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With a quick prep, this crowd-favorite coffee cake recipe is a delicious go-to for any breakfast, brunch, or celebration!

Slice of coffee cake on 4 white stacked plates.

How to Make Coffee Cake

One of our FAVORITE things to make for a breakfast or brunch get-together is coffee cake! It’s quick, buttery, and so cinnamon-y that everyone loves it.

We first had this recipe when we were younger, but it was so good, we knew it had to become a go-to and it has. 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, Breakfast Potato Casserole and Cinnamon Roll Cake.

Why We Love IT!

  • Simple. The recipe comes together in no time and uses simple ingredients that most 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 moist and sweet cake has the perfect flavors of butter, cinnamon and sugar make it so tasty.
Coffee cake brown sugar topping mixed together in bowl.
  • PREP TIME: 15 MINS
  • COOK TIME: 45 MINS

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs – room temperature and lightly beaten will help bind them together best with the other ingredients
  • 1 cup vegetable oil or use an equal amount of applesauce or coconut oil instead of vegetable oil
  • cups milk adds moisture and helps to activate the baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract – rounds out the overall flavor
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour provides the structure for the cake, measure the flour correctly for the best texture. 
  • 1 cup granulated sugar – adds sweetness and tenderness to the crumb
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder – helps the cake rise to a fluffy texture
  • ½ teaspoon salt balances out the sweetness of the cake
  • 1¼ cups light brown sugar adds a deeper sweetness and a hint of caramel to the cinnamon mixture
  • 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 – adds flavor and moisture and helps bind the cinnamon mixture to the cake
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How to Make Coffee Cake

  1. PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  2. BATTER. In a large mixing bowl, mix 2 eggs, 1 cup oil, 1¼ cups milk, and 1 tablespoon vanilla.
    • In a medium bowl, blend 3 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
    • Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Pour half the batter into the prepared baking dish.
  3. STREUSEL. In a medium bowl, combine 1¼ cups packed brown sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon and mix well.
    • Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar on 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.
  4. BAKE. Bake for 35–40 minutes and serve warm.
4.99 from 2538 votes

Coffee Cake Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
With a quick prep, this crowd-favorite homemade coffee cake is a delicious go-to for any breakfast, brunch, or celebration!
Servings: 15
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 55 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cups packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼-⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla together.
  • In a medium bowl, blend flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add dry 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 pour 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 and serve warm.

Video

Notes

Make ahead of time. This cake can be baked several days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat in the microwave, or in the oven at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

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

  • Using a spoon or spatula to mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients can help with the density. If you’re really worried, add an extra egg or a little bit more milk to thin it out and make it easier to pour. 
  • Fruit. Fold blueberries, diced peaches, or chopped apples into the batter. Note the liquid from the fruit may cause the cake to have a more moist texture and need to be baked longer.
  • Chips + nuts. Fold some mini chocolate chips or cinnamon chips into the batter. Add sliced almonds, chopped pecans, or walnuts to the top of the cake to give it a delightful crunch.
  • Drizzle a glaze over the top. Make a glaze by mixing ½ cup confectioners sugar with 1 tablespoon milk. Mix until smooth and drizzle over the cooled cake.
  • Store this easy coffee cake recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
  • Wrap leftovers tightly with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter.
  • Warm in microwave for 10-second increments until warm. To heat in the oven, remove any plastic wrap then wrap in aluminum foil. Preheat oven to 350°F and heat for 6-8 minutes or until warm.

MORE COFFEE CAKES TO TRY:

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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4.99 from 2538 votes (1,783 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




1,761 Comments

  1. Amelia says:

    Does anyone know if you can cook this in bunt pan

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I personally have not tried.

  2. Eliza says:

    5 stars
    How much honey shall i use if I use honey as a substitute to sugar? and does that make the cake softer or something?

  3. Annelise Perez says:

    5 stars
    This turned out delicious! It was crisp and crumbly on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. My only problem was that I am a child and fairly inexperienced in baking, so when I saw oil I was not really sure what kind of oil to use. Canola oil worked well, but I think it would be a good idea to state specifically what kind of oil. Oh, and I used brown sugar instead of white sugar. anyway, it turned out great! Thank you!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am so glad you liked it & tried it! Usually, when you see the word oil, it’s vegetable oil, unless otherwise stated 🙂 But, I am glad you improvised!

  4. Janet says:

    5 stars
    Excellent! everyone loved it. I also accidentally put in an extra 1/4 cup sugar and it was still great.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay!! I am glad it turned out! Thank you 🙂

  5. JEM says:

    5 stars
    i MADE THIS YESTERDAY FOR AN OCCASION AND GOT NOTHING BUT COMPLIMENTS, WILL DEFINITELY PIN THIS. i USED A BIT LESS SUGAR AND PUT CHERRY PIE FILLING IN THE MIDDLE. yUM.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      That makes me so happy to hear! Thank you for sharing it 🙂

  6. Therese Patrias says:

    5 stars
    This is one if the best coffeecake recipes i’ve ever made. Fast, easy, and absolutely delicious. My husband went nuts over it, said i can make this one anytimE. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am so glad to share!! Thank you so much for letting me know!

  7. Janice says:

    5 stars
    Fabulous! It tastes just like the coffee cake my Mom used to make!!
    I have a gas oven and needed to bake it for 42 minutes.
    Thanks so much for bringing me back to wonderful memories growing up!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am glad I could 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!

  8. Mo says:

    5 stars
    This is easy to make with ingredients easily available. A winner!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you so much for saying that!

  9. Maryann says:

    5 stars
    I added nuts and heath bar bits
    To struesel. Delucious and easy

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Great idea!! I will have to try 🙂 Thank you!

  10. jenny klass says:

    5 stars
    I’ve been on a health challenge for five weeks and today is my “cheat day.” This recipe is what I “cheated” with!! In fact, I’m having my second piece right now with a cup of coffee. I had no problems with the batter at all. My family agrees: this recipe made it to the “make-again” category.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay!! That makes me so happy to hear! It’s a good recipe for cheat day! Thank you!