This tender low carb coffee cake has a cinnamon filling and a sugar-free cream cheese glaze. An easy keto cake recipe that tastes like your favorite cinnamon roll! Now updated with a how-to video. And it’s even easier to make.
Please note that I have updated this keto cinnamon roll coffee cake ever so slightly to be even easier to make!
Sometimes I take a bit of one of my creations and I think to myself “I am really good at what I do”. That isn’t quite as self-aggrandizing as it may seem. Really, I am often just somewhat amazed at how I fell into this job, if you can even call it that. More to the point, I am often amazed at what I can create with ingredients I’d never even heard of only a few short years ago.
And I seem to have gained an innate sense of the characteristics of my ingredients that allows me to combine them in new and different ways, mostly to great success. Admittedly, occasionally I fail tremendously, but I still learn something from every failure that helps me in future recipes. I don’t feel limited by my dietary restrictions, and in fact I’d say the opposite is true.
They have opened up a whole new world of ingredients to me, and I daresay I am a better baker because of it. I am more creative, more sure of myself…and I clearly have a healthy appreciation for my own work.
How To Make Keto Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
There is true joy in being good at what you do. I have been pretty good at a number of things in my life, some of which I even got paid to do. I was a pretty great academic advisor in my day and I enjoyed that most of the time. And at the time, I thought I’d work in higher education for the rest of my life.
Funny how life lays waste to the best laid, most carefully thought out plans. In this case, for the better, because as much as I enjoyed dispensing academic advice to unappreciative college kids, it simply doesn’t compare to the enjoyment I derive from this blog. I mean that with the utmost sincerity. I love the whole process, from the initial recipe concept to the actual execution in the kitchen. And then sharing it here with stories and pictures, and seeing what my readers think and if they have good results with it too.
With that sort of lead in, I am sure you must think I came up with the most astonishing, most amazing low carb, gluten-free recipe ever. The truth is that this actually yet another variation on my favourite low carb cake recipe. That cake turned out so well and has come to have a life of its own; it’s spawned so many other recipes and I just keep thinking of more and more things to do with it.
The idea for a coffee cake based on cinnamon rolls popped into my head one day and I knew instantly that my almond crusted butter cake was the perfect base recipe. It never fails me, that one. It’s the perfect low carb yellow cake recipe, with a light, tender crumb, that it makes a perfect building block for other recipes.
A little cinnamon “sugar” baked into the middle of the cake, then brushing the hot cake with melted butter and sprinkling more cinnamon “sugar”, then a cream cheese icing drizzle and you have yourself low carb Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake.
And I really did bite into this Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake and think “yeah, I am really good at this”. Call it egotistical if you will. I just call it delicious.
PLEASE NOTE! This delicious low carb cake recipe has been updated to be even EASIER to make. Same great flavor, I promise.
Love to bake? You need my new cookbook!
Keto Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Cinnamon Filling:
- 3 tablespoon granulated sweetener (erythritol or allulose)
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cake:
- 3 cups almond flour
- ½ cup erythritol sweetener
- ¼ cup unflavoured whey protein powder
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup butter melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup almond milk or water
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 ½ ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoon powdered sweetener (erythritol or allulose)
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Cake
- Combine the Swerve and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 325ºF and grease an 9x9 inch baking pan.
- Whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, protein powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the eggs, melted butter and vanilla extract. Add the almond milk and continue to stir until well combined.
- Spread half of the batter in the prepared pan, then sprinkle with about two thirds of the cinnamon filling mixture. Spread the remaining batter over top and smooth with a knife or an offset spatula.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and just firm to the touch. Remove from the oven.
- Brush with the melted butter and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon filling mixture. Let cool completely in the pan.
Frosting
- In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sweetener, cream, and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
- Pipe or drizzle over cooled cake.
SA says
H i there, it looks delicious! Gonna give it a try tonight. We don’t get Swerve or Erythritol, can I use Xylotol, Agave sugar or Stevia instead (and how much)? I’m new to GF and low carb, and scared of experimenting after a few flops, lol. Thank you! 🙂
Carolyn says
I think you can use xylitol and in the same amount as I used Swerve but I can’t guarantee it as I have never tried it myself.
Christina Wilson says
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THIS IS LOW CARB? I made this yesterday and I cannot tell you how excited I am that I have a go-to low carb desert now. The texture of the cake was perfect; the icing, perfect; the cinnamon, perfect. I was prepared for a grainy and unpleasantly dry texture, but the moisture and texture were very nice. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Carolyn says
You are most welcome! It’s one of my best, I think.
Jennifer says
The hubs and I have decided to go low-carb to shed a few pounds and to just eat healthier. Of course we have to have some kind of sweets to satisfy our sweet tooth though! I’ve tried a few other low-carb desserts that were totally gross to us, but oh thank heavens we came across this coffee cake!! IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! So moist, flavorful! It had the perfect texture — just like real cake! Not mushy or spongy at all like some others we’ve tried. Even the kids tried it and they loved it! I’m thinking I’ll have to make this one quite often! Thanks so much for the recipe!!!
Sasha says
This cake is just wonderful! It hasn’t even cooled yet and my fussy husband has already asked for two more tastes. 😀
Carolyn says
Glad to hear that!
Katharine says
Finally made this for Easter breakfast! Even my mom (who often thinks my baked goods taste weird) thought this tasted “totally normal and yummy.” 🙂 I might add a smidge more cinnamon next time bc I adore cinnamon. Great recipe! Thanks!
Jenn says
I am a HUGE coffee cake addict. I have also been living la vida low-carb for over the last year. Every time I have fallen off of my low-carb lifestyle it is due to the sweet, buttery, deliciousness of a coffee cake. Which leads to more coffee cake…and then some more….and then a week (or two) later I wake up from my coffee cake binge questioning why my pants no longer fit.
I have tried at least 6 different low carb recipes for coffee cake. All of them have left MUCH to be desired. But this! THIS amazing coffee cake has made my dreams come true! I am SO pleased with the result. I made it last night, had a piece for dessert, and another piece for breakfast. I am SO incredibly happy I cannot even fully express my gratitude and joy.
THANK YOU!!!!!!
I cannot wait to try more of your delicious recipes!
Carolyn says
Well, I am very, very happy to have helped you back ONTO the wagon and yet fulfill your desire for coffee cake! 🙂
Joey says
Just made this for my daughter and myself for our Sunday morning brunch. BRAVO! Carolyn it was delicious! My daughter even gave it two thumbs up!
Carolyn says
Glad to hear it!
Linda says
Thank you for such a delicious low-carb coffee cake, I made it this morning for a special Sunday breakfast. Being diabetic, I have missed baked treats. No more deprivation, 🙂 Maybe the best part is that my husband liked it; he never likes anything I make with almond flour.
Carolyn says
So glad to hear it!
kjblueeyez says
What are the calories for the Cin Roll Coffee Cake?
Carolyn says
I don’t know, but you could easily enter all the ingredients into my fitness pal or some other calculator.
kjblueeyez says
OK, That’s what I’ll do. Thanks
Carolyn says
Sorry. I haven’t had a chance to go back and do all the calculations for older recipes. But all of my more recent stuff has them all figured out!
Karen says
Made this this morning…I just wanted something coffeecakey and this recipe is fantastic!
I bought the Honeyville almond flour and it does bake up lighter than Bob’s Red Mill. I also love that Swerve didn’t have any chemical aftertaste which Splenda does whenever I’ve baked with it. It tastes more like sugar. I used vanilla protein powder and then substituted
english toffee sugar free syrup for the vanilla…didn’t even bother with the cream cheese glaze, this cake is so moist. Thank you Carolyn for once again keeping me on low carb track without feeling deprived. This is a keeper!
Carolyn says
So glad you liked it!
Roxanna Stanley says
I’m glad you are good at what you do. That frees up my time considerably. Lol. Thank goodness for Pinterest. That’s how I found you. Keep it up.
Carolyn says
Thanks, Roxanna!
ilyse says
YOU ARE GREAT AT WHAT YOU DO! This cake was BY FAR the best low carb baked cake I have ever made! Thank you so much!
Carolyn says
Wow thanks!
Alison says
I made this cake yesterday for a friend who is recent to gluten free no carb eating. He’s rather depressed about the lack of goodies. He was blown away by how great this cake was. As was I. Moist, delicious and full of yumminess. Thank you!
Carolyn says
Yay! No need to be depressed, there are tons of goodies to enjoy on a low carb diet!
Lisa B says
I made this a couple nights ago and it was a big hit! I’ve already been asked to make it again 🙂
Marron says
Do you think it would work to substitute coconut flour for the protein powder? Or vanilla protein powder?
Carolyn says
Coconut flour won’t make a good substitute. Vanilla protein powder would be fine.
Tammy says
I just picked up my first bag of Swerve but it’s the powdered type. Is there any reason why the powdered type couldn’t be substituted in the cinnamon filling and the cake part too?
And if so, would I use the same amount as in the recipe?
Carolyn says
It will be fine, use the same amount. I do it when I am low on granulated too.
Tammy says
OK. Is there a reason why the granulated type is normally preferred? Just curious.
Carolyn says
Because the crystalline structure whips air bubbles into the butter as you are beating it and so you get a somewhat lighter, fluffier texture (most of the time).
Allie says
what can I substitute the cream cheese with?
Carolyn says
Vegan cream cheese maybe?
lisa says
I made this cake and substituted almond flour with coconut flour, used organic cream in place of almond milk and it was amaziiiing.. Yum!!! Thank you for your beautiful recipes
Jen says
This coffee cake is fabulous! I ate the entire pan by myself in six days and even on that sixth day is was still moist. Thanks for a great recipe.
Jennifer says
I made this last night and really enjoyed it. Mine needed 10 more minutes in the oven. The frosting seemed unnecessary. Reminded me of donuts, somehow, it was just that moist and tender.