Streusel Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Name: Streusel Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour (or cake flour if you prefer); ¾ cup granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; ⅓ cup butter; 1 cup milk; 2 large eggs (room temperature); ½ teaspoon vanilla; 1½ cups cake crumbs*; 2 tablespoons flour; ⅔ cup brown sugar (lightly packed); 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 3½ tablespoons butter

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

This Streusel topped Cinnamon Coffee Cake is perfect anytime! A slice for Breakfast, snack or even dessert will certainly be a welcome treat. The delicious crumb topping is just what it needs.

A slice of cinnamon crumb cake on a white plate.

I have made a number of Crumb Cakes in my baking life but this Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake is one of my favourites.

I don’t know about you but whenever I would make a layer cake, I would trim the cake, that extra cake would always find its way into my mouth. Can’t waste a good thing.

Or even better I would frost it and then eat it! Haha. But now I try to control myself and in the freezer it goes waiting to become a crumb topping. This cake is so easy to make, no need for electric beaters!

Recipe Ingredients

Cake Batter

Flour – all purpose or cake/pastry flour
Sugar – granulated either regular or fine sugar
Baking powder
Salt
Cinnamon – ground cinnamon
Butter – melted butter
Milk – whole or 2% milk
Eggs – large room temperature eggs
Vanilla – extract

Streusel Topping

Leftover cake crumbs – a plain cake is probably best
Flour – all purpose flour
Brown sugar – light golden brown
Cinnamon – grount
Butter – I use salted

How to make homemade cake/pastry flour

For every cup of all purpose flour, remove two tablespoons and replace with two tablespoons of corn starch. Be sure to sift the flour and cornstarch together a couple of times, this way it is sure to be properly combined and lump free. Cake flour in cakes will give you a very tender texture and fine crumb, it will also help the cake to rise.

Why use room temperature ingredients?

With cakes and other baking, it’s always better to use room temperature ingredients. So, take any cold ingredients out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time or sooner if it’s cool in your kitchen. Room temperature ingredients blend easier, creating a silky batter or dough, which will help to create a light tender baked good.

How to make the streusel topping without leftover cake crumbs

Mix together the flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon, cut in the butter to form coarse crumbs. Use this as a substitute for leftover cake topping.

3/4 cup flour – all purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar – lightly packed
1/4 cup butter – room temperature
pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon cinnamon (more or less how you like it)

How to make the Cinnamon Coffee Cake

In a medium bowl mix together cake crumbs, flour, sugar and cinnamon, cut in butter and combine to form crumbs. Set aside.

In a medim pot add butter and milk, heat until butter is melted, remove from heat and let cool. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

the dry ingredients whisked in a glass bowl.

Whisk together the cooled butter/milk mixture, eggs and vanilla (you can whisk this together in the pot or a clean bowl), with a spatula fold it into the dry ingredients, continue folding until combined (there will be some lumps).

Mixing the butter and adding it to the dry ingredients.

Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan, sprinkle with the topping.

The batter in the pan with the topping on top.

Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 40-60 minutes or until toothpick comes clean and dry, or even better with a few crumbs attached.

Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then remove, cut and serve. Or cut directly in the pan.

What is the difference between Coffee Cake and Crumb Cake

One of the differences between the two is the amount of streusel or crumb topping, a coffee cake has much less, and sometimes a crumb cake is all crumb, just like this Peach Crumb Cake. Another difference is a coffee cake is more cake than crumb.

Why is it called Coffee Cake

It is a moist cake usually with a light crumb topping, it is served with coffee or tea usually for breakfast or snack. Sometimes it does have coffee in it, but the reason it is called Coffee Cake is because it is served with coffee.

FAQS

Can you make this cake without cake crumbs?

Yes even if you don’t have any leftover cake crumbs you can make the crumb topping without it.

Can I add nuts to the batter?

Yes you can, if you wish you can toast the nuts first in a pre-heated 350F oven for about 5-6 minutes then chop before adding. The best nuts to use are walnuts, hazelnuts or pecans.

Can I use a loaf pan instead?

Besides using a round or square cake pan, you can also use a 9 1/2 inch (24cm) loaf pan.

How to store the coffee cake

The coffee cake can be kept well covered or in an air tight container at room temperature. It will keep for up to 3 days. If stored in the fridge in an air tight container it will keep for up to 5-6 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

How to freeze it

The completely cooled cake should be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or foil, then placed in a freezer safe bag or container. Properly stored, it will keep for up to 2-3 months.

So while the cake is cooling I would advise you to get the coffee or tea going because you are really going to want to sit back and enjoy this Cinnamon Coffee Cake. Enjoy!

More Coffee Cake recipes