Easy classic coffee cake is a moist, buttery cake with a ribbon of sweet cinnamon streusel in the center and topped with a crumb streusel. It is the official breakfast cake! It pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee for an early morning meal or a pick-me-up any time.
Learn how to make the best coffee cake recipe ever.
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Classic Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Flour: All-purpose flour is the base of the cake batter. It gives the batter the ideal texture. Flour gives the crumb topping a wonderful soft crumb.
Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the cake rise.
Salt: Salt adds flavor and balances the sweetness.
Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the cake batter.
Butter: Butter adds flavor and moisture to the cake and crumb topping.
Egg: The egg is the binding agent that combines all the cake ingredients, making the cake soft and fluffy.
Brown sugar: Adds a soft, rich sweetness to the crumb topping.
Cinnamon: The cinnamon adds a delicious warmness.
Buttermilk: Adds a tangy flavor that balances the sweetness.
Optional
Nuts: Nuts add crunch.
How to Make Coffee Cake
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Optional: Line the baking dish with parchment paper.
Grease a 9 by 9-inch baking dish with 2-inch sides.
In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
In a medium bowl, combine the butter, egg, and buttermilk.
Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and still until combined.
Pour half of the cake batter into a prepared dish.
Make the Cinnamon Streusel Filling Mixture
Combine softened butter, cinnamon, flour, brown sugar, and (optional) chopped nuts in a small bowl with a fork.
Sprinkle the cinnamon streusel over the cake batter.
Next, spread the remaining cake batter over the streusel.
Crumb Topping
Cut the butter into small cubes then add to a small bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients and combine with a fork.
Sprinkle the crumb topping over the batter.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cool for 15 minutes on a cooling rack.
Then, lift the cake out of the pan and cool completely.
Coffee Cake Drizzle Glaze
In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar with milk with a spoon.
Add the drizzle glaze over the cooled cake with a spoon.
Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon melted butter
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1½ cups buttermilk (room temperature)
Streusel Filling
- 3 Tablespoons soften butter
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
Crumb Topping
- ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ Tablespoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup butter cubed
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Drizzle Topping
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2½ teaspoons milk
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F.Optional: Line the baking dish with parchment paper.Grease a 9 by 9-inch baking dish with 2-inch sides.
- In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
- In a medium bowl, combine the butter, egg, and buttermilk.
- Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and still until combined.
- Pour half of the cake batter into a prepared dish.
Streusel Filling
- Combine softened butter, cinnamon, flour, brown sugar, and (optional) chopped nuts in a small bowl with a fork.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon streusel over the cake batter.
- Next, spread the remaining cake batter over the streusel.
Crumb Topping
- Cut cold butter into small cubes then add to a small bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients and combine with a fork or pastry blender.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping over the batter.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.Cool for 15 minutes on a cooling rack.Then, lift the cake out of the pan and cool completely.
Drizzle Topping
- In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar with 2 – 3 teaspoons of milk with a spoon. Add more milk if necessary for a smooth drizzle glaze.
- Add the drizzle glaze over the cooled cake with a spoon.
Notes
Nutrition
Kippi
Ps. This post was shared on Between Naps on The Porch.
Jess
Thursday 20th of February 2025
How much sugar does the cake batter need? The directions just say mix the dry ingredients, but the quantity is not stated anywhere. I’m baking this right now, will have to figure it out. Other than that, sounds good.
Saturday 11th of January 2025
great basic recipe! Can also be made sugar-free by substituting regular Splenda equal amounts for sugar (not baking Splenda, which is concentrated). For the brown sugar, brown Splenda is concentrated, so use half the amount mixed with with some cornstarch to get the correct amount of brown sugar. Sugar-free "powdered sugar" is 3 parts regular Splenda sifted with 1 part cornstarch and can be kept in a jar in the pantry.
debbie-dabble
Saturday 18th of May 2024
Kippi, Thanks so much for stopping by!! I gratefully appreciate your kind and encouraging words! Joe will be missed by so many people and it is very comforting to know that he was so loved... Hugs, Deb Debbie-Dabble Blog