Cinnamon Coffee Cake is the perfect treat to eat with a hot cup of coffee or tea. This tender buttery cake topped with a sweet cinnamon layer is sure to become a weekend staple that your friends and family will request time and time again. A homemade snack cake recipe that is delicious, buttery, and has the flavor of warm cinnamon in the cake and in the topping. Such a great recipe for homemade Coffee Cake.
The Best Cinnamon Coffee Cake
So you’re looking for the best coffee cake recipe? You’re in the right place, this is the best coffee cake recipe and is one of my absolute favorites. It’s sweet (but not too sweet), moist, and pairs perfectly with your morning cup of hot coffee.
This cinnamon coffee cake is the perfect recipe to enjoy during those slow weekend mornings or to serve when you have guests staying over.
Why Is It Called Coffee Cake?
The real reason this delicious coffee cake is called coffee cake is that it’s meant to be enjoyed alongside a cup of coffee. Unlike traditional cake, coffee cake is a breakfast pastry enjoyed with your favorite cup of Joe.
Does Coffee Cake Have Coffee In It?
No it doesn’t, and Coffee Cake rarely contains actual coffee. Like I mentioned above, coffee cake gets its name from being consumed alongside coffee rather than actually containing it.
This delicious dessert pastry is flavored with vanilla and cinnamon, making it the perfect sweet treat to pair with your morning cup.
What is the Difference Between Cake and Coffee Cake?
Unlike other cakes, coffee cake is known for its streusel topping. This crumble cake aspect sets coffee cake apart from your typical dessert cake. Instead of using frosting on top, coffee cake is known for its sweet cinnamon-sugar streusel topping.
What is Cinnamon Coffee Cake Made Of?
This cinnamon coffee cake recipe contains simple ingredients you probably already have in your cupboards! See the list of ingredients below.
Ingredients for This Cake Recipe
All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon, Eggs, Brown Sugar, White sugar, Unsalted Butter, Vanilla , Buttermilk
Topping Ingredients
Unsalted Butter, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon
How To Make The Best Homemade Coffee Cake Recipe
Baking the best coffee cake recipe is the easy part, refraining from eating it all in one sitting will prove to be more challenging—don’t say I didn’t warn you!
• First, gather all of the ingredients together and preheat the oven to 350° F.
• Next, combine flour, baking, powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl, and set aside.
• In a separate small bowl, whisk together egg and sugar until combined. After that, mix in melted butter and vanilla.
• Then, combine dry ingredients with your wet ingredients. Mix them together until they are thoroughly combined.
• Add buttermilk and stir, batter will be slightly lumpy—that’s okay.
• Thoroughly grease an 8″x8″ cake pan with cooking spray or butter and spread your cake batter into the bottom of the square pan.
• Thinly slice the 2 tablespoons of butter and place them on top of the batter.
• Bake for 24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Easy Cinnamon Cake Tips and Variations
- This recipe calls for buttermilk. If you don’t have any, add a couple teaspoons of lemon juice or white vinegar to a half cup of milk. Stir and let it sit a few minutes before adding to the batter.
- The cake itself isn’t overly sweet, but for those watching their sugar intake, the cake is still delicious if you cut the topping in half.
- Adding chopped walnuts or pecans on top would make a good variation.
- Personally, my favorite part of this recipe is the creamy wells the butter makes in the cake as it melts in the oven. For readers who are like me, adding another tablespoon of butter to the top would be amazing.
What to Serve With Cinnamon Coffee Cake
You can serve this coffee cake alone or as an addition to your pastry table alongside a variety of other delicious pastries like Lemon Yogurt Muffins, Cinnamon Apple Muffins, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Strawberry Loaf Cake, and so much more!
You May Also Like These Easy Cake Recipes
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Lemon Strawberry Poke Cake
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
How To Store Leftover Cake
- This cinnamon streusel coffee cake is best served warm a few minutes out of the oven.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days. This cake can go stale quickly, so make sure the storage container is sealed tightly. If using plastic wrap, also wrap the cake in foil to keep it airtight. This way your moist cake doesn’t dry out.
- This easy coffee cake recipe is the perfect treat to enjoy with a warm cup of coffee or as an afternoon snack. I hope you enjoy this tender cake recipe as much as I do!
This recipe is a great alternative to cinnamon rolls and can be enjoyed in the morning for breakfast, for brunch, as a snacking cake, or any time of the day!
If you make this yummy cinnamon cake, please let me know. You can leave a comment with a star rating below. I’d love to know how you liked it.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Equipment
- 8"x8" Baking Dish
- 2 Mixing Bowls
- Spatula
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 2 Eggs
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup White Sugar
- 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted
- ¾ teaspoon Vanilla
- ½ cup Buttermilk*
Topping
- 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- ⅛ cup Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoons White Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Combine flour, baking, powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and sugars until combined. Mix in butter and vanilla.
- Add wet ingredients to dry. Mix just until combined.
- Add buttermilk and stir until combined, batter will be slightly lumpy.
- Thoroughly grease a 8"x8" or 9"x9" baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Spread batter into pan evenly with a spatula.
- Thinly slice the 2 Tablespoons of butter and place the slices on top of the batter.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon for topping. Sprinkle evenly on top of batter.
- Bake for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Try not to over bake.
- Let cool a few minutes before serving. Can be served warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- *This recipe calls for buttermilk. If you don't have any, add a couple teaspoons of lemon juice or white vinegar to a half cup of milk. Stir and let it sit a few minutes before adding to the batter.
- Adding chopped walnuts or pecans on top is a good variation.
- Personally, my favorite part of this recipe are the creamy wells the butter makes in the top of the cake as it melts in the oven. If you love butter, adding another Tablespoon of butter to the top would be amazing!
- This coffee cake is best served warm. Any leftovers may be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!