Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake
This cinnamon streusel coffee cake has moist vanilla cake, a rich cinnamon swirl, and an irresistible crumb topping. This recipe is heavy on the crumb topping, so you'll get some in every single bite.
If you know me, you know I love sweet breakfasts, like Funfetti pancakes or DIY Krispy Kreme Donuts. This cinnamon streusel coffee cake recipe is a new family favorite because it comes out perfectly every time. When I'm craving something sweet in the morning, this is what I reach for. We also love making it for holiday brunch for Easter and Christmas.
Unlike a typical crumb cake which has more flour,my streusel is heavy on the caramelized brown sugar. It's very similar to what I use in my Blueberry Bundt Cake streusel layer. My version also has this brown sugar cinnamon mixture swirled inside AND on top!It goes great with a cup of hot coffee, tea, or an icy cold glass of milk.
🤎Why I Love This Recipe🤎
- Common Ingredients: Don't be intimidated by the long ingredient list. To make preparing this recipe easier, I listed each ingredient in each section of the recipe. For example, flour is listed 3 times since it is used in all 3 layers.
- No Fancy Equipment: No electric mixer or food process is needed.
- Mile High Crumb Topping: Let's be honest the crumbs are the best part. I may or may not have shoveled them in my mouth while making this. This coffee cake is generous on the crumb topping, so you'll be sure to get some in every bite.
🧈Ingredient Notes🧈
For the Coffee Cake
- Butter: For this recipe, use softened butter.
- Milk: For best results use whole milk. Low fat or plant-based milks are not recommended.
- Flour: Measure your flour by spooning it into your measuring cup and leveling it with a knife. Do not scoop your cup into your flour container, you may overmeasure.
- Baking Powder: Replace every 6-12 months for the best rise.
Quickly Soften Butter
To quickly soften butter, cut it into smaller pieces or grate it using a cheese grater.
For the Filling and Topping
- Butter: Be sure to use cold butter for the topping. This will ensure you get those perfect crumbs.
- Cinnamon: Make this recipe shine for any season by substituting apple pie, pumpkin, or gingerbread spice blends for the cinnamon.
How To Make Cinnamon Coffee Cake
- Cream butter and white sugar.
- Stir in egg, vanilla, baking powder, and salt.
- Alternate adding flour and milk.
For the Cinnamon Swirl and Topping
- Combine butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Pour onto batter and swirl. Top with remaining batter.
- Cut butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon with 2 forks until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Sprinkle on top of batter.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes.
🧺Leftovers🧺
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months. I like freezing individual slices so I can pull it out when I'm craving a breakfast treat.
❓Frequently Asked Questions❓
Does It Contain Coffee?
This cake does not contain coffee. Coffee cake got its name because it is usually served alongside a good cup of coffee in the morning.
Can I Make This Ahead?
Yes, bake up to 2 days in advance.
🗂️Tips and Tricks🗂️
- Do not overmix: Mix your ingredients until the flour is just combined. Over-mixing can lead to a tough dense cake.
- Pan Prep: Line your pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper to make removing the cake and cleanup a breeze.
- Don't Overbake: To tell if the cake is done, insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, it is done. Do not overbake, as that will lead to a dry cake.
Picture-Perfect Swirl Everytime
For the perfect cinnamon swirl, drop the streusel ingredients using a teaspoon from your silverware drawer. Then, swirl with a butter knife.
⚠️Troubleshooting⚠️
- Dry and Crumbly Cake
- Problem #1 Too Much Flour: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife.
- Problem #2 Overbaked: Check on it a few minutes before the timer goes off.
- Soggy Crumbs
- Problem #1 Underdone: Try baking for a few more minutes.
- Problem #2 Using Melted Butter: Cut in cold butter using 2 forks; do not use melted butter.
- Dense Cake
- Problem #1: Old Leavening Agent: Use fresh baking baking powder.
- Problem #2: Do not overmix; mix until the flour is just combined.
🧇More Breakfast Recipes To Try🧇
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake
What's not to like about this cake with a rich cinnamon swirl, and an irresistible crumb topping. Best brunch idea ever!
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Servings: 12 Slices
Calories: 396kcal
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Ingredients
For the Coffee Cake
- ½ Cup Butter Softened
- ¾ Cup White Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 Pinch Salt
- ¾ Cup Whole Milk
For the Cinnamon Swirl
- 3 Tablespoons Butter Softened
- 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
- ½ Cup All Purpose Flour
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar Packed
For the Crumb Topping
- 5 Tablespoons Butter
- ¾ Cup All Purpose Flour
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar Packed
- 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
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Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x9 pan with non stick baking spray.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and white sugar. Stir in vanilla, egg, baking powder, and salt.
- Alternate stirring in flour and milk until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Pour half of batter into prepared pan.
For the Cinnamon Swirl
- In a small bowl, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Pour into the batter in pan, and swirl with a knife. Pour remaining batter on top.
For the Crumb Topping
- In the same small bowl using 2 forks, butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Sprinkle topping on top of batter, and press in lightly.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Notes
Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
-
- Butter #1: For the cake portion, use softened butter. To quickly soften butter, cut it into smaller pieces or grate it using a cheese grater.
-
- Milk: For best results, use whole milk. Low-fat or plant-based milks are not recommended.
-
- Flour: Measure your flour by spooning it into your measuring cup and leveling it with a knife. Do not scoop your cup into your flour container, you may overmeasure.
-
- Baking Powder: Replace every 6-12 months for the best rise.
- Butter #2: For the filling and topping, be sure to use cold butter, not melted butter.
-
- Do not overmix: Mix your ingredients until the flour is just combined.
-
- Pan Prep: Line your pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper to make removing the cake and cleanup a breeze.
-
- Picture-Perfect Swirl Every Time: For the perfect cinnamon swirl, drop the streusel ingredients using a teaspoon from your silverware drawer. Then, swirl with a butter knife.
-
- Don't Overbake: To tell if the cake is done, insert a toothpick in the center.
Nutrition
Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 514IU | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 2mg
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Made this for the family Saturday and it was wonderful. Great recipe!
This recipe looks amazing, i haven't gotten the time to make it but it looks very tasty. I am planning on making it soon.
Great recipe
Easy to make
Family favorite
Fabulous recipe
I want to know can you use a cake pan? how about a springform pan? I know you mentioned a 9x9 and it shows a square pan, but I'm wondering about getting the coffee cake out. I know you mentioned parchment paper but does that really work? my 9x9 pan is really more of a 9x8 square pan. So you say no mixer. not even for creaming the butter and sugar? I find in these recipes people are not very specific about pan shapes. Thank you, Jane
Hi Jane,
I've only tested this recipe in a 9x9 inch square pan. With the price of groceries I don't want to speculate on if other pans will or will not work if I haven't personally tried it. I don't personally use a mixer when baking but you are more than welcome to. It's simply not how I learned to do it but it works well for lots of others.
Parchment works great! It's coated so nothing will stick to it!
May I bake this in a loaf pan instead?
Hey Marvina,
We haven't tried that, and it would likely require a longer bake time. Feel free to report back if you do give it a go!
My family loved this!
can i use this recipe with gluten free flour
Hey there Friend! We only test the recipes as written. If you go this a whirl please do report back.
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Just made this recipe and it is on the oven.
*will update*
I just made this recipe and it is on the oven.
*will update*
Don't leave us hanging Tacey!
Can you update the recipe and provide the ingredients with weight measurements so that the recipe will have the correct amts. of flour and sugar in grams?
Hi Didi,
No I'm sorry. We only test our recipes with cups not by weight.
So if I only have 2 percent milk can I use half and half instead of?
Hi Diana!
This recipe was only tested with whole milk. I don't speculate on different ingredients as I'd never want to lead you astray with the price of groceries being what they are today. If you try something different feel free to report back.
I part half and half to 3 parts 2% milk = whole milk
Where is the coffee in recipe pls?
How can I substitute brown packed sugar
Hi Loubna! Coffee cake does NOT have coffee. It's called coffee cake because you eat it with coffee! 🙂
The recipe already calls for brown sugar I don't any substitutions the first time you make something.