This light and fluffy almond flour cake is sweetened with honey and flavored with vanilla. It's delicious with or without frosting.
This almond flour cake has the best texture! It reminds me of a buttery sponge cake. Despite containing just half a cup of honey, it's perfectly sweet but not overly so. It's made with just seven ingredients that you probably have on hand right now and is easy to mix in a single bowl - the prep time is just 15 minutes! When served without frosting, it's perfect for breakfast or as a snack cake.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for exact measurements. Here are my comments on some of the ingredients.
- Honey: Real honey or a sugar-free substitute. Both work equally well.
- Vanilla extract: Sometimes, I use flavor extracts other than vanilla, such as coconut, almond, or orange. If opting for those, use just 1 teaspoon, not a full tablespoon. They are typically more potent than vanilla extract.
- Almond flour: I use superfine almond flour. I don't recommend using a coarse almond meal.
- Optional ingredients: The zest of a lemon or an orange significantly enhances the flavor of this cake. Add about a tablespoon, and be sure to grate only the outer peel, not the bitter white layer. Alternatively, if you like cinnamon, you can add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter.
Variations
The photos below show four versions of this cake that I enjoy making: apricot, cranberry, blueberry, and chocolate chip.
- To make the apricot cake, you'll need 4 medium apricots, cut in half and pitted. After adding the batter to the pan, arrange 7 apricot halves on top, cut side down, gently pressing them into the cake (the 8th apricot half is a bonus for the cook!). Brush the tops of the apricots with melted butter and bake the cake as usual.
- To make the cranberry or blueberry cakes, you'll need a cup of fresh cranberries or blueberries. Fold half of them into the batter, transfer to the pan, and then scatter the remaining berries evenly on top. Bake as usual.
- To make the chocolate chip cake, you'll need ½ cup of dark chocolate chips. After transferring the batter into the pan, scatter the chocolate chips evenly on top and gently press them down with your hand or a spatula. Don't mix them into the batter, or they'll sink to the bottom while baking.
Instructions
The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.
Lightly whisk the eggs. Gradually whisk in the honey, vanilla, almond flour, salt, and baking soda. Transfer the batter to a greased 8-inch nonstick cake pan.
Bake the cake in an oven preheated to 350°F until a toothpick inserted in its center comes out clean, 22-25 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert it onto a cooling rack and cool it for 20 more minutes.
You can dust the cake with powdered sugar or a powdered sweetener before slicing and serving. Look at the cake's moist, fluffy texture! It's incredible.
Made this today, and it's perfection! I added lemon juice to have a little lemon flavor. I cut myself a little piece and sprinkled it with a powdered sweetener and a dollop of zero-sugar Cool Whip. It's amazing and my new favorite treat. - Jay
Read more comments
Made this today, and it's perfection! I added lemon juice to have a little lemon flavor. I cut myself a little piece and sprinkled it with a powdered sweetener and a dollop of zero-sugar Cool Whip. It's amazing and my new favorite treat. - Jay Recipe Tips
- Make sure the pan you use is truly nonstick. I replace my nonstick pans every 1-2 years. They're relatively inexpensive, and regularly replacing them saves me the heartache of dealing with ruined baked goods.
- If you wish to frost the cake, allow it to cool completely before frosting.
- The cake improves after being stored overnight. Its texture becomes moister.
- The cake's crumb will be noticeably darker if you use real honey as opposed to sugar-free syrup. The photos on this page show a cake I made with a honey substitute. The photo below shows a cake I made in 2017 with real honey. Both versions are delicious, but real honey produces a darker crumb. This version, which I baked in a greased pie plate, also sank slightly in the middle, likely because my oven back then ran a bit too hot.
Recipe FAQs
I tested this recipe with real honey and sugar-free honey. I did not test it with a granulated sweetener. If you'd like to use a granulated sweetener, you'll need to add liquid to the cake (such as whole milk, heavy cream, or canned coconut milk). I suggest starting with ⅓ cup and checking the batter.
Yes. Theoretically, you would need to increase the ingredients by about a third. However, one of my readers made this cake in a 9-inch pan and reported back, saying, "I made it in a 9-inch pan instead of an 8-inch, and it was still perfect. Just take it out after 19 minutes."
An 8-inch round pan holds 6 cups of batter, while a standard 9 × 5-inch loaf pan holds 8 cups, so you would need to increase the measurements by about a third. The baking time will be longer, since a loaf pan is deeper. I would reduce the heat to 325°F and add 10 minutes. However, start checking with a toothpick after 25 minutes.
You can keep the unfrosted leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days. Briefly warm them in the microwave (10 seconds per slice) before enjoying them. You can also freeze cooled slices of this cake in freezer bags for up to three months.
Topping Suggestions
I don't usually frost this cake. I like simple, unfrosted cakes that can be served as breakfast or snack cakes. But if you'd like to top it, here are a few ideas:
- Cream cheese frosting.
- Chocolate whipped cream.
- Dust it with a powdered sweetener, as shown in the photos on this page.
- Whipped cream and berries - add those right before serving the cake.
- Blueberry compote or strawberry compote - add right before serving to prevent the cake from becoming soggy.
- The chocolate frosting I use in this chocolate cake is excellent.
Recipe Card
Fluffy Almond Flour Cake
Video
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon butter - for pan
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup honey - real or sugar-free, or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups superfine almond flour - 6 ounces
- Pinch salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda - or 2 teaspoons of baking powder, gluten-free if needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously grease an 8-inch nonstick cake pan with soft butter.½ tablespoon butter
- In a large bowl, lightly whisk the eggs. Gradually whisk in the honey, vanilla, almond flour, salt, and baking soda. Don't over-mix the batter. An overworked batter can cause the middle of the cake to collapse as it cools.4 large eggs, ½ cup honey, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1½ cups superfine almond flour, Pinch salt, ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Use a spatula to transfer the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake until fragrant and set, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 22-25 minutes.
- Cool the cake in the pan on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Then, invert it onto the cooling rack and cool for 20 more minutes.
- If you wish, dust the cake with a powdered sweetener, then slice and serve.
Notes
- Sweetness is a personal preference. Use this recipe as a guide and adjust to taste.
- This sugar-free honey worked well when I tried it. If using it, a slice has about 199 calories, 6 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of fiber.
- I use Bob's Red Mill Super-Fine Almond Flour. One cup of this flour weighs 4 oz, so 1.5 cups weigh 6 ounces. It's best to measure almond flour by weight rather than by volume.
- Occasionally, baking soda can cause a reaction in baked goods that results in an ammonia smell. If you're concerned about it happening, use 2 teaspoons of baking powder (gluten-free if needed) instead of baking soda.
- If you'd like to frost the cake, cool it completely before frosting.
- The cake's texture improves after being stored overnight.
- Keep unfrosted leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Briefly warm them in the microwave (10 seconds per slice) before enjoying them. You can also freeze cooled slices of this cake in freezer bags for up to three months.
Nutrition per Serving
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Disclaimers
Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate - please verify it. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.
Tsigereda says
The best cake!
Vered DeLeeuw says
So glad you like it! Thank you very much for the review.
Goli says
Hi! I’m so curious to make this cake, just wondering if this cake needs no oil or butter whatsoever?? It that right?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Goli,
Yes, that's right, the cake doesn't need any oil or butter. The almond flour, eggs, and honey provide enough natural fat and moisture, so it bakes up tender without added oil. Hope you enjoy it if you give it a try!