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    Home » Blog

    The Best Cinnamon Coffee Cake

    Published: Mar 28, 2022 · Modified: Aug 11, 2023 by April Brown · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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    This delicious Coffee Cake is a sweet accompaniment to a bold cup of coffee or cappuccino. Fluffy center with a crunchy top, this coffee cake will be a hit for any coffee, breakfast, or brunch date!

    I call this recipe the best coffee cake recipe because this recipe is a perfect balance of moist coffee cake and that signature cinnamon sugar streusel topping that is layered throughout the cake.

    coffee cake with a fork on a plate

    Removing the foil during baking allows the sugars on top to caramelize and let coarse crumbs form giving the appearance of a crunchy cinnamon swirl. It truly tastes amazing and is the perfect breakfast treat.

    My favorite time to serve this is at a Mother's Day or a Father's Day gathering. Start your Christmas morning make this coffee cake with your kiddos. Or have a slice of coffee cake and a cup of coffee after dinner. I love it. My husband and I are HUGE fans of the after-dinner coffee!

    For more coffee and cake treats try my Coffee Cake Cookies or these Espresso Chip Coffee Cookies.

    Jump to:
    • Important Ingredients with Substitutions
    • Instructions for coffee cake
    • Level Up with a Top Tip!
    • Storage Recommendations
    • Level Up With Expert Tips & Tricks
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Similar Sweets
    • Coffee Cake
    • More Cake Recipes!

    Important Ingredients with Substitutions

    Coffee cake ingredients laid out on a table
    • Oil - Preferably Canola Oil, it's colorless and a bit healthier compared to Vegetable Oil. If you prefer, you can replace the oil with sour cream.
    • Large Eggs - Room temperature is best, pull eggs out of the fridge about 30 minutes before prepping the coffee cake.
    • Milk - Use your preferred milk option here. Whole milk will deliver the best results
    • Brown sugar - Light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, whichever you have available to you will do. I enjoy dark brown sugar, the added molasses create more depth of flavor. Personally, I mix light and dark brown sugar together.
    • Ground cinnamon
    • Unsalted Butter -Unsalted melted butter.

    See the recipe below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

    Instructions for coffee cake

    Preheat oven to 350 F. Then lightly grease your chosen pan.

    eggs, vanilla, milk, and oil in a bowl

    Step 1: In a large mixing bowl add oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk. Whisk or blend on medium speed to combine then set aside.

    bowl of flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder

    Step 2: In a medium bowl sift to combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk the flour mixture to combine.

    all ingredients mixed into a pancake batter consistency

    Step 3: Make the cake batter by combining the flour mixture and egg mixture together.

    coffee cake batter in the baking dish

    Step 4: Pour half the batter into your prepared baking dish or cake pan.

    brown sugar topping sprinkled over first layer of batter

    Step 5: In a small bowl make the cinnamon streusel topping by combining brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half of crumb topping on top of your cake batter.

    second layer of batter over top cinnamon sugar mixture

    Step 6: Pour the remaining batter into the prepared pan.

    last layer of cinnamon sugar topping on top

    Step 7: Make your streusel layer with the last half of the brown sugar and cinnamon streusel mixture.

    melted butter drizzled on top

    Step 8: Drizzle the melted butter mixture over the top layer before baking.

    Step 9: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil then bake again for another 15 minutes. To signal doneness, a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

    Step 10: Remove the cake from the oven, set it aside, and allow it to cool completely before serving.

    Level Up with a Top Tip!

    Hint: Serve with a vanilla glaze or a scoop of vanilla ice cream or this tasty Affogato.

    Storage Recommendations

    Store in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap either at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.

    Best served warm but is just as delicious at room temperature or cold. Reheat in 10-second increments in the microwave.

    Can I freeze coffee cake? You can freeze coffee cake. Wrap in either aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place in a freezer Ziploc bag. This will store for 2 - 3 months.

    coffee cake plated and served with coffee

    Level Up With Expert Tips & Tricks

    Optional - Bake in a greased or lined muffin tin for individual potions

    Change up the spices! Swap cinnamon for ground nutmeg and allspice.

    Add diced apples and replace the cinnamon with apple pie spice. Baking time may be longer due to the added moisture of the apples.

    For a bit of crunch add chopped toasted pecans.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you make Coffee Cake in muffin tins?

    Yes! Check on the cake often as the timing may be different than the actual cake. Just to note, I have not tested this recipe as muffins. Make the coffee cake recipe and the cinnamon brown sugar filling the same way. Then layer your muffin pans appropriately with a layer of cinnamon filling. Will make around 12 regular sized coffee cake muffins.

    Why is it called Coffee Cake?

    Surely you were expecting this recipe to have actual coffee in it right?! Nope!
    Coffee cake, like a tea cake, is meant to eat alongside a strong cup of coffee or tea. The coffee cake can have many variations but typically consist of a streusel topping with a spiced cake. Added fruit, nuts, or custard are among a few additions to a coffee cake.

    Similar Sweets

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • A slice of gingerbread cheesecake on a plate.
      Gingerbread Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
    • A slice of no bake cherry cheesebake on a white plate.
      No Bake Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake with Cool Whip
    • Baked chocolate pound cake topped with grated milk chocolate.
      Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake
    • Close up of a cinnamon streusel muffin.
      The Best Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

     

    coffee cake with a fork on a plate

    Coffee Cake

    A sweet cakey treat that pairs perfectly with a bold cup of coffee.
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    Print Pin Let me know you LOVE it!
    Course: Cakes
    Cuisine: European
    Keyword: coffee cake
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 518kcal
    Author: April Brown

    Equipment

    • Hand mixer
    • 9x13 baking pan
    • Sifter

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup canola oil
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 cup white granulated sugar
    • 3 cups all purpose flour
    • 3 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ cup dark brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ⅓ cup unsalted butter

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 F, prepare your baking dish by spraying a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray.
    • In a large bowl add oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk. Whisk to combine.
    • In a medium bowl sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.
    • Combine mixtures together in the large bowl.
    • Pour ½ of the mixture into your prepared baking dish.
    • In a small bowl combine brown sugar and cinnamon, whisk together and sprinkle half of this mixture on top of your cake batter.
    • Pour the rest of the batter into your baking dish and gently spread evenly, then top with the last half of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
    • Drizzle the melted butter over the top of your coffee cake batter before baking.
    • Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil then bake again for another 15 minutes.
    • Serve warm with a nice cup of coffee!

    Notes

    For fun individual servings, use a 12 serving muffin tin. Line or grease the muffin tin before filling.
    Change up the spices! Swap cinnamon for ground nutmeg and allspice.
    Add diced apples and replace the cinnamon with apple pie spice. Baking time may be longer due to the added moisture of the apples
    Serve with a vanilla glaze or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
    Best served warm but is just as delicious at room temperature or cold. Re-heat in 10-second increments in the microwave.
    Store in an airtight container either at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerated for a week.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 518kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 231IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Comment below and give a ★ rating!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Francesca Knoch

      April 06, 2022 at 11:38 am

      Cannot wait to try this recipie! Looks so delicious !

      Reply
      • april.brown0787

        April 06, 2022 at 11:41 am

        Thank you! <3

        Reply
    2. Dannii

      July 04, 2022 at 3:07 am

      I love anything with coffee and cinnamon and this did not disappoint. So much flavour.

      Reply
    3. Ieva

      July 04, 2022 at 3:10 am

      I love a good recipe that I can use for making a great cake with all the ingredients I already have at home! I found myself in desperate need of something sweet with my coffee so started searching for something to make with very basic ingredients that I had left at home. And I am so glad to have found your recipe! Great cake, perfect texture, and so easy!

      Reply
    4. Beth

      July 04, 2022 at 6:05 am

      Cinnamon and coffee are such a great flavour combination! This cake looks delicious and perfect with a cup of coffee!

      Reply
    5. Katherine

      July 04, 2022 at 6:39 am

      This looks like coffee cake perfection! Yum!

      Reply

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    I am SO excited to start this journey by leveling up my baking skills and sharing with you what I’ve learned along the way! Easy or difficult, I plan to take on the challenge. Sharing the kitchen with my little family and hope they don’t mind the mess. The results will surely be worth it! 

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