The perfect cake to go along with a cup of coffee or tea, a deliciously moist Crunchy Coffee Cake, a buttery brown sugar and chocolate chip crumb used as a filling and topping! The perfect coffee cake.

I am actually reposting this recipe, because I it’s a darn good cake and because I wanted to take new photos. I love reading about the fact that this Crunchy Coffee Cake was the start of my posting of North American Desserts. Some my Mom made and most that I grew up with. From a delicious Lemon Bread to my Mom’s Shortbread cookies!

Recipe Ingredients

Flour – cake or pastry flour
Sugar – granulated sugar
Baking powder
Salt
Cinnamon – ground cinnamon
Butter – softened butter
Milk – 20% or whole milk
Eggs – room temperature eggs
Brown sugar – golden brown sugar
Chocolate chips – semi sweet chocolate chips

How To Make Cake 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.

How to make a Crunchy Coffee Cake

To make the topping – In a small/medium bowl, combine the brown sugar and flour, cut in the butter to resemble small crumbs stir in the chocolate chips. Set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add the butter and milk, beat on low until the ingredients are combined then increase speed to medium and beat for, then add the eggs and beat again to combine.

coffee cake how to make batter and crumb topping, in the pan ready for baking

Pour half the batter into the prepared cake pan, sprinkle with half the topping, cover with the remaining batter and top with the remaining topping. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached.

Why Use Room Temperature Ingredients?

When at room temperature, eggs, butter, and other dairy ingredients form an emulsion which traps air. While baking in the oven, that trapped air expands and produces a fluffy baked good. So be sure to remove the ingredients from the fridge 45-60 minutes before baking.

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.

How To Store It

The cake should be stored covered and at room temperature, it will keep for up to 3 days. It can be refrigerated in an airtight contain for up to a week, although refrigerating may cause it to dry out. Any longer than that it should be frozen.

How To Freeze It

Cool the cake completely then wrap it in plastic wrap or foil, then place it in a freezer safe bag or container. It will keep for up to 2-3 months in the freezer. Thaw the frozen cake overnight at room temperature.

I know that the Italian dishes I usually prepare when I have people over for dinner are always much appreciated, but my Italian friends and family just love to try my North American desserts!

More Delicious Desserts

The reason is very simple, they all know I will come out of the kitchen with some huge tray filled with creamy, North American, deliciousness that I learned to make from my years living across the ocean.

So get ready and enjoy all these delicious recipes I have in stock and ready for you to cook and enjoy with the ones you love.

The recipe I chose to start with is a delicious Coffee Cake, that I started to serve Easter Sunday for breakfast, a deliciously soft, moist cake with a crunchy topping. Enjoy!