Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake

4.99 from 79 votes

This Cinnamon Coffee Cake has a moist pound cake texture with a crumbly buttery streusel topping. Easy to make, it's delicious and decadent!

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If you love the Starbucks coffee cake, you’re going to love this simplified homemade cinnamon coffee cake recipe. It’s a sweet, moist, easy cake recipe with a buttery, crumbly cinnamon-flavored streusel topping – the perfect treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee!

Tight shot of a baking pan lined with parchment paper with cinnamon coffee cake cup in the pan
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This homemade Starbucks cinnamon coffee cake is easy to make, and the cinnamon crumb topping is absolutely delicious. The streusel topping is made with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Serve this coffee cake warm from the oven for a real treat!

why you’ll love this homemade coffee cake

  • Texture. This coffee cake has the perfect amount of moistness, and the crumb topping provides just the right amount of crunch.
  • Flavor. The cinnamon flavor is spot on, and the streusel topping is absolutely delicious.
  • Ease of preparation. It is easy to make, and it doesn’t require any special baking skills or equipment.
  • Crowd pleaser. This cinnamon coffee cake is the perfect dessert to bring to a brunch date, potluck, or holiday party. It’s always a hit!

Ingredients to make Starbucks coffee cake

Don’t be alarmed by the number of ingredients! They are all pantry staples that you likely have on hand. The crumb topping and the coffee cake base both share the same ingredients, so it’s easy to make.

FOR THE STREUSEL topping:

  • All-purpose flour: The base of the streusel topping.
  • Light brown sugar: Provides sweetness and a beautiful caramel flavor to the streusel topping.
  • Cinnamon: The key flavor in this homemade coffee cake. Be sure to use freshly ground cinnamon for the best flavor.
  • Unsalted butter: The butter binds everything together and makes the streusel topping nice and crumbly.

FOR THE Coffe CAKE:

  • All-purpose flour: Gives structure to the coffee cake.
  • Cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth of flavor to the cake.
  • Vegetable oil: Helps give your cake a moist texture.
  • Granulated sugar: The primary sweetener in the cake.
  • Eggs: Bind everything together and add richness.
  • Vanilla extract: Adds flavor to the cake.
  • Light brown sugar: Provides a light molasses-y flavor to the cake.
  • Plain Greek yogurt: Adds moisture and richness to the cake.
  • Baking soda, baking powder, and salt: Supports the structure of the crumb cake and adds a little leavening.
This Cinnamon Coffee Crumb Cake has a moist pound cake texture with a heaping buttery crumb streusel topping - decadent, delicious and utterly devourable!

How to make coffee cake from scratch

This recipe is broken down into two parts: the streusel topping and the cake batter. First, you’ll need to make the streusel topping.

make the STREUSEL

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and cinnamon until combined.
  2. Using your fingers, rub in room temperature butter until incorporated and large clumps form when you press the mixture together.
  3. Spread onto prepared baking sheet and refrigerate or freeze.
3 image collage to show how to make streusel and then resting the streusel on a pan in the

make the cake batter & bake

  1. In a large bowl, stir together oil and the sugars.
  2. Whisk in the eggs until combined, then stir in the yogurt and vanilla.
  3. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
  4. Mix until just combined.
  5. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with chilled streusel.
  6. Bake until the top is light golden brown.
6 image collage to show how to make the cake batter and then adding the cake batter and streusel to a pan and what it looks like after baking

tips for making coffee cake

  1. Choose the best pan. While you can use a glass pan in a pinch, this cake will bake best in a light-colored metal cake pan. The metal conducts and distributes the heat more evenly while the cake bakes, which will result in a more evenly-baked cake with a better overall texture and appearance!
  2. Don’t overmix. Stirring the batter too much will result in a tough cake. Just mix until everything is wet and no flour pockets remain.
  3. Be careful not to overbake. This cake is done when the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you bake it for too long, it will be dry.
  4. Line the cake pan with parchment paper. This will help the cake release easily from the pan and will also keep it from sticking.
  • Add nuts. Any type of nuts will work really well with this coffee cake. I especially love to use pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts.
  • Add chocolate chips. Stir in a cup of chocolate chips to the batter before baking for a little extra sweetness.
  • Swap out the yogurt. If you don’t have plain Greek yogurt on hand, you can use regular yogurt, sour cream or more vegetable oil at a 1:1 ratio!
  • Use a different type of oil. If you don’t have vegetable oil on hand, you can use melted butter, avocado oil, melted coconut oil or olive oil at a 1:1 ratio.
Two small plates of cinnamon coffee cake with coffee mug in background

how to store & reheat coffee cake

This copycat Starbucks coffee cake will keep covered tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature for up to four days. To reheat coffee cake, place a slice on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 20-30 seconds. You can also reheat it in the oven by warming it at 300°F for about five to 10 minutes.

how long will homemade coffee cake last in the fridge?

This homemade coffee cake will keep in the fridge for up to a week. Just be sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, so it doesn’t dry out.

can I freeze this streusel coffee cake after baking?

Yes! This coffee cake can be frozen for up to two months. Be sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, so it doesn’t get freezer burn. You’ll also want to let it cool completely before freezing.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a coffee cake a coffee cake?

Traditionally, a coffee cake is a sweet cake flavored with cinnamon and spices and served with coffee. It can be either savory or sweet, and the name comes from its popularity as a breakfast food to have alongside a cup of coffee.

What are some variations on a classic coffee cake?

Some popular variations on classic coffee cake include adding chocolate chips, nuts, fruits, a cinnamon swirl layer in the middle, or a streusel topping like this recipe has.

How do you keep a coffee cake moist?

One way to keep a coffee cake moist is by using yogurt or sour cream in the batter. This will add moisture and help the cake stay soft and fluffy. Another trick is to make sure you don’t overcook it – overbaking can lead to a dry cake. And finally, be sure to store it properly, so it doesn’t dry out.

Pan with the cinnamon coffee cake and hand holding one of them to show the texture on the inside

I hope you enjoy this copycat Starbucks coffee cake recipe! This homemade coffee cake recipe is the perfect complement to your cup of coffee. It has a moist pound cake-like texture with a buttery crumb streusel topping. This cake recipe is something you definitely need to try… even if you’re not a coffee drinker!

More cake recipes:

If you try this feel good Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

This Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe was originally published on May 31, 2017. The recipe has not been modified, but the post now includes new step-by-step photos for how to make the cake recipe.

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Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake

This Cinnamon Coffee Cake has a moist pound cake texture with a crumbly buttery streusel topping. Easy to make, it's delicious and decadent!
5 from 79 votes
Servings 9 servings
Course Dessert
Calories 407
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

For the streusel:

For the cake:

Instructions

  • To make the streusel, line a quarter baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and cinnamon until combined. Using your fingers, rub in room temperature butter until incorporated and large clumps form when you press the mixture together. Spread onto prepared baking sheet and refrigerate for 20 minutes or freeze for 10 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8 x 8 metal baking pan and line with parchment paper, letting the paper overhang the edges for easy removal.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In another large bowl, stir together oil and the sugars. Whisk in the eggs until combined, then stir in the yogurt and vanilla.
  • Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with chilled streusel.
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is light golden brown, the center is firm when lightly touched, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes

Storage: This coffee cake will keep at room temperature for up to 4 days. Make sure to seal it tightly to avoid loss of moisture. 

Nutrition

Calories: 407kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 51mg, Sodium: 155mg, Potassium: 159mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 211IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 78mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Dessert

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Comments

  1. Great recipe, made it multiple times! I also just tried it with gluten-free flour, also adding xanthan gum (my flour doesn’t have it) and it worked out just as well!

  2. Loved this recipe so much! So easy to follow and it came out beautiful. I baked it for my in-laws and they all really enjoyed it

  3. Thank you for this recipe.

    By the way, can the pan size be added to the list of ingredients? So that when the recipe ratios change the pan size changes along as well.

    Just a suggestion, thank you.

    1. Hi Farrah, great suggestion. Unfortunately the recipe won’t update the pan size as it’s not a food item. I hope you enjoy!

    1. If you don’t have plain Greek yogurt on hand, you can use regular yogurt, sour cream or more vegetable oil at a 1:1 ratio!

  4. Beautiful cake ,
    I’m going to make it tomorrow ,

    Just a question , where do you add the coffee ?

    Thanks

  5. Hello Dear! I would like to try this because it looks so yummyyy but I can’t find the quantities of each ingredients on the page.

    1. The full recipe can be found at the bottom of the page in the recipe card. Let me know if that helps!

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