This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

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
  • 1ยผ 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
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt balances out the sweetness of the cake
  • 1ยผ 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
  • ยผ-โ…“ cup unsalted butter – adds flavor and moisture and helps bind the cinnamon mixture to the cake

How to Make Coffee Cake

  1. PREP. Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  2. BATTER. In a large mixing bowl, mix 2 eggs, 1 cup oil, 1ยผ cups milk, and 1 tablespoon vanilla.
    • In a medium bowl, blend 3 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and ยฝ 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 1ยผ 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 ยผ-โ…“ cup melted butter over the top, using more or less as desired.
  4. BAKE. Bake for 35โ€“40 minutes and serve warm.
Save This Recipe!
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
4.99 from 2525 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
  • 1ยผ cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • 1ยผ cups packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ยผ-โ…“ 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 ยฝ 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 350ยฐF and heat for 6-8 minutes or until warm.

MORE COFFEE CAKES TO TRY:

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

So Easy & So Yummy

Get my cookbook!

My new cookbook is the ultimate resource for feeding your friends and family with 200+ simple recipes including videos, tips & more!

4.99 from 2525 votes (1,783 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




1,735 Comments

  1. Susana Zinn says:

    5 stars
    Easy delicious and parve

  2. Courtney longhurst says:

    5 stars
    Amazing! Followed it pretty well, just swapped a little buttermilk for milk .

  3. Kelly says:

    The cake part had an off putting flavor. Maybe too much vanilla. My sister thought the same. Anyone else? Suggestions? It was very easy to makeโ€ฆ

  4. Suzanne E Ramsey says:

    5 stars
    Very easy, very delicious!

  5. Paige says:

    This recipe was very hard to follow. When the directions said to add all the dry ingredients, I also added the brown sugar as well as the white sugar. I unfortunately used up the last of most the ingredients needed to make this so I had to dump everything in the trash.

    1. Mia says:

      Very easy for a 14 who can back at a high level

    2. Karen says:

      I wouldn’t have thrown it all in the garbage. I’m sure you could have baked it with the brown sugar and cinnamon in the batter and not layered.

  6. Luann B says:

    5 stars
    Made for Easter brunch. Everyone enjoyed it.
    Only difference is I added some frozen blueberries

  7. Cindy says:

    I saw that this recipe could be multiplied by 3 for a large crowd but the time for baking is the same and so is the size of pan in all three size choices. Please tell me what size of pan and cooking time for the 2x or 3x recipes. Please email me. Thanks!

    1. Aunty says:

      I’m guessing you should use 2 or 3 9×13 pans for increased recipe.

  8. Nikki Adams says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. It is my go to for family brunch.

  9. Dianna says:

    5 stars
    Such an amazing recipe! So easy to make and the best, most flavourful and delicious cake ever!!

  10. Ellie says:

    5 stars
    This coffee cake is delicious and very simple to make. I was a little skeptical about mixing the sugar into the dry ingredients, but the recipe resulted in a tender, moist, and fluffy crumb. Unlike a traditional coffee cake, it does not have a crumb filling and topping, but a filling and topping sort of like a cinnamon roll filling. In my opinion, it had just the right amount of the cinnamon sugar. While I had to substitute some of the oil with melted butter , it was extremely simple to make, only requiring eight ingredient in the batter that are simply whisked together – no having to bring ingredient to room temperature and no creaming process.