This Cinnamon Coffee Cake is a homemade treat with a soft, tender crumb and a generous layer of buttery cinnamon streusel. Made with simple pantry ingredients, sour cream, melted butter, and vanilla extract, it delivers a rich flavor and a delicious texture in every slice. The best part is that preparing the batter takes only 10 minutes, making it a practical choice when you want something homemade without spending hours in the kitchen.
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A layer of cinnamon and brown sugar streusel runs through the middle of the cake and covers the top, creating a sweet, crumbly finish. Chopped pecans add an optional nutty crunch, while the sour cream helps keep the cake moist.
Serve this easy cinnamon coffee cake with your morning coffee, add it to a weekend brunch table, or enjoy a slice as an afternoon dessert. It is also a lovely homemade treat for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holiday gatherings.
Recipe Info
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes (including initial cooling)
- Ingredients: 14
- Servings: 16
- Baking Temperature: 350°F
- Pan Size: 8-inch square baking dish
This recipe makes 16 servings, so it works well for family breakfasts, small gatherings, and holiday entertaining. The batter and streusel are prepared separately before being layered in the same baking dish.
Ingredients
You will need everyday baking ingredients to make this homemade cinnamon coffee cake. For the best results, measure the flour accurately and use unsalted butter. The ingredients are divided into two parts: the cinnamon streusel and the cake batter.
Streusel
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 tablespoon McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into chunks
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)
The streusel gives this cake its signature flavor and crumbly texture. Brown sugar provides a deeper sweetness than regular granulated sugar, while ground cinnamon adds warmth and a familiar bakery-style aroma.
Cold butter is important when making the topping. It helps create small crumbs rather than a smooth paste. A pastry blender or two knives will make it easier to work the butter into the flour and sugar mixture. Pecans are optional, but they add a pleasant crunch that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon.
Coffee Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
The cake batter combines flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and sour cream to create a rich and tender texture. Sour cream adds moisture and a slight tang that balances the sweetness of the cake and brown sugar topping.
Baking powder and baking soda help the batter rise, while vanilla extract adds a pleasant flavor. Use room-temperature eggs if possible so they combine more evenly with the other ingredients. Allow the melted butter to cool slightly before adding it to the batter.
Instructions
1. Prepare the oven and baking dish.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, making sure the bottom and sides are coated. Set the prepared pan aside while you make the streusel.
2. Make the cinnamon streusel.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, packed light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Mix until the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
Add the cold butter chunks. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Avoid melting or softening the butter during this step. Stir in the chopped pecans if you are using them. Set the streusel aside.
3. Prepare the cake batter.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure the dry ingredients are evenly mixed before adding the wet ingredients.
Add the melted butter, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir until everything is combined and no large pockets of dry flour remain. Avoid overmixing, as excessive mixing can make the finished cake less tender.
4. Add the first cake layer.
Pour approximately half of the prepared batter, about 2 1/2 cups, into the greased baking dish. Use a spatula to spread it into an even layer, reaching the corners of the pan.
Sprinkle half of the prepared cinnamon streusel, approximately a heaping 1 1/2 cups, evenly over the batter. This middle layer creates a sweet cinnamon filling throughout the cake.
5. Add the remaining layers.
Carefully pour the remaining cake batter over the streusel filling. Spread it gently toward the edges so the filling is covered as evenly as possible.
Finish by sprinkling the remaining streusel mixture over the entire surface. Distribute the crumbs evenly to give the cake a generous cinnamon topping.
6. Bake the coffee cake.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 1 hour. Check the center by inserting a toothpick. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. If wet batter sticks to it, continue baking for a few more minutes and check again.
Oven temperatures can vary, so begin checking near the end of the suggested baking time. The top should look set, and the cake should be cooked through without becoming overly dry.
7. Cool and serve.
Remove the cake from the oven and place the baking dish on a wire rack. Allow it to cool in the pan for 30 minutes before cutting. This resting time helps the cake settle and makes it easier to serve neat slices.
Sprinkle with icing sugar before serving, if desired. Enjoy it slightly warm or at room temperature with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk.
Helpful Baking Tips
Measure flour correctly: Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level the top instead of packing it down. Too much flour can make the cake dense.
- Keep the butter cold for streusel: Cold butter creates a crumbly topping. Soft or melted butter can change the consistency.
- Do not overmix the batter: Mix only until the ingredients are combined to help maintain a tender cake.
- Spread the layers evenly: Distributing the filling and topping across the pan helps give each slice a balanced amount of cinnamon flavor.
- Check the center before removing: The edges may finish baking before the middle, so always test the center with a toothpick.
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