The best coffee cake recipe! Moist, easy, irresistible, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or snack. Simple ingredients, amazing results.
If you’re on the hunt for the best coffee cake recipe, look no further! This moist, easy, and irresistible coffee cake is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a delightful snack. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner, this recipe is foolproof and guaranteed to impress.
Made with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, this coffee cake features a rich, buttery streusel topping that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Read on to discover how to create this classic treat that’s sure to become a family favorite.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Cake
- Boxed yellow cake mix
- Dream Whip
- Eggs
- Water
For the Streusel Topping
- Brown sugar
- Flour
- Butter (cold)
- Cinnamon
Step-by-Step Instructions
1 – Prepare the Cake Batter
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, Dream Whip, eggs, and water. Beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth and well combined.
2 – Make the Streusel Topping
In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3 – Bake the Cake
Pour half of the cake batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan and bake for 25 minutes.
4 – Assembling the Cake
Remove cake from oven when finished and top it evenly with crumb mixture. Then bake for an additional 15 minutes.
5 – Cooling and Slicing
Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes or so. Slice while still warm to avoid cracking.
Quick Tips for Best Results
- Use cold butter for the streusel for better texture.
- Incorporate Dream Whip for a lighter, fluffier cake.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy this coffee cake warm with a fresh cup of coffee or tea. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as an afternoon snack. For an extra special treat, serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
How to Store the Best Coffee Cake Recipe for Freshness
To keep your coffee cake fresh and delicious, follow these storage tips:
At Room Temperature
- Wrap It Up: Once your coffee cake has completely cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps prevent it from drying out.
- Use an Airtight Container: Place the wrapped coffee cake in an airtight container. This provides an extra layer of protection against air and moisture, ensuring the cake stays fresh.
- Storage Duration: Coffee cake stored at room temperature will stay fresh for up to 2-3 days. Make sure to keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
In the Refrigerator
- Proper Wrapping: Wrap the cooled coffee cake in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to retain its moisture.
- Airtight Container: Place the wrapped cake in an airtight container before refrigerating.
- Storage Duration: Coffee cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. Note that refrigeration can sometimes dry out baked goods, so it’s best to consume the cake within a few days for optimal taste and texture.
In the Freezer
- Initial Wrapping: Wrap the cooled coffee cake tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to protect it from freezer burn.
- Additional Protection: Place the wrapped cake in a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container to further safeguard it from moisture and freezer odors.
- Storage Duration: Coffee cake can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and let it come to room temperature before serving.
Best Coffee Cake Recipe: Moist, Easy and Irresistible
Ingredients
- 1 Package Yellow Cake Mix
- 4 Eggs
- 1 Package Dream Whip – Dry
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 Sticks Cold Butter or Margarine
- 1.5 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1.5 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 Cup Flour
- 1 Cup Sugar
- Confectioners Sugar for Garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine cake mix, Dream Whip, eggs, and water. Mix well.
- Pour into greased 9×12 pan and bake for 25 minutes.
- While the cake is baking, mix the rest of the ingredients (except confectioners sugar) until crumbly and refrigerate until the cake is done.
- Remove cake from oven when finished and top it evenly with crumb mixture.
- Then bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes or so.
- Slice while still warm to avoid cracking.
- Sprinkle with confectioners sugar to garnish.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Additional Information (Optional Reading)
Why Is It Called Coffee Cake?
It is called coffee cake because it pairs well with a great cup of coffee, of course! While it does not have coffee in it, coffee cake is typically made with sugar and pound cake, then topped with streusel.
What is Streusel Topping Made Of?
In general, streusel topping is made from a mixture of butter, flour, and sugar. However, it can also contain other ingredients like spices, oats, and/or nuts.
Coffee Cake vs. Crumb Cake
I have to admit that sometimes I call this recipe crumb cake. There’s not a huge difference between the two, except that crumb cake has a thicker layer of crumb topping, while coffee cake has a heavier cake thickness.
This coffee cake recipe can go either way. It has a thick and fluffy cake consistency, but you can make it heavier on the crumbs to make it more like a crumb cake by doubling the streusel part of the recipe.
Why I Love This Easy Coffee Cake Recipe
Because this recipe for coffee cake is made with boxed cake mix, it’s super easy and quick to make because most of the ingredients are already there. The cake part of the recipe is really good too.
By incorporating Dream Whip in the cake mix, the batter is lighter and fluffier while retaining more moisture. Have you ever noticed that some coffee cakes are drier than others? I’m not a fan of dry coffee cakes, and this recipe is anything but dry!
The streusel topping is pretty easy to make too. This coffee cake recipe calls for cold butter or margarine, and I recommend following that versus room temperature or warm when making it. I’ve found that the temperature of the butter or margarine affects the topping, and the streusel sets better using cold margarine or butter.
Don’t get me wrong though; you can use room temperature or warm butter or margarine if that’s what you have, but the streusel doesn’t set up as well as when using cold.
If you make this recipe, I would love to hear how much you enjoy it in the comments below.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear! And feel free to share this post with anyone you think would find it helpful too.
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
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