5-Ingredient Almond Cake (Easy Gluten-Free Recipe!) (2024)

The best flour-less almond cake recipe ever! It’s gluten-free, with a fantastic light texture, and it doesn’t even need any oil or butter. Best of all, you only need 5 ingredients to make it!

Easy Gluten-Free Almond Cake Recipe

When my family gets together for holidays, birthdays, or just because, everyone chips in and brings a dish. It’s usually a given that my cousin Nina will bringdessert. At one family party, Nina brought this healthy almond cake and I couldn’t get over how delicious it was. The original almond cake recipe comes from baking goddess Dorie Greenspan’s cookbook,Baking Chez Moi. The only changes I made to Dorie’s recipe were reducing the sugar and egg yolks. It is perfection!

What You’ll Need

With a short list of pantry ingredients, this almond cake is perfect for making on a whim!Scroll down to the recipe card below forexact measurements.

• Eggs – You’ll need three egg yolks and six egg whites at room temperature.
• Sugar – Measure 2/3 cups of sugar and scoop out two tablespoons. Set aside the two tablespoons of sugar to mix in with the egg whites later.
• Vanilla extract– For a slightly different take on this recipe, swap the vanilla for almond extract.
• Salt – A pinch of sea salt adds balance.
• Almond flour or almond meal – I don’t recommend subbing all-purpose flour or any other kind. (For more desserts with almond flour, try myCheesecake Brownies,Fudgy Flourless Crinkle Brownie Cookies, andChocolate Zucchini Brownies.)
• Berries– Use a mix of fresh berries.
• Powdered sugar– It’s optional, but I love to dust the cake with powdered sugar. It adds a little extra sweetness and looks pretty!

Almond Meal vs. Almond Flour: What’s the Difference?

Almond flour is made by finely grinding blanched almonds, while almond meal is made from almonds that still have their skins intact—almond meal is also ground, but slightly less finely. In some recipes, almond meal and almond flour are not interchangeable, but in this almond cake recipe, either option will work.

How to Make Almond Cake

Here’s a quick overview of the steps involved in making this gluten-free almond cake.See the recipe card belowfor more detailed instructions.

• Prepare. Place a rack in the middle of the oven while it preheats to 350°F. Coat a spring form pan with nonstick spray, then line it with parchment paper and lightly flour it.
• Mix the wet ingredients. Whisk the egg yolks and all but two tablespoons of the sugar for about a minute, or until the yolks lighten in color. Add the vanilla and salt; whisk again.
• Beat the whites. Use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment to beat the egg whites on medium speed for a minute until they are opaque and fluffy. Sprinkle with the remaining sugar and beat until the whites hold medium peaks.
• Finish the batter. Stir a quarter of the egg whites into the yolk mixture. Scrape the remaining whites and half of the almond flour into the yolks. Partially fold the whites into the yolks; when the mixture has only a few streaks of white, gently fold in the rest of the almond flour.

• Bake. Pour the batter into the pan, then bake for 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and springs back when touched.
• Cool.Let the almond cake cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a knife along the edges of the pan and invert it onto the rack. Remove the sides and bottom, then peel off the parchment. Turn the cake right side up to finish cooling.
• Serve. Dust the almond cake with powdered sugar, slice it, and serve with fresh berries.

Tips and Variations

• Using another sweetener. There were many questions in the comments about substituting monk fruit for granulated sugar. I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know how it’ll work but my guess is, it should be fine. If you make the swap, comment below to let me know how it goes! Also, some people said they had luck with Swerve granular sugar replacement.
• Add citrus zest. Change the flavor of this almond cake by adding orange or lemon zest to the batter.
• No springform pan?A regular nine-inch round cake pan will work if you don’t have a springform pan.
• More topping ideas. Use whatever kind of berries you have. It can be only one kind or a mix of raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Fresh peaches and nectarines would also be tasty if they’re in season.

Proper Storage

• Room temperature/fridge. Almond flour cake can sit on the counter without the berries for 3 days before refrigerating. (It stays moist for days!) You can then refrigerate it for a couple more days.
• Freeze. You can freeze this almond cake for up to 3 months. Slice the cake, wrap each piece in foil, and store them in a big zip-locked bag. Thaw the cake in the refrigerator or microwave it straight from frozen to eat.

More Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes You’ll Love

• Roasted Strawberry Almond Flour Muffins
• Flourless Chocolate Cake
• Gluten-Free S’mores Tartlets
• Five-Ingredient Chocolate Cheesecake Cups
• Strawberry Squares