With a thick cinnamon streusel topping over fluffy, buttery cake and a ribbon of melty cinnamon through the center, this Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake is going to be a hit at your family breakfast.
Easy Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake
This classic coffee cake recipe is from Jacqueline at Go Go Go Gourmet, a food blog dedicated to busy moms who enjoy baking, cooking, and entertaining.
The coffee cake is buttery, light, fluffy, and features a sweet ribbon of melty cinnamon through the center.
It’s everything a good breakfast cake should be. And it’s piled high with a thick cinnamon streusel topping that offers a lovely texture contrast.
It’s similar to my cinnamon sour cream coffee cake except this one is butter based. It’s so buttery tender, it practically melts in your mouth!
Perfect for enjoying alongside a cup of hot coffee. Truly the best crumb cake recipe.
Sweet carbs are actually one of the things I really enjoy for breakfast. If you are like me, you may also want to try these whole wheat banana muffins and peanut butter and banana coffee cake!
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An old-fashioned crumb cake recipe
Every baker should have this easy crumb cake recipe on hand. The batter is thick and ultra rich.
It yields a super soft crumb which is perfect for a cake that you are going to eat for breakfast. Butter and an egg leave the cake fluffy and tender with tight crumbs throughout.
The butter is creamed with the sugar which provides the moist, cakey texture that is so well loved about this coffee cake.
There’s a ribbon of sweet cinnamon through the center of the cake and thick crunchy cinnamon streusel over the top. Both the filling and topping are made with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and softened butter.
Work the softened butter into the dry ingredients with your fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. It’s important to use softened butter in this recipe.
Softened butter is easier to work into the dry ingredients, making sure each granule of sugar, flour, and cinnamon are coated with buttery goodness.
How to make cinnamon crumb coffee cake
Step 1: Make the cake
Prepare the batter and spread half in the bottom of a 9-inch square cake pan.
Step 2: Make the filling
Prepare the filling and sprinkle it over the batter in the pan then top the filling with the remaining batter.
Step 3: Make the topping and bake
Make the topping and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the batter. Bake the coffee cake for 45-50 minutes in a 350°F oven.
Common questions about Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake
Can you make it the night before and then bake it in the morning?
I’d recommend baking it the night before. Let it cool completely and store it in the refrigerator. You can warm it the next morning by baking it at 300°F for 15 minutes.
Is the cinnamon crumb topping very sweet?
I don’t think it’s too sweet. The cake overall is well balanced. But everyone’s taste is different.
Can I make cupcakes with this recipe?
I suppose you could. They would turn out more like a muffin than a cupcake though.
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Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup milk, room temperature
Instructions
- This recipe is from Go Go Go Gourmet. Please visit her site for full instructions.
Candie Dickson says
May 29, 2019 at 7:38 amHello there Jen. I’m so excited and can’t wait to try this scrumptious sounding Coffee Cake. My dad is 82yrs old and this is right down his Ally. The only thing I do t see the measurements for the Strudel Topping. I see where you told what all it consisted of, I just need to know how much of each. Thank you!!
Candie Dickson
Texas
Jen Sobjack says
May 29, 2019 at 10:08 amThere’s a link in the recipe instructions that will take you to the original author’s website for the full ingredient list and instructions.
Cathetine says
May 26, 2019 at 10:45 amEasy and outstanding.
Catherine Herr says
April 28, 2019 at 8:10 pmMy sons birthday is today and asked me to make him a Crumb cake. So I looked over what came up on google and decided on “Cinnamon Crumb cake.” Thank you for this recipe, It turned out great.
Jen Sobjack says
April 29, 2019 at 10:57 amI hope the birthday boy enjoys it! Go Go Go Gourmet did a great job with this recipe and it’s always a favorite of ours.
Pat White says
December 11, 2018 at 5:54 pmSounds wonderful. Having 18 for breakfast the day after Christmas and would like to know if I can make it in a 9×12 dish. How would that change the recipe and the cook time?
Jen Sobjack says
December 12, 2018 at 8:56 amHi Pat! I have only made the recipe as directed by Go Go Go Gourmet. Since it’s her recipe, she’d probably know how to modify it better than I would.
Sally says
December 7, 2018 at 10:49 amHave you tried making it in a bundt pan?
Jen Sobjack says
December 7, 2018 at 11:04 amI have not.
Nicole says
September 19, 2018 at 2:56 pmIs it okay to leave the substitute the unsalted butter for regular butter and not add the salt?
Jen Sobjack says
September 19, 2018 at 3:55 pmHi Nicole! I don’t ever recommend using salted butter since there is no way to know how much salt is in it. Every brand is different and the cake could come out too salty. It’s really up to you if you want to chance it.
Coleen Goree says
August 17, 2018 at 9:06 amMy husband right now has many food sensitivities so I subbed gluten free flour, ripple pea protein milk and a pinch of xanthum gum. Since i have chickens and all sizes of eggs i used a large and small (bantum) egg. I usually add just a little extra milk so hopefully it takes the gummyness out. I also used oil since butter is out. 😄 I love subbing- i put some Brazil nuts in the topping as well. I’ll let you know how he likes it… And he did like it! Thanks for a great base
Joe says
November 19, 2017 at 1:02 pmMade this with diced walnuts mixed in to the filling and topping. Also used buttermilk instead of regular milk. Bomb dot com 🙂 Great recipe!
Katherine says
May 23, 2017 at 9:02 amAnybody try making cupcakes with this recipe?
Jillian says
February 18, 2017 at 2:59 pmI love this coffe cake! I would definitely make it again!😊
tim says
February 5, 2017 at 8:17 amHi
I am guessing at the temperature now.
Sid i miss it somewhere? Is 375* the magic number?
Jen Sobjack says
February 5, 2017 at 10:42 amThere’s a link in the recipe for you to click to see the full instructions on Go Go Go Gourmet‘s website. It’s not my recipe so I didn’t list everything in full.
tim says
February 10, 2017 at 4:52 pmThank you…I did find the gogogo link.
*350 was the magic number :-).
It turned out well…a little dense though.
I am going to add more milk this time. Your thoughts?
Jen Sobjack says
February 13, 2017 at 10:30 amI didn’t experience this when I made her cake. I thought it was exactly the way coffee cake should be. Maybe you used too much flour. Try measuring it with the spoon and level method. I have a post explaining why this method is best: How to Measure Flour.
Maggie says
December 9, 2016 at 10:11 pmWebsite doesn’t work! I would love to try this, is there any way you can post instructions too? Please! And thank you!
Jen Sobjack says
December 12, 2016 at 9:56 amI’m sorry you couldn’t get to the recipe. I assure you she was working hard to get the situation resolved and her site is back up. If I did post the entire recipe, there would be no reason for you to go to her site for her own recipe. That simply wouldn’t be fair to her!
Brooke says
December 9, 2016 at 5:08 pmUnfortunately the GoGoGo Gourmet site has been down all day, no matter what browser I used, despite me being able to see it yesterday. I will have to try this another day… :o(
Perhaps it might be a good idea to add the entire recipe here, and then also add a link to their site. Just an idea. :o)
Jen Sobjack says
December 12, 2016 at 9:53 amI’m sorry you couldn’t get to the recipe. Sometimes these things happen but I assure you she is working to get the situation resolved. I will never post the entire recipe on my site because it isn’t my recipe. If I did post the entire recipe, there would be no reason for anyone to go to her site for her own recipe. That simply wouldn’t be fair to her!
Leo says
October 4, 2016 at 8:02 pmTried and true coffe cake recipe!!! Absolutely delicious!!!👍 Thank you.
Lizz says
September 26, 2016 at 11:01 amIs the cinnamon crumb topping very sweet? I’ve made a different recipe before but the topping was way too sweet to eat. Looks good though!
Jen says
September 28, 2016 at 8:21 amI don’t think it’s too sweet. The cake overall is well balanced. But everyone’s taste is different.