The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (2024)

by Kristen Whitby 22 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

A delicious coffee cake recipe that is easy to mix in 5 minutes with just a few staple ingredients. This family recipe has been passed down for 3 generations and is perfect for breakfast, snack time or even dinner!

The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (1)

Coffee cake is one of our very favorites around here! We find ourselves making it more often in the fall along with pumpkin pecan coffee cake and walnut and apple coffee cake. When the weather becomes a little more crisp, we also tend to make more breakfast foods (and baked goods in general) and love our cinnamon rolls and apple pie cinnamon rolls too!

We have been making this coffee cake in my family for as long as I can remember. Back to my childhood, this is the recipe that my mom would always make for us, and now I make it for my family. We love to make it for breakfast and also "breakfast for dinner" which is our favorite! This recipe is easy to double and make for a crowd as well. It is also delicious as leftovers.

What is Coffee Cake?

American coffee cake is traditionally a mildly sweet cake with a cinnamon streusel crumb layer. It is given that name because it pairs well with a cup of coffee and not because it has coffee in it. Coffee Cake has a different texture than other cakes. The crumb is more moist and dense like a light pound cake.

The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (2)

How to Make Coffee Cake

The great thing about coffee cake is that it is SO easy to make! You can whip up the batter in just a couple minutes with a few staple ingredients. You don't need any special equipment or mixers. Just use a mixing bowl and spoon.

Cake Steps

  1. Preheat oven to 375°
  2. Beat egg in mixing bowl. Add sugar, milk, oil, salt and vanilla. Spoon flour into measuring cups and then dump on top of the batter. Sprinkle baking powder over flour and mix into the top half of the flour. Mix flour into batter until combined, but not over-mixed.
  3. Pour into a 9x9 baking dish.

Cinnamon Streusel Topping

  1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter in microwave. Remove and mix in brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour and stir until combined. Add nuts if desired.
  2. Sprinkle streusel onto the cake.
  3. Use a finger or the small end of a wooden spoon to poke the streusel halfway down into the cake batter, randomly in 12-18 different spots.
  4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs (not runny batter).
  5. Lightly drizzle with icing if desired.
The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (3)

Walnuts and Icing

The walnuts and icing in this recipe are totally optional. You can use (or not) based on preference.

We love walnut coffee cake, so I always include the nuts. Pecans are also a great option.

If I am being honest, I rarely make the icing drizzle. It is yummy (and pretty), but the cake is so good by itself that it doesn't necessarily need it.

The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (4)

5 from 20 votes

Print

Coffee Cake

The BEST moist coffee cake recipe that is easy to make 5 minutes prep time with just a few staple ingredients.

CourseBreakfast, Dessert, Dinner

CuisineAmerican

Keywordbreakfast, cake

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings 9

Author Kristen | Ella Claire & Co.

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1egg
  • 1/4cupoilvegetable or canola
  • 1tsp.vanilla
  • 3/4cupsugar
  • 1/2cupmilk
  • 1/4tsp.salt
  • 2tsp.baking powder
  • 1 1/2cupsflour

Streusel

  • 2Tbuttermelted
  • 1/2cupbrown sugar
  • 2tsp.cinnamon
  • 2TFlour
  • 1/2cupwalnutschopped, optional

Icing Drizzle

  • 1Tbutterroom temperature
  • 3/4cuppowdered sugar
  • 1Tmilkextra, if needed

Instructions

Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 375°.

  2. Beat egg in mixing bowl. Mix in sugar, milk, salt, oil, and vanilla.

  3. Spoon flour into measuring cup. Dump flour on top of the batter. Sprinkle baking pwder over flour and gently mix into the top half of the flour. Stir flour mixture into batter until combined. Pour into greased, or parchment lined, 9x9 baking dish.

Streusel

  1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter in microwave. Remove and mix in brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour and stir until well combined. Add nuts if desired.

  2. Sprinkle streusel onto the cake.Use a finger or the small end of a wooden spoon to poke the streusel halfway down into the cake batter, randomly 12-18 times.

  3. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs (not runny batter). Do not overbake or it will be more dry!

Icing (optional)

  1. (optional step) Mix butter and powdered sugar. Thin with milk until desired consistency. Lightly drizzle cake with icing.

Recipe Notes

Note: Spoon flour into the measuring cup for the cake batter. For the flour in the topping, I just scoop it straight with the measuring spoon.

Tip: Do not over-bake or it will dry out the cake.

I hope you love one of our favorite family recipes, and here are 5 more delicious fall breakfast recipes for you to try!

The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (5)

Delicious Coffee Cake by Ella Claire & Co. | Apple Pie Crepes by Tidy Mom | Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal by Inspired by Charm

The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (6)

Baked Pumpkin Maple French Toast by Freutcake | Cinnamon Apple French Toast by anderson + grant | Granola Brunch Baked Apples by Handmade Farmhouse

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

« Fall Decor | Budget Friendly Family Room

Fall Table By Candlelight | Outdoor Fall Decorations »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katrina Carrico

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (7)
    I wanted a coffee cake that was quick, simple, and not massive. This was definitely the move! I had to substitute milk with sour cream but it still turned out great. I also used some cold coffee instead of milk in the icing and it gave it some nice extra flavor. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply

  2. Gigi R.

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (8)
    First time making a coffee cake. I picked this recipe. I'm so glad I did. It is soo delicious. My family is requesting for me to make a 2nd one in the same week.

    Reply

  3. Cecilia

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (9)
    I made this and it turned out so good! I didn’t have a 9x9 pan so I used a 9x13, I just baked it for about 5 mins less. Still turned out great but I would definitely use a smaller pan next time.

    Reply

  4. Kristalyn

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (10)
    This turned out great! It was really easy to make, and it came out so good!

    Reply

  5. Michelle

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (12)
    Really good, and easy to make.

    Reply

  6. Olivia

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (13)
    Delicious! Used a larger spring roll pan, buttermilk and left out nuts. Glazed while warm and it covered the top so sealed in moisture. Ten stars quick, easy and a hit!

    Reply

  7. Lori

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (14)
    This was an easy and delicious coffee cake! I doubled the recipe and used whole wheat pastry flour, its all I had on hand. I was worried it would be dense but it turned out great! That streusel!

    Reply

  8. Rebecca Morgan

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (15)
    Made for myself and boyfriend and we are obsessed! I’m very bad at baking and this was simple and quick.

    Reply

  9. Liz

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (16)
    Delicious cake! My husband also loved it. I doubled the recipe and baked in a 9x13" dish for 30-35 min and it came out great. I did keep the icing recipe the same and it was enough for me. Will be making again in the future, and pretty sure that my husband will be requesting it again!

    Reply

  10. Bonnie

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (17)
    All I can say it was divine! This is a definite keeper. Easy and delicious. Can't go wrong with this family recipe. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply

  11. Annie

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (18)
    So delicious. I followed the recipe exactly except I used a 8x8 glass pan and baked it 10 minutes longer. Thinned the icing way down & used the tines of a fork to run icing all over the top of cake. My boyfriend said it was the best he's ever had. Yeah!

    Reply

  12. dave

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (19)
    I needed to warm the kitchen today. -2 outside plus Hellish windchill. I needed something to bake fast and easy ,and found this recipe. I wasn't expecting that it would be so good. Followed exactly, except I used pecans as I didn't have walnuts. Will make again!

    Reply

  13. Josh

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (20)
    Perfect! Easy to follow. Gonna be breakfast for a few days!

    Reply

  14. Mae

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (21)
    This cake is very delicious! It’s the simplest recipe and shortest cooking time I could find. I whipped it up just this morning. I accidentally used baking soda instead of baking powder so I added some lemon juice to activate it. I couldn’t taste it at all in the end. I also added more cinnamon cause that’s my favorite part. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  15. Shelbi

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (22)
    I doubled this recipe for my large family and it was delicious. Took about 40 minutes total.

    Reply

  16. Ann Crawford

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (23)
    This was easy to make and best tasting coffee cake ever. The icing is a must for me. It made it look so much more decadent and pretty when cut it into squares and put on a cake stand. I made this for guests to have in am with coffee and everyone raved about it. Saying it reminded them of cinnamon rolls. It’s a keeper!

    Reply

  17. Linda C

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (24)
    Love the streusel topping! I poked fresh blueberries into half and it turned out great. Agree, do not over mix or over bake and it will turn out perfect. My oven runs hot so I watch it carefully. Thanks for a great recipe. Just the right size and easy for making in the morning.

    Reply

  18. Sharon

    OK, that was by far the best coffee cake I have ever eaten. I included the walnuts and the glaze. Thank you, I'll be making it in the future for my overnight guests. I'm a cake for breakfast kind of person.

    Reply

    • Sara

      The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (25)
      I made this for Thanksgiving at my boyfriend’s parents house. It was an instant hit! The recipe is simple to follow and delicious.

      Reply

  19. Michael Wurm Jr.

    The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (26)
    I can almost taste this through the screen. Wow! It looks SO delicious! (Beautiful photography too!)

    xo Michael

    Reply

Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply

The BEST Coffee Cake | Our Family Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep coffee cake moist? ›

Add syrup or glaze: To keep a coffee cake moist and add extra flavor, consider brushing it with a simple syrup or glaze made from sugar, butter, and coffee. This will help to lock in moisture and prevent the cake from drying out.

What makes a coffee cake a coffee cake? ›

The difference between coffee cake and regular cake is the topping. Coffee cake and regular cake are made with the same ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, and butter and a leavening agent like baking powder. The difference is that instead of frosting on top, coffee cakes have crumble or streusel.

What is the difference between coffee cake and cinnamon crumb cake? ›

While some people confuse crumb cake for coffee cake, there's actually a pretty big difference between the two. Traditionally, coffee cake is topped with a layer of crumbly streusel, while crumb cake is essentially half crumb, half cake.

Why is my coffee cake so dry? ›

A dry cake is usually the result of one of the following pitfalls: using the wrong ingredients, making mistakes while measuring or mixing the batter, or baking the cake too long or at too high a temperature. Once you understand which common cake-baking blunders to avoid, you'll know how to bake a moist cake every time.

Why is my coffee cake batter so thick? ›

It might be meant to be thick or you missed something or put too much of a dry ingredient in. You could just add a little water or milk to loosen it up. You could just bake it see what comes out. If it is very dense try soaking it with a bit of syrup.

What coffee is best in cake? ›

A dark roast or robust espresso will give rich, hearty treats plenty of depth, while a lighter, fruitier variety won't overpower a delicate dessert. Follow the recipe's instructions for coffee temperature, too.

Why does my coffee cake not taste like coffee? ›

1) Replace Some of the Liquid with Actual Coffee

If you're baking something with milk in it, replace a measure of the milk with a robust coffee-milk infusion. Basically, it's a case of not looking at coffee exclusively as a dry ingredient - try adding it to your cake mix in its liquid form.

What is the fancy name for coffee cake? ›

American Coffee cake—also referred to as gugelhupf or Austrian German: kaffekuchen—evolved from other sweet dishes from Vienna. In the 17th century, Northern/Central Europeans are thought to have come up with the idea of eating sweet cakes while drinking coffee.

Why is it called a dump cake? ›

A dump cake is an American dessert similar to a cobbler but with a cake-like topping. It is so named because it is prepared by "dumping" ingredients (typically canned fruit or pie filling, followed by a boxed cake mix) into a cake pan without mixing.

What is in a Bakers Treat coffee cake? ›

Sugar, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate or reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, soybean oil, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter (cream, salt), contains 2% or less: modified cornstarch, glycerin, egg, cinnamon, tallow, palm oil, salt, natural ...

Is a king cake a coffee cake? ›

The name “king cake” comes from the Biblical story of the three kings who bring gifts to Baby Jesus. A blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll, king cake is usually iced in yellow, green and purple – the colors of Mardi Gras -- and is frequently packed with fruit fillings and decadent cream cheeses.

Is it better to bake a cake at 325 or 350? ›

Baking at a lower temperature yields a lighter crust. And not only is the crust lighter, it's more tender, as well. Notice the thicker, darker crust from the cake baked at 350°F (above left), compared to the crust from the cake baked at 325°F.

Why is my coffee cake not cooking in the middle? ›

Cakes sink in the middle due to several reasons. One reason is that the cake batter might be too moist, causing it to collapse during baking. Another reason could be that the oven temperature is too low, leading to uneven baking. Opening the oven door too frequently while baking can also cause cakes to sink.

Should I refrigerate my coffee cake? ›

Coffee cakes will keep at room temp for a day or so (why would it last that long?), and will have more flavor than ones from the fridge. Refridgeration increases the rate of starch retrogradation (staling) by up to 7 times. Rich breads (cakes) fare better than lean ones (French), but still, it's sub-optimal.

How long does coffee cake last sitting out? ›

You can store coffee cake at room temperature for up to three or four days, but to ensure the best texture and flavor, storing it in the fridge is the way to go! Kept in the fridge, your coffee cake can last up to 2 weeks. But if it's extra tasty, it probably will get eaten first!

How long can coffee cake sit out? ›

Melted butter is key for moist coffee cake, but this dessert tends to get drier over time. If you want to prevent coffee cake from getting stale for as long as possible, storing it in an airtight Tupperware is your best bet. That should keep the freshness and flavor for around two to three days at room temperature.

How do you store coffee cake after baking? ›

Melted butter is key for moist coffee cake, but this dessert tends to get drier over time. If you want to prevent coffee cake from getting stale for as long as possible, storing it in an airtight Tupperware is your best bet. That should keep the freshness and flavor for around two to three days at room temperature.

Why does my cake get hard after cooling? ›

you over cooked it. the cakes become dense, rubbery, and dry. the most common mistake made is the over mixing. Your recipes are lacking ingredients or you do not follow them carefully!

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 6261

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.