Learn how to make soft and tender Coffee Cake. This beautiful New York-style cinnamon cake has a tasty cinnamon crumble and is delicious served with a fresh cup of coffee.
Introducing your new fave cake! 💕
Meet my soft and tender Coffee Cake. Made from scratch, this light melt-in-your-mouth cake is topped with a homemade cinnamon crumble.
Dusted with sugar, it’s sweet, buttery and oh-so-fun to make.
Ever since I made my Apple Cake, I’ve been obsessed with easy tea cakes. I just love how simple they are but they really do pack a flavour punch.
This easy Coffee Cake is the best of both worlds. Light and sweet cake topped with a crunchy cookie-like crumble. There’s no need for frosting here, the cake itself is more than enough.
I used to think Coffee Cake had coffee in it, but this American classic rather gets its name because it’s the perfect pair to a cup of coffee. And I couldn’t agree more.
It’s kind of like how Cinnamon Tea Cake goes perfectly with a cup of tea. And I’m all for having cake for morning or afternoon tea. Or anytime really.
TIPS FOR MAKING COFFEE CAKE
- This cake starts by creaming together the butter, sugar and vanilla using an electric mixer.
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature. You want it to be soft enough to make an indent if you poke it, but not melty or squishy or fridge cold.
- We use caster sugar in this recipe. You can swap it for granulated sugar. Read more about caster sugar here.
- After you add the egg, it’s time to add the dry ingredients. I recommend adding half the flour with the milk. Slowly start to mix and then add remaining flour with the yogurt.
- If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use sour cream. The acidity of these ingredients makes a big difference in creating a light and fluffy cake.
- The batter will be quite thick – that’s fine!
- Bake until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. It might take 40-50 minutes depending on your oven as the thick crumble adds an extra layer. Remember every oven is different, so baking times should be a guide only.
- To serve, dust with icing sugar. Or you could drizzle with a simple sugar glaze. Just mix together 30 grams (1/4 cup) icing or powdered sugar with 1–2 tablespoons milk. Drizzle over cooled cake.
HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON CRUMBLE
- The cinnamon crumble is so easy to make!
- Start by adding plain flour, brown sugar, cornflour, cinnamon and walnuts to a mixing bowl.
- If you don’t have any cornflour or corn starch, just add an extra couple of teaspoons of flour.
- The walnuts are totally optional. If you prefer another nut, you can use that instead or leave them out entirely. But they go really nicely with the sweet cinnamon flavours!
- Pour over melted butter and mix together. Crumble will be sort of like wet sand, with big and small pieces – this is perfect.
- When your cake batter is ready, scatter crumbs all over the top and then bake in the oven.
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Let’s Bake
Coffee Cake
Soft and tender Coffee Cake with a cinnamon crumble.
Ingredients
Cinnamon crumble
- 70 grams (1/2 cup) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornflour or corn starch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 25 grams (1/4 cup) walnuts, roughly chopped, optional
- 40 grams butter
Coffee cake
- 115 grams (1/2 cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 150 grams (3/4 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 210 grams (1 and 1/2 cups) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) full fat or whole milk, room temperature
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) full fat Greek yogurt*, room temperature
- Icing sugar or powdered sugar, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Line and grease an 8-inch round cake pan with baking or parchment paper.
- To make cinnamon crumble, in a medium-sized mixing bowl, add plain flour, sugar, cornflour, cinnamon and walnuts. Melt butter in the microwave and pour over dry ingredients. Mix together until wet and crumbly. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla together until pale and creamy. Add egg, beat briefly until combined, then scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the plain flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add half of the flour mixture, along with all the milk and slowly mix together on a low speed.
- Add the remaining flour mixture and the yogurt and continue to mix until smooth and creamy. The batter will be quite thick – that’s fine!
- Pour the cake batter into your prepared tin and scatter cinnamon crumb all over the top. Bake cake for approximately 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- Leave to cool for 10 minutes before gently removing from the tin and leaving to cool completely on a wire rack. To serve, dust with icing sugar.
Notes
*Greek yogurt: If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use full fat sour cream instead.
Irene says
Where’s the coffee in this coffee cake?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Irene, there’s no coffee in the cake. Rather, this American classic gets its name because it’s perfect paired with a cup of coffee.
Veronica says
how about a banana coffee cake??? new recipe idea….
Jessica Holmes says
Love that idea!!
Shayne says
Making this for the second time. The cake has a lovely soft crumb and was easy to make. I will be freezing this one.
I bake smoko for the cattle station we live on & am always looking for quick, yummy cakes I can freeze.
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Yaay! So glad you enjoyed it Shayne!
Tracy says
This cake was very easy to make, and it has a really nice, light texture without being dry. I only had light Greek yogurt, but the cake came out great anyway. Also, I really like having the dry ingredients listed by weight. Thanks for the great recipe!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
I’m so glad to hear that Tracy! Thank you for the lovely feedback.
Jeannie says
Dear Jessica,
Please do excuse my ignorance, but just wondering why you so call
Your coffee cake..when it doesn’t have any coffee in it. Many thanks.
I would be obliged if you would reply, as I have been looking for so long for a recipe for coffee cake…that has a strong taste of coffee to it. I look forward to hearing back from you. Yours sincerely Jeannie, from UK.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Jeannie, sorry this might not be the cake for you. This Coffee Cake is a New York-style cake made with cinnamon and is designed to be served with coffee or tea.
Claire louise Cousens says
hi how much coffee do u use for cake mix
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Claire, there’s no coffee in this cake despite the name. It’s a New York style cinnamon cake designed to be enjoyed with a cup of coffee.
Lynne says
Wheres the coffee?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Lynne, this American classic doesn’t have coffee in it, rather it gets its name because it’s perfect paired with a cup of coffee.
Gauri says
Hey,
Jus a small query..Would it be fine if I use any mild tasting oil instead of butter in this recipe or if I use salted butter as finding unsalted butter in my city is a task.
Pls suggest
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Gabri, you can definitely use salted butter – no problem!
Kinar says
Thank you Jess for the recepie! I made it and it’s so delicious. I used sour cream instead of GY…I followed all the steps, so well explained!
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that! So glad you enjoyed it!
VEEDHI says
Any substitute for egg?
Jessica Holmes says
I haven’t tried, but check out my egg free recipes.
NELSY VELASQUEZ says
Felicitaciones Jessica. Gracias las recetas que he preparado son deliciosas.Te mando un cariñoso abrazo de Colombia .l 👏👏
Jessica Holmes says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Lois says
Hi
This looks so much like what my gran used to make… can’t wait to try it out.
Can I freeze it tho (just on the off-chance that there is some left)?
Also, could you please indicate on all your recipes if they are suitable for freezing..
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Lois, I hope you love it! And yes you can freeze it.
Shana Knight says
I made this cake and it took more than 40 mins to cook as the time given the middle was wet n sticky so I added an extra 10 mins cooking time ! I’m not sure if I made an error in the method as I followed the ingredients as stated. Also I baked the crumble mixture in a separate dish as I thought the crumble would weigh down the cake and not rise up. Please comment.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Shana, if your cake took longer to bake – that’s ok! Every oven is different so I always recommend using oven times as a guide only. Hope you enjoyed it.
Tammy says
Always a fan of your delish recipes… here in Sri Lanka it is difficult to find Greek yogurt. Is there a substitute I could use for this ?
Jessica Holmes says
Sour cream is a good substitute! Or if you don’t have access to that either, you could try plain yogurt with a squeeze of lemon juice.
anisha says
Why we need to put so much baking powder in this recipe?
Jessica Holmes says
Baking powder provides lift.