Tigernut Coffee Cake (Vegan Friendly)

This blog post shares a recipe for a super easy tigernut coffee cake that is vegan-friendly and the perfect accompaniment to tea and coffee.

One of my followers on Instagram challenged me to create a coffee cake recipe using tiger nuts. This person was on to something because it came out so well. It was crunchy on the top, soft and sweet in the middle and delicious.

What are Tiger Nuts?

The star of this dish is tiger nut. Tiger nuts are known by many names (earth almond, chufa and yellow nutsedge). Although the name might give of the impression of a nut, tigernut is a misnomer because tiger nut is not a nut but a tuber (potatoes and taros are known as tubers). Tigernuts do have a nutty flavour to them. This property makes these tubers perfect for those with nut allergens as they provide similar nutty flavours without the allergy. For more details about tiger nuts, check out my previous blog post here. (Click Here).

Today we are using the pudding to make this delicious coffee cake, which is a unique direction away from its traditional use. My blog is all about repurposing recipes so that people can get more out of the unique ingredients I share.

What is Coffee Cake?

Coffee cakes (in North America) may not have any coffee. Instead, coffee cakes are sweet cakes that accompany a strong cup of coffee. These sweet pound cakes are served to balance out the strong and bitter flavour of the coffee. A coffee cake is usually a pound cake with a flavoured sugary centre and a streusel on the top. Some coffee cakes may come with frosting or glaze on the top.

What you will need for the Tigernut Coffee Cake

• Butter: My go-to butter brand is the Becel Plant-Based sticks. They are a great price and work very well
• Sugar: Any vegan-friendly sugar is good.
• Vegan Yogurt: Yogurt adds moisture to the cake. As we are not using any eggs or dairy with high-fat content, yogurt adds moisture and fat to the recipe and reacts with the baking soda to add lif. My favourite vegan yogurt is the plain coconut yogurt by Maison Riviera
• Tigernut: We will be using tiger nuts in two forms (first, the pudding as well as the leftover fibre used to make the tiger nut pudding)
• Spices: For warmth, I used cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla essence
• All Purpose Flour :
• Leavening: To add lift to the cake I used a combination of baking powder and baking soda. The baking soda reacts with the yogurt to add more air and lift the cake.

How to make Tigernut Coffee Cake

• Cream sugar and butter
• Add the rest of the wet ingredients, including the pudding
• Add the dry ingredients.
• Combine the streusel ingredients and crumble on top of cake
• Bake at 325°F for 50 minutes

FAQ + Substitutions

• Where can I purchase tiger nuts? I purchased mine at an African store but you can find tiger nuts in many health food stores
• Can I make this gluten-free? You can certainly make these gluten-free with a 1-to-1 substitution. Bob’s Red Mill makes a great gluten-free baking flour substitute. Click here
• Can I make this recipe healthier? Non-refined sugar like coconut sugar or apple sauce are great swaps for the sugar and butter listed. It will certainly be drier but doable.
• What can I eat this coffee cake with? A hot cup of coffee or even black tea will go perfectly with the coffee cake.

Want to try some more baked goods?

• Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Loaf
• Vegan Banana Bread
• Golden Plantain Bread

If you like this recipe, make sure to leave a comment below. Please also tag me on all social media page @eatwithafia