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Home » Recipes » Breakfast

Last Updated: Nov 24, 2023 by Angela Latimer · 3 Comments

Coffee Cake

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Pin image with text of a slice of coffee cake.

This coffee cake is a delicious and comforting treat that combines the warm, spicy flavor of cinnamon with a crumbly streusel topping! A tender cinnamon cake is layered with a rich cinnamon ripple and then topped with a cinnamon streusel and drizzled with vanilla icing! It really is the perfect treat for everyone who enjoys cinnamon!

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe

Is there anything better than enjoying dessert for breakfast? This sweet cinnamon-packed coffee cake is everything you need to start your day off right!

It is so delicious and makes a large batch that this is one of my go-to recipes when getting together with my friends for brunch! It's always the first dish to disappear because it is just so good!

Square image of a slice of coffee cake.
This coffee cake is perfect for a cozy breakfast or as a dessert to share with friends and family!
Jump to:
  • Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe
  • 🥘 Coffee Cake Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Coffee Cake
  • 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 🥡 Storing & Reheating
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 🥐🥯🍩 More Baked Breakfasts Ideas
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

🥘 Coffee Cake Ingredients

This may look like a long ingredient list, but it really just features repeat items such as sugar and flour. In fact, you only need some common baking ingredients, and you are good to go!

Tall image showing coffee cake ingredients.

Coffee Cake

  • Butter - 1 cup of butter that has been softened at room temperature (2 sticks).
  • Sugar - 1 cup of sugar.
  • Brown Sugar - ⅔ cup of light brown sugar, packed.
  • Eggs - 3 large eggs that are at room temperature.
  • Sour Cream - ¾ cup of full-fat sour cream (or use a sour cream substitute).
  • Vanilla - 1½ tablespoons of pure vanilla extract.
  • Baking Powder - 3 teaspoons of baking powder.
  • Salt - ½ teaspoon of salt.
  • Milk - 1¼ cups of milk. Alternatively, you can use half & half or buttermilk.
  • Flour - 3⅔ cups of all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled.

Cinnamon Ripple

  • Brown Sugar - ¾ cup of light brown sugar, packed.
  • Flour - ¾ cup of all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled.
  • Cinnamon - 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.
  • Cocoa - 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder.

Cinnamon Streusel Topping

  • Flour - 1¼ cups of all-purpose flour.
  • Sugar - ¾ cup of sugar.
  • Brown Sugar - ½ cup of light brown sugar, packed.
  • Cinnamon - 1½ tablespoons of ground cinnamon.
  • Butter - ½ cup of salted butter, melted and cooled.

Vanilla Icing

  • Powdered Sugar - 1 cup of confectioner's sugar.
  • Milk - 2-3 tablespoons of milk, half & half, or heavy cream.
  • Vanilla - 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Coffee Cake

This coffee cake is incredibly simple to prepare and completely worth it! Just grab a couple of mixing bowls, a 9x13 baking dish, your measuring utensils, some silicone spatulas, and your hand mixer.

This recipe will make one 9x13 coffee cake, which can be cut into about 16 servings.

  1. Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly coat a 9x13 baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray.

Cinnamon Ripple Filling

Process image 1 showing cinnamon ripple filling ingredients in mixing bowl.
  1. Mix. Mix ¾ cup of packed light brown sugar, ¾ cup of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a fork to break up any clumps of brown sugar, then set aside.

Streusel Crumb Topping

Process image 3 showing making Streusel Crumb Topping.
  1. Combine. In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk the dry ingredients for the streusel topping, including 1¼ cups of all-purpose flour, ¾ cup of sugar, ½ cup of light brown sugar, and 1½ tablespoons of ground cinnamon. Add the melted ½ cup of butter and use a fork to combine with the dry ingredients until a crumb texture is formed. Set aside.

Coffee Cake Batter

Process image 7 showing the coffee cake batter.
Process image 8 showing the coffee cake batter.
Process image 9 showing the coffee cake batter.
Process image 10 showing the coffee cake batter.
Process image 11 showing the coffee cake batter.
  1. Mix. Mix the batter in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Add 1 cup of softened butter, 1 cup of sugar, and ⅔ cup of light brown sugar, then cream them together.
  2. Continue mixing. Add 3 large eggs, ¾ cup of sour cream, 1½ tablespoons of vanilla extract, 3 teaspoons of baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt, then mix until fully combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of your mixing bowl.
  3. Add milk and flour. Mix in 1¼ cups of milk and 3⅔ cups of all-purpose flour in portions, alternating between adding the milk and flour. Start with ⅓ of the flour, add ½ of the milk, then another ⅓ of the flour, followed by the remaining milk, and finally, the last portion of flour.
  4. Finish mixing. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl while mixing, and mix only until the batter is just combined.

Assemble & Bake The Coffee Cake

Process image 12 showing assembling the the coffee cake.
  1. Pour. Pour half of the coffee cake batter, or 28-30 ounces, into your prepared 9x13 baking dish to make the bottom layer. Sprinkle the cinnamon ripple filling over the bottom half of the batter.
  2. Add topping. Add the remaining coffee cake batter and spread gently using an offset spatula. Top with the streusel crumb topping mixture in an even layer that reaches all corners of the baking dish.
  3. Bake. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50-55 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center of the coffee cake comes out clean.
  4. Cool. Remove the pan from your oven when baked and place it on a wire cooling rack to cool completely. *If you prefer to serve your coffee cake warm, you can dust it with confectioners' powdered sugar instead of making the icing.

Make The Vanilla Icing

Process image 17 showing the vanilla icing topping.
  1. Whisk. In a small bowl combine 1 cup of confectioners sugar, 2-3 tablespoons of milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and adjust until you reach your desired drizzle consistency.
  2. Serve. Drizzle the vanilla icing over the cooled coffee cake, then slice and serve.

Serve your cinnamon coffee cake with a fresh mug of hot coffee, some fresh fruit salad, and yogurt! It also tastes amazing with a scoop of ice cream for a sweet dessert! Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

  • Sour cream adds both moisture and richness to the cake, preventing it from being dry and crumbly. If you don't have sour cream on hand, you can use plain Greek yogurt, plain yogurt, or buttermilk. 
  • Overmixing the batter can result in a tough, dense cake. Mix the ingredients until just combined to achieve a tender, fluffy texture.
  • Cinnamon is the star of the show in this cinnamon coffee cake, so don't be afraid to use a generous amount! The warm, spicy flavor of cinnamon is what makes this cake so delicious.
  • The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Wide image of a slice of coffee cake.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Once cooled, you can store the coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2-3 days. Or, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Freezing Coffee Cake

Wrap your cake well in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer bag. It should keep for about 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.

Reheating Coffee Cake

Your cake can be served at room temperature, but if you want to heat it up you can pop it into the microwave for about 15 seconds. 

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ Recipe FAQs

Why Is It Called Coffee Cake If There Is No Coffee In It?

Believe it or not, coffee cake actually does not have any coffee in it (unless it is specifically a coffee-flavored cake). The name "coffee cake" comes from the tradition of serving this type of cake with coffee at breakfast time, not because it contains coffee.

What Can I Add To Coffee Cake?

This cake is incredibly delicious as-is, but you can also customize it with some more tasty ingredients! You can add chopped nuts, fresh fruit, chocolate chips, or a drizzle of glaze on top.

Can I Make This Coffee Cake Vegan?

Yes, replace the butter with a vegan alternative, use plant-based milk, and substitute the eggs with flax eggs or another vegan egg replacer. The sour cream can be replaced with dairy-free yogurt.

Tall image of a slice of coffee cake.

🥐🥯🍩 More Baked Breakfasts Ideas

  • Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls - Super simple cinnamon rolls that use store-bought pizza dough.
  • Sweet Potato Coffee Cake - A fall-inspired coffee cake that features mashed sweet potatoes.
  • Bacon Breakfast Casserole - Hearty casserole loaded with eggs, cheese, and crispy bacon.
  • Cinnamon Roll Casserole - Cinnamon rolls are chopped up and then layered in a rich eggy mixture before being baked.
  • Overnight French Toast - Prepare your French toast at bedtime and then bake it when you wake up.
  • Chocolate Baked Donuts - Rich and indulgent chocolate donuts that are baked in the oven instead of fried.
  • Sheetpan Pancakes - Easy homemade pancakes that are fit for a crowd, with no flipping required.

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📖 Recipe Card

Wide image of a slice of coffee cake.
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5 from 26 reviews

Coffee Cake

This coffee cake is a delicious and comforting treat that combines the warm, spicy flavor of cinnamon with a crumbly streusel topping! A tender cinnamon cake is layered with a rich cinnamon ripple and then topped with a cinnamon streusel and drizzled with vanilla icing! It really is the perfect treat for everyone who enjoys cinnamon!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 582kcal
Prep 15 minutes minutes
Cooking 50 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

Cinnamon Ripple Filling

  • ¾ cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa

Streusel Crumb Topping

  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup butter (salted, melted and cooled)

Coffee Cake

  • 1 cup butter (softened, at room temperature)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ⅔ cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 3 large eggs (at room temperature)
  • ¾ cup sour cream (full fat)
  • 1½ tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1¼ cups milk (or use half & half, or buttermilk)
  • 3⅔ cups all-purpose flour

Vanilla Icing

  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoon milk (or use half & half or heavy cream)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly coat a 9x13 baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray.

Cinnamon Ripple Filling

  • Mix the ¾ cup light brown sugar, ¾ cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a fork to break up any clumps of brown sugar, then set aside.

Streusel Crumb Topping

  • In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk the dry ingredients for the streusel topping, including 1¼ cups all-purpose flour, ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup light brown sugar, and 1½ tablespoon ground cinnamon. Add the melted ½ cup butter and use a fork to combine with the dry ingredients until a crumb texture is formed. Set aside.

Coffee Cake Batter

  • Mix the batter in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Add the 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, and ⅔ cup light brown sugar then cream them together.
  • Add the 3 large eggs, ¾ cup sour cream, 1½ tablespoon vanilla extract, 3 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt, then mix until fully combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of your mixing bowl.
  • Mix in the 1¼ cups milk and 3⅔ cups all-purpose flour in portions, alternating between adding the milk and flour. Start with ⅓ of the flour, add ½ of the milk, then another ⅓ of the flour, followed by the remaining milk, and finally, the last portion of flour.
  • Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl while mixing, and mix only until the batter is just combined.

Assemble & Bake The Coffee Cake

  • Pour half of the coffee cake batter, or 28-30 ounces, into your prepared 9x13 baking dish to make the bottom layer. Sprinkle the cinnamon ripple filling over the bottom half of the batter.
  • Add the remaining coffee cake batter and spread gently using an offset spatula. Top with the streusel crumb topping mixture in an even layer that reaches all corners of the baking dish.
  • Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50-55 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center of the coffee cake comes out clean.
  • Remove the pan from your oven when baked and place it on a wire cooling rack to cool completely. *If you prefer to serve your coffee cake warm, you can dust it with confectioners' powdered sugar instead of making the icing.

Make The Vanilla Icing

  • In a small bowl combine the 1 cup confectioners sugar, 2-3 tablespoon milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and adjust until you reach your desired drizzle consistency.
  • Drizzle the vanilla icing over the cooled coffee cake, then slice and serve.

Notes

  • Sour cream adds both moisture and richness to the cake, preventing it from being dry and crumbly. If you don't have sour cream on hand, you can use plain Greek yogurt, plain yogurt, or buttermilk. 
  • Overmixing the batter can result in a tough, dense cake. Mix the ingredients until just combined to achieve a tender, fluffy texture.
  • Cinnamon is the star of the show in this cinnamon coffee cake, so don't be afraid to use a generous amount! The warm, spicy flavor of cinnamon is what makes this cake so delicious.
  • The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
  • To store: Once cooled, you can store the coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2-3 days. Or, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week. 
  • To freeze: Wrap your cake well in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer bag. It should keep for about 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
  • To reheat: Your cake can be served at room temperature, but if you want to heat it up you can pop it into the microwave for about 15 seconds. 

Nutrition

Calories: 582kcal (29%) | Carbohydrates: 92g (31%) | Protein: 7g (14%) | Fat: 21g (32%) | Saturated Fat: 13g (81%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 90mg (30%) | Sodium: 244mg (11%) | Potassium: 229mg (7%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 56g (62%) | Vitamin A: 686IU (14%) | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 119mg (12%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Breakfast, Cake Recipes
Cuisine American
« English Muffin Pizzas
Instant Pot Pot Roast »

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Comments

    5 from 26 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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  1. terry says

    November 12, 2024 at 6:44 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this recipe

    Reply
  2. Helen Rush says

    March 05, 2024 at 11:21 am

    5 stars
    thank you for this recipe is delish

    Reply
  3. Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

    August 23, 2023 at 8:08 am

    Cela fonctionne de mon côté. Assurez-vous de désactiver les bloqueurs de pop-up, les bloqueurs de publicités, etc. Si cela ne fonctionne pas, utilisez la fonction e-mail et envoyez-le-vous, puis imprimez la recette. J'espère que cela pourra aider! (It works on my end. Make sure to disable pop-up blockers, ad blockers, etc. If that doesn't work, use the email function and send it to yourself, and then print the recipe. Hope that helps!)

    Reply

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Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

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