We all know that coffee is great on its own, but sometimes you want something extra. That’s where coffee cake comes in — the perfect sweet treat to match the rich notes of your brew.
You may have had one in a cafe or coffee shop, but have you ever made a coffee cake at home? We’ll take you through how to bake a coffee cake and other coffee-inspired baking recipes.
Coffee Cake Recipe
We've put together a simple coffee cake recipe for you to try making at home. It's designed to be simple but still warming and comforting in flavor. Easily adaptable, you can always try some of our variations and additions we've added at the end of the recipe.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (250 g) sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon nutmeg
- 1 cup (227 g) butter
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the Streusel
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (250 g) sugar (brown preferred)
- ½ cup butter
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
- Add all of your streusel ingredients to a bowl. Use a fork or crumble them together with your fingers until they reach a large breadcrumb consistency.
- In a separate bowl, combine your butter and sugar for the cake together until they reach a light and creamy color and the sugar is fully incorporated.
- Slowly add the eggs to the butter and sugar and mix them in one at a time.
- Add your vanilla extract.
- Slowly sift in the flour in small amounts along with the baking powder, making sure it is fully mixed in.
- Gently fold in the sour cream, making sure it is well incorporated.
- Transfer the cake batter to a 9” x 13” greased cake tin or tray, and crumble the streusel topping evenly on top.
- Place into your preheated oven for 50 minutes or until a skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If you find your streusel topping starting to catch, cover the top of the tray with aluminum foil, making sure to leave space at the sides for the heat and steam to escape.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Variations and Additions to Try
To jazz up your coffee cake further, try out these suggestions.
- Add nuts such as walnuts to your cake batter or break them up into your streusel.
- Add fresh or dried fruit like apples, raisins, cherries, or cranberries to your cake batter. To stop them from rising to the top or sinking to the bottom, coat them in a dusting of flour before incorporating them evenly into the batter.
- Swap out the streusel for a cream cheese frosting made with equal parts cream cheese and powdered sugar.
- Substitute half of the flour in your streusel for oats for a crunchy twist.
- Add cocoa powder to your batter for a decadent treat.
- Switch it up with the seasons: add pumpkin spice in the fall, tropical fruits like pineapples and mango in the summer, and try adding the zest of lemons and limes for a springtime pick-me-up.
Coffee & Walnut Cake Recipe
Of course, there is something to be said about cakes flavored with coffee, too. The most common of these is a coffee and walnut cake, which goes perfectly with coffee but is a decadent dessert in and of itself. We’ve put together a recipe so you can try one at home below.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup (225 g) butter
- 1 cup (225 g) sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 non-packed cups (225 g) self-rising flour
- ¾ cup (75 g) of chopped walnuts soaked in espresso overnight
- ½ teaspoon baking powder — switch to 1 ½ teaspoons if using all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons instant coffee dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water (if using a sweetened version, reduce the sugar in this recipe accordingly)
For the Filling and Frosting
- ½ cup (125 g) butter
- 2 cups (225 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water
- Walnut halves to decorate
Method
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius). If your oven doesn’t have a fan, preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
- Combine and whisk together the butter and sugar along with the baking powder until pale and creamy.
- Fold in the espresso-soaked walnuts and the instant coffee.
- Gradually add and mix in the eggs one at a time.
- Sift and mix in the flour.
- Transfer the batter to two greased 8” (20 cm) sandwich cake tins, and place in the oven for 25 minutes, or until a skewer or toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow it to cool for 5 minutes in the tin before transferring it to a cooling rack.
- For the frosting and filling, mix your butter and instant coffee before slowly feeding in the powdered sugar.
- Once the cake has cooled, spread half of the frosting mixture on one cake as the filling, and then place the other cake on top. Use the rest of the mixture as the topping, and use walnut halves to decorate.
What is Coffee Cake?
Depending upon who you ask and what part of the world they are from, you will likely receive two different answers to this question.
In the US, coffee cake refers to a cake that is typically eaten and enjoyed with coffee. In other parts of the world, coffee cake refers to a cake that is flavored with coffee.
This may be a bit confusing if you haven't heard of one of the options previously, but we assure you both are extremely tasty. You truly can have your cake and eat it too!
Types of Coffee Cakes
As coffee cake is a broad term for any cake made to pair with coffee, there are many different recipes and variations. Most commonly, coffee cakes have a crumbly streusel topping and a breadlike texture, are spiced with cinnamon, and contain fillings such as fruit, cream cheese, and nuts.
Traditionally, these cakes were yeast-leavened, which accounts for the sweet, bready nature of the treat. However, creativity and flexibility mean that some cakes may use a sponge base instead or alter the texture using yogurt, sour cream, or cream cheese.
How to Store Your Coffee Cake
Once your cake has cooled and everyone has had their fill, it should be stored in an airtight container or in plastic wrap away from sunlight.
It will last around 3-4 days on your countertop, but if you want it to stay fresh for even longer, put it in the fridge, where it can last up to a week. But we doubt it will need to last that long before you eat it all!
Other Famous Coffee Cakes and Desserts
We’ve taught you how to make two different types of coffee cake, but here is a quick homage to other coffee cakes and desserts to go with coffee.
- Tiramisu — coffee-soaked sponge layered with mascarpone cream and topped with cocoa powder.
- Affogato — vanilla ice cream or gelato with a shot of espresso poured over.
- Biscotti — crunchy almond cookies/biscuits perfect for coffee dipping.
- Cannoli — fried pastry tubes filled with sweet ricotta cheese. It can be any flavor you like, including coffee.
History of Coffee Cake
Coffee cake made its way to the United States from Central and Northern Europe in the 17th century. This was around the time when coffee was starting to boom in popularity in the Western world, and as a result, people needed something delicious to eat with it.
German, Dutch, and Danish immigrants, all from countries known for producing incredible baked goods, are touted to have brought coffee cake to the shores of the New World. By the late 19th century, coffee cake had become a time-honored tradition to enjoy with a hot cup of joe.
Related: Where Did Coffee Come From?
What Coffee Goes Best with Coffee Cake?
As you may have already guessed, coffee cake is designed to go with pretty much any coffee. But, there are some flavor notes of strong dark roast coffee that are a match made in heaven with a good slice of cake.
Dark roast coffees that pair well with coffee cake:
- The toasted nuts and maple syrup notes of Da Nang
- The rich dark chocolate and cherry from Ban Me
- The caramel, blackberry, and stone fruit flavors of Da Lat
FAQs: Coffee Cake
Still curious about sweet pairings with your brew? Take a bite out of these.
1. What Makes a Coffee Cake a Coffee Cake?
Quite simply, a coffee cake is one designed to pair with your coffee. Usually, it contains spices like cinnamon with a streusel topping.
2. What’s the Best Way to Add Coffee to a Cake?
The best way to add coffee to cakes is by using instant coffee, as it doesn’t require as much liquid to provide its flavor. Add a tablespoon or two to an equal amount of hot water, allow it to dissolve, and add to your batter.
3. Is Coffee Cake Better, Warm or Cold?
Coffee cake can be eaten straight from the oven or once it has cooled down. It all depends on your preferences and the situation. Some people prefer to eat warm coffee cake with iced coffee or cold brew, while others prefer cool coffee cake with hot coffee, but the choice is yours.
4. How Can I Keep My Coffee Cake Moist?
Using melted butter can help to create a moist-textured cake, but when it comes to storage, an airtight container like Tupperware will keep the moisture locked in. Sometimes coffee cake that is stored in the fridge can dry out a little, so if this is the case for you, consider keeping it out at room temperature.
5. Why Would I Use Coffee in Baking?
Aside from coffee-flavored creations like the coffee and walnut cake recipe we shared, coffee can work magic in other baking recipes. Try adding it to a chocolate cake for a deep richness or to brownie batter for added flavor and aroma.
6. Can I Eat Coffee Cake as a Dessert?
Nothing is stopping you from eating coffee cake whenever you want! Try it warm, drizzled with heavy cream, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Coffee cake can be enjoyed at any time.
