The Best Easy Coffee Cake is the answer to every morning craving and afternoon pick-me-up. Imagine a fluffy, buttery cake topped with a cinnamon-scented streusel, warm from the oven and ready to make your kitchen smell like pure comfort. Whether you’re serving this treat for brunch, dessert, or a cozy snack with your favorite mug in hand, it’s destined to become a household favorite. With minimal prep and simple ingredients most of us already have on hand, this coffee cake brings bakery-level goodness to your home kitchen with zero fuss.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll be amazed at how just a handful of pantry staples come together to create something this delightful. Every ingredient in the Best Easy Coffee Cake plays its part, from imparting rich flavor to creating that signature tender crumb and golden streusel topping.
- All-purpose flour: Gives your cake structure while keeping it light and fluffy.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a golden color on the cake top.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Brings richness and moisture to both the cake and the streusel.
- Baking powder: The magic behind that irresistible rise and airy texture.
- Salt: Just a pinch wakes up all the flavors in the cake.
- Milk: Keeps the batter smooth and tender, balancing sweetness.
- Large eggs: Provide structure and help bind everything together for that perfect slice.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses the cake with aroma and warmth that makes every bite inviting.
- Brown sugar (for streusel): Lends a deep, caramel-like flavor to the crunchy topping.
- All-purpose flour (for streusel): Helps form delightfully crumbly clusters in the topping.
- Ground cinnamon (for streusel): Delivers the signature spiced swirl coffee cakes are loved for.
- Cold unsalted butter (for streusel): Ensures that perfect crumbly texture everyone wants on top of a coffee cake.
How to Make Best Easy Coffee Cake
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Pan
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking pan. This step guarantees an even bake and easy removal later, so don’t skip greasing the corners!
Step 2: Make the Cake Batter
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat everything together with an electric mixer on medium speed until just smooth and no flour streaks remain. The batter should be thick but easily spreadable. This is your cake base, and it already smells amazing!
Step 3: Spread the Batter
Pour your rich, velvety batter into the prepared pan. Use a spatula to spread it evenly into all the corners, ensuring the cake cooks uniformly and every slice gets an even crumb.
Step 4: Make the Streusel Topping
For that irresistible sugary crunch, combine brown sugar, flour, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Add the cold, cubed butter, and cut it into the dry mix using a pastry cutter or fork. After a minute or two, you should see small, buttery crumbs form — this is the secret to the Best Easy Coffee Cake’s signature topping!
Step 5: Sprinkle and Bake
Scatter the streusel topping generously and as evenly as possible over your cake batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean. The cinnamon sugar aroma wafting through your kitchen will be your cue that something wonderful is about to happen.
Step 6: Cool and Serve
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes. This helps the streusel set and makes slicing much easier. Now you’re ready to savor a tender, crumbly slice of the Best Easy Coffee Cake!
How to Serve Best Easy Coffee Cake
Garnishes
The Best Easy Coffee Cake is already delightful on its own, but if you’re feeling fancy, dust the top with a bit of powdered sugar just before serving. A dollop of whipped cream or a quick drizzle of vanilla glaze can add an extra-special touch, especially for celebrations or brunch spreads.
Side Dishes
This cake pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee, of course, but don’t stop there! Consider serving it with a bowl of fresh berries, a scoop of plain or vanilla yogurt, or a refreshing fruit salad for a balanced, crowd-pleasing breakfast or afternoon snack.
Creative Ways to Present
Show off the Best Easy Coffee Cake by slicing it into small squares for a dessert tray, layering it in jars with whipped cream and fruit for individual parfaits, or packing up squares as a thoughtful homemade gift. For a brunch twist, try cutting the cake into wedges and stacking layers with seasonal fruit in between!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once your coffee cake has fully cooled, cover the pan tightly with foil or transfer slices to an airtight container. It will stay moist and delicious at room temperature for up to two days, or up to five days in the refrigerator.
Freezing
Want to save some Best Easy Coffee Cake for later? Wrap individual squares (or the whole cake) tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temp for a few hours before enjoying.
Reheating
To revive that just-baked goodness, warm individual pieces in the microwave for about 10–15 seconds, or cover the pan loosely with foil and reheat in a 300°F oven for 8–10 minutes. The streusel regains its crunch and the cake tastes freshly made.
FAQs
Can I make the Best Easy Coffee Cake the night before?
Absolutely! This cake holds up very well if baked a day ahead. Just store it tightly covered at room temperature after it cools, and it’ll taste fresh for your breakfast or brunch spread.
What can I add to the streusel to change things up?
For a fun twist, try stirring in a handful of chopped pecans, walnuts, or mini chocolate chips into the streusel. These additions add crunch, richness, or chocolatey bits that make every bite a surprise.
Can I use a different pan size?
Yes, you can use an 8×8-inch pan for a thicker cake, just be sure to add a few extra minutes to the baking time. A 9×13-inch pan works too; your cake will be thinner and will bake a bit faster, so start checking for doneness around 25 minutes in.
Is there a dairy-free version?
You can swap out the milk for your favorite dairy-free alternative (like almond or oat milk) and use non-dairy buttery sticks. The texture may change just a little, but it’ll still be delicious and satisfying.
Can I double this Best Easy Coffee Cake recipe for a crowd?
Definitely! To serve a larger group, simply double the ingredient amounts and bake in a 9×13-inch pan. Watch the bake time and check with a toothpick, and you’re all set to feed a happy crowd.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been searching for the perfect quick and cozy treat, the Best Easy Coffee Cake is a must-make. It’s the cake that gets cheers from guests and requests for the recipe, yet it’s simple enough to bake on a quiet Sunday morning. Give this classic a try — your kitchen (and your loved ones) will thank you!
Print
Best Easy Coffee Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Best Easy Coffee Cake is a classic recipe perfect for breakfast or dessert. A soft, tender cake topped with a cinnamon streusel, it pairs wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Ingredients
Main Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the streusel topping:
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup cold unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking pan.
- Mix the cake batter: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth.
- Prepare the streusel: Mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter until crumbly.
- Layer and bake: Pour the batter into the pan, top with streusel, and bake for 35–40 minutes.
- Cool and serve: Let the cake cool before slicing and serving.
Notes
- You can customize the streusel by adding nuts or chocolate chips for extra flavor.
- This coffee cake is best enjoyed warm.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *