Best Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Introduction

Best Cinnamon Coffee Cake is tender, buttery, and layered with a sweet cinnamon streusel that melts into the crumb as it bakes. This classic bakery-style cake is soft and moist with a rich swirl of cinnamon sugar and a golden crumb topping—perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat with coffee. Simple ingredients and a reliable technique make it a timeless favorite you’ll bake again and again.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Soft, moist crumb with cinnamon swirl
• Irresistible buttery streusel topping
• Easy to make, no mixer required
• Perfect for breakfast or dessert

• Great make-ahead cake

Ingredients (serves 9–12)

Cake Batter

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Swirl

• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon

Streusel Topping

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Essential Tools and Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Whisk and spatula
• 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan
• Parchment paper
• Knife or pastry cutter

Step-by-step process (detailed)

1. Preheat and prepare

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line the baking pan with parchment paper or grease well to prevent sticking.

2. Make the streusel

In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in cold butter using a fork or pastry cutter until coarse crumbs form. Refrigerate while preparing the batter to keep it crumbly.

3. Mix the dry ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.

4. Add the wet ingredients

Add eggs, sour cream, melted butter, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined. The batter should be thick and smooth—do not overmix.

5. Prepare the cinnamon swirl

In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon until well combined.

6. Layer the cake

Spread half of the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly over the batter. Spoon remaining batter on top and gently spread to cover.

7. Add streusel topping

Sprinkle the chilled streusel evenly over the top, pressing very lightly so it adheres without sinking.

8. Bake until set

Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs and the top is golden.

9. Cool before slicing

Remove from oven and let cool 15–20 minutes. Cooling allows the crumb to set and makes cleaner slices.

Mistakes to avoid

• Overmixing batter — dense cake
• Warm streusel — melts instead of crumbling
• Overbaking — dry texture
• Spreading swirl unevenly — inconsistent flavor
• Cutting too soon — crumbly slices

Variations of Best Cinnamon Coffee Cake

• Glaze Finish — drizzle with powdered sugar glaze
• Nutty — add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel
• Apple Cinnamon — add diced apples to the swirl layer
• Extra Moist — replace half the butter with oil
• Gluten-Free — use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend

Tips for storage & make-ahead

• Store covered at room temperature up to 2 days
• Refrigerate up to 5 days
• Freeze slices up to 2 months
• Warm slightly before serving for the best texture

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called coffee cake?
It’s meant to be served with coffee—not because it contains coffee.

Can I use yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yes—Greek yogurt works perfectly.

How do I know it’s done?
A toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter.

Can I double the recipe?
Yes—use a 9×13-inch pan and increase bake time slightly.

Conclusion

Best Cinnamon Coffee Cake is a dependable classic that delivers comforting flavor and bakery-style texture with minimal effort. With its tender crumb, rich cinnamon swirl, and buttery streusel topping, it’s the kind of cake that disappears slice by slice. Whether for brunch or dessert, this recipe always hits the mark.