Some recipes find their way to you through the best kind of channels — a loyal customer with a great story and a generous spirit. This Paleo Crumb Cake came from Pattie A., a regular at our Honey House in Owings Mills who follows a gluten-free paleo diet and was kind enough to share this recipe with us. We've been making it ever since. Made with almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut flour, warm spices, plump dried apricots, and naturally sweetened with raw honey, this crumb cake is exactly what Sunday mornings were made for. The crumble topping — shredded coconut, cinnamon, honey, and coconut oil — bakes up golden and fragrant. Fair warning: as Pattie herself says, “It doesn't rise very much, but it tastes good.” We couldn't agree more.
What Makes This a Paleo Crumb Cake?
This recipe is grain-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free — which puts it squarely in paleo territory. Here's what's doing the work:
- Almond flour forms the base, lending a tender, slightly dense crumb with a subtly nutty flavor.
- Tapioca flour and coconut flour add structure and help bind the batter without any wheat or refined grains.
- Raw honey sweetens both the batter and the crumble topping without refined sugar. We love using our Coffee Blossom Honey here — its warm, caramel-like notes deepen the flavor beautifully.
- Dried apricots (soaked until plump) add sweet-tart bursts throughout each slice. Fresh apricots or cherries work equally well.
- The crumble topping is the crown jewel: shredded coconut, cinnamon, coconut oil, and honey baked into a golden, fragrant crust.
Why We Use Coffee Blossom Honey Here
When a recipe calls for honey in both the batter and the topping, the honey's flavor really matters. Our Coffee Blossom Honey is one of our favorites for baking because it has a distinctive caramel-like sweetness — not a coffee flavor. The bees collect nectar from coffee plant blossoms, not the beans, which gives this honey its warm, rounded depth. That pairs perfectly with cinnamon, coconut, and apricot.
Want to learn more about what makes it unique? Read our full guide: What Is Coffee Blossom Honey?
How to Make Paleo Crumb Cake
A note before you start: if you're using dried apricots, plan ahead. Soaking them overnight makes all the difference — they come out soft, plump, and much more flavorful in the finished cake. If you're using fresh apricots or cherries, no soaking needed.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Set your oven to 350°F and line a cake tin with parchment paper.
Step 2: Soak the Apricots
If using dried apricots, place them in a small pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let them sit until plumped. This is best done the day before, but even an hour of soaking helps. If you're using 6 fresh apricots, skip this step entirely.
Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, stir together the almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut flour, salt, and baking soda until evenly combined.
Step 4: Add the Wet Ingredients
Add the eggs, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. Stir through until a cohesive batter forms.
Step 5: Fold In the Apricots
Chop the soaked (or fresh) apricots into rough pieces and fold them into the batter. They'll add pockets of sweet-tart flavor throughout the cake.
Step 6: Fill the Pan
Pour the batter into your lined cake tin and spread it into an even layer.
Step 7: Make the Crumble Topping
In a separate bowl, combine the honey, cinnamon, melted coconut oil, and unsweetened shredded coconut. Stir until everything is well coated.
Step 8: Top the Cake
Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the batter, covering it all the way to the edges.
Step 9: Bake
Place in the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, until the crumble topping is golden and the cake is set. Let it cool before slicing — and if you want to take it over the top, a light drizzle of Coffee Blossom Honey right before serving is highly recommended.
Make It Your Own
This recipe is a canvas. Here are some ways to riff on it:
- Swap dried apricots for fresh cherries — they're juicy, slightly tart, and work beautifully with the coconut crumble. The original recipe creator actually preferred them.
- Add a handful of blueberries to the batter for extra moisture and color.
- Stir a teaspoon of dried culinary lavender into the batter for a floral, aromatic twist.
- Add an extra teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the batter for more warmth throughout.
- Finish each slice with a light drizzle of Coffee Blossom Honey right before serving.
More Coffee Honey Recipes
If you love baking and cooking with Coffee Blossom Honey, here are a few more recipes worth bookmarking:
- Healthy Coffee Cake — A gluten-free, blueberry-studded coffee cake with actual brewed coffee in the batter and a rich coconut oil base.
- Honey in Coffee — How to sweeten your morning cup with honey instead of sugar.
- Honey Iced Latte — A simple, naturally sweetened iced latte that pairs perfectly alongside a slice of this crumb cake.
- Pumpkin Spice Whipped Coffee — A seasonal whipped coffee with warm spice and honey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different honey?
Yes — any raw honey from our Eastern Shore Honey collection works well here. Coffee Blossom Honey is our top pick for its caramel depth, but a lighter wildflower honey would also be delicious.
Can I use fresh apricots instead of dried?
Absolutely. Use 6 fresh apricots, chopped — no soaking required. Cherries (fresh or frozen) are another excellent option and were actually preferred by the original recipe creator over dried apricots.
Is this recipe dairy-free?
Yes — this paleo crumb cake is naturally dairy-free. There's no butter or milk anywhere in the recipe; coconut oil handles all the fat in both the batter and the crumble topping.
How is this different from your Healthy Coffee Cake?
They look similar on the surface but are quite different recipes. Our Healthy Coffee Cake uses brewed coffee in the batter, blueberries, and has a more traditional cake-like texture with no crumble topping. This Paleo Crumb Cake is simpler, apricot-forward, and defined entirely by its golden coconut crumble. Two very different bakes — both excellent with a drizzle of Coffee Blossom Honey.
