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Almond Flour Lemon Cake (Gluten Free & Paleo!)

March 4, 2018 by Emily 122 Comments

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Almond Flour Lemon Cake – This light, fluffy lemon cake is perfect with fresh berries and whipped coconut cream. It’s gluten free, grain free, dairy free, paleo perfection!

Gluten Free & Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries from One Lovely Life

I *may* or may not have THREE lemon cake recipes on my blog at this very moment.

I regret nothing.

A bright, sunny lemon cake is exactly what spring and summer call for. You KNOW I love a good, dense flourless chocolate cake, or a rich chocolate tart, or a mind-blowing brownie any time. I’m a chocolate lover forever. But there is nothing like the light, citrusy goodness of a lemon cake. They’re sweet and tangy and feel so light and fresh.

I love that this one doesn’t weigh you down. It’s the perfect blend of soft and fluffy while still being substantial enough to hold up to whipped coconut cream and berries. Michael was just one bite in before announcing “I’m pretty sure I want this for my birthday.”

I don’t blame him. This almond flour lemon cake is perfection.

A slice of Gluten Free & Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries from One Lovely Life A close up view of Gluten Free & Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries from One Lovely Life

Plus, this one is topped with whipped coconut cream and loads of fresh berries, which launches it up to the next level. I adapted this from a Simply Recipes recipe that was the perfect starting point, then made a few changes along the way. Here are a few of the keys to success:

For one thing, you separate the egg whites and yolks. Whipping your egg whites is totally responsible for the “fluff” factor in a cake that could otherwise be quite dense. It MAKES the texture and is definitely worth doing well. I’ve got lots of tips below, so don’t fret if you’ve never done it before.

Second, the almond flour. I love that magically this cake is gluten free, dairy free AND grain free. Almond flour has a natural sweetness to it and gives such a lovely texture and flavor to the cake. I also love knowing that it’s not full of empty calories. (Does that mean it’s a health food!? Let’s say yes, shall we? 😉 )

Thirdly, brushing the fresh-from-the-oven cake with a lemon-honey glaze adds and extra lemony layer to this cake and does something magical to the surface. It stays fairly glossy and sort of caramelizes the edges of the cake. Then, the lemon and honey soaks down ever so slightly into the cake, which keeps it from going dry (though it’s certainly not soggy!).

With a few simple techniques, and a lineup of really simple, yet quality ingredients, this almond flour lemon cake is worthy of an Easter brunch, birthday party, summer cookout, or Sunday afternoon. It’s definitely on our short list of favorite desserts!

Gluten Free & Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries from One Lovely Life

Tips for this Almond Flour Lemon Cake

Watch Me Whip-Whip. Whipping the egg whites is KEY here to creating the structure you’re looking for in the cake. The the original recipe, Elise used vinegar and sugar to help stabilize her egg whites. Since I’m using honey instead of sugar in my version, I used cream of tartar. It’s gluten free, dairy free, grain free, etc. and only contains tartaric acid. It’s excellent for adding stabilization to egg whites, and many paleo bakers use it in tandem with baking soda as a substitute for baking powder. I think it’s worth keeping on hand, if only for this recipe.

Let’s talk flour. It wouldn’t be almond flour lemon cake without almond flour! I use blanched almond flour for this recipe, which is a finely ground almond flour made from almonds with their skins removed. This is visually and texturally important, so please don’t try to substitute almond meal (which keeps skins on and is coarser). Different brands vary a bit, but I look for “finely ground, blanched almond flour.” I’ve had good luck with Honeyville, Blue Diamond, Hughson Nut, Bob’s Red Mill, and Kirkland brand, all of which I’ve been able to find at Costco at different times, where it’s 3 pounds for $10-12 instead of 1 pound at the grocery store for $8-9. Use what you like, and what you can find! NOTE: You CANNOT substitute ANY other flours for almond flour in this recipe, especially coconut flour. The ratios aren’t the same.

A tip for coconut whipped cream. If you’re not strictly paleo, I highly recommend buying SoDelicious CocoWhip (I get it at Sprouts or Natural Grocers). It’s basically coconut milk Cool Whip. It’s more stable than anything I’ve made myself, but does have added sweetener. I think it’s so lovely with the subtly-sweet cake. If you can’t find it or don’t want to use it, I recommend using this method or this method for making your own. Follow the directions to the letter, and keep the whipped cream in the fridge until the last possible moment before serving. (And, obviously, if dairy doesn’t hate you, you can totally go with classic dairy-rific whipped cream!)

Not into whipped cream? Try this! Two words: Raspberry Sauce. It makes everything better, from cake to your morning oatmeal. My favorite recipe (seen here) is about as easy as can be: frozen or fresh raspberries + lemon juice + honey. Puree, strain, and serve. Bam.

Craving More Yummy Desserts? Try…

  • No Bake Chocolate Berry Tart (Vegan & Gluten Free)
  • Triple Berry Crumble Pie (Vegan & GF)
  • The PERFECT Gluten Free Brownies (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Paleo)
  • Peach Berry Crisp (Gluten Free, Vegan, Paleo-Friendly)

p.s. My other two lemon cake recipes are this Lemon Cream Cake, and this Gluten Free Lemon Cake 

Side view of a slice of Gluten Free & Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries from One Lovely Life

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Close up view of Paleo Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries

Almond Flour Lemon Cake


★★★★★

4.7 from 35 reviews

  • Author: Emily
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8-10 Slices 1x
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Description

A gorgeous, bright lemon cake that’s perfect for any occasion! Don’t skip the whipped coconut cream and fresh berries! (Adapted from Simply Recipes)


Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

  • 4 eggs, yolks and whites separated
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  • pinch salt
  • 1 1/2 cups finely ground blanched almond flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder*

For the Lemon-Honey Glaze:

  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

To Top (Optional):

  • Coconut whipped cream
  • Fresh Berries

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment and spray with nonstick spray.
  2. Separate egg yolks and whites and place in two separate, VERY clean metal or glass bowls. (Egg whites will not whip if there is any grease in your bowl and they need the friction of metal or glass to whip well).
  3. To the yolks mixture, add honey, lemon zest, and vanilla. Stir well until smooth. Set aside.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together almond flour and baking powder. Stir into yolks mixture. (Mixture will be quite thick).
  5. Using a hand mixer (or a whisk and a lot of elbow grease!), whip egg whites on medium speed until just frothy. Pause and add a pinch of salt and the cream of tartar.
  6. Continue to whip, now on high speed, until they reach the soft peaks stage. There should be no more liquid egg whites on the bottom of the bowl, and when the beaters are lifted out of the egg whites, the peaks should flop over slightly (instead of standing straight up).
  7. Working in 3-4 batches, gently fold the whipped egg whites into the cake batter. At first, this will seem like it might not work. Just keep going, gently using a spatula to fold the mixture together (don’t stir quickly or you’ll deflate the batter). Repeat with remaining whipped egg whites until all are incorporated into the batter. Batter will be lighter in color and very fluffy.
  8. Pour batter into your prepared pan and gently shake to even out the surface.
  9. Bake at 325 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

WHILE THE CAKE IS BAKING, make your lemon-honey glaze —

  1. In a small bowl or saucepan, whisk together honey and lemon juice until very smooth and well blended.
  2. When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Remove the springform, and while the cake still quite warm, brush with the lemon-honey glaze.
  3. Allow cake to completely cool before slicing, or topping with any garnishes–I prefer whipped coconut cream and fresh berries.

Notes

*If you are strictly paleo, you can substitute 2/3 tsp cream of tartar and 1/3 tsp baking soda for the 1 tsp of baking powder.

  • Category: Dessert, Cake
  • Method: Oven, Baking
  • Cuisine: American, Italian

Keywords: lemon cake, almond flour, almond flour lemon cake, paleo cake, paleo lemon cake,

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @onelovelylife1 on Instagram and hashtag it #onelovelyrecipe

Gluten Free, Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake from One Lovely Life

Almond Flour Lemon Cake from One Lovely LifeGluten Free & Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries from One Lovely Life
Gluten Free & Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries from One Lovely Life 2-Image Collage of Gluten Free & Paleo Almond Flour Lemon Cake topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries from One Lovely Life

Filed Under: 4th of July, cakes, Dairy Free, desserts, EASTER, Gluten Free, lovely kitchen, Paleo

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Comments

  1. Krysta says

    March 6, 2018 at 7:43 pm

    Your gluten free lemon cake recipe is the number 1 cake recipe in our house! So excited to see this new recipe! Can’t wait to try it!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 6, 2018 at 7:50 pm

      Oh happy day! That makes me SO happy!!!

      Reply
    • beatriz i friedman says

      January 10, 2020 at 10:37 am

      i just make it was to thick came out like a coocki i dont know what i did wrong? Beatriz

      Reply
      • Emily says

        January 10, 2020 at 4:07 pm

        Beatriz – Did you whip the egg whites until they hit the soft peaks stage? If you didn’t, your cake will not rise properly and it will be dense and heavy.

        Reply
        • beatriz i friedman says

          January 10, 2020 at 4:54 pm

          what happeng yolk got into the whites any way i will try it again ,still taste is good like a cookie mix it whit fruit is good,thanks Emily

          Reply
          • Emily says

            January 13, 2020 at 7:14 am

            Oh, I’m sorry. Hopefully it’s even better next time!

  2. Hayley says

    March 9, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    This cake is so beautiful! You can never have too many lemon anything recipes. This will be so great to serve at Easter.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 9, 2018 at 2:03 pm

      I TOTALLY agree. Lemon forever!

      Reply
  3. Hannah says

    March 10, 2018 at 10:12 am

    I want to make this for next weekend. Do you think I could make and bake, cool, and freeze? Then defrost in fridge and frost and top with berries when ready to serve? What’s your input, please. 🙂

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 10, 2018 at 7:22 pm

      I absolutely do! And I think that’s exactly what you should do. Bake, cool, freeze, then thaw in the fridge, frost and add berries! 🙂

      Reply
  4. ME says

    March 16, 2018 at 7:35 am

    Can you tell me how many servings according to the calories listed for 1 piece?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 16, 2018 at 7:40 am

      Sure! It’s 1/8 th of the cake, so 8 servings. They’re nice, big portions! You can cut it into 12ths for smaller servings, if you like!

      Reply
  5. Jaime says

    March 25, 2018 at 11:33 am

    I’ve used almond flour before, and my family wasn’t crazy about the flavor. It could have been the recipe, but I’m not sure. Would you recommend using a mix of coconut flour and almond flour, or just sticking with the almond flour?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 25, 2018 at 5:47 pm

      Jaime – Great question! I’d recommend sticking with the almond flour. In this recipe, the whipped egg whites make a huge difference in texture, and the lemon flavor really shines over any almond flavor from the almond (at least for my family).

      Coconut flour is not a direct substitute for almond flour and requires significantly different proportions of ingredients. It absorbs several times its own volume in liquid, so usually coconut flour recipes require more eggs and more liquid ingredients. If you tried to substitute in some coconut flour without adjusting the other ingredients, your cake would likely come out very dry and crumbly. I haven’t tested this recipe using any other flour combination, so I don’t feel comfortable advising you about how you might go about experimenting with it.

      I hope that helps! Have a great day!

      Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      April 18, 2019 at 11:38 am

      It must have been the recipie, because even I cannot tell the difference in taste. If anything the almond flour cake has a richer taste, and it bakes to perfection. I was worried before I made it the first time about whether it would be moist and spongy like a successful real cake, which is sometimes hard to acheve in any cake. Using almond flour has made my cakes perfect every time! You should definitely give it another try, and this time use a good recipie like here! Looking forward to doing chocolate next time.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        April 18, 2019 at 11:58 am

        Thanks so much for your feedback Elizabeth! I’m so glad you liked it 🙂

        Reply
  6. Mimi says

    March 27, 2018 at 8:11 pm

    Could you make this in a regular cake pan?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 28, 2018 at 7:10 am

      Yep! For easy removal, I spray the pan with nonstick spray, place an “X” of long strips of parchment paper on the bottom (these will act as handles later), then a circle of parchment over those. Then, you can easily lift it out later. (This helps prevent breaking or sticking, though you could probably get away with flipping it out of the pan and onto a baking sheet if you feel confident doing it that way).

      Reply
  7. Katherine says

    March 28, 2018 at 9:20 am

    Could the cake be made a day or 2 in advance and kept in the fridge? Or would freezing be necessary?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 28, 2018 at 10:43 am

      Katherine – It can absolutely be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. I probably wouldn’t make it 2 days ahead unless you put it in the freezer. That will help it stay as fresh as possible!

      Reply
      • Katherine says

        March 28, 2018 at 5:05 pm

        Thanks, I’m planning to try it for easter, since I’ve had to cut out dairy!

        Reply
  8. Sharmila Sutaria says

    March 29, 2018 at 12:31 am

    made this wonderful cake yesterday. It was super soft with a great texture and flavour.
    only one issue
    it seemed slightly under done in the middle even though I baked it for 30 mins. the sides were nicely browned.
    any tips??
    thanks

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 29, 2018 at 5:17 am

      Sharmila – Hmm…did you test the center with a toothpick, by chance? If it comes away mostly clean, then the cake is done. If there are still lots of moist crumbs or batter, it’s not quite done. The lemon glaze will help keep the cake moist, so if the edges get a bit more browned, it’s ok!

      Reply
      • Connie says

        October 13, 2019 at 4:19 am

        Can I put lemon frosting on TOP instead of cream? Will the frosting too “heavy” for the cake? As you mentioned the cake is very fluffy n soft, thanks

        Reply
        • Emily says

          October 13, 2019 at 4:25 pm

          Connie – I think you could totally try it! You might like the lemon glaze in this post if you don’t have a paleo one you’re using.

          Reply
          • Connie says

            October 22, 2019 at 8:00 pm

            Thanks for the advice but I can’t have powdered sugar, what other substitutes can I use? Thanks

          • Emily says

            October 23, 2019 at 5:06 am

            What frosting recipe were you planning to make instead of the whipped cream? Some people like the Swerve powdered sugar sub (made from erythritol).

  9. Kathy Shaheen says

    March 30, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    Do you put the coconut cream and berries on just before serving, or can they be done a bit ahead?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 30, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      Kathy – They can be done a bit ahead! It should work fine 🙂

      Reply
  10. Linda says

    April 20, 2018 at 7:23 pm

    I am on the SCD diet for Crohn’s and I am not allowed cream of tartar. Is there anything else I could use? I can use baking soda but not powder and no starches.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 21, 2018 at 5:39 am

      Linda – Great question! The cream of tartar is meant to help stabilize the egg whites. It’s not absolutely critical and I don’t know of any non-starch options you could use as a substitute. I’d probably recommend leaving it out and being sure you get your egg whites to the soft peaks stage. I hope that helps!!

      Reply
      • Linda says

        April 23, 2018 at 5:05 pm

        That’s great! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer.

        Linda

        Reply
        • Emily says

          April 23, 2018 at 7:09 pm

          My pleasure! I hope you love it!

          Reply
  11. Nicole says

    April 21, 2018 at 11:23 pm

    Made this for a birthday and was a hit. I made it layered with a lemon curd/coco whip mix and strawberry compote. Then fresh berries on top. My oven must be running hot because I baked at 300 for the second layer and got a better result.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2018 at 6:02 am

      That sounds DELICIOUS!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!!

      Reply
  12. Marissa says

    April 25, 2018 at 2:58 am

    Hi Emily! Thanks so much for posting this recipe and being so clear about it. I followed all your tips and it turned out to be my best cake ever, so simple and yet soooo yummie! It’s definitely a keep 😉

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 25, 2018 at 11:47 am

      Marissa – I’m SO GLAD!!! That just made my day. THANK YOU!

      Reply
  13. Krista says

    April 29, 2018 at 4:30 pm

    This cake was delicious! I made this for my mother’s birthday. She follows more of a Paleo style diet, but she is allergic to coconut. It’s hard to good dessert recipe without coconut flour. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 30, 2018 at 5:40 am

      I’m SO GLAD you guys loved it! It’s just our favorite!

      Reply
  14. Ashley says

    April 30, 2018 at 10:37 am

    This cake was amazing! I made it for my Birthday with whipped cream, berries & meringue cookies! I’m excited to make it again! Have you tried making 2 and filling it? I’m thinking an lemon curd mousse and fresh berries.
    Thanks for sharing this amazing recepie!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 30, 2018 at 10:42 am

      YAY! I’m so glad you loved it! I haven’t made it into a layer cake, but I bet it’d be incredible!!!

      Reply
  15. Rhaea says

    May 1, 2018 at 5:30 am

    Hi Emily,
    A friend has asked for a lemon cake for her Birthday only she does not eat sugar. Would you have any tips for substituting stevia for the honey? Thanks, Rhaea

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 1, 2018 at 5:34 am

      Rhaea – I’m so sorry, I’ve never baked or cooked with stevia before! I’d google a stevia conversion chart. They’re usually pretty helpful!

      Reply
  16. Paula says

    May 19, 2018 at 7:57 am

    Hi Emily, is there any substitute for the creme of tartar? I dont have it at home.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 19, 2018 at 10:08 am

      Paula – it’s primarily just to add stabilization to the egg whites. It’s not strictly required, so you could probably skip it if you don’t want to pick some up. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  17. Ruellene says

    June 7, 2018 at 6:31 am

    Where do I get the coconut cream? Is it something special, or just the stuff in the can in the international foods section?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      June 7, 2018 at 11:12 am

      You can buy pre-whipped coconut cream (called CoCoWhip) from places like Sprouts or Whole Foods–find it near you here, or you can use this tutorial to whip your own. To make your own, you use the canned stuff 🙂

      Reply
      • Barb Merrill says

        April 5, 2020 at 10:59 am

        CocoWhip is so dang good!! I’m going to make this recipe today for my father-in-law who is gluten intolerant.

        Reply
        • Emily says

          April 5, 2020 at 2:36 pm

          YAY! I hope it’s a HUGE hit! (And totally agree about CocoWhip!)

          Reply
  18. Mari says

    September 17, 2018 at 12:26 am

    If I was to make 4 of these cakes and layer them do you think that would work? Thinking of making it for s Birthday.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      September 17, 2018 at 5:13 am

      Mari – It would be a very, very tall cake. (This one is at least 2-3 inches tall, so quadrupling it would make for a very high, thick cake.) I’ve never tried slicing layers in half or dividing it among different pans to bake thinner individual layers, but if I wanted to make a layer cake out of it, I’d go that route first.

      Reply
      • Rob Brodie says

        September 29, 2018 at 1:53 pm

        Can you give me (complete novice) some guidance on cooking times and temperatures for thinner layers please.

        Reply
        • Emily says

          September 29, 2018 at 2:36 pm

          Rob – I haven’t ever cooked this cake in thinner layers, so I’m afraid I don’t have any tested time estimates for you.

          If I were doing my best guess (dividing the batter between two pans), I’d start by preparing two pans as directed (sprayed or greased and lined with parchment paper). Then, if possible, I’d use a measuring cup to measure equal amounts of batter into the pans. If you have a kitchen scale, you can make them exactly equal by weighing them. If not, just do your best to make them equal.

          If you’re baking both layers in the oven at the same time, you’ll want to rotate the pans halfway through for even baking. Otherwise, just bake one layer, then repeat with the other layer.

          As for timing, I’d estimate roughly half the baking time, since the layers would be half as thick. I always recommend checking a few minutes before you think you’ll need to, to prevent over-baking. So, for this recipe, if you’re making 2 thinner layers, I’d start checking the layers at about the 10-12 minute mark, and would guess they’d be completely done by about 12-15 minutes. Again, those are estimates, and the baking times will vary based on the pans you use, and the accuracy of your oven temperature. I’d recommend staying close to the oven so you can keep an eye on them.

          I HOPE that helps! I wish you the best of luck!!!

          Reply
  19. Tenille says

    October 30, 2018 at 11:39 am

    I just made the cake, and it didn’t rise very much. Will it still taste good? And what did I do wrong?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      October 30, 2018 at 1:30 pm

      Tenille – Oh dear! I’m sorry that happened…Hmmm… There are several things I’m wondering about, which might help me see where you ran into trouble:

      1. Did you use baking powder or a substitution?
      2. Did you use the cream of tartar?
      3. Did you whip your egg whites to the soft peak stage?
      4. Did you gently fold in the egg whites to the batter, or stir it all in?

      Sometimes if you beat in or stir in the egg whites mixture instead of folding it, you can squish out all the air bubbles you create when you whip the egg whites.

      Reply
      • Anonymous says

        October 30, 2018 at 3:43 pm

        I don’t think I whipped the egg whites long enough. I did fold them gently into the batter though. I made it for my mom for her birthday. It is a flatter cake, but do you think it will taste ok? I can’t cut into it try? Thank you for responding!!

        Reply
        • Emily says

          October 30, 2018 at 7:01 pm

          I do think it’ll taste just fine! The texture might just be a little less light. 🙂 I hope you all love it!

          Reply
      • sherri says

        February 24, 2019 at 8:15 am

        Hi baked yesterday…unfortunately my cake was like Emily’s too…didn’t rise at all and feels very dense. I thought I followed all your instructions – very careful with the egg white folding, etc., The only thing was that I had to use 1/4 of the flour component (almond) with coconut flour. (I ran out of almond flour). Maybe that was it? Who knows. I’m scared to serve at party so off to the bakery I go.

        I’m sure it was just me…hope you don’t mind me posting

        ★★

        Reply
        • Emily says

          February 24, 2019 at 9:43 am

          Sherri – Not at all! I would definitely think in this case it’s the coconut flour. Coconut flour is NOT a direct substitute for almond flour (or any other kind of flour). It absorbs several times its own volume in liquid, and unless you compensate by reducing the amount of coconut flour and increasing the number of eggs and amount of liquid, the results will not be the same. In this case, it almost certainly absorbed the liquid from the whipped egg whites, etc. and that’s why it ended up dry and dense. Coconut flour cannot be directly substituted for almond flour in any baking recipe without adjusting other ingredients.

          Reply
  20. Faina says

    December 23, 2018 at 9:59 pm

    Hello! Any substitutions for the eggs/whites? We are vegan & typically use flax or chia but not sure if in this cake what you would suggest? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      December 24, 2018 at 5:07 am

      Faina – The whipped egg whites provide the entire structure of the cake, so you definitely can’t substitute chia or flax eggs in this recipe. (It’ll be far too dense, chewy, and flat).

      I haven’t tested this myself, but the best suggestion I have would be to use aquafaba, since it’ll provide that whipped, light texture. Two great tutorials I’d recommend for aquafaba:This one from Minimalist Baker and this one from America’s Test Kitchen.

      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  21. Cassandra says

    January 23, 2019 at 5:34 am

    I would love to bake this with blueberries within the mixture, though I know ingredient proportions would change. Guess I’ll just have to top with blueberries instead 😁

    Thank you much for the recipe 💕

    Reply
    • Emily says

      January 23, 2019 at 5:37 am

      Cassandra – My only concern is that the blueberries will add moisture to the cake and might sink to the bottom since the batter is so light. Otherwise, blueberries on top (and maybe even some blueberry syrup!) might be a delicious way to go!

      Reply
  22. Tracey says

    January 31, 2019 at 9:45 am

    Hi Emily, I would like to try this as a double layer cake with lemon curd center, can this recipe be doubled for 2 9” cakes?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      January 31, 2019 at 10:13 am

      Tracey – That sounds delicious! I haven’t tried doubling it, but I’d think it’d work! Worst case scenario, you could simply make the recipe twice (so you don’t have to over-beat the batter and accidentally deflate the whipped egg whites).

      If you give it a try, I’d LOVE to hear how it goes! That lemon curd center sounds like a dream!

      Reply
  23. Lisa says

    March 1, 2019 at 7:28 pm

    Hi! This was so good! I really wanted cake tonight and I’m so lucky I found this recipe first. I didn’t have everything on hand so I made 3 substitutions. I used orange zest instead of lemon, 1/4 cup sugar plus 1 Tbsp. water instead of honey, and 1 tsp lemon juice instead of cream of tarter. It didn’t rise as much probably due to the substitutions, but it was moist and delicious. One question: there was a very slight crunch, could it be that my flour wasn’t finely ground? Maybe I can run it through the food processor next time. Thanks for a great GF recipe!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      March 1, 2019 at 7:43 pm

      Wanted to add…the cake itself was about 1 inch high but still light and fluffy.

      Reply
    • Emily says

      March 2, 2019 at 5:57 am

      Lisa – I’m so glad you enjoyed the cake! I’m curious what kind of almond flour did you use?

      Reply
  24. Daniel Proulx says

    March 4, 2019 at 1:09 pm

    Hi Emily, the carb count looks high is it all from the honey? Could it be substituted with maple syrup?
    Thx 🙂

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 5, 2019 at 5:15 am

      Daniel – I haven’t tried it with maple syrup yet. I think the flavor would conflict a bit with the lemon and it may not go as golden in the oven. If you give it a go, I’d love to know how it goes!

      Reply
  25. Laetitia says

    March 12, 2019 at 9:57 am

    Hi Emily,
    Do you think I could do cupcakes? Also i would like to make them the night before because Im bringing them to work

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 13, 2019 at 5:23 am

      I’ve never made them as cupcakes. I don’t think they’d get the “dome” effect you typically look for in cupcakes and since it’s such a moist cake, they might stick to the cupcake liners. If you do give it a try, I’d love to know how they turn out!

      Reply
  26. Nickie says

    March 18, 2019 at 9:58 am

    This sounds so yummy!! I am going to make it this weekend for my mom’s bday dinner!
    I am allergic to honey, however.

    Do you know what I sub for the glaze??

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 18, 2019 at 10:21 am

      Nickie – You can try agave! 🙂

      Reply
      • Nickie says

        March 21, 2019 at 8:31 am

        Great idea!! Thank you!!

        Reply
        • Emily says

          March 21, 2019 at 10:01 am

          My pleasure! 🙂

          Reply
  27. Angie says

    April 18, 2019 at 7:14 am

    Hi- Will this still be a really good tasting cake without any whipped cream? The commercial brand has tons of icky ingredients and the homemade stuff still requires a sweeter other than honey so we would like to skip the whip. Don’t want to bother if the whipped topping is what makes the cake great. Thanks and thanks for having a site that has comments from people who actually made the recipe versus people who feel they need to contribute ‘nummy sounding’ to every recipe generated, as we see on many other sites.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 18, 2019 at 8:37 am

      Angie – I know what you mean! And YES, this cake will still taste awesome without whipped cream. We like it on its own a lot! I’ve also done it with raspberry puree (just pureed and strained raspberries) and with just fresh berries on top. Hope you love it if you give it a try!

      Reply
  28. Sarah says

    April 19, 2019 at 4:14 am

    Made this cake yesterday for my sister’s birthday. It was delicious and enjoyed by over 15 people. The first one I made exactly as the recipe follows, then I made a second, doubled the recipe and lined a 9×13 and it was fluffy and wonderful. Our family loves finding recipes that are gluten and dairy free (and sugar…so honey was key here too). Thank you for making my sister’s birthday special with this winner of a recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 19, 2019 at 5:24 am

      Sarah, you completely made my day! I’m SO happy to hear this!!!

      Reply
  29. Anonymous says

    May 2, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    How did you do the lemons on the top of the cake? Just thinly sliced and twisted or did you candy them?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 3, 2019 at 8:03 am

      For these photos, I just added thinly sliced, twisted fresh lemon slices right before serving/taking photos. Candied lemon slices work much better if you’re planning to make it well ahead of time, since fresh slices can seep lemon juice. But for 1-2 hours ahead of time, thin slices of fresh lemon work great!

      Reply
  30. Geneviève says

    May 29, 2019 at 8:38 am

    This is the best dessert I have ever made for my son who has to be on a paleo diet! The whole family loved it. I really liked that it has no butter in it, which my son can’t tolerate. He was thrilled which made me so happy. I will make it again!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 29, 2019 at 8:48 am

      I’m SO HAPPY to hear that! That’s wonderful!

      Reply
  31. CeCelia says

    June 5, 2019 at 6:55 am

    Hi Emily! I’m wanting to make this cake for my husbands birthday but I want our infant son to be able to eat it too.
    If I sub the honey for sugar should I still use the cream of tartar or something different?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      June 5, 2019 at 8:32 am

      CeCelia – Happy birthday to your husband! I haven’t tested this with granulated sweeteners yet, so the amounts may be different. If possible, you may want to use another liquid sweetened (like agave) here that would be ok for your son to eat.

      And as for the cream of tartar – it helps stabilize the egg whites (which give the cake its structure), so you’d still keep it even if you end up trying a powdered sweetener 🙂

      I hope it’s a big hit!

      Reply
  32. Laura says

    June 10, 2019 at 12:24 pm

    This recipe is a winner! I was so happy with it. I used Simple Mills vanilla frosting and fresh blueberries mounded on top. Next time, I am going to split the cake into 2 layers and add a layer of raspberry preserves. Thank you for a really great recipe!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      June 10, 2019 at 1:10 pm

      What a great idea! That sounds fantastic!

      Reply
  33. Tracy says

    June 22, 2019 at 6:59 pm

    Have you ever doubled the recipe and baked it in a 9 x 13? I need to make enough cake for a lot of people and I was trying to figure out an easy way to do that.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      June 23, 2019 at 5:18 am

      Tracy – I haven’t, and I worry that the structure wouldn’t hold up in a 9×13. If you can, I’d recommend doubling the recipe and pouring it into 2 round pans instead. I hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Tracy says

        June 24, 2019 at 4:31 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
  34. Connie says

    October 24, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    If I freeze the cake (planning to bake it 2 days before the event), will it taste as nice as freshly baked on the actual day itself or should I bake it on the day? Thanks

    Reply
    • Emily says

      October 27, 2019 at 4:23 pm

      Connie – I think it tastes best fresh, but you *can* freeze it ahead of time if needed. (Just wait to top it till after it’s thawed)

      Reply
  35. Veronica L @ Sharktank says

    October 25, 2019 at 1:47 pm

    This delicious lemon cake is just the right amount of tangy and sweet a combination that I simply adore. I will be making this for my sister’s birthday since she’s on a diet thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  36. Ann says

    November 2, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    I made this recipe for my daughter’s first birthday (we don’t give her grains, and I didn’t want refined sugar), and it was delicious!! I did less honey in the cake (two heaping tbls instead of 1/4 cup), and it was delicious. She loved the whipping cream (I used dairy heavy cream with some vanilla extract) and fresh berries on top! Thank you so much for such a lovely healthy recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 3, 2019 at 5:58 am

      Oh that’s wonderful! Happy birthday to your daughter!!!

      Reply
  37. merrybaker says

    November 23, 2019 at 5:52 am

    This AF Lemon Cake looks so pretty and yummy! Can I bake this batter in a bundt pan?!? If so, what size bundt pan do you suggest!

    Thanks!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 24, 2019 at 6:06 am

      It’s our very favorite! It’s a very moist and rather delicate cake, so I’m not sure you’d be able to get it out of a bundt pan without it sticking. I’m sorry!

      Reply
  38. Natalia says

    November 28, 2019 at 1:09 pm

    I made this cake several times and always come out really good! Very spongy, it rise really well. I’m a Paleo lover and always had troubles with the rising in the sponge cakes. No with this one!! It is a perfect cake for birthdays celebration. You can also decorate as a costume cake.
    Highly recommend this recipe. Easy to make I get it done everything in less than 30 min, clean up including 🙃🙃🙂🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 29, 2019 at 7:43 am

      Natalia – THANK YOU so much for sharing this! You absolutely made my day. So glad you love it as much as we do! 🙂

      Reply
  39. Katrina says

    January 7, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    This recipe is EXCELLENT!! I have made it twice, once with the lemon glaze and the second time with the whipped coconut cream and blueberries. Ahhh it was delicious! I added vanilla extract and monk fruit sweetener to the whipped coconut cream, it added an extra layer of heavenly goodness. It was fresh, yet light and complimented the lemon cake well. Thank you for posting this recipe. It is a keeper!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      January 8, 2020 at 3:11 am

      Katrina – What a sweet comment to wake up to this morning! I’m so glad you’ve loved the cake! It’s one of our go-to recipes for holidays and birthdays. 🙂

      Reply
  40. Val says

    January 26, 2020 at 6:14 am

    Hi
    Have just tried making this cake for a gluten free colleague and wanted to put the coconut cream on top but would it have to go in fridge or will it not keep in fridge overnight as i wont have time to top it in morning

    Reply
    • Emily says

      January 26, 2020 at 5:45 pm

      Val – I’ve done it overnight and it keeps okay in the refrigerator! If you’re short on time, that’s what I’d recommend. Or, you can whip the topping and store it overnight, then spread it on the cake when you get to work if you’re nervous.

      Reply
  41. Anna says

    April 11, 2020 at 8:21 pm

    Hi! If I make this the night before, is it best to leave it on the counter overnight or wrap it and refrigerate it? I don’t want to dry it out, but also don’t want to grow bacteria on the counter. 🤷‍♀️

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 12, 2020 at 9:33 am

      Anna – I store it in the fridge so that it stays safe 🙂

      Reply
  42. Dee says

    April 12, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    Great!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 13, 2020 at 9:52 am

      So glad you loved it!! 🙂

      Reply
  43. Shee says

    April 13, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    Delicious! My cake didn’t quite rise like the one displayed in the picture, but it came out so moist and flavorful!! The lemon honey glaze on top seemed to really seal in the flavor. I whipped coconut cream and served it with blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 14, 2020 at 3:24 pm

      I’m so glad you liked it! It’s one of my favorite cakes ever. 🙂

      Reply
  44. Jessica Flory says

    May 8, 2020 at 9:44 am

    This cake was absolutely PERFECT!! Best lemon cake I’ve ever had, healthy or otherwise!! We are not dairy free so I topped it with fresh whipped cream sweetened with pure maple syrup, raspberries, and blueberries. SO GOOD!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 9, 2020 at 2:13 pm

      Jessica – I’m SO GLAD to hear that! It’s my all-time fave. I make it for my birthday!

      Reply
  45. Kinjal says

    May 10, 2020 at 4:45 am

    I followed to the recipe word by word and used kitchen aid to beat the egg whites, which were beautiful and fluffy but the almond flour batter was hard as a cookie dough as mentioned by quite a few people. Nothing like in your video. I don’t know what went wrong, quite dissatisfied.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 10, 2020 at 5:42 pm

      Kinjal – I’m so sorry to hear it didn’t work out the way you’d hoped. The most common problem with the cake not rising and achieving that fluffy texture is deflated egg whites. It sounds like you whipped them beautifully, but it sounds like they may have deflated when folding them into the batter. I’ve found folding them in a bit at a time (rather than stirring) can really help. I’m not sure this is what happened in your case (since I wasn’t in the kitchen with you), but if you ever want to try it again, that’s where I’d recommend starting. Again–so sorry it wasn’t what you’d hoped for!

      Reply
  46. Mary says

    May 20, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    I love all things lemon. and this looks amazing. Your pictures are beautiful. Can’t wait to try it

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 22, 2020 at 10:20 am

      Thank you Mary! That’s so nice of you to say. Hope you love it!

      Reply
  47. Heidi says

    May 21, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    YUMMMYY!! This was so popular with my family! I’m used to very “moist” cakes as my Finnish family always moistens cakes with fruit juice. So I doubled the lemon glaze and oh… double yum! I’m going to make it again tomorrow for my mom’s birthday! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 22, 2020 at 10:20 am

      Heidi – I LOVE hearing this! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully it’s the perfect treat for your mom’s birthday!

      Reply
  48. Luellen Casey says

    August 11, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    I only have a 10 inch springform pan. How can I adjust the recipe to make this cake?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      August 12, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      You might find this article about adapting cake recipes to different-sized pans. It’s my go-to! Do know your cake WILL be thinner and cook faster if using a larger-sized pan. It will be really important that you whip your egg whites properly so you get enough puff!

      Reply
  49. Emi says

    October 5, 2020 at 2:41 pm

    Straight up the best gluten free&dairy free cake I have ever made. The cake was gone in seconds. Everyone requested for more!!!! Thank you for this amazing recipe you hit the right spot with everyone in my family.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Emily says

      October 5, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply

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