Have you ever searched high and low for a coffee cake recipe that’s not only easy to follow but also turns out perfectly every single time? You're not alone; so many of us crave that one go-to recipe that’s dependable, delicious, and destined to become a household favorite.
This coffee cake recipe checks all the boxes. It features a rich, buttery base that’s soft and moist, topped with a generous layer of cinnamon-spiced streusel that adds just the right amount of sweetness and crunch. And if you love a little extra flair, there’s even an optional sweet glaze that takes things to the next level.
What truly makes this coffee cake recipe stand out is its simplicity. It calls for basic pantry staples you likely already have on hand; no fancy gadgets or complicated steps required. In just 15 minutes of prep time, you’ll have everything ready to pop into the oven.
Whether you're planning a cozy weekend brunch, a festive holiday breakfast, or simply want something comforting to enjoy with your morning coffee or afternoon tea, this coffee cake recipe delivers. It's warm, welcoming, and easy enough for beginner bakers, yet impressive enough to serve to guests.
If you're ready to make a coffee cake that gets people asking for seconds (and maybe the recipe too), this is the one you'll want to keep on repeat.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
There’s something timeless and comforting about a great coffee cake recipe; it’s the kind of treat that brings people together, whether around a weekend breakfast table or at a cozy brunch with friends. While the name might be misleading, a traditional coffee cake recipe doesn’t actually include coffee in the batter—it earned its name because it’s the perfect companion to your favorite hot brew.
This particular coffee cake recipe celebrates everything we love about classic American baking. With roots going back to the 1950s, when casual entertaining and home baking really began to flourish, coffee cake became a household favorite; a reliable, delicious staple served during morning visits or as a thoughtful gesture for neighbors and friends.
What truly sets this coffee cake recipe apart is its texture and flavor. You’ll love the tender, moist crumb that melts in your mouth, and the rich cinnamon streusel that’s layered both on top and swirled throughout the cake. Unlike many store-bought versions that can be dry or overly sugary, this homemade coffee cake recipe strikes the perfect balance—light, buttery, and perfectly spiced.
Ideal for small gatherings, this coffee cake recipe makes just the right amount for sharing; but it’s easily doubled if you’re hosting a larger brunch or want leftovers for the week. It also makes a thoughtful homemade gift—perfect for welcoming new neighbors, surprising a teacher, or simply brightening someone’s day.
If you’ve been searching for a coffee cake recipe that’s reliable, nostalgic, and absolutely delicious, this one belongs in your baking rotation.
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Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed) - creates that caramel-like flavor
- 1 cup all-purpose flour - provides structure to the crumbs
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon - the signature flavor of coffee cake
- ½ teaspoon salt - balances the sweetness
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (cold and cubed) - brings the crumbs together
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour - the foundation of our cake
- 1 teaspoon baking powder - helps the cake rise
- ½ teaspoon baking soda - works with the sour cream for a tender texture
- ½ teaspoon salt - enhances all the flavors
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened) - adds richness
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar - for just the right sweetness
- 3 large eggs (room temperature) - provide structure and moisture
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract - for depth of flavor
- 1 ¼ cups sour cream - the secret to an ultra-moist coffee cake
For the Optional Glaze:
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract - adds flavor
- 1 cup powdered sugar - base for a smooth glaze
- 2-3 tablespoons milk - adjusts thickness
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Make the Cinnamon Streusel
- In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cut in 6 tablespoons cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until you have pea-sized crumbs. Refrigerate while preparing the batter.
Prepare the Cake Batter
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, beat ¾ cup softened butter with 1 ¼ cups sugar until fluffy. Add 3 eggs one at a time, then 1 tablespoon vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix 2 ½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. Alternately add the dry ingredients and 1 ¼ cups sour cream to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined.
Layer and Bake
- Spread half the batter in your prepared pan, sprinkle with half the streusel, then carefully spread remaining batter on top. Finish with remaining streusel. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for at least 20 minutes.
Add the Optional Glaze
- Mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons milk and ½ teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over the slightly cooled cake for a sweet finishing touch.
- Step 1: Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, salt, and cold butter until crumbly.
- Step 2: Cream butter and sugar; then mix in eggs, vanilla, dry ingredients, and sour cream.
- Step 3: Layer half the batter, sprinkle streusel, add the rest, and bake.
- Step 4: Drizzle smooth glaze over cooled cake for a sweet finish.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Coffee Cake Recipe
- Room Temperature Ingredients: This creates a smoother batter that traps air bubbles for a lighter cake.
- Don't Overmix: Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are combined to avoid a tough cake.
- The Toothpick Test: Insert a toothpick into the center - if it comes out with wet batter, keep baking. A few moist crumbs are perfect.
- Make Ahead: The streusel can be made 2 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container.
- Watch Your Flour: Measure flour by spooning it into measuring cups and leveling off, rather than scooping directly with the measuring cup, which compacts flour.
Coffee Cake Variations to Try
Fruit Additions
- Blueberry Coffee Cake: Fold 1½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries into the batter
- Apple Cinnamon: Add 1½ cups diced apples and increase cinnamon to 1 tablespoon
- Cranberry Orange: Mix in 1 cup dried cranberries and 1 tablespoon orange zest
Flavor Twists
- Maple Pecan: Add ½ cup chopped pecans to the streusel and replace vanilla with maple extract
- Chocolate Chip: Fold 1 cup mini chocolate chips into the batter
- Lemon Poppy Seed: Add 2 tablespoons poppy seeds and 2 tablespoons lemon zest to the batter
Dietary Modifications
- Gluten-Free Coffee Cake: Substitute a quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend
- Reduced Sugar: Cut sugar by ¼ cup in both cake and topping without affecting texture
- Vegan Version: Use plant-based butter, flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water = 1 egg), and dairy-free yogurt
Kitchen Equipment You'll Need
- 9×13-inch baking pan or 9-inch square pan (metal pans conduct heat better than glass)
- Mixing bowls - at least 2 medium and 1 large
- Hand mixer or stand mixer (though you can mix by hand with a whisk and wooden spoon)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Pastry cutter (or use your fingertips)
- Rubber spatula for scraping down the bowl
- Cooling rack
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
Countertop Storage
- Keep covered at room temperature for up to 3 days
Refrigerator Storage
- Will stay fresh for up to 1 week in an airtight container
- Let come to room temperature before serving, or warm slightly in the microwave
Freezer Instructions
- Thawing: Unwrap and thaw at room temperature for 2-3 hours or overnight in the refrigerator
- Whole Cake: Cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months
- Individual Slices: Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and store in a freezer bag for quick, single servings
Grandma’s Sunday Morning Secret
This coffee cake recipe isn’t just something I bake—it’s a piece of my family’s history. Every Sunday morning, my grandmother would quietly slip into the kitchen before anyone else stirred. Without fail, the warm scent of cinnamon, butter, and vanilla would float through the air, drawing us out of bed one by one. We knew what was waiting: her famous coffee cake recipe, served warm with a pot of freshly brewed coffee and a smile that said, "I made this just for you."
She never measured with precision, never needed a written recipe, and yet her coffee cake was perfect every single time—tender in the center, golden on the edges, with a thick ribbon of streusel both inside and on top. As a child, I didn’t understand what made her coffee cake recipe so special; I just knew it tasted like comfort, tradition, and love.
Years later, when I began baking on my own, I spent countless weekends trying to recreate her magic. I finally discovered her secret: using cold butter in the cinnamon streusel for those irresistible crumbs, and sour cream in the batter to lock in moisture and richness. Those two tricks transformed my version of her classic coffee cake recipe into one that now lives on in my kitchen—and hopefully, yours too.
Today, this is the coffee cake recipe I reach for when I want to impress friends at brunch, surprise a neighbor with something homemade, or treat myself to something cozy with my morning coffee. It’s simple, nostalgic, and filled with all the little touches that make a recipe truly unforgettable.
FAQ
What makes a coffee cake a coffee cake?
A coffee cake recipe is defined by its soft, tender crumb and streusel topping, not by the presence of coffee in the ingredients. It’s traditionally served with coffee, which is how it got its name.
What is the most popular coffee cake?
The most popular version is the cinnamon streusel coffee cake, known for its buttery cake base and crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping, often layered or swirled through the middle.
What ingredients do I need to make a coffee cake?
Key ingredients include all-purpose flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking powder, cinnamon, and either sour cream or yogurt for moisture. A crumb topping usually features butter, flour, and brown sugar.
How do bakeries get their cakes so moist?
Bakeries use high-fat ingredients like butter, oil, or sour cream, and avoid overmixing the batter. Some also add syrups or soak cakes after baking to lock in extra moisture.
Let’s Make Your Coffee Break Even Sweeter
Now that you’ve discovered this delightful coffee cake recipe, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your baking efforts. Whether you’re serving it fresh out of the oven or making it ahead for a weekend breakfast, this coffee cake recipe brings together everything you love about homemade baking—moist, tender cake; a generous cinnamon streusel; and that cozy, nostalgic flavor that just begs to be paired with a warm mug of coffee or tea.
This isn’t just a recipe—it’s one you’ll come back to again and again. It’s the kind of coffee cake recipe that becomes a family tradition, perfect for casual brunches, thoughtful gifts, or even a little self-care moment when you need something sweet and satisfying. You can make it ahead for stress-free mornings or bake it fresh and fill your kitchen with that irresistible aroma.
And if you’re already planning your next baking session, I’ve got more treats for you. Try something colorful and refreshing like my Easy Jello Cake Recipe—it’s fun, fruity, and perfect for parties. Or go with something seasonal and homey like the Easy Zucchini Cake Recipe; it's moist, lightly spiced, and a great way to sneak veggies into dessert without anyone noticing.
I’d genuinely love to hear how your version of this coffee cake recipe turned out. Did you go with the glaze or keep it simple? Did you add your own twist? Let’s chat in the comments below, and if this coffee cake recipe brought some joy to your table, don’t forget to leave a rating—it helps others find and enjoy it too.
Happy baking from my kitchen to yours; here’s to many more sweet mornings!
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Coffee Cake Recipe
Coffee Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9x13 inch baking pan Metal pan preferred for even baking
- 2–3 Mixing bowls At least one large and two medium bowls
- 1 Hand mixer or stand mixer Can mix by hand using whisk and wooden spoon if needed
- 1 set Measuring cups and spoons For dry and liquid ingredients
- 1 Pastry cutter Or use clean fingertips for streusel
- 1 Rubber spatula For scraping down the sides of mixing bowls
- 1 Cooling rack Allows air to circulate and prevents soggy bottoms
Ingredients
Streusel Topping
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoon butter unsalted, cold and cubed
Cake Batter
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter unsalted, softened
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 3 eggs large, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups sour cream full-fat preferred
Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoon milk adjust thickness
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix streusel ingredients and cut in butter until crumbly. Refrigerate.
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs, vanilla, then flour mixture and sour cream.
- Spread half the batter, add streusel, then remaining batter and top with streusel.
- Bake at 350°F for 45–50 min. Cool 20 min before glazing.
- Drizzle glaze over cooled cake for a sweet finish.
Notes
- Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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