This is the easiest almond cake with just 4 main ingredients. This cake has a soft, moist crumb and is lightly sweet with a pop of lemon flavor. You won’t believe it is a grain free and gluten free cake recipe!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This almond cake comes together quickly and is perfect for unexpected company or satisfying the evening sweet tooth. My mother particularly loved this recipe and no matter how old you are, when your Mom is impressed, it’s a big deal :).
We added our Amazon affiliate links for the tools we used to make this recipe.
One of my readers, Yana P. wrote in and shared this Calabrian Walnut Cake with us and since there is a Walnut allergy in the family, we made it (even simpler) into an almond flour cake and changed the proportions. I made it 3 times in 1 week and it disappeared fast every single time. Its a keeper!
Watch How to Make Almond Cake:
The texture of this almond cake is so soft and fluffy, you would never guess it is made with finely ground almonds.You can also make a double batch and create a stunning two-layer cake since it bakes up level and is sturdy enough to stack. This would make an amazing gluten free birthday cake!!
Ingredients for Easy Almond Cake:
Literally all you need to make this cake are 4 main ingredients: almond flour, eggs, sugar and lemon zest. I have tested this recipe with and without the sliced almonds over the top and it works both ways. (See exact measurements and print the recipe below)
How to Measure Almond Flour Correctly:
Spoon almond flour into a dry ingredients measuring cup and level off the top with the flat edge of a knife. Do not compress the almond meal into the cup or you may end up with up to 50% more flour! Read all of our tips and tricks for how to measure accurately for baking.
How to Separate Eggs and Bring to Room Temperature:
To separate eggs, you can either use an egg separator or the shells of your egg if you get a clean break on the shell. It is easier to separate eggs while they are cold. To do that, separate eggs then cover and leave at room temperature no more than 30-60 minutes. You could also separate them and place into separate small bowls and set the egg whites over a larger bowl with warm water so the bowl with the egg white warms up within 5-10 minutes.
Almond Cake Recipe Printable:
Almond Cake Recipe

Ingredients
Almond Cake Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour, * measured correctly
- 4 eggs, separated, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest, grated from 1 large lemon
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- Confectioners sugar and lemon slices for garnish, optional
Instructions
Prep:
- Grease/butter a 9" cake pan or 9" springform pan. Line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
Almond Cake Recipe Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 4 egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar. Beat with an electric hand mixer on high speed 3 minutes or until thick, creamy and lightened in color. Add 1 1/2 cups almond flour and 1 Tbsp lemon zest and use a spatula to fold and stir together until incorporated. Wash and dry attachments from the mixer.
- In a second large mixing bowl, add 4 egg whites and beat together until stiff peaks form (about 2 minutes). Fold the egg whites 1 heaping spoonful at a time into the almond batter, folding with each addition just until incorporated and scraping from the bottom of the bowl to ensure batter has an even consistency.
- Once all the egg whites are incorporated and batter is even in consistency (do not over-mix), transfer batter to the prepared baking pan and sprinkle the top with 1/4 cup sliced almonds. Bake at 350˚F for 30 minutes or until top is firm.
- Let cake rest in the pan 15 minutes then run a thin spatula around the sides and invert it onto your hand then place it right side up on the rack. Let cool to room temperature and garnish with powdered sugar and lemon slices if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Almond Flour Recipes you will LOVE:
- Almond Nutella Cake – flavor explosion gluten free indulgence
- Raspberry Macarons – gluten free cookies with raspberry filling
- Almond Croissants – incredible French bakery style filling
Q: What are your very favorite almond flour recipes or gluten free recipes? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below! We are always looking for new ideas.
Our family absolutely loved the cake! I didn’t have store bought ground almonds, so grinded them myself (they were even a little bit salty) . Still the cake was totally amazing. Sooo light! Thank you
I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Not sure if I added the stars, definitely 5 star.
You sure did! Thank you for the wonderful review, Inga! 🙂
Made a double batch of this cake today. I didn’t have any citrus to zest so I substituted with rum – turned out absolutely delicious. The texture of this cake is very light yet fulfilling. I have celiac and absolutely loved this cake, my family who is not gluten conscious also loved this cake, and I’m happy to report that it was eaten within an hour. Thank you Natasha!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you all enjoyed the Almond cake!
Would love for you to know different variations that have come out nice, I would love Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Summer, Chocolate, Valentine’s Day options, Etc…..
would be a great contest! Or just a great way to expand on an already great idea! Thanks.
Hi Inga – How much rum (or rum extract??) did you put in? Thanks!
Hi there,
Whenever I visit your website, I find something new and amazing work. Your work is amazing. I loved it.
Thanks for your amazing recipes.
Aww, Thank you for the wonderful compliment!
It turned out to be SO good as I did everything according to the recipe. Instead of lemon zest I put orange zest. Yum!!! Thank you thank you
Hi Julia! That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review 🙂
Tried it and came out really well. Thanks for the simple yet amazing recipes. By the way, can you try a coconut flour gluten free recipe?Would love to try your version
I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
If you replace sugar with 1/4 of the amount with stevia it reduces the carbohydrates significantly
Thank you for sharing that with us Peter!
Hi Natasha, Made this today, good recipe. Tasted like lemon pound cake and it’s flourless! Mine did come out pretty low but a smaller sized pan could help with that.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Alyona!
Do you think this cake would do well in a pineapple upside down cake?
I will enjoy this Almond Cake–but would really appreciate the Walnut Cake as well!
Thanks,
Brooke Capps
Hi Brooke, if you like walnuts this one is so good! Royal Walnut Cake
Natasha, any chance youve tried this with an egg substitute? This is my absolute favorite cake (I make it with a lemon rosemary glaze and it’s BONKERS) but I’d like to bake it as a birthday cake for a friend with a severe gluten and egg allergy!
Hi Anna, I’m so happy you love the recipe! You’ll have to share the details on that glaze – it sounds so amazing! I honestly have not experimented with making this egg free, but I think it would be very difficult to get the same results with a substitute.
anna you can try with a flax seed egg substitute. Just google flax seed egg and youll see how to make it. Its simple, just flax seeds and water. Ive used the flax seed egg with gluten free pancake mix when i didnt have eggs and the pancakes turned out just fine.
Do you have a recipe for moist chocolate cake
Thanks
Hello Sharmila! I have several chocolate cake recipes. Click here to see what recipes I have in my archive. I hope this helps!
how tall your cake is? before bake and after bake?
Hi Kemala, it’s around 1″ before baking and 1 3/4″ to 2″ after baking.
i love the fact that you always replying to question natasha, thanks so much it means a lot😀
You are very welcome Kemala, we try 😀
I don’t do the gluten free thing at all. I just wanted to make a tasty almond cake. Well, this was it. Great cake! Turned out exactly as pictured. Moist and lighter than I expected. I want to make it again and try adding some fresh fruit. Strawberries or mandarins perhaps. I also think this recipe would be awesome as a Madeleine.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great feedback!
what if i wanna make this into 6/7/8 inch round cake pan?
Hi Kemala, I haven’t tried using those sizes but you would probably need some modifications in bake time. I’m not sure if this recipe would overfill a 6″ pan. Here’s a helpful article when converting cakes to different sized pans.
Thank you so much for the ”Metric” measurement option. It really helps a lot.
You’re welcome! It’ll take time to add them to all of our recipes, but totally worth it!
please add gram conversion i need it so muchh thanks
Hello Kemala, there is a conversion tool included in the recipe below the listed ingredients where you can chose “Metric”.
Just made this, and it turned out way better than I expected. Taste amazing, looks great, and super simple.
Awesome! I’m glad you love it. Thanks for sharing your great review!
This looks so tasty, I have to try making it for the long weekend next week 🙂
But one question arises: are you using top/bottom heat or the fan (convection oven fan)?
Hi Wiebke, I am using a conventional oven with top/bottom heat. 🙂
Thank you, Natasha 🙂
Now it’s hard to wait until Wednesday evening when I am going to bake this deliciously looking beauty of a cake.
My pleasure, I hope you love it!
I definitively love it! This is a super tasty cake in itself, but if you need something “bigger” for some party I would suggest the following: make two of these cakes – but only one with the sliced almonds on top (maybe, maybe both). Then make a yogurt-mango-cream (or orange, or lemon instead of mango). Place one layer of cake at the bottom, then one layer of yoghurt-mango-cream and on top another one of these nice cakes. If desired have another layer of cream on top and around. That should be great for any party 🙂
Great tips and suggestions, thanks for sharing with other readers!
Hi Natasha, this recipe seems awesome! I am going to try it soon but I prefer eggless cakes so maybe I shall use flaxseed substitute or maybe apple sauce or mashed bananas and one more thing do you think I could use your recipe to make coconut cake too using coconut flour instead of almond flour??? Thanks for the wonderful recipes 😊
Some readers have reported using coconut flour. If you experiment please let us know how you like it! Thanks Leena!
Natasha, that almond cake turned out to be amazing from the 1st attempt! My friends and family now think I’m the best baker EVER. You are a treasure. Thank you SO much for the recipe and instructions.
My pleasure! I’m glad to hear how much everyone enjoys the recipe. Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
Loved this recipe! Tastes phenomenal (: I want to make it again but if I added blueberries or raspberries in the batter Would it still be moist? Or would I ruin it that way?
Hi Anna, I haven’t tried but it’s worth an experiment. If you make it, let me know how it goes.
Turned out great with the berries inside of it (:
Excellent, I’m glad to hear that Anna!
I will be doing this tomorrow but using swerve as to make it keto! I look forward to it ! thank you
I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!