One of our FAVORITE things to make for a breakfast or brunch get-together is this coffee cake recipe! It’s quick, buttery, and so cinnamon-y that everyone loves it.
This was my favorite recipe when I was younger and I’d ask my mom to make it for my birthday because it was that good. Since then, we have made a few modifications but it is now a family favorite that gets made every month. It’s simple, it’s delicious, and it’s perfect for any occasion (even Khloe Kardashian agrees!)
We love to serve it with other breakfast casseroles and bakes like our Sausage Breakfast Casserole or Breakfast Potato Casserole.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Simple. The recipe comes together in 15 minutes and uses simple ingredients that most people usually have on hand.
- Event Perfection. Whether it’s for an Easter Brunch, Christmas Breakfast, baby shower, or bridal shower, this coffee cake recipe is perfect for any occasion.
- Delicious. This tender and sweet cake has the perfect butter, cinnamon, and sugar crumb topping, making it so tasty.
Coffee Cake Ingredients and Substitutions
- 2 large eggs – We find that eggs at room temperature and lightly beaten will help them incorporate best with the other ingredients
- 1 cup vegetable oil – or an equal amount of applesauce or melted coconut oil
- 1¼ cups milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour – Measure the flour correctly for the best texture. Gluten-free baking flour also works well in this recipe.
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ cups light brown sugar – This adds a deeper sweetness and a hint of caramel to the cinnamon mixture; dark brown sugar can also be used.
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon – easily adjust the flavor by adding spices like nutmeg, allspice, or Pumpkin Pie Spice to the cinnamon sugar streusel
- ¼-⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted – Adds flavor and moisture and helps bind the cinnamon mixture to the cake.
- optional fruit – fold about 1½ cups of blueberries or chopped apples into the batter; increase the baking time by 5-10 minutes if needed.
- optional crunchy topping – We sometimes like to add sliced almonds, chopped pecans, or walnuts to the top of the cake to give it a delightful crunch.
How to Make Coffee Cake
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- BATTER. In a large mixing bowl, mix eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Pour half the cake batter into the prepared baking dish.
- STREUSEL. In a medium bowl, combine packed brown sugar and cinnamon and mix.
- Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar evenly over the top of the batter in the pan. Carefully pour the remaining batter over the cinnamon sugar layer. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture over the top.
- Drizzle ¼-⅓ cup melted butter over the top, using more or less as desired.
- BAKE. Bake for 35–40 minutes and serve warm.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- While this cake is often served alongside coffee or tea, hence its name, we like to serve it with other favorite warm drinks like hot chocolate & apple cider.
- Our favorite way to more easily spread the thick batter over the cinnamon sugar layer is to first drop dollops evenly across the surface, then gently spread each dollop using a silicone spatula.
- For an easy variation, we fold about 1½ cups of blueberries, chopped strabwerries or chopped apples into the batter. Depending on your oven, you may need to increase the baking time by 5-10 minutes.
- If you want to double or triple the recipe, we recommend baking each batch in its own 9×13 pan.
Coffee Cake Recipe
With a quick prep, this crowd-favorite homemade coffee cake recipe is a delicious go-to for any breakfast, brunch, or celebration!
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1¼ cups milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¼-⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, blend flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the flour ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Pour half the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well.
- Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar on top of the batter. Carefully spread the remaining batter over the cinnamon-sugar layer. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the top, using more or less as desired.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, and serve warm.
Notes
Recipe Tips.
- While this cake is often served alongside coffee or tea, hence its name, I like to serve it with other favorite warm drinks like hot chocolate & apple cider.
- To more easily spread the thick batter over the cinnamon sugar layer, first drop dollops evenly across the surface, then gently spread each dollop using a silicone spatula.
- For an easy variation, fold about 1½ cups of blueberries or chopped apples into the batter. Depending on your oven, you may need to increase the baking time by 5-10 minutes.
- If you want to double or triple the recipe, we recommend baking each batch in its own 9×13 pan.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice, Calories: 264kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 101mg, Potassium: 175mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 161IU, Vitamin C: 0.02mg, Calcium: 88mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
How to store coffee cake?
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, in the refrigerator for up to a week, or wrapped with plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to reheat coffee cake?
Small portions can be heated in the microwave for 10-second increments until warm. To heat in the oven, remove any plastic wrap, then wrap in aluminum foil. Preheat the oven to 350°F and heat for 6-8 minutes or until warm.
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This recipe was originally published September 2011.
I’M ATTEMPTING THIS RECIPE NOW IN A GLUTEN FREE VERSION…. MY BATTER WAS MORE DOUGHY THEN IT SHOULD BE BUT I’M HOPING THE TASTE FACTOR COMES THROUGH…. I’VE MADE THIS VERSION NON GLUTEN FREE AND IT TURNED OUT AMAZING….
I sure hope it does! Let me know!
I love your recipes,it that so flour or self rising
Flour 🙂 Thank you so much!!
Made this recipe for famIly and friends over the weekend. Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. Thanks for posting sUch a delicious cake recipe that is very easy to make!
You are so welcome!! I am so glad it was a hit! Thank you for sharing the recipe 🙂
This turned out so well!! I’ve made this recipe twice now and my cake has turned out perfect each time. thank you so much!!!!!!!
I love to hear that!! Thank you!
agree with others that the batter was very thick. “Spread” would be a better description of what you have to do to get it in the pan! BUT… This Recipe really saved me in a pinch when my husband told me on sunday morning we needed to take breakfast with us to share with our sunday school class. mine turned out just like the picture which is rare.
in the future, i would make sure to use unsalted butter on top because i thought it was really salty. no one else seemed to mind and it got eaten right up!
Thank you for sharing that!
I’m the chief cook, baker and dishwas in the home. I’m alwaYs looking for new things to make. Found this recipe and it was so good i made it twice in a row. But i get bored easily so then made a differenT coffee cake.
BoY, did i hear it from my wife! “Why did you change? I really liked that other one…”
#3 is just getting done in the oven now.
Sigh….
It is very yummy!
Sorry! Something strange is going on when i Typed my comment. Of course i meant to type “dishwasher” and i have no explanation for the rogue capitalizations.
One other thing: I also added some chopped nuts (about 1/2 cup?) and about a tablespoon of flour to the cinnamon mixture. I also added more cinnamon than in the recipe because like cheese and garlic, who measures?
LOL!! Love to hear that!! Thank you for sharing what you did 🙂 Glad she likes it!
i wanted to post my EXPERIENCE with this recipe since at first I didn’t think it would work. Once the dough was mixed it was very thick. So thick that i was convinced i hadn’t added the milk but when i looked at the measuring cup i saw milk so I confirmed i had. the recipe said “pour the dough” but i had to spread it with a spoon. it was so thick that i could not spread it well in a larger pan, so i used a 9×9″. also i was out of cinnamon so i used apple pie spice. due to smaller size pan i did not use all the streusal topping but poured all the melted butter on top. it appeared to be pooling as some readers commented but i put it in the oven and expected poor results. amazing! it turned out perfectly. i was taking it to a meeting and the people loved it. my reason for posting is to reassure anyone who has the same EXPERIENCES that mine turned out great. i would DESCRIBE this as a “dump cake” recipe — very easy and the flavors and textures are good.
Thank you so much for sharing that, Janet!! Apple pie spice sounds good! I am so glad it turned out!
This coffee cake was delicious. It was a bit thick to pour half batter into pan, top, then add the second day half- but it Came out moist and scruptious. Will make again. THANKS!
I am so glad to hear that!! Thank you for trying it & for letting me know 🙂
I’m another kitchen dweller, but six kids! Oh my i can only imagine! Enjoy your posts!
It can be crazy, but fun 🙂 Thank you so much!!
Loved it! easy to make and so delicious.
Thank you for sharing that! Glad you liked it!