Brown Sugar Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Rest Time 15 mins
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Cooking Method:
Cuisine:
Courses: , ,
Difficulty: Beginner
Cooking Temp: 175  C
Servings: 8
Best Season: All Seasons
Description

This Brown Sugar Cinnamon Coffee Cake is a soft, buttery, and perfectly spiced treat layered with a rich cinnamon-sugar swirl and topped with a crumbly streusel. Moist, fluffy, and full of warm flavor, this classic coffee cake is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack with tea or coffee.

Ingredients
    For the Cake Batter
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.75 cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 1 cup milk (room temperature)
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • For the Cinnamon Sugar Filling
  • 0.75 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg (optional, for deeper flavor)
    • For the Streusel Topping
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 cup unsalted butter (cold, cubed)
    • Optional Glaze (Light Drizzle)
  • 0.5 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 –2 tbsp milk
  • 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
    Prepare the Oven and Pan
  1. 1
    Preheat your oven to 175°C. Grease a 9-inch square or round baking pan and lightly dust it with flour, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
    2. Make the Cake Batter
  2. 2
    In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3–4 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
  3. 3
    In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk. Mix gently until smooth—do not overmix.
    4. Prepare the Cinnamon Filling
  4. 4
    In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well until evenly blended. This will create a rich, aromatic swirl inside the cake.
    5. Make the Streusel Topping
  5. 5
    In another bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add cold cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to combine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
    6. Assemble the Cake
  6. 6
    Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar filling over the batter.
  7. 7
    Add the remaining batter on top and gently spread it out. Finish by evenly sprinkling the streusel topping over the surface.
    8. Bake the Cake
  8. 8
    Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    9. Cool and Add Glaze (Optional)
  9. 9
    Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes. If using glaze, mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth, then drizzle lightly over the cake before serving.
Note
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake soft and fluffy.
  • Use room temperature ingredients for better texture.
  • You can add chopped nuts (like walnuts or pecans) to the streusel for extra crunch.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
  • This cake can be frozen (without glaze) for up to 2 months.
Keywords: easy, fluffy, bakery-style, homemade, budget-friendly
Read it online: https://petitepanini.com/recipe/brown-sugar-cinnamon-coffee-cake/