Cake on keto is usually hit or miss. Too dry, too eggy, or just plain weird. But this one? It’s soft, just sweet enough, and the rhubarb adds a tangy little kick that pulls the whole thing together. No weird aftertaste, no fake flavor, just real ingredients that work. It’s the kind of cake you can eat for breakfast and not feel like you’ve wrecked your day. Whether you’re deep into low-carb or just trying to cut sugar, this coffee cake hits the spot without making you feel like you’re missing out.
Why This Rhubarb Coffee Cake Will be Your Best?
Coffee cake time can go sideways fast if it’s dry, grainy, or full of weird ingredients you can’t pronounce. But this cake? It’s like a warm hug. Soft crumb, slight tang from sour cream, a light swirl of rhubarb that’s sweet with a hint of tart—without drowning in sugar. Every bite feels just right.
It’s a low‑carb cake built for simple home kitchens. You won’t need a stand mixer or baking thermometer. Recipes should be easy, and this one keeps it that way. We’ll walk through each step with real care. No rush.
What You’ll Need
Dry Ingredients:
- 1½ cups almond flour (finely ground)
- ÂĽ cup coconut flour
- ½ cup granulated erythritol (or preferred keto sweetener)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ÂĽ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs, room temp
- ½ cup sour cream
- â…“ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Rhubarb Layer:
- 1 cup rhubarb, chopped small (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tbsp erythritol
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Optional Topping:
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- ÂĽ cup almond flour
- 2 tbsp erythritol
- ½ tsp cinnamon
You don’t need the topping to make this cake work. But if you’ve got a few minutes extra, it adds a nice finish—a soft crunch, just a hint of cinnamon warmth. Think of it like the flaky crust on a pie… but way easier.
Making This Keto Rhubarb Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8 inch pan or line it with parchment paper. Let the eggs sit out for 10 minutes—cold eggs can make the batter clump.
If you’re using frozen rhubarb, thaw it and pat it dry. You don’t want extra water in the cake.
Rhubarb Filling: Quick Cook
Toss the rhubarb, sweetener, and lemon juice into a small pot. Warm over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes. You want it soft but not mushy. Think applesauce with tiny chunks. Set aside to cool.
You could skip this part and just fold raw rhubarb into the batter. But cooking it first helps pull out some of the sharp bite and spreads the flavor more evenly.
Make the Batter
In a big bowl, mix all the dry ingredients: almond flour, coconut flour, erythritol, baking powder, baking soda, salt.
In another bowl, whisk the eggs until they look a bit fluffy. Then mix in the sour cream, butter, and vanilla.
Pour the wet mix into the dry and stir it just until smooth. Don’t overmix—almond flour can get gritty if you stir it too long.
The batter will be thick. Not like regular cake batter, more like a soft dough. That’s fine. It’ll bake up moist and fluffy.
Layer It Right
Spread half the batter into your pan. Use a spoon or spatula to push it into the corners—it won’t pour like liquid cake mix.
Spoon the cooked rhubarb on top, gently spreading it out.
Dollop the rest of the batter over the rhubarb. Try to cover it the best you can. If a little pink peeks out, that’s okay. It makes the cake look homemade.
If you’re going with the topping, stir the almond flour, erythritol, cinnamon, and melted butter together until crumbly. Sprinkle it over the top.
Bake
Pop the pan in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Start checking at 30. The top should look golden and slightly firm when you press it.
Stick a toothpick in the center. If it comes out mostly clean—with maybe a few moist crumbs—it’s ready.
Let it cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before slicing. Keto cakes need that time to settle or they’ll fall apart.
Taste and Texture
This is not a sugar bomb. If you’re used to regular coffee cake, the sweetness here will feel subtle—but right.
The sour cream keeps it soft, almost spongey, but with a little weight to it. You won’t be hungry ten minutes after eating it, like with some low-carb snacks.
The rhubarb layer cuts the richness just enough. It’s bright and tangy, but mellow thanks to the quick cook with lemon and sweetener.
Even if you’re not a rhubarb fan, this might surprise you. When it’s cooked and layered into cake, rhubarb acts more like a fruit jam than a veggie. It adds flavor without taking over.
How to Store It
Let the cake cool fully, then cover and stick it in the fridge. It stays good for about 5 days.
You can freeze it too. Slice it into squares, wrap them in plastic, and store in a freezer-safe container. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warm.
It’s even better the next day. The flavors settle and the texture gets even softer. Kind of like lasagna or banana bread—time makes it better.
Easy Tips for The Best Cake
- Don’t skip the coconut flour. Just a little keeps the almond flour from getting greasy. It soaks up extra moisture and gives structure.
- If your batter seems dry, let it sit for five minutes before spreading. Coconut flour thickens fast, but it also absorbs slowly.
- You can swap the butter for coconut oil or ghee if needed. Just keep the flavor in mind.
- No sour cream? Use full-fat Greek yogurt. It’s close enough.
- Erythritol too cooling? Try allulose or monk fruit blends instead. But check the sweetness conversion—some are stronger.
What this Keto Rhubarb Sour Cream Coffee Cake is Good With
This cake’s called “coffee cake” for a reason. It’s made to go next to a hot mug of something. Coffee, tea, or even almond milk with a few ice cubes.
It also makes a solid grab-and-go breakfast. Wrap a slice and toss it in your bag. It won’t crumble like a muffin or melt like chocolate.
Hosting brunch? Cut it into small squares and serve it cold or room temp. People won’t guess it’s low carb unless you tell them. And even if they find out, they’ll keep eating.
Is Rhubarb Keto?
Rhubarb’s one of those weird vegetables that acts like fruit but stays low in sugar. One cup of chopped rhubarb has around 3 grams of net carbs. Not bad for something that tastes tart and fruity.
That’s why it works so well in keto baking. You don’t need to use much, and it holds up in the oven without turning soggy.
But taste matters too. Most keto fruit desserts rely on berries. Rhubarb is a nice break from that. It gives your palate something new without messing up your carb count.
When to Make This Cake
Spring is prime time for rhubarb, especially if you’re using fresh. But frozen rhubarb works year-round.
This is the kind of cake you make on a Saturday morning when the kitchen’s quiet. Or when you’ve got guests coming but don’t want to fuss with icing and layers.
It also works great as a bring-along dessert. People expect brownies or cookies—then you show up with this pink-layered, golden-topped square that tastes like it came from an old diner. They’ll want the recipe.
Can You Add Extras?
Sure. You can throw in a few chopped walnuts or pecans if you like a bit of crunch. Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom for extra spice. Stir in a spoonful of lemon zest to boost the citrus note in the rhubarb.
But the base is strong on its own. You don’t need to add a thing.
Why Many Love this Cake
This cake has that “rustic but cute” look people go for. It’s golden, has little flecks of pink from the rhubarb, and slices into neat little squares. No frosting mess. No piping bags.
Plus, it checks the boxes:
- Low carb
- Gluten free
- No added sugar
- Made with almond flour
- Real ingredients you can say out loud
It’s the kind of recipe people pin and actually come back to. Not just for the photos—but because it works.
Conclusion
There’s something nice about a cake that doesn’t try too hard. No gimmicks. Just flavor, softness, and that slight rhubarb zing.
You don’t have to give up cake on keto. You just need a good one. And this? This is a keeper.
Let it cool, cut it into squares, wrap it up or eat it warm. It tastes like effort—but only took you one bowl and 10 minutes of prep. That’s the kind of baking worth coming back to.
PrintKeto Rhubarb Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe
A soft, sweet, and lightly tangy coffee cake made for the keto diet. This low-carb rhubarb sour cream cake is full of flavor, easy to make, and perfect for breakfast or an afternoon treat. No sugar, no gluten—just rich, buttery cake with a bright rhubarb twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 9 slices 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Keto, Low-Carb
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Dry:
-
1½ cups almond flour
-
ÂĽ cup coconut flour
-
½ cup erythritol (or other keto sweetener)
-
1 tsp baking powder
-
½ tsp baking soda
-
ÂĽ tsp salt
Wet:
-
3 large eggs, room temperature
-
½ cup sour cream
-
â…“ cup melted butter
-
1 tsp vanilla extract
Rhubarb Layer:
-
1 cup chopped rhubarb (fresh or frozen, thawed and dried)
-
2 tbsp erythritol
-
1 tsp lemon juice
Optional Topping:
-
ÂĽ cup almond flour
-
2 tbsp erythritol
-
½ tsp cinnamon
-
2 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F and grease or line an 8×8 inch pan.
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Cook chopped rhubarb with 2 tbsp erythritol and lemon juice in a pan over medium heat until soft (5–7 minutes). Let cool.
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In a large bowl, mix almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, erythritol, and salt.
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In another bowl, whisk eggs, then add sour cream, melted butter, and vanilla.
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Stir wet mix into dry until smooth. Batter will be thick.
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Spread half the batter into pan, then layer rhubarb on top. Dollop remaining batter over rhubarb.
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For topping, mix almond flour, cinnamon, erythritol, and butter. Sprinkle over cake.
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Bake for 30–40 minutes until golden and toothpick comes out mostly clean.
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Cool for 15 minutes before slicing. Store covered in fridge.
Notes
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Use Greek yogurt if you don’t have sour cream.
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Swap erythritol with monk fruit or allulose if preferred.
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Let it rest before cutting—it holds together better.
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Keeps in fridge for 4–5 days or freeze for later.
Please note: The recipe or ingredients shown in the video might vary slightly from what’s listed here. Use the video as an illustration, but for the best results, you might want to stick to the recipe provided in this article.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 220 Sugar: 1g Sodium: 170mg Fat: 19g Saturated Fat: 6g Unsaturated Fat: 11g Trans Fat: 0g Carbohydrates: 6g Fiber: 3g Net Carbs: 3g Protein: 6g Cholesterol: 80mg