Keto Pumpkin Crumb Cake is a delicious fall treat. It features a tender low carb pumpkin cake with a delicious brown “sugar” crumb topping. It’s perfect for brunch or dessert!
Hooray, it’s pumpkin spice season! It’s September now and that means I’m allowed to post all the pumpkin recipes my little heart desires, right? Starting with this delectably tender Keto Pumpkin Crumb Cake.
I have so many fantastic pumpkin spice recipes, and every year I create a few more. I can’t help myself, there are just so many delicious keto friendly ways to enjoy it. Like Keto Pumpkin Muffins with a cream cheese center. And don’t forget about keto pumpkin pancakes, a welcome addition to any fall breakfast table.
But this pumpkin coffee cake is truly something special. It’s beloved among so many of my readers, and with good reason. Get your forks ready because you are going to love it!
Tender pumpkin cake recipe
Have you ever heard of New York Crumb Cake? It’s an amazing coffee cake with a thick layer of brown sugar streusel. I’d say it’s almost more crumbs than cake, and it’s absolutely delectable.
I came up with an amazing keto version for The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking, and I was delighted with how well the topping came out. I replicated classic crumb cake almost perfectly. And my tastebuds did the happy dance.
I loved it so much, I knew I had to find a way to feature it again. What better way than to turn it into a Keto Pumpkin Crumb Cake?
Reader Reviews
“MAKE THIS NOW!!!! I will make these every. single. week. Who doesn’t love crumb?! Even my nonketo (and VERY picky) husband LOVED THESE!!!!” — Kristin
“I have made this cake three times so far and it is so DELICIOUS! Thank you so much for this pumpkin crumb cake recipe. I’have shared it with friends and they all love it. It’s such an easy recipe to make which is helpful. I actually use a lot of your recipes and they always turn out perfect.” — Kris
“Once again, you’ve done it! This is a wonderful recipe! I made this a couple of days ago and it’s a huge hit between me and my husband. I am incredibly grateful for all your wonderful recipes that you share with everyone. Thank you thank you!” — Sheri P.
Ingredients You Need
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- Almond and coconut flour: Both the cake and the topping contain almond flour and coconut flour. The combination of these flours provides the best consistency. You may be able to use all almond flour, but you would need quite a bit more of it. And the carb count would be higher.
- Sweeteners: I used Swerve Sweetener for each component of this recipe, but you can use other brands if you prefer. The topping is best with a brown sugar replacement, and the vanilla drizzle really needs a confectioner’s style powdered sweetener.
- Protein powder: Protein powder helps the cake rise in the absence of gluten, so don’t skip it. You can use whey protein or egg white protein powder. But collagen is not a great option as it tends to make the cake gummy.
- Pumpkin puree: Pumpkin puree can differ brand to brand. Some are thick and some are quite watery. The thicker the better for a pumpkin crumb cake like this. If yours is watery, try adding another tablespoon or two of coconut flour to offset the moisture content.
- Pumpkin pie spice: I usually use pre-made spice but you can also make your own with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Butter: I use butter in the cake and the crumb topping. You could substitute with coconut oil for the cake, but the crumb topping turns out so much better (and tastier) with butter.
- Heavy cream: This forms the drizzle along with some powdered sweetener.
- Kitchen staples: Eggs, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
Step by Step Directions
1. Prepare the crumb topping: In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, sweetener, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir in the butter until well combined. It will be like a thick batter. Set aside.
2. Make the cake batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, coconut flour, whey protein, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir in the pumpkin puree, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
3. Assemble the cake: Spread the batter in a greased 9×9 inch metal baking pan and smooth the top. Crumble the topping mixture with your fingers into pea size pieces and sprinkle evenly overtop the cake batter.
4. Bake the cake: Bake at 325ºF for 35 to 40 minutes, until the topping is golden and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. It won’t be firm to the touch because the topping is so tender. Let cool completely in the pan.
5. Make the drizzle: Whisk the sweetener, cream, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
Expert Tips
A proper crumb cake should almost be as much crumb topping as it is cake. While the pumpkin cake itself is delicious, it’s the topping that really makes it.
For the topping: Be sure to use plenty of brown sugar replacement and butter. It should really be like a very thick cake batter or almost like a cookie dough. It should not be dry at all but you should also be able to break it apart into big crumbs.
Instead of cinnamon, which is standard in crumb cake topping, use pumpkin pie spice.
Testing the cake for doneness: For most of my keto cake recipes, I tell you to bake until the top is firm to the touch. That won’t work here because the crumb topping is so tender, it obscures the cake.
For this particular recipe, the golden color of the topping is one clue that the cake is done. It will be very golden around the edges. You should also use a tester and insert into the center of the cake. It should come out clean.
Recipe FAQs
Pumpkin is relatively low carb in moderation. I wouldn’t recommend consuming any more than a quarter cup of puree in one sitting. That would contain about 5g of carbs and 1.5g of fiber.
But most keto pumpkin recipes make multiple servings so the amount of pumpkin is minimal and adds very few carbs.
This Keto Pumpkin Crumb Cake has 6.6g of carbs and 3.3g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.3g net carbs per slice.
Store this cake in a covered container on the counter for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze it for several months.
More delicious recipes you will enjoy.
- Keto Coffee Cake Muffins
- Keto Peach Cobbler Bars
- Easy Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Cranberry Upside Down Cake
- Keto Pecan Pie Muffins
Keto Pumpkin Crumb Cake
Ingredients
Crumb Topping:
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ½ cup Swerve Brown
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Pumpkin Cake:
- 1 cup almond flour
- ½ cup Swerve Sweetener
- ⅓ cup coconut flour
- ¼ cup unflavored whey protein powder (can also use egg white protein powder)
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Drizzle (optional):
- ¼ cup Swerve Confectioners
- 2 tablespoon heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Crumb Topping
- In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, sweetener, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir in the butter until well combined. It will be like a thick batter. Set aside
Pumpkin Cake
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF and grease a 9×9 inch square metal baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, coconut flour, whey protein, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir in the pumpkin puree, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Spread the batter in the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Crumble the topping mixture with your fingers into pea size pieces and sprinkle evenly overtop the cake batter. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until the topping is golden and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. It won’t be firm to the touch because the topping is so tender.
- Remove and let cool completely in the pan.
Drizzle
- Whisk the sweetener, cream, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
Jeremy says
aplogies if i am spamming but i am stuill making this half a year or so later on a regular basis….<3
Heather Wells says
Everyone LOVED this cake. Keto or not!
Cheryl Dillenbeck says
Can I use vanilla flavored whey protein powder in any of your cake recipes?
Carolyn says
Yes, but… the but being that they can be kind of powerful in flavor so leave out any additional vanilla and just know it may compete a bit with other flavors.
Jeni Kate says
Couldn’t ask for a better fall pumpkin recipe. Easy to make, and really delicious. I love the tip about freezing it. I froze half and ate half fresh which allowed me to control my portion sizes and have some leftovers to enjoy at a later time.
Carolyn says
Thank you!
Carolyn says
Great to hear!
Laura says
Great texture for a keto cake and the crumb texture is very good. The amount of warming spices is spot on too. I wouldn’t change a thing about the recipe. I would make this for guests and family because it’s delicious and looks so beautiful when plated.
Randi Vicente says
This is totally delicious!! Definitely a new must-have once October hits!
Jeremy says
You just allowed me, a very AVERAGE or below ‘cook’, to make something that tastes like its out of the store. thank you <3
Carolyn says
I am so glad!
Beth says
This is delicious!
Thank you for perfecting recipes for your fans!
maria says
This looks amazing! I can not tolerate whey or egg protein powder. Is there something else that I can use as a substitute?
Thank you
Carolyn says
Vegan protein powder might work.
Lori Huhn says
absolutely amazing
gloria says
I never have any keto brown sugar on hand, probably because it’s rather pricey. Can I use something like stevia (or Swerve-like sweeteners) to which I would add molasses?
So many recipes call for keto brown sugar, I need a good replacement that doesn’t cost too much. Thank you for your great ideas.
Gloria
Kathleen says
Made double recipe. Taking one to Sabbath potluck today & other for card party tonight. Looks good! Had hard time with drizzle.Had to add a lot more HWC to thin out & still would not drizzle. Ended up spreading it. Not as pretty as a drizzle.
The cake does look dry. Hope church has coffee today ????
I wanted to bring healthy ingredients to these events. No sugar. No processed wheat. Thanks for recipe.
Carolyn says
What sweetener were you using for the drizzle?
Kathleen says
“SWERVE The Ultimate Sugar Replacement CONFECTIONERS”
Kathleen says
side note: they loved it. it did not go begging.
Jill Franks says
This coffee cake is really good! I am slowly learning about keto baking. I tried a pumpkin bread recipe yesterday from another website and used coconut flour instead of almond flour. I now know the difference in that! After all the ingredients, and all the time it took, it went in the trash. (I have also signed up for your Secrets to Keto Baking. I can’t wait to try all of your tips!)
This coffee cake is very, very good! I did cut the melted butter in half for the crumb topping. That left it more crumbly and also easier to distribute on top of the cake. It was very good! It would be nice to have a little more pumpkin flavor, and possibly a little more spice in it, but it really was very good with an excellent texture!!
Mary Jo says
Will plant (pea & quinoa) protein powder work? Thanks in advance for your advice and for all of the great recipes!
Carolyn says
It should!
Nic says
I have this in the oven now and it smells amazing! I was a little concerned about the cake (not topping) batter, though–it was very VERY thick, really more of a dough. I always use Bob’s Red Mill almond flour and coconut flour, so I don’t think it was because of either of those. Could it be how thick my pumpkin puree was? Waiting to see if it affects the consistency of the finished cake, but I was hoping you’d have some advice/reassurance?
Claudia says
Is it ok to skip the unflavored egg white protein or whey protein??
I want to make it today.
Carolyn says
Please read the blog post, as I already talked about that. Hint… nope, it’s not okay. It’s the reason my cakes are fluffier and lighter than most keto cakes.
Susan says
This is really delicious! I especially love the crumb topping. I cut the cooled cake into 16 pieces and put most of them right into the freezer to stop myself from over-indulging. Out of the freezer and into the microwave for 30 seconds and I have a perfect little treat.
I skipped the glaze out of laziness, but have enjoyed the finished product anyway!
D Rob says
Delicious! I craved pumpkin and found thus recioe. Definitely a keeper!
Cecile Stanley says
Made this today and it is so good….had it with coffee earlier this afternoon.
How long in the fridge will this keep do you think? Just the two of us…..thanks!!
Carolyn says
At least a week in the fridge.
Cecile Stanley says
Did just fine in the fridge…..really tasty and hubs loved it. Now I am going to try your Keto Pumpkin Crunch Cake…Swerve cake mix was on sale! Thanks so much…..most all of our meals, (my husband is Type 1) come from you! You have given so much to help and encourage folks to eat right and enjoy their food.
Carolyn says
Glad you enjoy the recipes!
Laura Depuy says
I made this today to celebrate the first day of fall. It was delicious and easy to make. Thank you for this recipe.
Carolyn says
So glad you enjoyed it!