Best Easy Coffee Cake
This Best Easy Coffee Cake features a tender crumb thanks to a simple batter of flour, sugar, butter, milk, and egg. The cake is layered with a cinnamon streusel topping made from a mix of sugars, flour, cinnamon, and cold butter, giving a sweet and crumbly texture that contrasts nicely with the soft cake beneath. The cinnamon flavor runs through both the batter and topping, adding warmth and complexity. Baking in an 8x8 pan creates a cake with a golden crust and a moist interior, making it suitable as a breakfast treat or afternoon snack with coffee or tea.
Ingredients
Coffee Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg large
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cinnamon Streusel Topping
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup butter diced, cold
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F and grease an 8x8 square baking dish with butter or spray oil.
Making the crumb topping
- Add the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon to a small mixing bowl and mix together.
- Add the diced cold butter to the flour mixture and cut it into the flour mixture using a fork or two knives. Make sure all of the flour and sugar mixed and it becomes moist and crumbly. I have even used my hands.
Making the Cake
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and mix well.
- Add the butter to the dry ingredients and blend well.
- Add the milk, egg, and vanilla extract and stir until just barely blended.
- Pour half of the cake batter into the baking dish and sprinkle a thin layer of the crumb topping across the batter.
- Then pour the remaining batter in and spread evenly.
- Top with the remaining streusel topping and again spread evenly across the top.
Baking the Coffee Cake
- Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center.
- Cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing into 9 squares.
Notes
- Consider adding ¼ to ⅓ cup of chocolate chips to the batter for a chocolatey touch.
- Fresh diced apples or blueberries can be mixed into the batter for fruit flavor.
- Incorporate chopped pecans or walnuts into the streusel topping for added crunch.
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt can replace milk for a richer texture.
- Butter in the cake can be swapped with unsweetened applesauce for a lower-calorie option.
- Non-dairy milks like almond, soy, or vanilla-flavored can be used instead of regular milk.
- For gluten-free baking, use a one-to-one gluten-free flour blend like Bob's Red Mill.
- Double the recipe to bake in a 9x13-inch pan if desired.
- Store the cake in an airtight container for a couple of days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator, warming slightly before serving.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 9 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 419
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1slice | |
| Calories | 419kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 63g | 21% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 61mg | 20% |
| Sodium | 275mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 196mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 36g | 72% |
| Vitamin A | 528IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 100mg | 10% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.