This Homemade Coffee Cake is incredibly delicious, easy to make, moist, and topped with a cinnamon streusel topping. Perfect for dessert or breakfast!

A stack of coffee cake pieces showing the different layers.

Over the years I’ve shared some of my favorite cake recipes with you. From carrot cake to chocolate cake and red velvet cake, so many of you have made and loved my homemade cakes. So today I’m sharing another one that has been requested quite a bit the last couple of months — this homemade coffee cake recipe.

This cinnamon streusel coffee cake took a few tries to get just right, but it’s by far one of the best coffee cakes I’ve ever tried. It’s made completely from scratch, but don’t let that fool you because this cake is still easy to make.

Another thing that I love about this recipe is that it has a layer of streusel in the middle of the cake and on top to ensure that you get some of that delicious streusel in every single bite. I’ve even included a full video tutorial to show you exactly how to make this recipe!

Recipe Ingredients

Contrary to what the name implies, this moist coffee cake recipe doesn’t actually contain coffee. It got its name because it tastes delicious alongside a cup of coffee! Here’s what we’ll need to make this cinnamon streusel coffee cake: 

  • All-purpose flour: When measuring the flour, spoon and level it to avoid making a dense coffee cake. 
  • Sugar: Both granulated sugar and brown sugar are used in this easy coffee cake recipe. Granulated sugar adds sweetness, and brown sugar also adds some flavor. 
  • Ground cinnamon: Adds tons of flavor to this homemade coffee cake. 
  • Unsalted butter: Needs to be beaten together with the sugar for several minutes to incorporate air into the batter. This will make for a lighter cake. 
  • Baking powder and baking soda: Helps this cinnamon coffee cake rise. 
  • Salt: Balances out the sweetness in the batter and enhances the cinnamon flavor. 
  • Eggs: You want your eggs to be room temperature for this recipe. If you forget to set your eggs out ahead of time, simply place them in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
  • Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract is best. 
  • Sour cream: Full-fat sour cream is best, but low-fat can be used as well. Feel free to substitute full-fat plain Greek yogurt, if desired. 

A bowl filled with streusel topping.

How To Make Coffee Cake

To make this cake, you’ll start out by making the streusel topping. To make the topping, you’ll whisk together some all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined. Then add some cubed room temperature butter and cut it into the dry ingredients until it’s nice and crumbly like the picture above.

You can either use a pastry cutter or fork to cut in the butter, either one works fine here. Once the streusel is mixed together, transfer it to the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the cake batter.

A glass mixing bowl filled with cake batter.

To make the cake batter, you’ll start out by creaming together your butter and granulated sugar for about 4-5 minutes or until it’s light in color and fluffy. I typically love to use a mix of brown sugar and granulated sugar in recipes, but for this cake batter, we’ll only be using granulated sugar. 

Next, you’ll mix in some room temperature eggs one at a time and some pure vanilla extract. I suggest stopping to scrape down the sides of your bowl at this point too just to make sure everything is well combined.

Then, you’ll whisk together your dry ingredients —some all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. The last step is to just mix in the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the sour cream. Alternating the dry ingredients and sour cream helps to ensure that you don’t overmix the batter which can lead to a denser cake.

A white baking pan filled with cake batter and topped with a streusel topping.

The cake batter will be pretty thick, but this is normal! You’ll spread half of the batter into a 9×13 baking pan, then remove the streusel topping from the refrigerator and sprinkle half of it on top of the batter in the pan. Repeat one more time with the cake batter and the streusel topping so that you have a layer of streusel in the middle and on top.

Just a note, this won’t seem like much batter but the coffee cake will rise quite a bit in the oven as it bakes so don’t worry!

The final step is to place the cake into the oven and let it bake for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

I suggest letting the cake cool some before you slice into it so it’s not too hot. I prefer to let mine cool for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, then slice into it so it’s still slightly warm. You can also prepare this the night before and serve it at room temperature or warm up individual slices in the microwave.

The finished cake still in the baking dish with some pieces removed to show the cake and streusel layers.

FAQ’s

How Long Does Coffee Cake Last? 

You can store this cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Can I Freeze This Cake? 

Yes! The cooled cake may be stored in a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature or warm in the microwave before serving.

Can I Use Salted Butter?

I typically recommend using unsalted butter, since the amount of salt in salted butters can vary between different brands. However, you can use salted butter if that’s all you have on hand. If using salted butter, reduce the salt in the recipe by 1/4 teaspoon per stick of butter called for. 

A single piece of coffee cake resting on a rustic plate with a bite taken out of the corner.

Baking Tips

  • Before getting started, make sure all of your ingredients (butter, eggs, and sour cream) are at room temperature.
  • I suggest making the streusel topping first and refrigerating it while you prepare the cake batter.
  • When measuring your flour, avoid scooping it from the container. Instead, stir the flour around, spoon it into your measuring cup, and level it off with the back of a knife.
  • Don’t have any sour cream on hand? You can replace it with an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt.
  • When mixing in the dry ingredients and sour cream, only mix in each addition until just combined. Over mixing the batter can lead to a denser cake.

Video Tutorial

More Homemade Cake Recipes to Try!

A stack of coffee cake pieces showing the cake and streusel layers.

Coffee Cake

5 from 13 ratings
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
This Homemade Coffee Cake is incredibly delicious, easy to make, moist, and topped with a cinnamon streusel topping. Perfect for dessert or breakfast!
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Ingredients

Servings: 12 slices

For the topping:

  • 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour , spooned & leveled
  • 2/3 cup (135 grams) light brown sugar , packed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter , softened and cubed into small pieces

For the cake:

  • 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour , spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter , softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs , room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 grams) sour cream , room temperature

Instructions
 

To make the topping:

  • Add the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a large mixing bowl and whisk until well combined. Add the cubed butter and cut it into the mixture with a pastry cutter or a fork until the mixture starts to come together and is crumbly.
  • Cover and transfer to the refrigerator while you prepare the cake.

To make the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray a 9x13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a hand-held mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy (about 4-5 minutes).
  • Mix in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated, then mix in the vanilla extract, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three parts alternating with the sour cream (starting and ending with the dry ingredients). Make sure to mix in each addition until just combined.
  • Scoop half of the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out evenly. Remove the streusel topping from the refrigerator and sprinkle half of it on top of the cake batter. Scoop the other half of the cake batter on top and smooth it out, then top with the remaining half of the streusel topping.
  • Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and cool on a wire rack in the pan for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour, then slice and enjoy!

Notes

Store cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Freezing Instructions: Cooled cake may be stored in a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature or warm in the microwave before serving.
Eggs: Room temperature eggs are best. If you forget to place your eggs out ahead of time, you can place them in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes, then use them in the recipe.
Sour Cream: If you don't have any sour cream you can replace it with an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt.
Cuisine: American
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Author: Danielle Rye
Did you make this recipe?Mention @livewellbakeoften on Instagram or tag #livewellbakeoften.