The Best Buttery And Moist Coffee Cake
With layers of tender, melt-in-your-mouth cake at the bottom, a thick ribbon of cinnamon sugar streusel in the middle, and a crumbly cinnamon topping, this Sour Cream Coffee Cake is decadent and delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness. The best part? Nothing fancy here except for the name and flavor; the ingredients are simple and likely already in your pantry, yet the outcome is nothing short of your favorite Starbucks Cinnamon Coffee Cake.
Although dessert for breakfast may seem like a guilty pleasure, this vanilla-scented cinnamon coffee cake is an exception worth making. Enjoy a thick ribbon of cinnamon sugar streusel sandwiched between two layers of cake, where a moist, fluffy cake sits at the bottom, and a cinnamon crumble adorns the top. And don’t even get me started on the lovely hints of cinnamon and the delightful scent of vanilla. The cinnamon brings warmth and spice, while the vanilla offers fragrant sweetness that ties everything together perfectly.
This coffee cake doesn’t actually contain coffee, but it’s designed to be the ideal pairing for your morning brew. The balance of flavors and textures—soft cake, crunchy topping, and a slightly gooey cinnamon center—makes it the ultimate compliment to your morning cup of coffee or an afternoon snack.
Coffee Cake Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Crumb Mixture:
Butter: Softened butter binds the crumb mixture together and adds a rich, buttery flavor.
Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness and a deep, molasses-like flavor that complements cinnamon.
All-Purpose Flour: Gives structure to the crumb topping, ensuring it remains crisp after baking.
Cinnamon: The star spice that adds warmth and depth to both the crumb topping and the cake itself.
For the Cinnamon Sugar:
Brown Sugar: Adds caramel-like sweetness and richness to the cinnamon swirl.
Regular Sugar: Balances the brown sugar, providing a lighter sweetness to the mix.
Cinnamon: Enhances the cinnamon swirl with a bold, spicy kick.
For the Cake Batter:
Butter: Provides the foundation of the cake’s buttery flavor and contributes to its tender texture.
White Sugar: Sweetens the cake and achieves a light, fluffy crumb when creamed with butter.
Eggs: Add structure and richness to the cake while helping it rise.
Vanilla Extract: Infuses the batter with a sweet, aromatic flavor.
Sour Cream: Adds moisture and tanginess while preventing the cake from becoming too dense.
Buttermilk: Works with baking soda to give the cake a soft, fluffy texture. It also keeps the batter at the right consistency, making it easier to work with.
Cake Flour: Provides a delicate, tender crumb due to its lower protein content than all-purpose flour.
Baking Soda & Baking Powder: Both leavening agents help the cake rise, ensuring it’s light and airy.
Salt: Enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness of the cake.
How to Make Coffee Cake
Prepare the Cinnamon Crumb Mixture
Combine room-temperature butter, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon in a bowl.
Mix everything well using a fork. Use your hands to mash the mixture until completely combined and crumbly.
Make the Cinnamon Sugar
Add brown sugar, regular sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl, mix well, and set aside.
Mix the Cake Batter
Add butter and white sugar to a bowl and mix until creamy. Whisk in room-temperature eggs, followed by vanilla extract, and mix again. Add room-temperature sour cream and buttermilk and mix until smooth.
Finally, add cake flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and fold everything together using a spatula to prevent over-mixing.
Assemble the Cake
Spread about half of the cake batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle a layer of cinnamon sugar mixture over it.
Dollop the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon sugar layer and swirl it using a knife to spread it evenly over the top. Finish with a layer of Cinnamon Crumb Mixture.
Bake the Cake
Bake in a 350-degree F preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Serve with a cup of coffee, and enjoy!
Coffee Cake Success Tips
Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: To avoid lumpy batter, ensure butter, eggs, sour cream, and buttermilk are at room temperature. This helps them blend smoothly and evenly into the batter.
Don’t Over-Mix the Batter: When combining the dry and wet ingredients, use a spatula and fold gently. Over-mixing the coffee cake batter can result in a dense, tough cake instead of a light, fluffy one. It can be thicker than regular cake batter and relatively smooth, but some small lumps are okay.
Be Mindful of Layering the Batter: Assembling the top cinnamon crumb layer can be tricky, as it needs to be spread over the cinnamon sugar layer. It’s best to start from the center and spread out towards the edges. Avoid back-and-forth motions, which can cause the batter to peel up and mix with the cinnamon sugar.
Swap for Sour Cream: Full-fat Greek yogurt is the best alternative to sour cream! Avoid using milk or any other liquid as a substitute, as it will result in a thin batter that won’t hold up well against the deliciously thick crumble topping.
Coffee Cake FAQs
Does a coffee cake have coffee in it?
No, the coffee cake does not contain coffee. The name comes from the fact that it’s typically enjoyed alongside a cup of coffee.
Is coffee cake bitter?
No, coffee cake is not bitter. Instead, it’s typically sweet with a rich, buttery flavor and hints of cinnamon or vanilla. The sweetness comes from sugar, while the cinnamon or crumb topping adds warmth and texture. There’s no coffee in the cake itself, so it has no bitterness.
How do I store leftover coffee cake?
Store leftover coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.
Other Dessert Recipes You May Like
Buttery And Moist Coffee Cake
With layers of tender, melt-in-your-mouth cake at the bottom, a thick ribbon of cinnamon sugar streusel in the middle, and a crumbly cinnamon topping, this Sour Cream Coffee Cake is decadent and delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness. The best part? Nothing fancy here except for the name and flavor; the ingredients are simple and likely already in your pantry, yet the outcome is nothing short of your favorite Starbucks Cinnamon Coffee Cake.
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Crumb Mixture
- ¼ cup butter (room temperature)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon (heap)
For Cinnamon Sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup regular sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
For Cake Batter
- ¾ cup butter
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup sour cream (room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
- 2 ½ cups cake flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
To Make Cinnamon Crumb Mixture
Combine room-temperature butter, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix everything well using a fork. Use your hands to mash the mixture until completely combined and crumbly.
To make Cinnamon Sugar
Add brown sugar, regular sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl, mix well, and set aside.
To Make the Cake Batter
Add butter and white sugar to a bowl and mix until creamy.
Whisk in room temperature eggs followed by vanilla extract, and mix again.
Add room-temperature sour cream and buttermilk and mix until smooth.
Finally, add cake flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and fold everything together using a spatula to prevent over-mixing.
Spread about half of the cake batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle a layer of cinnamon sugar mixture over it.
Dollop the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon sugar layer and swirl it using a knife to spread it evenly over the top.
Finish with a layer of Cinnamon Crumb Mixture and bake in a 350-degree F preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with a cup of coffee, and enjoy!
Notes
Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: To avoid lumpy batter, ensure butter, eggs, sour cream, and buttermilk are at room temperature. This helps them blend smoothly and evenly into the batter.
Don’t Over-Mix the Batter: When combining the dry and wet ingredients, use a spatula and fold gently. Over-mixing the coffee cake batter can result in a dense, tough cake instead of a light, fluffy one. It can be thicker than regular cake batter and relatively smooth, but some small lumps are okay.
Be Mindful of Layering the Batter: Assembling the top cinnamon crumb layer can be tricky, as it needs to be spread over the cinnamon sugar layer. It's best to start from the center and spread out towards the edges. Avoid back-and-forth motions, which can cause the batter to peel up and mix with the cinnamon sugar.
Swap for Sour Cream: Full-fat Greek yogurt is the best alternative to sour cream! Avoid using milk or any other liquid as a substitute, as it will result in a thin batter that won't hold up well against the deliciously thick crumble topping.
