If you love the cozy, classic taste of coffee cake and wish you could enjoy it in cookie form, these Coffee Cake Cookies are about to become your new obsession! Imagine a buttery, cinnamon-laced cookie with a golden, crumbly streusel on top and a sweet vanilla glaze—each bite is like an irresistible mini coffee cake. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat, they’re an easy, crowd-pleasing bake that brings all the nostalgia of homemade coffee cake, but with less fuss and lots of fun.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Coffee Cake Cookies lies in their simplicity: just a handful of pantry staples come together to deliver maximum flavor and texture. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving that tender cookie crumb, sweet spiced streusel, and drizzle of dreamy glaze that makes this recipe a standout.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Provides richness and keeps the cookies wonderfully soft. Use good butter for the best flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps create a delicate structure.
- Brown sugar (packed): Adds depth and a touch of molasses flavor, as well as extra chewiness.
- Large egg: Binds the ingredients together while adding tender texture.
- Vanilla extract: Brings warm, comforting flavor that echoes classic coffee cake.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the backbone of the cookies and keeps them light.
- Baking powder: Gives a gentle lift for a cakey crumb.
- Baking soda: A tiny bit to further help with spread and softness.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- Crumb topping: more flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon: Adds that signature coffee cake streusel and a cozy aroma.
- Butter (melted) for topping: Helps bind the crumb topping while making it perfectly crisp on top.
- Powdered sugar: The base for the smooth, sweet glaze drizzled over every cookie.
- Milk or cream: Creates the ideal glaze consistency—choose cream for extra richness if you’d like!
- Splash of vanilla extract (for glaze): Gives the finishing touch of flavor to your glaze.
How to Make Coffee Cake Cookies
Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Sheet and Preheat the Oven
Start by setting the stage! Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This ensures your Coffee Cake Cookies bake evenly and lift off the pan with zero sticking drama later on.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until the mixture gets light, fluffy, and pale—about 2–3 minutes. This step lays the foundation for soft, plush cookies.
Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla
Crack in your egg and pour in the vanilla extract. Mix until completely blended. The mixture will look creamy and inviting at this point, setting the tone for a delicious dough.
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Stop when the dough looks smooth and cohesive—avoid overmixing for the softest coffee cake cookies.
Step 5: Chill the Dough (if needed)
If your dough feels a little soft or sticky, pop it into the fridge for 15–20 minutes. This quick chill firms up the butter and makes scooping and shaping effortless, plus it helps the cookies keep their beautiful shape in the oven.
Step 6: Make the Crumb Topping
While the dough chills, stir together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the crumb topping. Drizzle in the melted butter, then mix until you have moist crumbles that hold together when pinched. This topping transforms each cookie into a miniature coffee cake marvel!
Step 7: Shape and Top the Cookies
Scoop the dough into balls (about 1 1/2 tablespoons each) and arrange them on your prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each cookie and press a generous spoonful of crumb topping onto the center, patting it down so it sticks.
Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are just turning golden brown. The centers may look soft—that’s perfect! Let them cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to hold their shape and finish cooling.
Step 9: Glaze and Enjoy
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk or cream, and a splash of vanilla in a small bowl to make your glaze. Once the cookies are fully cooled, drizzle each one generously with glaze. Let it set for a few minutes—and then it’s time to dig in to your homemade coffee cake cookies!
How to Serve Coffee Cake Cookies
Garnishes
Add a final flourish with an extra dusting of powdered sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, or even a few micro-planed curls of white chocolate. These touches elevate your Coffee Cake Cookies to bakery-level gorgeousness and bring out their warm, spiced vibes.
Side Dishes
Serve your cookies alongside a hot cup of coffee, spicy chai, or frothy latte for that classic coffee house feeling. For a special brunch, pair with a fresh fruit salad or Greek yogurt parfait to contrast the sweet, crumbly goodness with something cool and light.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange the cookies on a tiered dessert stand for an elegant tea party, wrap them up in cellophane bags tied with ribbon for sweet homemade gifts, or pack them in lunchboxes for a delightful midday surprise. However you serve them, Coffee Cake Cookies always make the occasion feel festive.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place any leftover Coffee Cake Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and fresh for up to 3 days—just be sure to layer them with parchment so the glaze doesn’t get sticky!
Freezing
To freeze, arrange cooled cookies (without glaze) in a single layer on a tray and freeze until solid. Then, transfer to a zip-top freezer bag or airtight container. They’ll keep beautifully for up to 2 months. Add the glaze after thawing for the freshest flavor and texture.
Reheating
If you love a warm treat, microwave individual cookies for just 5–7 seconds. This brings that fresh-baked softness right back! If the glaze is already set, it may melt a tiny bit—making the cookies even more decadent.
FAQs
Can I make Coffee Cake Cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can bake the cookies and add the glaze the day before serving. Or, make the dough and topping a day in advance, refrigerate them separately, then assemble and bake when you’re ready for hot, fresh cookies.
What kind of cinnamon should I use for the crumb topping?
Any ground cinnamon works, but a high-quality Vietnamese or Ceylon cinnamon goes a long way in bumping up the warm, aromatic flavor in the classic Coffee Cake Cookies topping.
Can these cookies be made gluten free?
Yes—simply swap the regular flour for a reliable all-purpose 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. The cookies will still have that tender crumb and delectable streusel topping everyone loves.
My crumb topping doesn’t stick. What can I do?
If the topping is too dry, add a tiny bit more melted butter and mix until crumbly but moist. Gently pressing it onto the cookies before baking helps it adhere and become crisp, so don’t be shy with the topping!
Can I freeze Coffee Cake Cookies with the glaze?
Technically, yes—but for the prettiest results, freeze the cookies without glaze and add it after thawing. If you must freeze with glaze, just know the drizzle might become slightly translucent when defrosted, but the cookies will still taste delicious!
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that captures everything you love about traditional coffee cake, Coffee Cake Cookies are the answer. Whip up a batch to delight your family, surprise your friends, or simply to treat yourself—each bite is a little moment of bakery-style bliss. Happy baking!
PrintCoffee Cake Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes (plus cooling)
- Yield: 20 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the delightful combination of coffee cake and cookies with these Coffee Cake Cookies. Soft, buttery cookies topped with a sweet crumb topping and a vanilla glaze, these treats are perfect for breakfast or as a snack with a cup of coffee.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Crumb Topping:
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter (melted)
For the Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 teaspoons milk or cream
- splash of vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To make the crumb topping, stir together flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then mix in melted butter until crumbly.
- Scoop dough into 1 1/2 tablespoon-sized balls and place on the baking sheet. Gently flatten each cookie and press a spoonful of crumb topping onto the center. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies and allow to set before serving.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet until a soft dough forms. Chill dough for 15–20 minutes if it’s too soft to handle.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For added flavor, mix a pinch of nutmeg into the crumb topping.
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