Best Coffee Cake Recipe

If there’s one thing we all need in our baking arsenal, it’s a great coffee cake recipe. It’s the kind of dessert that’s always there when you need it, whether you’re hosting a party, craving a sweet snack, or just enjoying a moment of “me time” with a cup of coffee.

Fluffy, moist, and with just the right amount of cinnamon-sugar crunch from the streusel topping, this coffee cake is a crowd-pleaser

The best part? It’s ridiculously easy to make! You don’t need a long list of ingredients or complicated instructions. Just a few simple steps and you’ll have a coffee cake that’s perfectly fluffy, slightly sweet, and irresistible.

So grab your apron and let’s get to baking, it’s time to make a treat that everyone will love.

Why will you love this coffee cake recipe?

1. Easy to follow recipe – this recipe is foolproof, with easy-to-follow instructions that even beginners can make. No complicated techniques, just a simple, delicious coffee cake!
2. Ideal for any occasion – Whether you’re hosting a brunch, surprising your friends, or just treating yourself, this coffee cake is always a hit.
3. Versatile & customizable – Want to add blueberries, apples, or something else? Go for it! This recipe is super flexible, so you can make it your own based on what you love or what’s in season.
4. Moist & tender texture – No one wants a dry coffee cake! This one has just the right amount of moistness, a melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s hard to resist.

How do you make a coffee cake recipe? 

Let’s understand the overview of the recipe. Jump to the step-by-step recipe for all the details.

Coffee cake ingredients

It is made of three components: base cake, streusel topping, and vanilla icing. Please find the list below for your reference. Refer to the recipe card for exact measurements.

Coffee cake ingredients

All-purpose flour – This is the base of our recipe. It provides the structure to the recipe. Use regular plain flour. Do not replace with cake flour or self-rising flour.

Baking powder – Works as a leavening agent. It helps the cake rise.

Salt – We need just a pinch, but trust me, it makes a huge difference. It balances the sweetness and brings out all the flavors.

Unsalted butter – Use unsalted butter because you can control the amount of salt. It provides richness and flavor to the cake.

Sugar – This is used to sweeten the cake, of course. But it also helps with the texture and beautiful golden crust.

Egg – Acts as a binding agent and also moistens the cake.

Vanilla extract – Just a splash, but improves the overall flavor.

Milk – This adds rich dairy flavor to the cake. Use whole milk, which is 3.25% fat.

Cinnamon streusel topping ingredients

All-purpose flour – Use regular all-purpose flour. No specific brand here.

Brown sugar – I have used light brown sugar. Strict no-no to icing sugar as it will change the texture of the topping.

pinch of salt – Do not hesitate to add salt, as a pinch of salt always brings out the flavor.

Unsalted Butter – I have used regular unsalted butter. If you do not have unsalted butter, use salted butter, but skip out the salt entirely.

Cinnamon – Star of the show! Use store-bought cinnamon powder or freshly prepared cinnamon powder.

Vanilla glaze ingredients

Icing sugar – Which is nothing but powdered sugar or confectioners’ sugar. You can use store-bought or make your powdered sugar at home.

Pure vanilla extract – Use either pure vanilla extract or vanilla imitation, whichever is available in your pantry.

Heavy cream – Use heavy whipping cream with 35%, or double cream.

Any substitutes? 

Heavy cream – Replace heavy cream with milk.

Tools needed

1. Measuring spoons/cups – to measure ingredients.
2. Weighing scale – to precisely measure ingredients.
3. Mixing bowls – To prepare the cake batter.
4. Hand beater – to beat the butter, sugar.
5. Spatula – to fold the coconut and scrape the bowl.
6. 8×8 inch square pan – to bake the cake.
7. Parchment paper – to line the baking pan.

Coffee cake (step-by-step) recipe

Cinnamon streusel topping step-by-step recipe

1. Whisk the flour, cinnamon, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Add the cubed cold butter.
3. Use your clean fingers to crumble the butter and flour together until you have a shaggy mixture.
4. Your streusel topping is ready to be baked. Keep aside.

Coffee cake step-by-step recipe

5. Preheat oven to 180 °C (350°F) and prepare your 8×8 inch square pan.
6. In a mixing bowl, sift the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Keep aside.
7. Add unsalted butter, oil, and sugar to another mixing bowl.
8. Beat using a hand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.

9. Now add the egg, vanilla extract, and beat again.
10. Alternate the sifted dry ingredients with milk and beat on low speed until just combined.
11. Scrape the bowl so that there is no flour at the bottom.
12. Beat again for 30 seconds.

13. Pour half of the batter in the prepared pan.
14. Add one layer of cinnamon streusel on top of cake batter
15. Add remaining batter on top.
16. Spread the remaining streusel topping on top.

17. Bake at 350°F or 180°C for 38 to 40 minutes.
18. Once baked, remove from the oven and keep on a wooden board until you can touch the pan with your bare hands.
19. Perform the toothpick test. The toothpick inserted should come out clean. If it has some moist batter, pop it back in the oven and bake for another few minutes, and check again.
20. Now, remove from the pan and keep on a wire rack to cool down. Remove the parchment paper and keep it upside down to cool completely.

Vanilla icing step-by-step recipe

21. In a bowl, sift powdered sugar.
22. Add vanilla extract.
23. Slowly add whipping cream while stirring continuously.
24. Mix until you reach the desired consistency and keep aside.

Garnish and serve

25. Drizzle some vanilla icing on top of the cooled cake.
26. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top.
27. Now, place onto the serving plate. Cut the coffee cake into16 pieces.
28. Serve immediately, enjoy!

How to serve? 

Here are some ways to serve your coffee cake and impress your friends and families.

1. Plain – Serve it as is. It tastes delicious.
2. With coffee – As the name implies, pair your cake with a cup of coffee, espresso, or hot tea.

Watch me making it (video)

Storing and freezing instructions for the coffee cake recipe 

Now, you’ve baked the perfect coffee cake, and you’ve got some leftovers (or maybe you just want to bake it ahead of time). Do not panic. Follow my instructions on how to store, freeze, and thaw it, so you can enjoy every last bite without any hassle!

Storing instructions

The best way to store it is to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container. This stays ok at room temperature for up to 2–3 days. After that, refrigerate it for up to a week. Just make sure to bring it to room temperature or warm it up a bit before serving, as room temperature cake always tastes the best!

Freezing instructions

I would recommend freezing the individual portion of the cake. Cut the cake, wrap it with plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil. Finally, keep in a freezer-friendly Ziplock bag. They stay ok for up to 3 months.

Thawing instructions

When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen coffee cake, you can thaw it in three ways.

1. Refrigerator – Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, take it out one hour before serving to bring it to room temperature.
2. Kitchen counter – Take the cake (or slices) out of the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature for a few hours.
3. In a hurry? – Pop a slice in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds, and it’ll be just like out of the oven!

Variations

One of the best things about coffee cake is how versatile it is. You can totally play around with the ingredients and flavors to make it your own. Below are some of the different variations of this coffee cake.

1. Blueberry coffee cake – Gently fold the blueberries in the batter, or swirl in some blueberry sauce in the batter and bake.
2. Apple coffee cake – Along with cinnamon streusel topping, add diced apples into the cake batter, gently fold, and bake.
3. Caramel pecan coffee cake – Swirl in a few teaspoons of salted caramel in the cake batter, and use a layer of chopped and roasted pecans instead of streusel topping and bake.

Secret tips to make the coffee cake recipe

1. Use room temperature ingredients – I can’t stress this enough. Room temperature butter, eggs, and milk make a huge difference in the texture of your cake. Cold ingredients can cause the batter to overmix and create a dense cake. So, make sure to take it out at least 30 minutes before you start baking. Your cake will be lighter and fluffier with this one simple step!

2. Don’t overmix the batter – Overmixing can lead to a tough, dense cake. So, when you’re mixing the dry ingredients with the wet, stop as soon as the batter is just combined or you see last streaks of flour.

3. Let the Cake Cool a Bit Before Serving – I know, I know—it’s tempting to cut into that warm coffee cake as soon as it’s out of the oven, but try to hold off for at least 10–15 minutes. Letting it cool just a little helps it set up, so you’ll get clean, pretty slices. Plus, the flavors really have a chance to develop and intensify! It tastes better the next day. Try it out, I am telling you!

4. Don’t overbake – Every oven is different, so keep an eye on your coffee cake as it bakes. The cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean (or with a few moist crumbs). Overbaking can make it dry, and we definitely don’t want that!

FAQs

If you have any further questions, please feel free to drop a comment below, and I will be happy to answer them. 

Want to try some other cake recipes? 

1. 4-ingredient biscoff cake.
2. Mini mocha cake.
3. Pistachio loaf cake.

Did you make it?

Over to you! It is your turn to make this mouthwatering coffee cake recipe. I will guarantee that you are going to make this again and again.

Drop a comment below and let me know how yours turned out. Your feedback matters to me a lot. I am waiting for your response.

Do not forget to tag me @dessertkatta or use hashtags #dessertkatta, #dessertkattarecipes if you post the pictures on Instagram.

Recipe card

Print Recipe

Best Coffee Cake Recipe

Author: Sayali Bhave Courses: Cakes Recipe Keys: Dairy Nut Free

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 1 hr Rest Time 15 mins Total Time 1 hr 35 mins

Cooking Temp: 350  F Servings: 9

Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Description

This coffee cake is everything you need in a sweet, comforting treat. It is a soft, fluffy cake with a rich cinnamon streusel topping that adds the perfect amount of crunch. Let's get started.

Ingredients

Servings

Coffee Cake Ingredients

• 1.5 cup (200 gms) + 4 tsp All-purpose Flour
• 2 tsp (10 gms) Baking Powder
• ¹⁄₂ tsp (2.5 gms) Salt
• 25 tsp (120 gms) Unsalted Butter
• 1 cup (200 gms) Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 2 tsp (10 ml) Vanilla Extract
• ³⁄₄ cup (184 ml) + 1 tbsp Milk

Cinnamon Streusel Topping Ingredients

• ³⁄₄ cup (90 gms) All-purpose Flour
• ³⁄₄ cup (150 gms) Packed Light Brown Sugar
• 2.5 tsp (12.5 gms) Ground Cinnamon
• ¹⁄₄ tsp (1.25 gms) Salt
• 6 tbsp (85g) Cold Unsalted Butter, Diced

Vanilla Icing Ingredients

• ¹⁄₂ cup (60 gms) Powdered Sugar
• ¹⁄₂ tsp (2.5 ml) Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 tbsp (30ml) Heavy Cream

Instructions

Cinnamon Streusel Topping Step-By-Step Recipe

1. Whisk the flour, cinnamon, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Add the cubed cold butter.
3. Use your clean fingers to crumble the butter and flour together until you have a shaggy mixture.
4. Your streusel topping is ready to be baked. Keep aside.

Vanilla Icing Step-By-Step Recipe

1. In a bowl, sift powdered sugar.
2. Add vanilla extract.
3. Slowly add whipping cream while stirring continuously.
4. Mix until you reach the desired consistency and keep aside.

Coffee Cake Step-By-Step Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C (350°F) and prepare your 8x8-inch square pan.
2. In a mixing bowl, sift the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Keep aside.
3. Add unsalted butter, oil, and sugar to another mixing bowl.
4. Beat using a hand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.
5. Now add the egg, vanilla extract, and beat again.
6. Alternate the sifted dry ingredients with milk and beat on low speed until just combined.
7. Scrape the bowl so that there is no flour at the bottom.
8. Beat again for 30 seconds.
9. Pour half of the batter in the prepared pan.
10. Add one layer of cinnamon streusel on top of the cake batter
11. Add the remaining batter on top.
12. Spread the remaining streusel topping on top.
13. Bake at 350°F or 180°C for 38 to 40 minutes.
14. Once baked, remove from the oven and keep on a wooden board until you can touch the pan with your bare hands.
15. Perform the toothpick test. The toothpick inserted should come out clean. If it has some moist batter, pop it back in the oven and bake for another few minutes, and check again.
16. Now, remove from the pan and keep on a wire rack to cool down. Remove the parchment paper and keep it upside down to cool completely.
17. Once cooled, place onto the serving plate.
18. Drizzle some vanilla icing on top of the cooled cake.
19. Cut the coffee cake into 9 pieces.
20. Serve immediately, enjoy!

Keywords: coffee cake recipe, best coffee cake recipe, easy coffee cake recipe, recipe for coffee cake, simple coffee cake recipe