Coffee cake is a delicious and popular dessert that pairs wonderfully with a cup of coffee (hence the name). It typically consists of a moist, tender cake base with a crumbly streusel topping. Here’s a basic recipe for making a classic coffee cake:
Ingredients:
For the cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the streusel topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×9-inch (23×23 cm) square baking pan or a similarly sized round cake pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the sour cream (or yogurt), beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- In a separate small bowl, prepare the streusel topping by mixing together the 1/2 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until you have a crumbly mixture.
- Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly.
- Sprinkle half of the streusel topping over the batter in the pan.
- Add the remaining cake batter on top of the streusel layer and spread it evenly.
- Finish by sprinkling the remaining streusel topping over the cake.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
- Allow the coffee cake to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, slice and enjoy your coffee cake with a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Coffee cake variations can include additions like nuts, fruit, or even a drizzle of glaze for extra flavor and sweetness. Feel free to customize it to your liking!
