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    Home » Recipes » American

    Best Easy Coffee Cake

    Published: Apr 5, 2022 · Modified: Apr 12, 2024 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 37 Comments

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    Make a moist, coffee cake from scratch with 10 minutes of prep time and everyday kitchen staples! It’s laced with the best cinnamon streusel topping and is so good for breakfast, snack, or dessert!

    white plate with a square slice of coffee cake with a fork

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    Jump to:
    • Coffee Cake with Streusel Crumb Topping
    • What is coffee cake?
    • Ingredients/shopping list
    • How to Make Coffee Cake
    • Variations/ Substitutions
    • Tips
    • FAQ’s
    • Best Easy Coffee Cake

    Coffee Cake with Streusel Crumb Topping

    I’ve had my fair share of coffee cakes, and I can tell you this one is by far the best one I’ve ever had. It’s moist, slightly dense, yet still nice and light. It’s everything a good coffee cake recipe should be! It takes just 10 minutes of prep using basic pantry and baking staples and then the rest is hands-off baking time. These coffee cake muffins or this pumpkin coffee cake are also fabulous if you want another idea to try.

    The results of this classic recipe are a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth tender crumb that is delicately sweet with a layer of cinnamon filling in the middle. There’s also a layer of that sweet crunch on top!

    I will sometimes make two and freeze one. It comes in handy for last-minute guests! Serve it at room temperature or warmed up with a scoop of ice for an extra special treat!

    white plate with a square slice of coffee cake with a fork

    What is coffee cake?

    You may have realized by now that it isn’t made with coffee at all! Or at least, it doesn’t have to be. Traditionally, it is a vanilla sponge cake layered with a single layer of streusel in the middle and topped with even more. It’s nice and light and was originally meant to be served during a coffee break.

    The best homemade coffee cake is not decadent or indulgent, which makes it appropriate for breakfast or brunch. You can also enjoy a slice for an afternoon snack with a cup of hot coffee or tea and then have a piece for dessert. It’s perfect for baby showers, wedding showers, or a special occasion like Easter. There is never a wrong time to have coffee cake!

    For the Coffee Cake
    For the Topping

    Ingredients/shopping list

    For the Cake

    • All-purpose flour – Great choice for this type of cake. For gluten-free flour, try Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour instead.
    • Sugar – We’re using white sugar to sweeten the cake. I prefer it to brown sugar so that the color of the cake stays light and there is a nice distinction between the layers and the ribbon of streusel.
    • Baking powder – The leavening agent we’re using to deliver a fluffy texture.
    • Cinnamon – A hint of cinnamon throughout the cake itself will pair well with the vanilla as well as complement the cinnamon in the streusel.
    • Butter – You want to start with room temperature so that it is easy to cream. Take it out at least 1 hour ahead of time. However, keep some butter in the fridge for the cinnamon streusel topping. For a lower-calorie cake, swap out this butter for an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce.
    • Milk – Use any kind of milk you’d like. You can replace the milk with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt if you’d like.
    • Egg – Used for binding and moisture. You’ll need just one large egg.
    • Vanilla – A dash of vanilla just elevates the flavor of almost any baked good!

    For the Crumb Topping

    A combination of brown sugar, white sugar, all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, and cubes of cold butter are mixed to combine into a crumble. The flour helps keep the streusel suspended to ensure it doesn’t blend into the cake batter. This way you can see that beautiful clean line right across the middle.

    We use cold butter so that it holds together longer as it bakes and doesn’t turn into a melty runny mess.

    How to Make Coffee Cake

    This recipe will come together in a few simple steps and no hand mixer! It’s perfect for beginner bakers or whipping up last minute for an easy treat!

    Step 1: To make the streusel topping combine the sugars, flour, and cinnamon into a bowl and mix well.

    Step 2: Add the cold cubes of butter and use a fork (or your hands) to mix in the butter. You should see crumbles start to form, that’s what you want. Set it aside. (a food processor would work as well)

    streusel topping in a glass mixing bowl

    Step 3: In a separate bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients and use a whisk to mix well. Add the butter and blend well, scraping down the sides of the bowl

    Step 4: To the same bowl, add the milk, egg, and vanilla extract and stir until the flour mixture barely blended. Do not overmix!

    flour, sugar and butter being mixed together in a glass bowl
    coffee cake batter in a glass bowl

    Step 5: Pour half the cake batter into the greased 8 x8 square baking dish and sprinkle a thin layer of the prepared crumb topping across the batter.

    Step 6: Add the remaining batter into the baking dish then sprinkle the remaining layer of streusel on the top of the cake.

    coffee cake batter and topping being spread into a white square baking dish

    Step 7: Bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes. Check for doneness using a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done!

    Step 8: Cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing it into 9 squares.

    baked coffee cake in a square white baking dish with a blue napkin and white plates next to it

    Variations/ Substitutions

    1: Adding about ¼-1/3 cup of chocolate chips can add texture, and chocolatey flavor, and it looks great too!
    2: You can also add ½ cup of fresh sliced apples, peaches, or blueberries to the cake batter.
    3: For added crunch to the streusel topping sometimes I like to add chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts.

    closeup of a slice of coffee cake on a small white plate

    Tips

    • More cake. You can double this recipe and use a 9X13 rectangle baking dish.
    • Right amount of flour. Make sure to measure your flour correctly to avoid using too much leaving you with a denser texture than anticipated. Spoon and level your flour. Use a scale if you have one for accuracy.
    • You butter be prepared! Remember to separate the butter you’re using for the batter from what you’re using in the topping. One needs to be softened and the other nice and cold!
    • Take it up a notch. If you’re enjoying leftovers, put them in the microwave for 10 seconds. It’s so good just slightly warm!

    FAQ’s

    Does coffee cake need to be refrigerated?

    This homemade coffee cake doesn’t need to be refrigerated right away, but it will stay fresher longer if it is. The most important thing is covering it immediately and storing it in an airtight container to maximize freshness.

    Keep it on the counter for a couple of days, but then transfer it to the fridge for up to a week if you still have any left!

    How to Freeze Coffee Cake


    Once the cake has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn. Keep it in a freezer-friendly Ziploc bag for up to 3 months.

    Can I make this a dairy free cake?


    You can! Instead of butter in the batter, replace it with oil. Then swap the dairy milk for any non-dairy milk like almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk. Plain or vanilla-flavored would be great.

    For the streusel topping, replace the butter with coconut oil.

    Is coffee cake the same as a crumb cake?

    They are very similar in their list of ingredients and therefore texture and flavor aren’t too far off either! The major difference is that a crumb cake has a boatload of streusel topping on top. I’m talking almost as high as the cake itself! Whereas, as you know, the traditional coffee cake has a thin layer of crumble in the middle and the top.

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

    slice of coffee cake on a white plate

    Best Easy Coffee Cake

    Make a moist, coffee cake from scratch with 10 minutes of prep time and everyday kitchen staples! It's laced with the best cinnamon streusel topping and is so good for breakfast, snack, or dessert!
    4.99 from 66 votes
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    Course: Breakfast, brunch
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Cooling Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 419kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    Coffee Cake

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup butter room temperature
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

    Cinnamon Streusel Topping

    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup white sugar
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • ¼ cup cold butter diced

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350° F and grease an 8×8 square baking dish with butter or spray oil.

    Making the crumb topping

    • Add the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon to a small mixing bowl and mix together.
    • Add the diced cold butter to the flour mixture and cut it into the flour mixture using a fork or two knives. Make sure all of the flour and sugar mixed and it becomes moist and crumbly. I have even used my hands.

    Making the Cake

    • In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and mix well.
    • Add the butter to the dry ingredients and blend well.
    • Add the milk, egg, and vanilla extract and stir until just barely blended.
    • Pour half of the cake batter into the baking dish and sprinkle a thin layer of the crumb topping across the batter.
    • Then pour the remaining batter in and spread evenly.
    • Top with the remaining streusel topping and again spread evenly across the top.

    Baking the Coffee Cake

    • Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center.
    • Cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing into 9 squares.

    Notes

    Add ¼ -⅓ cup of chocolate chips to the batter.
    Add in ½ cup of fresh diced apples or fresh blueberries
    Add in nuts like chopped pecan or chopped walnuts to the streusel topping.
    Use sour cream or plain Greek yogurt in place of milk
    Swap out the butter in the cake for an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce for a lower calorie cake.
    Use almond milk , soy milk or any other non-diary milk. Vanilla flavored milk will also be good.
    Use gluten free flour like Bob’s red Mill One-to-One.
    Double the recipe and bake in a 9×13 rectangle baking dish
    Store in an airtight container for a couple of days on the countertop or for up to a week in the refrigerator. I like to put mine in the microwave for about 10 seconds to warm it up just a tad before eating.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 275mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 528IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Todd Galinko

      November 11, 2024 at 8:54 am

      After throwing out a raspberry coffee cake from Publix as it was really nasty, I searched for a coffee cake recipe. This one certainly didn’t disappoint.

      Reply
      • Sherri

        November 18, 2024 at 8:05 am

        I am so happy to hear that!

        Reply
    2. Carol Swartz

      July 19, 2024 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      This is absolutely wonderful although I did use almond extract instead of vanilla (which I’ve been doing in lots of baked good) !

      Reply
      • Sherri

        July 23, 2024 at 1:51 pm

        That’s a wonderful swap! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Sandra

      July 14, 2024 at 8:01 am

      5 stars
      Brings back memories of my early married yrs. wk. ends sitting by the pool on the deck with a pot of coffee and my home-made coffee cake and talking with my husband discussing our future plans.

      Reply
    4. Sandra Vander Pol

      July 14, 2024 at 7:56 am

      5 stars
      Brings back memories of my early married yrs. wk. ends sitting by the pool on the deck with a pot of coffee and my home-made coffee cake and talking with my husband discussing our future plans.

      Reply
    5. Janice

      December 11, 2023 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious coffee cake. I wouldn’t change a thing.

      Reply
    6. Dolores

      August 09, 2023 at 12:19 am

      4 stars
      Great with apples and raisins tossed with cinnamon mixed with batter,and a few on top,,♥️

      Reply
    7. Suzannah

      August 06, 2023 at 6:41 pm

      5 stars
      Whipped this up in 15 minutes and it was delicious. I made changes:

      1. Used my own GF flour blend
      2. Used oil instead of butter in the cake
      3. Used 1/2 cup oat milk and 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

      Moist and delicious. Next time I’ll add walnuts to the streusel, but I will definitely keep this in the rotation.

      Reply
    8. Maritza Serrano

      July 20, 2023 at 1:39 pm

      I as looking for this recipe for long time ago and I already founded I’m going to maked tomorrow. Thanks.

      Reply
    9. Becky

      June 07, 2023 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      I used this recipe and made a some modifications for diabetic friendly version. I used 6 ounces maple syrup for sweetening in cake and reduced the milk by 3 tablespoons. Added a diced apple as well. Crumble was a bit of a trick and actually worked out best serving cake upside down with crumble as crust. It was a hit all around, diabetics and otherwise.

      Reply
      • Helen

        January 24, 2024 at 9:36 pm

        5 stars
        It’s wonderful but what are the grams/weight for one slice in your nutrition facts?

        Reply
    10. Dawn

      March 16, 2023 at 12:26 pm

      5 stars
      Looks good. Haven’t tried yet but it took exactly 40 minutes to cook in my oven. Made it for dessert tonight.

      Reply
    11. lauren

      February 22, 2023 at 6:32 pm

      5 stars
      This is absolutely delicious! It reminds me of East Coast coffee cake. I added some nutmeg to the crumb mixture but, otherwise; followed it as is. My neighbor, who is a chef, agrees that it is a definite keeper!

      Reply
    12. Julie

      January 14, 2023 at 1:46 pm

      I got confused and started making the batter using the streusel ingredients. Added 2 tsp. Of cinnamon and an extra 1/2 C. Of brown sugar to the batter before I realized. It was a happy accident and it tasted delicious!
      I would recommend making the ingredients lists line up with the directions list. But it was very good and I might just keep making it that way!

      Reply
    13. Amy

      December 11, 2022 at 8:38 am

      Step 3 – and the ????

      Reply
    14. Milka

      October 19, 2022 at 3:42 pm

      Should there be any coffee cause it’s a coffee cake

      Reply
      • h2o

        November 21, 2022 at 5:53 pm

        5 stars
        You may have realized by now that it isn’t made with coffee at all! Or at least, it doesn’t have to be. Traditionally, it is a vanilla sponge cake layered with a single layer of streusel in the middle and topped with even more. It’s nice and light and was “originally meant to be served during a coffee break”.

        Reply
      • Lolita

        July 21, 2024 at 7:10 pm

        Coffee cake doesn’t imply a coffee flavored cake.

        Coffee cake is a texture!
        I believe it’s called coffee cake because it’s typically eaten alongside a cup of coffee 🙂

        Reply
    15. Michele

      August 14, 2022 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious, made this morning. I wish a had an apple to chop up and add to it.

      Reply
    16. Laura

      June 22, 2022 at 8:38 pm

      Can I use a springform pan to bake this?

      Reply
      • Scherrie

        June 12, 2024 at 11:32 pm

        5 stars
        Just made this and it is great. So incredibly moist. Easy to make and oh so easy to eat. I will definitely keep this recipe. Thank you.

        Reply
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