This Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe is so easy to make and is the perfect treat for an afternoon cup of joe!! It has a buttery coffee crumble crust topped with coffee infused cake and then layered with fluffy whipped cream.
Like cakes? Try my Ultimate Rum Cake recipe, a Chocolate Beetroot Cake, or my Cake with Cannoli Filling.
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This is a guest post by: Blair from Baked by Blair. Read more about her at the bottom of this post.
What is Coffee Cake?
Coffee cake is traditionally a vanilla cake with cinnamon streusel that is served along with coffee. Often times the cake itself doesn't have any coffee in it and instead the name refers to how it is frequently served with coffee.
A delicious aroma of coffee fills the room whenever you make this delicious coffee cake treat.
Keep reading to find out more about this coffee cake recipe...
This Pistachio Pudding Bundt Cake takes the classic Bundt cake up a notch for an upscale dessert with a white chocolate frosting or just a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Why Make Coffee Cake for Dessert?
- It pairs a perfect buttery crust with a soft and tender cake.
- The options for toppings on this cake are endless.
- It actually incorporates coffee into it! Many coffee cakes do not in fact use coffee in the recipe. You'll be sure to get a hint of coffee in this recipe.
- This cake is perfectly flavored with coffee and pairs extremely well with a cup of tea or a pot of coffee!
Equipment and Tools
Selecting the right Pan for a Coffee Cake
Choosing the right pan can become a quite the task. But to make this coffee cake recipe you have a few choices. You can use a 9" round cake pan that is 2" deep. That's what I used to make this cake recipe.
Tools and Equipment
While these tools aren't absolutely necessary, they will make baking a cake a ton easier. These will come in handy are an Electric Stand Mixer and a Coffee Grinder for the freshest ground coffee.
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make this coffee cake recipe! I'll go over how to make the crust first, then the cake batter, and finally how to make whipped cream and assemble this yummy treat!
The Crust:
- Unsalted butter, at room temperature
- Brown sugar
- Ground coffee
- All-purpose flour
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Salt
The Cake Batter:
- Baking Soda
- Sour cream, at room temperature
- Egg, at room temperature
- Pure vanilla extract
- Crust crumbs (from above)
- Slivered almonds or chopped nuts of your choice
Do you like lemon? Why not try this lemon cake recipe? You won't regret it.
How to Make Cinnamon Coffee cake
- First, combine your all-purpose flour, brown sugar, butter, coffee, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment. Cream together until mixture resembles wet sand. The brown sugar provides depth of flavour to the crust and cake.
- Pour ½ your crust crumbs into a greased pan. Firmly press crumbs down into pan using a flat glass. It's important to press them down firmly to prevent the crust from crumbling when it's cut in to.
- In a separate bowl stir together baking soda, sour cream, egg and ½ the crust crumbs.
- Pour cake batter over top of crust and bake for 40-45 minutes.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan completely before removing or serve directly in pan.
Removing the Cake from the Pan
It's always best to generously spray the bottom of your cake pan or grease it with butter and sprinkle it with flour.
Another great tip is using parchment paper to line the bottom. If you don't have round parchment paper you can take a square piece of parchment paper and fold it into four. Take the baking pan and flip it upside down. Then take the center tip of the folded piece of paper and align it with the center of the pan and cut following the edge of the pan. Unfold and see if it fits in the pan, adjust as necessary.
How to Make the Whipped Cream Topping
- Using a stand mixer, or a medium bowl and an electric hand mixer, heavy whipping cream and sugar on high speed until it thickens (2-3 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- You can leave the whipped cream in the bowl if you will be serving the coffee cake immediately, or you can put it into an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to save for later.
Storage
The cake can keep fresh for 3-4 days in an airtight container at room temperature as long as you haven't topped the entire cake with whipped cream. Cake topped with whipped cream should be eaten right away.
Top Tips
Over baking the crust will cause the crust to be crunchy and dry, so make sure to keep a close eye while it is baking.
Make sure your cake has fully cooled after baking before topping with whipped cream/buttercream or other fun toppings!! The last thing you want is a runny whipped cream mess before you get a chance to taste your finished product.
Remove cake from pan and place on a serving plate.
Place it gently on a serving tray for immediate consumption, or in a sealable container for later enjoyment!
When you're ready to eat the cake, place whipped cream on each individual plate. This allows for uneaten cake to be stored for later.
Variations
Once you think about it, you can create unlimited combinations when making Coffee Cake. This Coffee Cake version is just the beginning, and I have several ideas for you to consider!
Coffee Cake topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream or blackberry Swiss meringue buttercream frosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do NOT use your measuring cup to scoop flour. Instead, I like to use a spoon and scoop flour into my measuring cup and then use a knife to level it off. Using the measuring cup to scoop flour packs down the flour and you'll end up with more flour than the recipe calls for and your cake will be dry. The opposite of what we want in a good cake recipe.
Using salted butter will result in overly salty and not very tasty treats.
about Blair
Guest Blogger and recipe developer at Baked by Blair
Blair is the founder, blogger and baker at BAKED by Blair. She shares indulgent dessert recipes and inspires beginners to bust out the baking pans and get baking. Blair began baking when she made her son's first birthday cake and fell in love! She now teaches cake classes to virtual students all over the world!
Side Dishes to Fall in Love With
Recipe Details
Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe
https://easyhomemaderecipes.caIngredients
Crust (Cake Bottom)
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 tbsp ground coffee
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
Cake Batter
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup sour cream at room temperature
- 1 egg at room temperature
- ½ cup almonds slivered
Whipped Cream:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
Crust (Cake Bottom)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9" spring form pan and set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together brown sugar, flour, butter, coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.2 cups brown sugar, 2 cups all purpose flour, ½ cup unsalted butter, 2 tbsp ground coffee, 1 tbsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp salt
- Spoon half the mixture into the pan and press down firmly using a flat glass.
Cake
- In a separate bowl mix together baking soda, sour cream, egg, and remaining half of crust crumbs. Pour over crust in greased pan.1 tsp baking soda, 1 cup sour cream, 1 egg
- Sprinkle almonds on top.½ cup almonds
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the top comes out clean. Cool completely before topping with whipped cream.
Whipped Topping
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the whisk attachment or with an electric hand mixer, whip heavy cream and sugar on high speed for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy. Take care not to over mix or whipped cream will appear curdled.2 cups heavy cream, 1 tbsp sugar
- Top on cake immediately or place in an airtight container in the fridge to use at another time.
Notes
Top Tips
Over baking the crust will cause the crust to be crunchy and dry, so make sure to keep a close eye while it is baking. Make sure your cake has fully cooled after baking before topping with whipped cream/buttercream or other fun toppings!! The last thing you want is a runny whipped cream mess before you get a chance to taste your finished product. Remove cake from pan and place on a serving plate. Place it gently on a serving tray for immediate consumption, or in a sealable container for later enjoyment! When you’re ready to eat the cake, place whipped cream on each individual plate. This allows for uneaten cake to be stored for later.Nutrition
PIN for Later
Food Safety
Note that the storage guidelines provided on this page and site are estimates from personal experiences. We are all adults and as an adult you are responsible to ensure that the food you eat is safe to eat. Since, I'm not a food safety expert, you are responsible to review your local guidelines on food storage prior to storing any food left-overs.
Remember to:
- Not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For Canadian Guidelines check the Government of Canada Food Safety Guidelines or see more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Terri Gilson says
I love the delicious simplicity of coffee cake and this one sounds amazing!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
Your coffee cake looks fantastic! I love that you put coffee in the crumbly topping. Brilliant!
nancy says
You always have the best cake recipes!! this coffee cake sounds like the perfect morning calL
AmyG says
Thanks. I hope you enjoy it!
Sadia Malik says
I love a good coffee cake and this looks delicious.
Bernice says
What a lovely looking coffee cake. This is one style of cake that I love but I don't make it often enough. I love that you actually have coffee in your coffee cake too.
Vanessa says
Yum! This is great for afternoon company with some coffee and tea.
Jane says
Can't wait to try this.