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You deserve a little something sweet, and this Healthy Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake is the perfect option! Made with coconut sugar, lemon zest, and blueberries, it’s a naturally sweet treat perfect for breakfast or dessert!
A delicious healthy coffee cake option
If you’ve taken a look through my blog or you’ve been around for a while, you know that I’m a chocolate lover through and through. I enjoy my favorite desserts all the time and love sharing the recipes with you all!
But sometimes, I ditch the chocolate in flavor of a fruitier option, like healthy lemon blueberry coffee cake. And let me tell you, there are never regrets with flavor combos like these!
This blueberry lemon cake is absolutely decadent. It’s made with a delicious crumble and glaze on top, and it pairs so well with your morning cup of coffee! It’s the breakfast/pastry/dessert/snack you had no idea you needed.
Ingredients in lemon blueberry coffee cake
Three sets of ingredients are included in this recipe to account for each part of the dessert! Some of the ingredients overlap, and you probably already have most of them on hand!
Cake
- Eggs: First up for the cake will be 2 eggs.
- Coconut oil: Mix in 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil to start to form the cake layer.
- Honey: An all natural sweetener option, include 1/3 cup of honey.
- Vanilla: Then, add 1 tsp of vanilla.
- Lemon zest: You will need to use 1 lemon for adding zest to the cake.
- Lemon juice: Save the lemon and add 1/4 cup of the juice!
- Almond flour: For the flour portion, we’re going with 3 cups of almond flour. Keep reading to learn why this is my favorite type of flour to use!
- Baking powder: Include 1 tsp of baking powder to help things rise properly.
- Baking soda: Then, add 1/2 tsp of baking soda.
- Salt: As for the salt, include 1/4 tsp.
- Blueberries: And last but not least, we’ll achieve that delicious lemon x blueberry flavor combo by including 1 cup of blueberries!
Crumble
- Almond flour: We will start with 1/2 cup of almond flour in forming the crumble.
- Coconut sugar: Then, add 1/2 cup of coconut sugar to sweeten things up.
- Lemon: Include the zest of another lemon.
- Coconut oil: Finally, add 3 tbsp of melted coconut oil to help everything bind together.
Glaze
- Powdered sugar: The glaze is made of only two ingredients, the first being 1 cup of powdered sugar.
- Almond milk: 2-3 tbsp of almond milk will help the sugar reach a nice, creamy consistency.
Tools used to make this lemon coffee cake recipe
You’ll need only 5 main tools to create this cake. Start with an 8×8 baking dish, followed by two mixing bowls (one small and one large), a whisk, and another stirring utensil (like a spatula!).
For measuring, you will need the following sizes: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.
How to make healthy lemon blueberry coffee cake
This lemon blueberry coffee cake recipe consists of the cake, crumble, and glaze. We’ll start with the cake, and then we’ll move onto the crumble and glaze while it bakes.
First, preheat your oven to 350F and grease an 8×8 pan with nonstick spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice.
Stir together the almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small mixing bowl.
Then, add the dry ingredients to the wet, and stir until well combined.
Fold in the blueberries until they’re evenly dispersed.
Then, pour the batter into the greased pan.
Make the crumble by stirring all of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top of the unbaked lemon blueberry dough.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.
Next, make the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar and almond milk together.
Once the cake is cooked, drizzle the glaze on top.
Substitution Tip
When making lemon blueberry breakfast cake, don’t be discouraged if you find that you’re missing an item or two. Many of the ingredients can be swapped with common pantry items, meaning you may not need to venture out to the store after all!
- Coconut oil: Out of coconut oil? That’s okay! Swap it (in an equal amount) with either vegetable, canola, or whatever you have on deck. I’d avoid using olive oil, as this may create a different taste.
- Honey: Substitute honey with maple syrup or molasses. Any natural, thick sweetener of a similar consistency will do.
- Baking soda: You can use extra baking powder to replace baking soda. Use 3 tsp of powder for every 1 tsp of soda, which for this recipe means you’ll need 1.5 extra tsp of powder.
- Coconut sugar: You can swap coconut sugar with granulated sugar in equal amounts.
- Almond milk: Lastly, equally replace almond milk with the milk of your choice.
Storing leftovers
Store leftover coffee cake on the counter for 3-4 days. I recommend keeping it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
Want to freeze it for later? Keep it securely sealed in either an airtight container or plastic wrap and tinfoil, and freeze. Enjoy within 2-3 months.
How lemon breakfast cake is healthier
I love making healthier dessert recipes, because I’m so passionate about the fact that eating healthy can still taste wonderful! I used these ingredients to make this recipe a better option.
Coconut oil
First, I used coconut oil rather than vegetable or canola oil. This is my preferred baking oil because it’s better for cholesterol and doesn’t contain as many unhealthy fats.
Honey
I love using honey (or maple syrup) as sweeteners because their all-natural qualities mean less preservatives and more nutrients!
Almond flour
I usually skip all-purpose flour in favor of almond flour because it’s nutrient rich and tastes great!
Coconut sugar
Coconut sugar is a great replacement for granulated sugar. It tastes yummy and calls for a 1:1 ratio, making it a simple swap.
Almond milk
I always use almond milk in baking because it works well to create great baked good textures, and I love that it provides nut-sourced protein!
Blueberries
In this recipe, using blueberries (as opposed to other mix-ins like chocolate chips) is a great way to give your body a nice dose of antioxidants.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Need some more more lemon and blueberry recipes to satisfy your cravings? Here are some of my favorites! I recommend trying the vegan cheesecake bars first. They’re insane.
- Paleo Lemon Blueberry Muffins
- Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
- Healthy Blueberry Cobbler
- Healthy Lemon Cookies (Gluten-Free)
- Triple Layer Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.
Healthy Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake
You deserve a little something sweet, and this Healthy Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake is the perfect option! Made with coconut sugar, lemon zest, and blueberries, it’s a naturally sweet treat perfect for breakfast or dessert!
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 3 cups almond flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup blueberries
Crumble:
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp almond milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease an 8×8 pan with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla. Add in lemon zest and lemon juice.
- In a small bowl, stir together almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until combined.
- Fold in blueberries until evenly dispersed. Pour into greased pan.
- Make crumble by stirring together all ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over top of unbaked lemon blueberry dough.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until center comes out clean with toothpick.
- Make glaze by whisking ingredients together.
- Once cake is cooked, drizzle glaze on top.
- Store on counter for 3-4 days.
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Eleanor says
My family can always detect when I make recipes with healthier ingredients. If they see I’m making a healthier dessert, they cringe, predicting in their mind that it’s going to be terrible or just taste “off.” When I made this delicious recipe, though, I was shocked to see their reactions. “Okay, Eleanor, I tried it, and… it’s actually REALLY good.” The coffee cake was gone within a day or two! Erin, you should be proud of yourself for making recipes that even my family loves to eat! If anyone else has a family like mine, this recipe is for you.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Eleanor, ah so happy everyone loved the cake so much!! 🙂
Kamie says
Made these and just like all of the other recipes I’ve made of yours.. obsessed!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kamie, so glad you enjoyed it!!
Candi says
I made this today for breakfasts or a sweet snack in the evening. It is so so good! Thank you so much for the recipe!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Candi, so glad you loved it!!
Jean says
Hi! Is coconut oil really better for cholesterol than canola/olive oil? Just curious because I always thought the opposite!
Tracy says
This turned out really good. Plus I feel like with ingredients like these it’s a decent breakfast on the go option. Perfect with all the great blueberries I’m getting right now.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Tracy, so happy you loved it!!
Katie C says
Absolutely loved this one! Will definitely be making again soon
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katie, so glad you enjoyed it!!
Gaby says
This recipe (like all the ELW recipes I’ve tried) was incredible!!! So moist with such a lovely crumble on top. I used maple syrup and avocado oil as substitutes and it turned out amazing!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Gaby, so glad you loved it and made it your own!!
Jaclyn says
This is DELICIOUS. I’ve made this recipe 3 different times for various family occasions and everyone LOVES it. Highly recommend!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jaclyn, so glad you love it SO much! 🙂
sydney says
this is unreal! both times i’ve made this, we finished eating it within 24 hours. i use splenda instead of coconut sugar in the crumble and it is still delicious! thank you, erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sydney, so glad you loved it so much and made it your own!! 🙂
Maddy says
I swapped out all the almond flour for all purpose flour and coconut oil for canola… Didn’t really come out as a batter, more like a dough. Have you tried substituting the almond flour for all purpose flour before? Is all purpose flour not recommended? All it said here was that the almond flour is healthier.
Erin says
Hi Maddy, hmm I haven’t tried it with those subs but maybe using less flour and maybe a little more oil will help it be more of a batter!
Brittany says
Obsessed with this cake, I made it twice in a week. So yummy!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Brittany, so glad you loved it!!
Katie says
So so good! I made them for a Easter brunch and they were a huge hit!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katie, so happy you enjoyed it!
Katie says
These were so good! I made them for an Easter brunch and they were a hit! I subbed the honey for sugar free maple syrup and you couldn’t even tell. The lemon wasn’t too strong but complimented the blueberries very nicely
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katie, so glad you loved it and made it your own!
Kay says
The perfect coffee cake option for Spring and Summer!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kay, so glad you loved it!
Kelli says
This made my house smell delicious and is so so yummy! I love coffee cake and this is a great healthy option!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kelli, so happy it was a hit!
Lyndsey says
Quick, easy and so delicious! Flavors are perfect for spring/summer. Thank you, Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lyndsey, so glad you enjoyed it!!
Shira says
So good! Made it without the glaze and still delicious, super moist and the crumble topping is amazing
Erin says
Hi Shira, so happy you enjoyed the cake!
Anna says
I loved it and didn’t make the glaze so good and moist
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Anna, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Lindsay says
Can’t wait to try this week!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lindsay, let me know how it comes out!
Dayana Sabatin says
I can’t wait to make this. Do you think the glaze is an absolute must? Trying to cut back on cals!! Haha
Isabelle says
Amazing and delish!! I made without the icing because I was out of powdered sugar, and it was still so yummy!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Isabelle, thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Erin says
Hi Dayana, it isn’t but I do love it with it! 🙂 Let me know how yours comes out!
Monica says
So good and easy! The perfect cake for summer time. Thank you for a great recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Monica, so happy you enjoyed it!!