hostess gifts or a surprise treat for friends and family.
The mini loaf pans are 3-inches by 5.75-inches. Small, and cute. And they are the same loaf pans I use for the gluten free pumpkin bread, mini chocolate chip loaf, and the iced mini lemon loaf.
Dalgona Whipped Topping
This part of the recipe is completely optional. It adds an extra shot of coffee flavor. And it makes for a pretty topping!
- Instant Coffee – Use a light roast. Otherwise, you may find the whip to be too bitter.
- Only Instant Coffee – If you try to use regular coffee grounds, it won’t work. There is something about the dried instant coffee granules that makes them whip.
- Equal Ingredients – Dalgona may be one of the easiest recipes because you use equal amounts of all of the ingredients.
- Sugar – I use granulated sugar because it almost acts as a stabilizer for the whip. And it makes the Dalgona shiny. I have seen recipes where you can substitute any sweetener – even liquid sweeteners like maple syrup. However, I have yet to test these, so I can’t offer an opinion on how the whip will turn out.
- Hot Water – Use hot water so it dissolves the coffee and sugar faster.
- Use A Hand Held Mixer – With just one (1) whisk attachment. Because we are working with such a small amount, one whisk will whisk the ingredients better. Additionally, the volume of ingredients is not enough to work in a stand mixer. You could mix by hand, but it will likely take twice as long, and will make your arm tired!
Key Ingredients
- Instant Coffee – I recommend a light roast.
- Blanched Almond Flour – Almond flour provides texture, flavor, moisture, and protein. Which all work to give the cake structure.
- Arrowroot Starch/Flour – Arrowroot works with the almond flour to make the cake tender.
- Coconut Flour – Coconut flour has great absorbency properties which make it work well with almond flour.
- Tapioca Starch/Flour – Tapioca flour provides the chew we are missing with gluten.
- Cocoa Powder – I prefer Dutch process cocoa and use it in all of my chocolate baking recipes, like the peppermint mocha layer cake and gluten free chocolate cupcakes. I prefer the bold flavor and that it isn’t as bitter as natural cocoa.
- Brown Sugar – For the Mocha Streusel. I like to use light brown sugar because it doesn’t have a strong molasses flavor.
- Milk – Any milk will work. I use unsweetened carton coconut milk because it is typically the only milk in the house!
- Sour Cream – Full fat sour cream is best to give the cake texture and moisture.
Recipe FAQ’s
You bet! I would start with a 2-3 teaspoons and you can chop them to get a better distribution. Any more than that, and the chocolate flavor may over power the cake.
Yes. A 6-inch cake pan will work. As will a muffin/cupcake pan to make about 4-5 muffins.
Yes. The cakes will rise, so have no fear on the batter amount for two mini loaf pans. I have tested trying to get the batter into 1 mini loaf pan, and it was too much – the cake didn’t bake properly.
No. If you don’t want the extra coffee flavor, replace this topping with regular whipped cream. Or a simple powdered sugar and milk drizzle.
Gluten Free Mini Mocha Coffee Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Mocha Streusel
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons blanched almond flour
- 2 teaspoons coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch process
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon instant coffee
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 2 to 3 tablespoons chocolate chips
Coffee Cake Filling
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Coffee Cake
- 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
- 1/4 cup arrowroot flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup milk, room temperature (any kind)
- 2 tablespoons full fat sour cream, room temperature
Dalgona Whip Topping
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon hot water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Spray two mini loaf pans with baking spray. Then line the pans with a parchment paper sling – so the sides of the parchment paper hang over the sides of the pan. Note – You can also use a 6-inch square cake pan, or a muffin/cupcake pan to make muffins.
Mocha Streusel
- In a small bowl, whisk together all of the streusel dry ingredients to combine. Add the butter cubes. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients using a fork until the streusel is completely moistened by the butter. Stir in the chocolate chips. Set aside. Note: I recommend a light roast instant coffee for a lighter, not bitter, coffee flavor.3 tablespoons light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons blanched almond flour, 2 teaspoons coconut flour, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch process, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon instant coffee, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes, 2 to 3 tablespoons chocolate chips
Coffee Cake Filling
- In a small bowl, stir together all of the filling ingredients to combine. Set aside.1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Coffee Cake
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the almond flour, arrowroot lour, coconut flour, tapioca lour, baking powder, and salt.1/2 cup blanched almond flour, 1/4 cup arrowroot flour, 2 tablespoons coconut flour, 2 tablespoons tapioca flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, 1/8 teaspoon salt
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the butter and sugar. Using a hand mixer, beat on medium-high speed to cream the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy – 3 to 5 minutes.2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- Add the egg and beat until combined. Add the vanilla, milk, and sour cream and mix until thouroughly combined.1 large egg, room temperature, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/3 cup milk, room temperature, 2 tablespoons full fat sour cream, room temperature
- Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the wet and mix on low speed until no dry streasks remain.
- Spoon half of the coffee cake batter equally into the prepared pans. Sprinkle the filling equally over the top batter. Top with the remaining coffee cake batter, then finish by sprinkling equal amounts of the streusel over the top.
- Bake the mini coffee cake loaves for 25 to 28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean. Cool the coffee cakes in the pans set on a wire cooling rack for 10 minutes. Then, using the parchment paper sling, carefully lift the coffee cakes out of the pans to cool on the wire rack completely.
Dalgona Whip Topping
- In a small mixing bowl, add the Dalgona ingredients. Use a hand held mixer fitted with just one whisk attachment. Before turning the mixer on, stir the ingredients to incorporate and get the water to saturate the coffee and sugar. Starting on a lower speed, start to beat the mix until it is foamy. Increase the speed to high and beat the Dalgona to stiff peaks. It will resemble whipped cream. This may take up to 5 minutes. Notes: 1.) I recommend light roast instant coffee for a lighter, not bitter, coffee flavor. 2.) I recommend using a hand held mixer. It is difficult to use a stand mixer since the quantity of ingredients is so small. You can whip the Dalgona by hand using a whisk, but it will take about twice as long (and will make your arm tired!)1 tablespoon instant coffee, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon hot water
- Spoon a dollop of the Dalgona Whip on top of the the coffee cake before serving. Enjoy!
RECIPE NOTES
- Baking Pans – This recipe can also be made using 1 6-Inch square cake pan, or a muffin/cupcake pan. If making muffins, the recipe will yield 4-5 muffins.
- Instant Coffee – I strongly recommend light roast instant coffee. Unless you enjoy a strong, almost bitter, coffee flavor. Do not use regular ground coffee.
- Filling – You can add instant coffee to the filling as well. I’d recommend starting with 1/8 teaspoon.
- Dalgona – This is optional. If you do not prefer a coffee forward flavor, skip this component.
- Flavored Dalgona – You can add other/additional flavors if you like – cinnamon, vanilla, or cocoa. I would start with 1/4 teaspoon and add more to taste.
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I'm Erin and I'm all about desserts - and a little bit of butter!
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