Moist Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Recipe

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake topped with a sweet glaze and a crumbly streusel is an ideal breakfast or snack. Swirls of cinnamon and sugar run through the tender sour-cream cake to make a comforting family favorite.

Despite its name, coffee cake usually contains no coffee; it simply pairs wonderfully with a cup of coffee. This recipe is a classic handed down through the family, refined slightly to add a touch more cinnamon in the batter, brown sugar in the streusel, and a creamy glaze to finish.

The recipe I use came from my mother-in-law and originally from my husband’s grandmother—both excellent cooks. I’ve preserved the familiar, buttery flavor but made a few tweaks for an even more flavorful crumb and a glossy finish.

This is a sour cream coffee cake, which keeps the crumb moist and tender. It has a streusel layer in the middle, a crunchy streusel topping, and a simple powdered-sugar glaze that enhances the cinnamon flavor without overpowering it.

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Streusel

• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk (add ¼ cup more powdered sugar to thicken if desired)

Equipment Needed

• Electric mixer (stand mixer with paddle or hand mixer)
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Angel food cake pan or bundt pan

To Make the Coffee Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease the pan you will use—an angel food cake pan works well for this recipe. Remove butter, eggs, and sour cream from the refrigerator about 30 minutes beforehand so they come to room temperature and mix more evenly.

In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and sour cream until just combined; the batter will be thick.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in batches, mixing only until combined. Scrape the bowl as needed so there are no pockets of dry flour.

To Make the Streusel

Combine the brown sugar, chopped nuts, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.

Spoon half of the batter into the greased pan and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle half of the streusel over the batter in a generous layer. Add the remaining batter, spread it carefully, and finish with the rest of the streusel on top. It may look like a modest amount of batter, but the cake rises during baking to create a lovely, buttery crumb.

Bake at 350°F for about 40 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before removing it from the pan. Wait until it is cool before adding the glaze so the glaze sets rather than melts away.

To Make the Glaze

Whisk the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth and at the desired consistency. For a thinner glaze, use 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons milk. For a thicker glaze, add an extra ¼ cup powdered sugar. Transfer the glaze to a small bag or use a spoon to drizzle it over the cooled cake.

A sandwich bag with a small corner cut off makes an easy piping bag for drizzling. Work slowly to get even lines of glaze without making the hole too large.

How to Store Coffee Cake

Store leftover cake in an airtight container or wrap it on a plate with plastic wrap. For best texture and flavor, enjoy within a few days. You can also warm individual slices briefly in the microwave before serving.

What to Serve with Coffee Cake

Serve warm or at room temperature with a cup of coffee or tea. For a heartier breakfast, pair it with fruit, yogurt, or a protein like egg muffins or baked egg bites. The cake also works well as an afternoon treat or dessert.

If you make this cinnamon streusel coffee cake, please leave a comment and rating to share how it turned out—I love hearing from readers.