This keto rhubarb cake offers three layers of gorgeousness: a moist yet light and fluffy vanilla crumb, a sugar free rhubarb filling and a delicious cinnamon streusel topping. It's a cake recipe the entire family will enjoy, whether they are on a low carb diet or not! Only 10 minutes prep.
Even though I have lived in London for more than half my life now, I'm not doing high tea in the afternoon. True to my German roots, I am more of a "Kaffee und Kuchen" person. Coffee and cake, that's what Germans do in the afternoon.
In my home town Hamburg, you'll get invited to a "Kaffeeklatsch", which loosely translates into "coffee gossip". Which is where this cake comes in! I have grown up with rhubarb cakes (we always grew rhubarb in the garden) and really wanted to make my own sugar free version.
This cake is one of my favourite keto rhubarb recipes. I love a good crisp or crumble, and I'm known for my keto rhubarb muffins. I'll post both soon. But now, let's get going with today's recipe!
Jump to:
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need:
- Rhubarb
- Eggs - these should be large and room temperature
- Butter, cream cheese and almond milk
- Granulated sweetener - I used a golden erythritol monk fruit blend, but a granulated white sweetener will work just as well. This cake is gently sweet - add up to โ cup sweetener if you prefer.
- Almond flour - I'm using what we over here in the UK call ground almonds. This is equivalent to regular almond flour in the US. If you're using super-fine almond flour, I would reduce the amount by 2 tbsp.
- Coconut flour - because it complements almond flour just so well in gluten free low carb recipes.
- Plus baking powder, vanilla extract, cinnamon for the streusel and optional almond extract for the cake batter.
Instructions
This section contains step-by-step instructions and photos that show how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities
Prepare the rhubarb: If the stalks are thick and woody, peel and cut them into thinner slices, about a finger thick. Then chop into 3-5 cm long pieces and mix with the sweetener. Let the mix sit for 30 minutes to macerate.
This process draws out excess liquid and prevents the cake from becoming soggy. You'll end up with a fair amount of liquid in the bowl!
Sugar free cake batter: Now, beat the eggs until pale, fluffy and double in size. This should take about 2 minutes.
Add the sweetener, melted and cooled butter, cream cheese, almond milk vanilla extract and almond extract (if using). Continue beating for another 1 minute.
Mix the almond flour, coconut flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Then add them to the wet ingredients and blend until you have a smooth batter.
It should look like this!
Cinnamon streusel: Next, mix the streusel. No separate pic for this, just mix all ingredients in a separate bowl using a fork (and try not to eat all of it straight away - it's super yum).
And now let's assemble this rather awesome keto rhubarb cake!
Fill the cake batter into the prepared springform. Arrange the rhubarb pieces in a single layer over it...
... and top everything off with the sugar free streusel mix.
Baking Times
I baked my cake on the middle shelf for 63 minutes in total. I've given you a range of 60-65 minutes.
Check with a skewer or knife that the middle is baked and not wet, keeping in mind that the rhubarb will be soft and sticky.
Most importantly, check the cake after 35-40 minutes. If the streusel have browned sufficiently, loosely cover it with a piece of aluminium foil to prevent burning.
Baking in other cake pans
If you use a different sized baking pan be aware that the baking time will differ.
The first time around I baked this cake in a small 18 cm / 7 inch springform, which increased the oven time by 10 minutes.
A larger round or rectangular pan will need less time - probably only about 40-45 minutes. Basically, the flatter the cake is, the less oven time it needs.
Whichever pan you use, let the keto rhubarb cake cool completely before releasing it from the springform. Low carb cakes are fragile when hot and firm up as they cool.
To ensure it does not break or split, run a knife around the edges before you open the form.
Recipe Variations
No coconut flour - To make this cake without coconut flour, replace it with 3x the amount of almond flour.
Dairy free - For a dairy free keto coffee cake, replace the butter with coconut oil and the cream cheese with coconut cream.
Using different fruits - This cake would work well with berries. Try using my Easy No-Cook Sugar Free Raspberry Jam as a filling! Or add a few strawberries for a keto strawberry rhubarb cake.
Serving Suggestions
Sugar free icing - Want to go the extra mile? Top the crumbles with a vanilla flavoured sugar free drizzle! Simply mix 2 tablespoon almond milk with 4 tablespoon powdered sweetener and ยฝ teaspoon vanilla extract until you have a thick, but pourable consistency.
Fill into a ziploc bag, cut off a little corner and drizzle the icing over the cooled cake.
Alternatively, serve with a dollop of Sugar Free Keto Whipped Cream or a scoop of Sugar Free Low Carb Ice Cream.
Storage
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
More Keto Cake Recipes
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
โ STAY IN TOUCH on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more great food and join my NEWSLETTER for the latest updates and a FREE EBOOK.โ
Recipe
Keto Rhubarb Cake
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Equipment
- 20 cm / 8 inch springform pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup / 140g rhubarb diced
- ยผ cup / 50g granulated sweetener for macerating (soaking)
Cake
- 4 eggs large, room temperature
- ยฝ cup / 114g butter melted, then cooled
- ยผ cup / 60g cream cheese
- ยผ cup / 60ml almond milk
- ยฝ cup / 100g granulated sweetener use up to โ cup if you like a sweeter cake
- 2 cup / 200g almond flour
- ยผ cup / 30g coconut flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract optional
Streusel
- ยฝ cup / 50g almond flour
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 2 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 ยฝ tablespoon granulated sweetener
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare Rhubarb
- Chop the rhubarb into circa 3-5 cm long, finger-thick pieces. Large rhubarb stalks may benefit from peeling first. Mix the chopped rhubarb with the sweetener. Let it sit for 30 minutes to macerate. This process draws out excess liquid and prevents the cake from becoming soggy.
Cake Batter
- Preheat the oven to 180 C / 350F and line the bottom of a 20 cm / 8 inch round springform with parchment paper. Grease the sides with butter.
- In a large bowl using an electric mixer or in a food processor, beat the room temperature eggs until pale, fluffy and double in size. About 2 minutes.
- Add the sweetener, melted and cooled butter, cream cheese, almond milk vanilla extract and almond extract (if using). Continue beating for another 1 minute.
- Mix the almond flour, coconut flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Then add to the wet ingredients and blend until you have a smooth batter.
Streusel
- Mix all ingredients in a separate bowl using a fork.
Assembly
- Fill the cake batter into the springform. Arrange the rhubarb pieces in a single layer over it. Top off with the streusel mix.
- Bake in the preheated oven on the middle shelf for 60-65 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out free of dough. Check after 35-40 minutes. If the top of the cake has browned sufficiently, loosely cover it with a piece of aluminium foil to prevent burning.
- Let the cake cool completely before releasing and removing the springform.
Lenora
This cake turned out wonderfully!! The texture is great and was not like so many almond flour cakes or goodies I've tried before. I also think it improves with age and also reheats beautifully from frozen! Can't say enough good things about it and will be experimenting with other fruit toppings! I think if I served it without letting people know it was made with almond/coconut flour they wouldn't notice!!
Thank you so much!!
Lenora
Tineke
One of my favourites! The sweet sour in combination with the cake! Yummy and easy to bake!
Zelie Hilton
I've made this twice now and I can truly say it's one of the best, probably THE best, low carb cake I've ever made. It is a bit of work with the various different elements to it, but well worth the effort.
Jayne Meade
Have you ever made a cake without a sugar or sugar substitute?
Katrin Nรผrnberger
When I first started out, I experimented sweetening with fruit and with dates. The only one of those recipes that I still have on the website are these sweet potato brownies.
Dale
I do something similar with plums from my yard. I love rhubarb and get tons of it every year, so as another reader suggested I will add more rhubarb, up to 2 cups, but probably do it in a 9" springform.
David Berger
Thank you for this. I am wondering why it is called a Coffee Cake when it has no coffee?
Katrin Nรผrnberger
Hi David, a coffee cake can be any cake that you enjoy in the afternoon with a cup of coffee ๐
Gail Williams
Having type 2 diabetes, I thought my days of eating cakes were over. I made this cake yesterday and it's delicious. Another great way of using my garden rhubarb. I'll be exploring more of your recipes. Thank you so much!!
Carolyn Wilson
Made this twice now and itโs lovely! Thank you
Liz
This is such a good recipe!
Have now made this a couple of times and I think tastes nicer after a couple of days.
I added a little bit more rhubarb than it says in the recipe as found the juices help make the cake more moist.
Definitely one for the recipe book to be made again and again when rhubarb is in season
Maggie Pickbourn
I am baking mine now in an airfryer in a bake setting. Trial and error, at the moment 160 for 35 mins and then adjust the time as I go
Katrin Nรผrnberger
How did it turn out?