Cinnamon Crumble Coffee Cake is the coffee cake of my dreams! With a rich ribbon of cinnamon sugar weaving through a moist vanilla cake–plus more cinnamon streusel on top–this coffee cake recipe is the perfect breakfast treat or coffee-break snack.
There’s nothing like a sweet piece of coffee cake with morning coffee–or as a quick afternoon pick-me-up! I especially love this recipe for cinnamon-y sour cream coffee cake.
It’s simple and easy to make, with the most amazing brown sugar cinnamon streusel that pairs so well with the moist vanilla cake. THIS cinnamon coffee cake is what I picture in my head when I’m craving coffee cake!
One of the really lovely things about this cinnamon coffee cake is that it stays deliciously moist and tender for two, three, and even FOUR days after it’s made! It doesn’t dry out like many other coffee cake recipes do.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Easy to make – If you like your coffee cake recipes easy, this one’s for you! The batter and crumble come together fast.
- Stays moist for days – This one just gets more moist with time! Thanks to the generous cinnamon crumble and the sour cream in the cake batter, this moist coffee cake recipe doesn’t dry out.
- Perfect breakfast treat or coffee break food – Squares of this easy coffee cake are the ideal grab-and-go snack.
What is coffee cake?
Coffee cake is a breakfast cake that’s popular in the U.S. It’s a single-layer cake often flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, and/or fruit and often served with tea or coffee (but it doesn’t have coffee in it!)
Recipe Notes
This Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe is as simple as promised! Just a few ingredients and very little hands-on prep time for a family friendly treat.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Cinnamon Coffee Cake to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
Crumb topping for coffee cake:
- Butter – Melt it in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
- Flour – I use all-purpose flour. Whole-wheat flour will also work, but might result in a denser cake.
- Brown sugar – I use light brown sugar for my crumb topping for coffee cake, but dark brown sugar will work, too.
- Cinnamon & nutmeg – These warm, cozy spices add loads of delicious flavor.
Cake:
- Butter – Make sure it is at room temperature for easy mixing.
- Sugar – White, or granulated, sugar is best.
- Eggs – Eggs function as a binder in this simple coffee cake recipe.
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract adds a sweet touch of flavor.
- Sour cream – Full-fat sour cream makes this such a moist coffee cake recipe! I love the subtly tangy flavor it adds, too.
- Flour – I use all-purpose flour. Whole-wheat flour will also work, but might result in a denser cake.
- Cinnamon – I use more cinnamon in the cake batter for lots of cinnamon flavor.
- Baking powder – Acts as the leavening agent for the coffee cake, giving it a wonderfully tender crumb.
- Salt – To highlight the flavors and balance the sweetness.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake: Add 1 cup of peeled, diced apple to the batter. Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples are great options!
- Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins: Line a standard-size, 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Divide half the batter between the cups and cover with 1 ½ tablespoons of cinnamon crumble per muffin. Add the remaining batter and top with the remaining cinnamon crumble. Bake until the tops of the muffins spring up when you poke them and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 18-25 minutes.
- Blueberry Cinnamon Coffee Cake: Toss 2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries with 1 tablespoon of flour, then stir them into the batter before adding the batter to the pan.
- Cinnamon Coffee Cake Bundt: Layer the batter in a well-greased bundt pan, adding all the streusel to the middle. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 40-50 minutes.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Cinnamon Coffee Cake.
In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugar together with a hand mixer or mixing spoon until light and fluffy, then mix in the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Add to the butter mixture and stir just until combined.
Add half the batter to the baking dish, then cover with half the cinnamon crumble. Top with the remaining batter.
Spread the remaining batter evenly, then sprinkle on the remaining cinnamon mix. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Recipe Tips
- Use a fork to mix the cinnamon crumble – This will help you get the perfect crumbly texture.
- Stir in the dry ingredients just until incorporated – If you continue stirring the batter, you run the risk of developing the gluten, which can result in a dry and tough coffee cake.
- Stick with an 8×8 pan – You don’t want to use a larger pan because there won’t be enough cinnamon streusel topping. Or, if you want a larger cake, follow the “how to scale” directions in the full recipe directions below.
- Avoid over-baking – Bake your cinnamon coffee cake just until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean and no longer.
- Cut into 16 pieces for smaller pieces of cake – Four columns and four rows give you 16 petite pieces. You can also cut it into larger squares if you prefer.
- Cover the pan with plastic wrap to store – Airtight storage at room temperature helps keep this cake moist and delicious!
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Measure out the dry ingredients ahead of time – Save time by measuring your flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt and keeping it in a storage bag until you’re ready to make your coffee cake.
- Mix up the cinnamon streusel ahead of time – Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 48 hours before making the cake.
- Make it ahead of time then freeze it – The ultimate time-saver when it really counts? Your freezer! Bake the cake then keep it in the freezer until you’re ready to serve it. It will take about an hour to thaw at room temperature.
Freezing Instructions
Making this Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To freeze coffee cake
- Cool the baked coffee cake to room temperature.
- Seal it tightly with plastic wrap and then cover with foil as extra insurance against freezer burn.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To thaw, let the cake sit at room temperature for about an hour.
What to Serve with Cinnamon Coffee Cake
With the delicious sweet flavors of cinnamon and vanilla, cinnamon streusel coffee cake pairs well with savory breakfast dishes like egg casseroles and smoky bacon along with refreshing fruit.
Pairing Ideas
- Perfect Crispy Bacon in the Oven
- Ham & Cheese Egg Muffins
- Ham & Cheese Breakfast Casserole
- Roasted Veggie Breakfast Casserole
- Summer Fruit Salad
Cinnamon Coffee Cake Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and stay surprisingly fresh for days.
To save leftovers, cover tightly with plastic wrap and store:
- at room temperature for 4-5 days
- in the freezer up to 3 months
Recipe FAQ’s
What makes a coffee cake a coffee cake?
A coffee cake is generally made in a single layer in a casserole dish or single round cake pan. They often have a crumble or streusel topping as opposed to other types of cake that often have frosting. Coffee cake is a popular breakfast treat in the U.S.
Does coffee cake actually have coffee in it?
No, American coffee cake does not have coffee in it. It is called “coffee cake” because it is a breakfast and snack cake meant to serve with coffee.
Is coffee cake the same as crumb cake?
Almost! Coffee cake and crumb cake are very similar. Crumb cake often has a single layer of crumb topping that is much thicker than coffee cake’s topping.
Is coffee cake a breakfast food?
Yes, it is designed to be eaten with breakfast, but coffee cake is also great as a quick snack or afternoon tea/coffee time treat.
More EASY Breakfast Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy breakfast recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Apple Fritter Breakfast Casserole
- Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole
- Cranberry Coffee Cake
- French Toast Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Cinnamon Crumble Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Crumble
- ¾ cup melted butter, (1½ sticks)
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Cake:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
To make the cinnamon crumble
- In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Use a fork to stir until it is all combined and forms a crumbly texture.
To make the coffee cake
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or wooden spoon to combine the butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla, and once combined, fold in the sour cream.
- Mix the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture and stir until just moistened.
- Grease an 8 in square baking dish. Spread half the coffee cake batter in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle on half of the cinnamon crumble. Spread the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon crumble. Top with the remaining cinnamon crumble.
- Bake for 42-50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool for 5 minutes, then cut into 16 squares. Serve with coffee or your preferred beverage.
Recipe Notes
- Flour: Whole wheat flour can be used in place of the all-purpose flour.
- Sour cream: Whole milk Greek yogurt will work in place of the sour cream.
- Cinnamon & nutmeg: Pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice can be used instead.
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