The Perfect Weekend Coffee Cake Buttery Crumb Topping Soft Cinnamon Swirl

Buttery Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake

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Preparation time:30 Mins

Cooking time:50 Mins

Servings:10-12 slices

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour (for topping)
• ¾ cup Light Brown Sugar (packed, for topping)
• ¼ cup Granulated Sugar (for topping)
• 2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon (for topping)
• ½ cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter (very cold, cubed, for topping)
• ½ cup Light Brown Sugar (packed, for swirl)
• 1 tablespoon Ground Cinnamon (for swirl)
• 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter (softened, for swirl)
• 2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour (for batter)
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ½ teaspoon Salt (fine sea salt)
• 1 cup Unsalted Butter (softened to room temperature, for batter)
• 1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar (for batter)
• 3 Large Eggs (room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Buttermilk (room temperature)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper with an overhang.
• Make the Crumb Topping: Whisk dry ingredients (flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon) in a medium bowl. Cut in the very cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender or fingertips until coarse, pea-sized crumbs form. Set aside in the fridge.
• Make the Swirl Filling: Cream together the softened swirl butter, swirl brown sugar, and swirl cinnamon until well combined and paste like. Set aside.
• Whisk Dry Cake Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• Cream Butter & Sugar: In the large mixing bowl, cream the softened cake butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 4 minutes). Scrape down the sides.
• Add Eggs & Vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Mix in the vanilla extract.
• Alternate Wet & Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture alternately with the buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until just combined; do not overmix.
• Layer the Cake: Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth evenly.
• Add the Swirl: Drop the prepared cinnamon swirl mixture in dollops over the batter layer. Gently spread it out slightly.
• Top Layer: Carefully spoon the remaining batter over the swirl layer, gently smoothing the top.
• Apply Topping: Retrieve the chilled crumb topping and generously sprinkle it evenly over the entire surface of the cake batter.
• Bake: Bake for 45 55 minutes, or until a skewer inserted near the center of the cake (avoiding the thickest part of the topping) comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached.
• Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Calories	274 kcal
Protein	4.1 g
Fat	0.7 g
Carbs	57.7 g
Fiber	10.8 g
Sodium	6752 mg

Recipe Info

Category	Dessert
Cuisine	American

Why This Cinnamon Swirl Recipe Redefines Comfort Baking

There is something profoundly reassuring about a perfectly baked, deeply fragrant cake that carries no pretense other than to delight. Our Coffee Cake Recipe falls squarely into that category.

It’s not about elaborate frosting or difficult techniques; it’s about achieving that perfect trifecta: a moist, tender cake base, a warmly spiced, decadent ribbon of cinnamon running through the middle, and a thick, irresistible crunchy streusel topping.

If you are searching for the Best Coffee Cake Recipe that marries simplicity with supreme texture, you have arrived at the right place. This bake is designed to transform a regular weekday morning into a miniature celebration or anchor your lazy Sunday ritual perfectly.

The Quintessential Pairing: Elevating Your Morning Cuppa with Homemade Cake

The term "coffee cake" often causes spirited debate. In its purest American sense, it means a cake designed to be eaten with coffee it rarely contains actual coffee. Here in the UK, if it’s good with a cuppa, it’s often labelled as such!

This recipe embraces the spirit of uncomplicated indulgence, creating a tender crumb that stands up beautifully to a steaming mug. We estimate this recipe takes about 30 minutes of active preparation time, making it an Easy Coffee Cake project even for novice bakers.

Setting the Scene: Our Go-To Sunday Morning Bake

When I decide to bake this Good Morning Coffee Cake , the entire house begins to anticipate the result before the timer even rings. We use a 9x13 inch pan for this iteration, yielding 10 to 12 generous, satisfying slices.

The structure is intentionally straightforward: a creamy batter provides the lift, the cinnamon swirl provides the soul, and the topping provides the crunch. The total time commitment, around an hour and a quarter including baking, makes this an ideal weekend endeavor.

Unpacking the Magic: What Makes This Crumb So Exceptional?

The success of any true crumb cake lies entirely in the topping. We aren't shy with our ingredients here; the ratio of cold butter cut into the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon is calibrated precisely to ensure that the topping bakes up chunky, caramelized, and crisp, rather than dissolving entirely into the batter below.

This intense streusel layer is the signature element of this Coffee Cake .

A Note on Tradition: Bridging the American and British Coffee Cake Concepts

While this recipe leans heavily into the American streusel tradition, its spirit aligns perfectly with the British tradition of tea cakes a comforting bake meant to accompany hot beverages.

Whether you call it a crumb cake or a coffee cake, the end goal is the same: a buttery vehicle for cinnamon spice, and this recipe executes that goal flawlessly, resulting in a cake so good you might just skip the coffee and eat it anyway!

Assembling Your Arsenal: Essential Components for a Tender Batter

To ensure the final product achieves the desired "melt-in-your mouth" quality, ingredient temperature management is crucial. We require 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt for our dry blend.

For the wet components, the power players are 1 cup of softened unsalted butter, 1 ½ cups of granulated sugar, 3 room temperature eggs, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and, most importantly, 1 cup of buttermilk.

Mastering the Flavor Core: Components for the Rich Cinnamon Ribbon

The swirl layer is where the deep, aromatic flavour profile develops. This requires ½ cup of packed light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon, and 4 tablespoons (half a stick) of softened unsalted butter.

When these ingredients are creamed together, they form a luxurious, spreadable paste that will create distinct, deeply flavoured pockets throughout the cake structure.

Selecting Your Dairy: Why Sour Cream is Non-Negotiable for Moisture

While this specific recipe uses buttermilk, if you find yourself out, know that its role is essential. Buttermilk (or its substitute) reacts with the baking soda to produce carbon dioxide, giving the cake lift.

More importantly, the acidity tenderizes the gluten strands in the flour, resulting in a superiorly soft texture. This focus on acidic moisture content is key to creating a Coffee Cake With Sour Cream level of richness, even if we are technically using buttermilk here the effect is similar: supreme tenderness.

The Crumb Strategy: Achieving Peak Butter-to-Flour Ratio

For the topping, you will combine 1 ½ cups of flour, ¾ cup of packed light brown sugar, ¼ cup of granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. The fat component comes from ½ cup (one full stick) of very cold, cubed unsalted butter.

The cold temperature prevents the butter from fully incorporating into the dry ingredients during mixing; we want defined clumps, not sand.

Tools of the Trade: Pans, Mixers, and Prep Essentials

While an experienced hand can manage with a whisk, a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment makes achieving the airy butter/sugar mixture much easier. You will also need a 9x13 inch pan (or a 9 inch square pan for a taller bake), a rubber spatula for folding, and a pastry blender or your fingertips for working the cold butter into the streusel.

Remember to prep your pan thoroughly by greasing and flouring, or lining with parchment paper that overhangs the edges for easy lifting later.

Related Recipes Worth Trying

• UltraMoist Coffee Cake Using Box Mix Sour Cream — Transform a humble cake mix into a stunning Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake This easy recipe adds sour cream for incredible moisture Perfect for brunch
• The Ultimate Moist Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe — Tired of dry bakes This truly smashin Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe guarantees a tender crumb with layers of rich brown sugar streusel Get the foolproof guide
• The Ultimate Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe with Pecans — Our foolproof Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe uses hot coffee for deep flavour Learn how to make the gooey fudgy icing poured hot over this classic bake

Phase One: Constructing the Distinctive Crumb Topping First

We start with the topping because its ingredients must be cold when they hit the hot cake batter. In a medium bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, sugars, and cinnamon for the topping. Next, add the cubed, cold butter.

Work quickly, using your fingertips or a pastry blender, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about the size of small peas. Place this bowl immediately into the refrigerator to chill thoroughly while you prepare the rest of the bake.

Building the Cake Foundation: Creating the Moist Coffee Cake Base

The foundation of this Simple Coffee Cake begins with creaming the fats and sugars. In your large mixing bowl, beat the 1 cup of softened butter with the 1 ½ cups of granulated sugar until the mixture is visibly lighter in colour and fluffy in texture this process incorporates essential air.

Then, beat in the three eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, scraping down the sides frequently. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, leavening agents, and salt.

Mixing Technique Spotlight: Handling Butter for Optimal Crumb Texture

The technique used in the initial creaming stage dictates the ultimate lightness of your cake. Be patient here; whipping air into the butter and sugar mixture provides the initial lift before any chemical leavening even begins its work. This step is non-negotiable for a truly tender crumb structure.

Creaming Secrets: Achieving Airiness in the Wet Ingredients

Once the eggs are incorporated, the mixture should look homogenous and pale yellow. If you see any streaks of unincorporated egg white or butter, continue mixing just until they disappear. Over beating past this point is unnecessary and can start developing unwanted gluten.

The Gentle Fold: Incorporating Dry Elements Without Overworking

This is the point where many home bakers accidentally ruin their Coffee Cake . Alternate adding the dry ingredient mixture and the room temperature buttermilk to the creamed mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients (Dry, Wet, Dry, Wet, Dry).

Mix only on low speed, or switch to a spatula, and stop mixing the very second the last streak of flour disappears. A few lumps are far preferable to a tough cake.

Layering Perfection: Assembling the Swirl and Preparing for the Oven

Now we transition to assembly. Pour half of the prepared cake batter into your prepared 9x13 pan and smooth it gently. Next, take your cinnamon swirl paste and drop small dollops evenly across the surface of this base layer.

You can use a fork or a small offset spatula to gently drag the paste through the batter, creating a lovely marbled pattern don't over swirl; we want distinct ribbons. Top this with the remaining cake batter, spreading it carefully over the swirl layer.

Bake Time Revelation: Determining Doneness Accurately

Retrieve the chilled crumb topping and distribute it generously and evenly over the top layer of cake batter. Place the pan into your preheated 350° F ( 175° C) oven. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes.

To test for doneness, insert a wooden skewer or toothpick into the cake portion (avoiding the thickest parts of the topping). If it emerges with only a few moist crumbs clinging to it, it is done. If batter sticks, return it to the oven for 5-minute increments.

Troubleshooting & Pro-Tips for Year Round Baking Success

When baking this, remember that temperature consistency is your best friend. If your butter is too warm for the topping, you’ll get a greasy, flat layer. If your eggs and buttermilk are too cold for the batter, the batter may curdle when you add the eggs, leading to a denser final product.

For those seeking smaller portions, this recipe translates beautifully into Coffee Cake Muffins —simply line a muffin tin and reduce the baking time significantly (usually 18- 22 minutes).

Creative Flavor Twists: Customizing Your Crumb Cake Experience

While the classic cinnamon swirl is divine, feel free to experiment. Adding a pinch of cardamom or nutmeg to the dry topping blend can offer a subtle, sophisticated warmth. For an intense flavour, consider adding a simple, thin glaze made from powdered sugar mixed with strong brewed coffee just before serving.

Optimal Storage: Keeping Your Coffee Cake Fresh for Days

This Coffee Cake keeps remarkably well. Once cooled completely, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or transfer large slices to an airtight container. It remains wonderfully moist at room temperature for up to three days, though it rarely lasts that long!

Scaling & Substitution: Adapting Ingredients When Necessary

If buttermilk is genuinely unavailable, the substitution ratio is 1 cup of whole milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, left to sit for 5 minutes until it visibly curdles slightly. This simple hack ensures you retain the necessary acidity for the tender texture.

Enriching the Experience: Optional Glazes and Chocolate Accents

For an extra decadent treat, gently fold ½ cup of finely chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumb topping mixture before chilling. Alternatively, after the cake has cooled slightly, a very simple vanilla glaze (powdered sugar mixed with a few drops of milk) drizzled artfully over the streusel provides a lovely sweet finish that complements the cinnamon perfectly.

Serving Suggestions: Beyond the Morning Brew

While this is the ultimate Coffee Cake , don't limit its enjoyment. It makes a magnificent accompaniment to an afternoon tea service or serves as a surprisingly satisfying, light dessert after dinner. Paired with a strong, hot brew, it is simply unbeatable.