This is the BEST sour cream coffee cake- a moist, dense cake with a thick layer cinnamon brown sugar, and the abundant crumb topping. You will not only love the amazing texture and flavor of this cake, but also how easy it is to make. This coffee cake will be the perfect addition to any brunch, breakfast or day you just need some cake in your life.
Everyone loves this coffee cake. My daughter recently asked for it on the morning of her big ballet exam because she said it would give her the “perfect amount of energy.” When I made it for Easter, everyone came back for a second slice. This coffee cake will absolutely steal the spotlight at any brunch or breakfast—assuming you’re willing to share.
The Three Key Elements of a Coffee Cake
A truly great coffee cake is all about balance—and that balance comes from three key components: the cake, the cinnamon filling, and the crumble topping. Each layer brings its own texture and flavor, working together to create the perfect bite.
The Cake: A moist, dense, cake is the foundation of this recipe. The richness of butter and the tang of sour cream give it a tender crumb and just the right level of sweetness.
The Cinnamon Filling: At the heart of a classic coffee cake is a generous ribbon of cinnamon, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. This warm, sweet swirl infuses every slice with warm flavor and just the right amount of crunch
Crumble Topping: A thick, buttery crumble made with brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans, the topping adds a sweet crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft cake below. Just be sure not to overmix the crumble—those big, buttery clusters are what make it irresistible.
Variations:
This recipe can be adapted to your tastes and needs.
- Jam Filling: Swap out the cinnamon filling with your favorite jam for a fruity coffee cake
- Nut Free: Skip the pecans if you need a nut free option
- Chocolate: Add chocolate chips to the cinnamon filling for the ultimate sweet treat
- Double It: This recipe doubles to make a 9 x 13 coffee cake when you are feeding a crowd.
Perfect Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Crumble Topping
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (heaping)
Cinnamon Filling
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Cake
- 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 8 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease a 9 x 9–inch square pan and set aside
Crumble Topping
- Combine Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine all crumble ingredients. Using a fork, gently mix until combined, leaving a variety of chunk sizes. Set aside.
Cake:
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Mix Butter and Sugars: In large bowl, throughly mix melted butter with the brown and granulated sugar until well combined.
- Add Eggs, Vanilla, Sour Cream and Milk: Add the eggs and vanilla to the to butter mixture and mix well. Stir the sour cream and milk into the batter until smooth
- Add Flour Mixture: Stir the dry ingredients into the batter, about one cup at a time, mixing until just absorbed. The batter will be thick.
- Filling: In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and brown sugar. Stir in pecans.
- Assemble: Pour about half of the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly over the bottom. Sprinkle the filling evenly over the batter. Carefully spread the remaining batter over the top.
- Add Crumble: Evenly sprinkle the crumble topping over the batter, gently pressing it in so it adheres.
- Bake: Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for about 5 minutes (if you can wait!) before serving.
Notes
- Replace the cinnamon filling with 1–1½ cups of jam. Warm the jam slightly to make spreading easier.
- Add chocolate chips to the cinnamon filling
- Make it nut free and skip the pecans.
