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!
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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.
There almond cake is the TASTIES YUMMIEST RECIPE that I have EVER made. So Simple and So Very Tasty. Thank You!
I’m so glad you loved it! Thanks for your excellent feedback.
Loved this cake!
Is it possible to double the ingredients to make a bigger layer?
I’m so happy you enjoyed that Patty! That should work! One of our readers tried it double in a 9×5 and loved it!
This cake is so delicious and easy to make. I already made it so many times. My family likes it a lot. Thank you for your great recipe.
My pleasure, thanks for sharing your good feedback with us!
This cake is divinely delicious. Thank you for the clear and well constructed recipe, I have made it many times, and shared it far and wide. Spreading the 💕
Thank you. Stay well.
You’re very welcome! Knowing that you enjoyed it already makes me so happy and inspired.
Light fluffy and delicious. This cake recipe is brillant thank you.
You’re welcome PEter! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
Hi Natasha, I have just pulled two of these out of my oven and am planning to stack for a birthday cake.
What would you suggest using between the layers? Bonus if it’s dairy free
Thanks!
Hi Jess, I haven’t tried layering this one before to advise but here is what one of our readers wrote: “Okay I made the cake last night. I made two layers and put a chocolate butterfrosting in between, plus on top and covered the cake with the chocolate. It was delicious and a total hit! The lemon zest went very well with it. Amazing. Thank you for the awesome recipe, I will use it again” I hope that helps
If I am not able to have sugar, can I replace it with honey? Equal parts?
Hello Julia, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. Sorry wish I could be more help, please share with us how it goes if you do an experiment.
Hello! I made it with honey instead and think it came out quite nice. Thank you Natasha for this simple yet flavorful recipe!
Hello, do you have the recipe in grams?
Thank you
Hi Sandra, if you click “Metric” in the recipe card, you will see the conversion.
Hi Sandra, if you scroll to the bottom of the recipe post, on the printable card you will see a metric measurement option highlighted in red. Click on that and it will convert the recipe for you.
I’ve previously commented on this delicious cake but wanted to add, for anyone needing to control blood sugar levels, that I tried the recipe as is but swapped the sugar for Monkfruit sweetener which has zero net carbs – the cake was still delicious!! I’m not a nutritionist so don’t know if this makes it keto friendly or not but I know that the cake did not affect my blood sugar readings!
That’s so helpful! Thank you for sharing that with us Jo!
Hi Natasha
This Almond cake looks delicious I was just wondering is the almond flour ground almond or is it different I wanted to make this cake but just wasn’t sure could you let me know thanks
Patricia obrien
Hi Patricia, almond flour is essentially very finely ground almond.
Hi Natasha!
Thank you for this recipe! I’ve been looking for a gluten free dessert to diversify and this almond cake is fabulous. I did improvise a little by omitting the lemon and adding 1 teaspoon of almond extract. By adding the almond extract it reminded me of a biscotti. It was scrumptious and the kids ask for it for breakfast all the time! Thank you!
Hello Monika, thank you for sharing that with us. It’s great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. I hope you and your kids will love every recipe that you will try!
Hi Natasha
This is a delicious and easy receipe
My family enjoyed the almond cake
It was gone in 5 minutes
Thank you
Wow gone so fast! LOL Thanks for your great feedback.
I loved your recipe,
So good,
great video, it was very helpful !!!!
Thank you so much for your good comments, Nelia!
My 6year old son and I just tried this! So simple and amazing. We loved the cake. Just perfect.
That is the best when kids love what we parents make. That’s so great!
Baked this for hubby’s birthday. Turned out so well. loved the cake and the flawless recipe. much love!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing that with us!
Turned out surprisingly well using almond meal. As a guy who baked for the first time, it says a lot about the simplicity of the recipe. Simple yet oh so satisfying. Amount of sugar was just nice.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for that wonderful feedback!
I was afraid it was going to be dry so I brushed on an orange glaze as it cooled. Used a fork to puncture the cake so the glaze soaked in.
Orange zest, orange juice and confectionary sugar. Delicious
So nice to know that Maralyce. Thank you for sharing that with us!
One of the most delicious cakes I have ever had. I love it.
Thank you for your short and sweet message and feedback!
Hi Natasha,
Here in England on a sunny Easter Sunday we are in lockdown due to coronavirus and I was looking for something to make to use up some ground almonds. I made your almond cake and we think it is amazing!
I used five small eggs as I didn’t have any large ones, and we are being discouraged from going shopping unnecessarily. I cooked it in an 8 inch cake tin, because I don’t have a 9 inch one, and put it in the baking oven of the Aga (not sure if you have Agas in America but it is a large Swedish range cooker) for 30 minutes. It came out perfect, golden brown and a lovely texture.
Thanks for a really good recipe!
Hi Fiona, I’m so glad you loved it. Happy Easter!
I made this cake. Added a half cup of coconut and a tbsp of fresh lemon juice. I made two and put raspberry jam in the middle. Came out amazing. Like a professional cake.
Thank you for sharing that awesome tip with us, Alvin! I’m so glad you enjoyed that recipe!
Hi there….i really like your idea of adding coconut to this batter. Would you plz specify if u used sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes. Would appreciate it greatly. Can’t wait to make this…thanks Natasha for sharing it.
Hello Natasha, I just bake the cake, very easy to make, but my it is hard. Smells very good.
I followed the recipe step by step. Why is hard, any help, please?
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Carolina! It should not be hard & I’m more than happy to troubleshoot to figure out why! Was anything altered in the recipe? Did you use an electric hand mixer and use egg whites from the egg (not from the carton which can contain additives). Also, did you make sure your bowl was completely clean without any oils on it? Hope that helps to troubleshoot!