Coffee Cake Recipe

Coffee cake is amazing and we look for any excuse to make it. It’s the perfect idea for breakfast or an afternoon snack. This easy coffee cake recipe is also great for dessert.

If you love this coffee cake, you must try this Christmas Coffee Cake Recipe, Honey Bun Cake, Coffee Cake Muffins or Coffee Cake Muffins.

Why We Love This Classic Coffee Cake

It is not complicated at all. You only need a few ingredients to make this homemade coffee cake. Skip the store bought mixes and make this simple cake instead.

The Streusel topping is so delicious and the cake is super moist. This will quickly become one of your favorite coffee cake recipes. Make it for any occasion or for a friend, everyone loves the classic flavors of cinnamon sugar and each slice of this cake is loaded with it.

Ingredients

For the Cake: 

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour 
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup Butter (softened) 
• ½ cup granulated Sugar 
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup milk
• 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 

For the Streusel Topping:

• ¼ cup All Purpose Flour 
• ¼ cup Brown Sugar 
• 1 ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 
• 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter (melted) 

Variations Ideas

• Chopped Nuts – Add nuts to the coffee cake topping. Pecans, almonds and walnuts are delicious.
• Top with a Glaze – Drizzle a homemade cream cheese glaze on top like the one in Cinnamon Roll Cake.
• Pumpkin Flavor – Try pumpkin puree in the cake to make a pumpkin coffee cake.
• Fruit is a delicious add in. We like blueberries!
• Sour cream is a great add-in to make the cake even more moist and add flavor. For a lower calorie option you can add in Greek Yogurt.

How to Make Coffee Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Spray a 9×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. 
• Mix together the topping ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and set aside. 

• For the cake, whisk together the flour, baking, ground cinnamon and salt.  Set aside 
• In a separate bowl beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy with an electric mixture.  

• Mix in the egg, milk and vanilla extract until combined. 

• Gently mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overtax the batter. 

• Pour half of the batter in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the topping on top. 

• Top with the remaining cake batter and the remaining streusel topping. 
• Bake at 350 F for 35-40 or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
• Let the cake cool for 5-10 minutes and then it’s ready to slice, serve and enjoy!

Notes: 

Store any leftover cake in an airtight container for up to 1 week. I like to reheat the cake in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before enjoying the leftovers.  

Expert Tips

• Baking Dish – We used a 8-inch baking pan or 9×9 baking dish but you can also use a 9×13 if you don’t want it as thick. The ones with the lid are really handy if you are taking this coffee cake somewhere. I often use the disposable pans for the cake if I’m taking it to a potluck or gathering.  You can also bake in a loaf pan or round cake pan. Baking time make change slightly.
• Line Baking Dish – To easily remove the coffee cake from the pan, line with parchment paper and spray the pan with cooking spray. This helps for clean up and to slice the cake.
• Crumb Topping – Coat the coffee cake batter with the crumble topping evenly to ensure that each bite is filled with the cake and the topping.

How to Know When Coffee Cake is Done Cooking

The best way to tell when the coffee cake is done baking is when the coffee cake is baked with a golden brown topping.

We also recommend inserting a toothpick in the center of the coffee cake and if it comes out clean then the cake is fully cooked.

Serving Suggestions

This Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe is delicious served for breakfast or brunch. We even enjoy it for a dessert! When we serve it for breakfast and brunch, it is perfect served with a Fruit Salad Recipe, Fruit and Yogurt Parfait and a Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole.

Of course we always like to have a cup of Iced Coffee with Homemade Coffee Creamer Recipe. You can even make Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino Recipe for a delicious combination.

Frequently Asked Questions