This wonderfully light and fluffy almond flour cake is sweetened with honey and flavored with vanilla. It's delicious with or without frosting, and when served without frosting, it's perfect for breakfast or as a snack cake.
Nut flour cakes can be dense and heavy, but this almond flour cake is light and fluffy. Despite containing just half a cup of honey, it's delightfully sweet but not overly so. It's made with just seven ingredients that you probably have on hand and is easy to mix in a single bowl - the prep time is just 15 minutes!
Ingredients
The complete list of ingredients and exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here are my comments on some of the ingredients.
- Butter: For greasing the pan. It's important to use a nonstick pan and grease it generously.
- Honey: Real honey or a sugar-free substitute.
- Almond flour: I use superfine almond flour. I don't recommend using a coarse almond meal.
- Baking soda: You can replace it with 2 teaspoons of baking powder (gluten-free if needed).
Variations
- The zest of a lemon or an orange significantly elevates this cake. Add about a tablespoon, and make sure you only grate the outer peel, not the bitter white layer.
- If you like cinnamon, add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter.
- 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.
Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this cake:
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 using a spatula.
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
- It's important to 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, cool it completely before frosting it.
- 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 that I made with a honey substitute. The photo below shows a cake that I made in 2017 with real honey. Both versions are delicious, but the real honey produces a darker crumb. This version 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 with 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.
No, unfortunately, you can't. Coconut flour and almond flour behave very differently and are not interchangeable.
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."
A round 8-inch pan holds 6 cups of batter, while a standard 9 X 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.
Yes. I keep unfrosted leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days. I briefly warm them in the microwave (10 seconds per slice) before enjoying them. You can also freeze slices of this cake for up to three months.
Serving 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 for you:
- Cream cheese frosting.
- Chocolate whipped cream.
- Dust it with a powdered sweetener.
- 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
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups superfine almond flour - 6 ounces
- ¼ teaspoon 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.
- In a large bowl, lightly whisk the eggs. Gradually whisk in the honey, vanilla, almond flour, kosher 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.
- 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
- 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 slices of this cake 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 and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.
A S says
Perfect. Very easy to make! awesome taste and texture. Already made it twice in one week lol. Thank you!!!! I made it in a 9 inch pan instead of 8 inch and it was still perfect, just take it out after 19 minutes.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Wonderful! Thank you for the feedback about using a 9-inch pan. I'll add it to the recipe. Much appreciated.
Erin says
Can you use a loaf pan for this recipe? Also wondering about the bake time for 4” round pans?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Erin,
I haven't tried these pan sizes, so it would be an experiment.
A round 8-inch pan holds 6 cups of batter, while a standard 9 X 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.
As for 4-inch round pans, use 25% of the recipe for each pan and start checking for doneness after 12 minutes.
Ann says
I only have a 9 inch pan. What would the measurements be?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Ann,
An 8-inch pan holds 6 cups, while a 9-inch pan holds 8 cups.
So, you would need to increase the ingredients by about a third. Try these measurements:
5 large eggs
2/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
8 ounces superfine almond flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Tee says
This Almond cake is easy to make, moist and delicious
Vered DeLeeuw says
Glad you liked it, Tee! Thanks for the review.
Virginia says
Thank you for the recipe.
Vered DeLeeuw says
You're welcome, Virginia! Glad you liked it.
Stephanie Jahner says
Hi I want to make this for my daughter’s birthday. Can I do 2x 6 inch cake pans instead?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Stephanie,
An 8-inch cake pan holds 6 cups, while a 6-inch pan holds 4 cups. You'll need to increase the ingredients by a third.
Try 5 large eggs, 2/3 cup of honey, and 8 ounces of superfine almond flour. The remaining ingredients can stay the same.
Happy birthday to your daughter!
Diane says
Cake is so easy to make and tastes heavenly ! My family (and kids)loved it.Thanks! Diane
Vered DeLeeuw says
You're very welcome, Diane! I'm glad everyone enjoyed this cake.