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Delectable Coffee Cake

This delectable Coffee Cake is a fluffy butter almond cake with notes of cinnamon and vanilla. Made completely from scratch it is the perfect addition to your dessert table with a light and airy texture that everyone loves.

Coffee Cake is a great choice to serve at gatherings and events as it is lighter than traditional cakes, and skips the frosting which has the potential to be messy and overly sweet. The cinnamon sugar streusel finishes off the fluffy cake in perfect balance and serves well with teas, coffee, even hot chocolate.

We are walking you through how to make the absolute best coffee cake that is airy and moist, while also delivering a rich flavor profile.

Delectable Coffee Cake Piece On A White Plate. Baking Pan In The Background.
Delectable Coffee Cake is a moist light coffee cake with a cinnamon sugar streusel made entirely from scratch with coconut oil

Why do they call Coffee Cake, Coffee Cake?

The name Coffee Cake makes you think it is a coffee flavored cake, right? Well it actually has no coffee or espresso at all. The name Coffee Cake comes from the fact that when it was becoming popular, folks enjoyed eating this style of cake with a cup of coffee. It has deep roots in the social circle, sort of like an American version of the English afternoon Tea scene.

As it grew in popularity, bakeries and stores began to market these cakes with the name Coffee Cake because it was so strongly connected to that social scene of visiting over coffee and cakes.

Delectable Coffee Cake Is A Moist Light Coffee Cake With A Cinnamon Sugar Streusel Made Entirely From Scratch With Coconut Oil.
Delectable Coffee Cake

What is a Coffee Cake made of?

Coffee Cakes are a single layer cake often made in a 9 x 13 baking dish. The cake is a light and airy vanilla and almond cake with a butter cinnamon sugar streusel often woven throughout the middle of the cake, and adorning the top.

You can find variations that most often include fruit. Blueberry is a popular one, followed by apple, lemon sugar and even raspberry cream cheese for a heavy take on it.

What is the difference between Coffee Cake and a regular cake?

Coffee cakes are known by their streusel toppings rather than a frosting that traditional cakes sport. Even if the cake is glazed, it would be considered more of a Coffee Cake because it is not technically frosted. Coffee cakes can also include streusel swirls throughout them, or even be filled with fruits, nuts, chocolates and creams.

If you’re looking to take your Coffee Cake up a notch consider drizzling it with a bit of homemade Buttermilk Caramel Sauce, whipped cream, or even a side of French Vanilla Bean Ice Cream if you’re serving it for dessert.

Delectable Coffee Cake
Delectable Coffee Cake with dark brown sugar bakes very dark. But you can see the cake is perfectly baked.

What do you eat with Coffee Cake?

Traditionally, Coffee Cakes were enjoyed as a mid-day social meal with a cup of coffee or tea. However, you can of course enjoy this cake anytime you want. It makes a delicious breakfast table pastry, an addition to a luncheon as a sweet treat, or even as a Holiday morning goodie. We are sharing some foods that you could serve with this delicious cake for a well rounded meal.

  • Breakfast quiche or frittatas
  • Fresh seasonal fruit
  • Crispy potatoes or hash browns
  • Eggs benedict
  • Ham and egg casserole
  • As a Christmas Eve dessert with hot chocolate
  • Egg and bacon muffin bites
  • Alongside cold deli wraps at a luncheon

This recipe makes up to 18 small servings and is perfect for serving a crowd. If you are looking for a delicious treat to serve on Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter morning this Coffee Cake would be an excellent choice. 

Also, our Blueberry Apple Overnight Bread Pudding or our Overnight Sausage Breakfast Casserole are both made the night before if you need a meal that is ready to pop into the oven on those busy mornings.

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Delectable Coffee Cake Recipe

This Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake stays moist and delicious at room temperature in an airtight container for several days. It does make a lot, so If you don’t want coffee cake around all week, or if you wont be serving a crowd you might want to cut the recipe in half.

  1. Make it in a 8 x 8 pan
  2. Bake it for 20 minutes
  3. Yields 9 servings

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.

  • In a large mixing bowl whisk together oil, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and milk.
  • In a separate medium bowl combine granulated sugar, all purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Stir the egg mixture together with the flour mixture. If the mixture comes out too thick, add milk until desired consistency.
  • Pour half the batter into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
  • In another medium bowl, prepare streusel by combining brown sugar and cinnamon.
  • Sprinkle half of streusel on top of the batter.
  • Top with remaining batter and then sprinkle the remaining streusel on top.
  • Drizzle with melted butter.
  • Baking time 30 minutes. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Cool completely on a wire rack in the pan and serve.

Your Printable Recipe Card:

Delectable Coffee Cake
Yield: 18 servings

Delectable Coffee Cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Delectable coffee cake is bursting with lightly sweet cinnamon butter flavor and is so light and fluffy!  Your family will enjoy this moist light coffee cake. A cinnamon sugar streusel adds delicious buttery sweetness. This yummy cake is made entirely from scratch with coconut oil.

Ingredients

  • 3 Cups flour
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 3 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp Almond Extract
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Cups Milk
  • 1 Cup oil, I used melted coconut oil

(For the Streusel)

  • 1 1/2 cups Brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 Tbsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Cup softened butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees F.
  2. In a large mixing bowl. Whisk Together oil, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and milk.
  3. In a medium bowl combine granulated sugar, all purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
  4. Stir the egg mixture together with flour mixture. If the mixture comes out too thick to spread, add milk until desired consistency.
  5. Pour half the batter into a greased 9x13 pan.
  6. In a medium bowl, prepare streusel by combining brown sugar, flour, softened butter and cinnamon.
  7. Stir until crumbs begin to form
  8. Sprinkle half of streusel on top of the batter.
  9. Top with remaining batter and then sprinkle the remaining streusel on top.
  10. Drizzle with melted butter.
  11. Baking time 30 minutes uncovered.
  12. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  13. Cool completely on a wire rack in the pan. Serve.

Notes

This cake holds well for several days in an airtight container at room temperature.

Cut this recipe in half and bake it in an 8 x 8 pan for 20 minutes for 9 servings.


Nutrition Information

Yield

18

Serving Size

1 piece

Amount Per Serving Calories 364Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 36mgSodium 213mgCarbohydrates 44gFiber 1gSugar 26gProtein 4g

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Classic Cinnamon Vanilla Coffee Cake Recipe-Pin Image
Coffee Cake is a great choice to serve at gatherings and events as it is lighter than traditional cakes, and skips the frosting which has the potential to be messy and overly sweet. The cinnamon sugar streusel finishes off the fluffy cake in perfect balance and serves well with teas, coffee, even hot chocolate.

Recipe Adapted from: Lilluna.com

claudia

Sunday 13th of September 2020

Hi, will this work if I don't use coconut oil? Can I use regular veggie oil like canola?

Diane

Sunday 13th of September 2020

Hi Claudia, Canola oil will work just fine in this recipe. I love the extra flavor the coconut oil adds. That's why I recommend it. But the coffee cake is fine with flavorless oils too. I hope you enjoy it. Have a great day.:)

Stephanie

Tuesday 28th of January 2020

Hi! Can I use buttermilk instead of milk?

Diane

Tuesday 28th of January 2020

Sure! Should be a yummy substitution. Please Let us know how it turns out for you. Happy Baking!

CLE

Wednesday 25th of April 2018

This cake looks wonderful! Before I make it, though, I wanted to check that the amount of baking soda is actually 3 Tablespoons and not teaspoons. Thanks!

Arabi

Thursday 30th of April 2020

Hi, Looks yummy ?.. sorry for asking, i cannot see any coffee flavour inside this cake..or perhaps i overlooked? ?.cz its name coffee cake,, so just wonder where is the coffrr..thx ?

Kayti Lavergne

Thursday 26th of April 2018

Oh my goodness! It is 3 tsp, not 3 tbsp! Thank you for catching that for me, I will update the recipe! This is a really yummy cake, enjoy! :)

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