Gluten-Free Coffee Cake

RECIPE BY: San

DATE: January 26, 2026

Total Time 35 minutes

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This Gluten-Free Coffee Cake is an easy-to-make breakfast or dessert for those avoiding gluten. It’s just as delicious as a classic coffee cake.

Gluten-free coffee cake is great for breakfast, brunch, and dessert! This recipe is so easy because it’s made with gluten-free cake mix. It’s soft and sweet, with the sugary topping everyone loves!

coffee cake slice on a plate

I love my classic coffee cake recipe, but when my friend and favorite gym instructor, Sonja, told me she can’t have gluten but loved my coffee cake I had to do something!

a bite of cake on a fork.

Coffee Cake with Gluten Free Cake Mix

For this recipe, I wanted to keep things really simple and so I was thrilled to learn that Duncan Hines has a gluten-free cake mix line. I love a short-cut recipe and the cake mix makes the best gluten free coffee cake.

I love that I don’t have to have gluten-free flour on hand – whenever I want to make this, I just pick up the cake mix! It makes things so easy to have the dry ingredients already prepared.

I literally have to control myself from not eating all the cake batter! It is OH SO GOOD! But the coffee cake is even better, I actually love it as much as the original coffee cake! I love a slice in the afternoon with a cup of coffee.

This coffee cake is so quick, easy, and a great option if you need a gluten free treat for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

a coffee cake cooling on a wire rack.

Recipe Tips

  • Be sure to mix the batter for the recommended time so the dry pudding mix is fully absorbs into the batter.
  • It’s tempting to slice it warm, but I encourage you to resist that urge! If you slice it too soon the pieces will fall apart on you. Wait and you’ll be rewarded with perfectly soft pieces!
  • Store the coffee cake at room temperature. Keep it covered and it should keep well for two to three days.
a slice of cake on a plate.

I just love this gluten free coffee cake – no one ever guesses that it is! It tastes just like a regular one and is so easy to make.

pin to pinterest.

collage image with recipe title of gluten free coffee cake

Gluten-Free Coffee Cake

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 114 kcal
This Gluten-Free Coffee Cake is an easy to make breakfast or dessert for those avoiding gluten. It’s just as delicious as classic coffee cake.
a slice of coffee cake on a plate.

Video

Ingredients
 

Coffee Cake

  • 1 Duncan Hines gluten free yellow cake mix with the eggs, milk, and butter that the recipe calls for on the back then add the following ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup instant vanilla pudding
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cinnamon Swirl Topping

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350; grease a 9×9 pan or a round cheesecake pan.
  • Mix all the ingredients for the cake in a mixer for 5 1/2 minutes (this is key to make the pudding set). I love to use my Kitchen Aid mixer for this!
  • Meanwhile, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
  • Once the cake is done mixing for 5 1/2 minutes, pour half of the batter in the greased metal pan. Sprinkle 1/2 of the brown sugar mix over the cake in the pan.
  • Pour the remaining batter on and sprinkle with remaining sugar.
  • Place in oven and bake 25-35 minutes or until the cake is set and is pulling away from the edges. Let it completely cool so it doesn't crumble when you cut and serve it.

Calories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 29gSodium: 17mgPotassium: 36mgSugar: 27gCalcium: 33mgIron: 0.3mg

a slice of coffee cake on a plate.
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

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23 Comments

  1. My sister in law is newly gluten free I will ahve to save this for when we get together. Thanks for your visit & liking my page. I am visiting & liking yours too. just thought I’d drop by & say hi! PS drop by anytime! Theresa

  2. I didn’t know Duncan Hines made a gluten free cake mix. My niece and brother-in-law will love this, so will my sister since she’s the one going crazy trying to find recipes for her family. Thanks for sharing. Found you on Daily Blog Boost. I’m headed over to your Facebook page to “like.” I’m also pinning. Thanks for sharing this great recipe.

    1. Oh thanks so much girl – I will be sure to tag you on some more gluten free ones I have coming! Thanks for stopping by!! I will go and return the love on facebook!!! San

  3. What a great recipe! My niece and sister and law are gluten-free so this will be great to serve for breakfast during Christmas! Thanks for sharing it with the Daily Blog Boost today! <3

    1. In the US it is traditionally called coffee cake as it is usually served with coffee. In other parts of the world, coffee cake can be made using coffee, but this is not one of those recipes. Hope this makes sense!

    2. Coffee cakes are cakes made to have with a cup of coffee, and usually eaten as a type of dessert with breakfast. They usually have cinnamon in them, but no coffee.

    1. Sorry about that, it should be a 9×9 pan. We prefer metal as we’ve found the edges bake more evenly. A springform pan would also work if you have one! Thank you for pointing out the error, it’s been corrected.

  4. I haven’t made this yet. I’m not clear about the instant vanilla pudding. Do you make the pudding first or use the dry pudding mix?

  5. 5 stars
    I have a friend who was just diagnosed with Celiac disease, and she’s been so bummed that so many of her favorite desserts are full of gluten. I can’t wait to show this to her.

  6. 5 stars
    Wow, your Gluten-Free Coffee Cake recipe is a lifesaver! Being gluten intolerant, I often miss out on delicious baked goods, but this cake was so moist and crumbly, with just the right sweetness.

  7. 5 stars
    Thanks so much for this recipe! It’s so hard to find things like this that are gluten free! It was really tasty too.