This amazing citrus cake is bursting with tangy flavors and a hint of honey. Made with coconut flour and cassava flour, this cake is tree nut-free, grain-free, and naturally gluten-free. Seriously, one of the best cakes I’ve made.
Citrus Cake (The Healthier Kind)
Okay, I may be bragging but this vibrant citrus cake is one of the best I’ve ever had. I knew I wanted to create a healthier, nut-free take on a lemon drizzle cake (many recipes use almond meal) and I wasn’t sure if the texture would work as well with coconut flour and cassava flour instead. The final result surprised even me! It was fluffy and moist, just like I wanted it to be.
The sponge is really easy to make and the secret to making it so light and angelic is the whipped egg whites that are added to the cake batter. As I was using fairly absorbent coconut flour in the cake, it was important to add enough fat to avoid dryness. I used softened butter but coconut oil or light olive oil will work just as well for a paleo, dairy-free version.
Recipe Tips
This citrus cake will keep for close to a week, especially if you keep the leftovers in the fridge. It can be frozen too, although I wonder if it’s better to freeze the cooked sponge without the drizzle over it. Let me know if you try freezing it like ours didn’t last that long.
Serve it slightly warm or cold, up to you. I like it with a side of coconut or Greek yoghurt on the side and lots of berries. You can also decorate it with coconut cream frosting for an even more impressive look.
More Healthy Cakes & Desserts
- Try my raspberry and peach clafoutis (great for breakfast!)
- Paleo Apple Cake
- 5-Ingredient Low-Carb Chocolate Cake (Paleo, Nut-Free)
- Healthy Self-Saucing Chocolate Pudding
- Healthy Chocolate Hazelnut Caramel Tart
💬 If you’ve tried this citrus cake recipe or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and or sign up to my Newsletter to see more of my delicious food.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Cooked & Loved
Ingredients
- 170 g butter 6 oz. softened or 1/3 cup coconut oil for dairy-free
- 2 eggs whites only
- 3 whole eggs + 1 extra yolk from the above egg
- 1/3 cup honey
- Zest of 1/2 orange
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1/2 lime
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1/3 cup cassava flour
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
For the citrus drizzle
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 tablespoons honey
Garnish
- ½ cup raspberries
- ½ cup blackberries
- 5 strawberries halved
- A few slices of lime/orange/lemon for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180 C / 355 F. Line a springform cake tin with parchment/baking paper and grease it lightly with butter or coconut oil.
- Soften the butter in a microwave or in the oven, it should be the consistency of thick cream. Set aside.
- Separate the egg whites from the yolk and add to a clean, deep bowl with a tiny pinch of salt. Add one of the leftover yolks to another mixing bowl and reserve the second for breakfast.
- Whisk the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form and set aside.
- In another bowl, add three whole eggs, softened butter (or coconut oil for a dairy-free version), and the rest of the cake ingredients. Whisk together until well combined and fluffy.
- In batches, fold the whipped egg whites into the cake mixture and stir gently to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to the cake tin and cut off excess parchment paper if needed. Flatten the top and pop in the oven, middle shelf for 40 minutes at 180 C / 355 F.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Remove and transfer to a platter and cool for another 5-10 minutes.
- Combine and whisk together the citrus drizzle ingredients. Use a pointy knife to poke a few small holes in the cake. Drizzle the citrus honey mixture all over the cake. Garnish with fruit and berries and serve with whipped coconut or regular cream or with unsweetened yoghurt of choice.
Hi Irena,
I made this cake 🍰 last Christmas and it was an absolute success! Plea eating equally the eyes and taste buds, adults and children alike.
I am a big fan of yours, and honestly the only person I follow, food and over wise. I bought your book “Eat, drink, paleo” way back then and still use it a lot on top of your website.
Your sponge cake lamingtons recipe inspired me and I use it as a gluten free base for tiramisu… it’s brilliant.
Thank you for your creative work, best wishes to you and your young family.
Thanks, Sarah. So lovely to hear from you and know that you enjoy my recipes 🙂
This looks really yummy! Could I substitute almond meal flour for the other two flours? I don’t want to buy any more flours if i’m not likely to use them again.
Hi, I can’t seem to find Cassava flour anywhere in Sydney Australia. Is there a substitute I can use? Thanks Angela
Tapioca flour or starch can be used instead. You can also use some gluten-free flour or quinoa flour if those are tolerated.
Can you use almond flour instead of cassava? Just checking as it’s all I’ve got in the pantry!
Yes, definitely!
Hi, 170g butter is not the same as half a stick of butter, considering 1 whole stick is 113g. Can you please clarify exactly how much butter this recipe requires?
Thanks
A stick of butter is most likely different in the US to say UK or Australia, that’s why I included the weight in grams and ounces, so please use those measurements 170 g or 6 oz. Hope that helps, Irena
Hi Irena, just a question about the Cassava Flour, in this recipe can you use tapioca flour or does it need to be cassava flour? Thanks
Thanks Irena for another incredible recipe.
is there a substitute for cassava flour please?
Thank you
Julie
Hey Julie, you could use tapioca/arrowroot or any other gluten-free flour like rice or quinoa flour.
Thank you for the dairy-free option!! I have all of these ingredients, so I’m going to try out this recipe ASAP.
That cake looks so moist and delicious! Saving it for later!
I love how simple to make this is & how you can taste all 3 of the citrus fruits in the cake. Gorgeous!
Such beautiful photos! And I don’t know how you figured out the right egg ratio for this recipe, lol, but it looks perfect! Nice to have nut-free options in the Paleo dessert world!
This came out perfectly for me, I loved the texture! My best friends son has a nut allergy so excited to make this for them this weekend when they come to stay!
Thank you, Hope 🙂
Love the citrus — Cannot wait to make this cake!
Citrus Drizzle cake on the menu!
OMG this cake looks perfect. I love that you made it grain free and nut free. Such great flavors!
This cake is simply stunning, and that texture looks so perfect!
In the oven for dessert this week! Thank you, I can’t wait!
This is the most gorgeous cake ever! I love citrus desserts so this is so perfect for summer get-togethers.
What a gorgeous cake! Perfect for a light summer treat. 🙂
What a dreamy cake! That buttery cake with the citrus is too good to be true!
Wow what a gorgeous cake! Love the lime, lemon and orange combo!
I am SOOOO making this once my reset is done!!!
Hi Irena,
I am going to try the recipe for Citrus Drizzle cake but I don’t see the size of the pan to use. Thanks for the info. Lynn
Hey, Lynn. I think it was 7-8″ tin.