There’s almost nothing better than a warm slice of Coffee Cake. After testing this recipe several times in my kitchen, I’ve made this recipe perfect so I know it’ll turn out for you, too! Whether you’re making it for a cozy breakfast, a brunch party, or an afternoon snack – this is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

A piece of cinnamon coffee cake on a metal spatula.

This classic recipe is soft, buttery, and packed with a thick cinnamon swirl in the middle, and topped with a crunchy brown sugar streusel crumb on top!

I don’t think anyone would turn down a slice of cake for breakfast, and thankfully with this coffee cake – its totally acceptable. While coffee cake doesn’t actually have coffee in it, it’s perfect served alongside a cup of coffee, or a cup of tea. It’s perfect for breakfast, or brunch, or even a late night dessert.

A piece of cinnamon coffee cake on a metal spatula next to a mug of coffee.

Why make this Recipe:

Perfectly Tender Crumb: Thanks to buttermilk and sour cream, this coffee cake has a nice, moist, buttery, tender crumb that stays soft for days.
The Best Crumbly Streusel Topping: A crunchy crumb topping made with butter and lots of brown sugar gives the best texture and flavor to the coffee cake. This might be my favorite part of so many desserts, including my Pumpkin Streusel Muffins.
Great for Any Occasion: Breakfast, brunch, afternoon snack, paired with a cup of tea, perfect for holidays, or a simple dessert – you name it!

A side view of cinnamon swirl coffee cake with a swirl of cinnamon and topped with a crumb topping and icing.

Ingredients Needed

This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.

unsalted butter – adds a rich flavor, and helps bind everything for the cake and curmb
granulated sugar + brown sugar – sweetens the cake and keeps it soft, plus makes the crumbly topping
eggs – helps bind everything together
vanilla extract – adds warmth and flavor to the cake
all purpose flour – provides structure to the cake and crumb
baking powder – helps the cake rise nicely to give it a soft crumb
salt – balances the flavors
cinnamon – the star ingredient for the best flavor
buttermilk – gives the cake the perfect soft, moist texture
sour cream – keeps the cake extra moist too, you can substitute for plain or vanilla Greek yogurt.
Powdered sugar – To make a vanilla icing to drizzle over the top
Heavy Cream – To thin out the icing

How to make Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Step 1: Mix Together the Dry Ingredients. In a large bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside until needed.

Step 2: Mix Together the Wet Ingredients. Cream together the butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl for a couple of minutes. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and stir until combined. Stir in the sour cream.

Step 3: Make the Cake Batter. Alternate adding half the dry mixture into the creamed butter mixture, then half the buttermilk milk, then the rest of the dry ingredients, and the last of the milk. Stirring until just combined. Set batter aside.

Step 4: Make the Cinnamon Crumb. Add the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar and cinnamon to a medium bowl. Cut in the butter until you have a nice crumbly mixture.

Step 5: Layer the Cake. Spread half of the batter into a prepared pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of the crumb mixture on top of the batter. Carefully spread the remaining batter on top of the crumbs, this can be a little tricky since its thick, use a spoon to drop spoonfuls, then spread with an offset spatula. Sprinkle the remaining crumbs on top.

Step 6: Bake the Cake. Bake the cake until it is golden on top and you can insert a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan partially, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Make the Icing. Whisk together icing ingredients and drizzle over the warm cake.

Tips and Tricks:

Add some Extras: Add Chocolate Chips, fruit (blueberries, raspberries, cranberry, etc), or almonds into the mix. Carefully fold in about 1 cup of any one into the batter.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Bring the butter, eggs, sour cream, and buttermilk to room temperature for about 30 minutes before making the batter to allow everything to mix together evenly, and give your cake a better texture.
Don’t overmix the batter: To avoid a coffee cake that is dense, mix the ingredients at each step until they are just combined.
Pan Size – For a thicker coffee cake, this cake be made in a 8×8 pan, you’ll end up with a slightly thicker crumb layer, and slightly thicker cake. Or for a slightly thinner cake that feeds a few more bake it up in a 9×9 square pan. You can also bake it in a 9in round pan.
Make for a Crowd: If you need to make a bigger cake for a bigger group, multiply all the ingredients by 1.5 and bake the cake in a 9×13 pan.

Storage Instructions

Cover any cake leftovers and store them tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also store it a couple days longer in the fridge (up to 5 days).

Freeze individual pieces of the cake by wrapping them individually in plastic wrap and placing in a ziplock bag, or covering with foil and freezing up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, or microwave for a few seconds before enjoying again.

A fork of coffee cake next to a slice of it on a plate.

This Cinnamon Coffee Cake is a timeless classic, that is easy to make, incredibly soft, and bursting with brown sugar and cinnamon flavor. Perfect for enjoying with a cup of coffee for breakfast, or as an afternoon snack. Once you try this, it will become your new favorite!

More Quick Bread Recipes:

If you make this Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Recipe please leave a comment and 🌟 rating letting me know what you think! If you post the photo on Instagram, please tag me – I’d love to see what you’re making!

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