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This classic cinnamon coffee cake is loaded with decadent cinnamon sugar swirls and topped with crumbly cinnamon streusel. It’s the perfect treat to share at any brunch, book club, or dessert for any night of the week. The warm, satisfying aroma will fill your heart and your home!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicious Flavor: You won’t be able to get enough of this soft, delicate cake loaded with cinnamon swirls! This cinnamon coffee cake delivers on delicious flavor with its cinnamon sugar swirl and crumb topping!
- Easy to Make: This classic coffee cake only takes just over an hour to make and uses ingredients you already have in your kitchen!
- Versatile: This delicious cake can be served on many occasions! Pair it with this fruit salad for brunch, or top it with this whipped cream for dessert.
Easy Coffee Cake Recipe
You will be blown away at how simple this recipe really is. You already have all of these ingredients in your kitchen, so grab them, and let’s get baking! For exact measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Cinnamon Swirl
- Granulated Sugar: Adds a punch of sweetness and creates the decadent cinnamon sugar swirl.
- Ground Cinnamon: Gives the cake its warm, delicious flavor. You won’t be able to get enough of it!
Streusel Topping
- All Purpose Flour: Provides the structure of the streusel topping.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and creates an enticing crumbly texture.
- Brown Sugar: Gives the topping a depth of flavor and sweetness.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds even more cinnamon goodness to the cake!
- Salt: This adds the perfect balance to all of the sweetness, making everything taste amazing.
- Cold Unsalted Butter: The cold butter will create the perfect crumbly cinnamon coffee cake texture and warm flavor.
Cake
- Melted Unsalted Butter: Acts as a fat and provides incredible flavor.
- Sour Cream: The secret ingredient that makes everything so moist and delicious!
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and gives a nice texture to the cake.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a depth of sweetness and gives the cake its color.
- Room Temperature Eggs: It’s important to have the eggs at room temperature so that they absorb into the mixture.
- Vanilla Extract: Gives the cake its warm, inviting flavor.
- All Purpose Flour: This acts as a base to give the cinnamon coffee cake its structure.
- Baking Powder: Acts as a leavening agent to give the cake its airy texture.
- Salt: Enhances all of the flavors and balances out the sweetness.
- Baking Soda: Helps create a fluffy cake-like texture.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe Instructions
There are a few steps to putting this cake together, but they are super simple. If you follow the instructions below, I will guide you through each step!
Cinnamon Swirl
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray an 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pan with 2-inch high sides with pan spray. You may add a parchment round to the bottom of the pan and spray it with pan spray, but that is optional. Make the cinnamon-sugar filling by mixing the sugar and cinnamon evenly in a small bowl. Set aside.
Streusel Topping
- Streusel Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
- Cut in Butter: Add the cold butter and use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it is the size of small peas. You may also use clean hands to rub the butter into the mixture by rubbing it between your fingers. Just be careful not to rub all the butter into the flour completely. Cover the bowl and set it in the refrigerator while you prepare the cake batter.
Cake
- Whisk: Add the butter, sour cream, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla to a large bowl and whisk until smooth and combined.
- Cake Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine: Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture and mix until combined.
- Bottom Layer: Add half the cake batter to the prepared cake pan then top it with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Top Layer: Add the remaining batter on top of the cinnamon sugar and spread until smooth and even before distributing the streusel over the cake batter.
- Bake: Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean from the center of the cake. Let the cinnamon coffee cake cool completely before carefully turning it out of the baking pan. Slice into pieces and serve.
Tips and Substitutions
- Cake Removal: If you don’t add a parchment round to the bottom of the pan, consider using a pan spray with flour in it. I have found that these sprays make cakes much easier to remove from the pan!
- Pan Size: If you use an 8-inch pan, the sides of the cake may rise quite a bit, but the cinnamon coffee cake will still bake fine and taste delicious! Using a 9-inch pan will result in a more even bake.
- Substitution: You may substitute the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt if you would like.
- Add a glaze: Make a powdered sugar glaze by whisking one cup of powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of milk until it is smooth but not too runny. When the coffee cake is completely cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top before serving.
How to Properly Store Coffee Cake
If you are lucky enough to have any coffee cake leftovers, you will definitely want to store them properly so you can enjoy them for the next few days! If you’re smart, you could make a double batch and freeze one for later.
- Countertop or Fridge: You can store this cinnamon coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the refrigerator for up to 8 days.
- Freezer: To freeze the coffee cake, let it cool completely before wrapping it in 2-3 layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Place it in a freezer bag or an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To Thaw: Remove the coffee cake from the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. You can bring it to room temperature once it’s thawed in the fridge. You can warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm the entire cake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes. It just tastes better warm!
More Cinnamon Cake Dessert Options
Is there a more satisfying flavor than cinnamon and sugar? I don’t think so! If you want more delicious recipes that include this ultimate combination, look no further. I’ve got the best options for you to try below!
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Cinnamon Coffee Cake
This classic cinnamon coffee cake is loaded with decadent cinnamon sugar swirls and topped with crumbly cinnamon streusel. It's the perfect treat to share at any brunch, book club, or dessert for any night of the week. The warm, satisfying aroma will fill your heart and your home!
Ingredients
Cinnamon Swirl
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Streusel Topping
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cold
Cake
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 8 ounces sour cream
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray an 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pan with 2-inch high sides with pan spray. You may add a parchment round to the bottom of the pan and spray it with pan spray, but that is optional. Mix the sugar and cinnamon evenly in a small bowl. Set aside.
Streusel Topping
- Add the flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the cold butter and use a pastry cutter to cut it into the flour mixture until the butter is the size of small peas. You may also use clean hands to rub the butter into the mixture by rubbing it between your fingers. Just be careful not to completely rub all the butter into the flour. Cover the bowl and set it in the refrigerator while you prepare the cake batter.
Cake
- Add the butter, sour cream, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla to a large bowl and whisk until smooth and combined.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture and mix until combined.
- Add half of the cake batter to the prepared cake pan. Top it with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Add the rest of the cake batter on top of the cinnamon sugar and spread until smooth and even before distributing the streusel evenly over the top of the cake batter.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean from the center of the cake. Let the coffee cake cool completely before carefully turning it out of the baking pan. Slice into pieces and serve.
Notes
Originally Posted September 14, 2020
Updated September 11, 2024
Nutrition
Calories: 435kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 5gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 256mgPotassium: 138mgFiber: 1gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 685IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I have tried this coffee cake for my friends get together. They all just got mad. This cake was big hit. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe.
Thanks for this wonderful coffee cake recipe. I love to bake this coffee cake.
I love coffee cake, you shared such a delicious coffee cake recipe. I will try this recipe.
Thanks for sharing.
This cake is really delicious, and easy to make! Thanks!
So very delicious. Funny, I saw this recipe while looking at the breakfast casserole on this site. I thought this with some fresh fruit would round out our breakfast for supper menu. It is absolutely wonderful. The cake itself is so tender and moist, the streusel perfectly sweetened with that generous dose of cinnamon that i love. I did almost make a mistake, as I just get so used to butter being measured in Tbsp. not ounces. Thankfully, I caught it just in time. This is a keeper. I caught my 86 year old mom going back into the kitchen to get just a little more. Thanks for a great recipe.
I made this by adding chocolate chips to the streusel mixture. The cake freezes well. I made it originally about 6 weeks ago and froze what we didn’t eat at the time. The texture has not suffered from freezing.
Best coffee cake. I added a couple teaspoons cardamon because I like that spice so much, but the cake was delicious with or without the extra spices. Probably the best coffee cake I’ve ever made or had anywhere.
Thank you for sharing this. Perfect cake coffee
Greate cacke
Absolutely perfect cake.
I tried out a cake with the above recipe. The cake was very soft and tasty. Thank you.
Amazing recipe. I am not into cooking but I love coffee that why I find interest in making different coffee recipes only. Thank you for sharing this. I liked your recipe and will try it soon.
So moist it was delicious.
Absolutely perfect coffee cake!! Thank you for sharing this coffee cake recipe, I tried this on my friend’s birthday and she loved it. Making this again for sure!!
This is the best coffee cake I have ever had. It was easy to make and made my kitchen smell like a bakery!
this takes me back, haven’t had a coffee cake like this in these in years, a great reminder, thank you