Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake (Printable version)
A tender coffee cake with cinnamon swirl and buttery crumble, perfect for breakfast or a cozy snack.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1 cup sour cream
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1/4 cup milk
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon Swirl
11 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
12 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
→ Crumble Topping
13 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
14 - 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
15 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
16 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
17 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
18 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x9-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, then stir in sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract until well combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated without overmixing.
05 - In a small bowl, mix the packed light brown sugar and ground cinnamon.
06 - Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the batter. Cover with the remaining batter and spread gently to smooth the surface.
07 - Combine flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Stir in melted butter until coarse crumbs form. Evenly sprinkle over the cake batter.
08 - Bake for 38 to 42 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Allow the cake to cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour, which means you can serve something warm and impressive without spending your whole morning baking.
- The sour cream keeps the crumb impossibly tender and moist, even a day later.
- That cinnamon swirl hidden in the middle feels like a small surprise with every bite.
02 -
- Don't overmix the batter after adding the dry ingredients—it's one of the most common mistakes, and it's what turns coffee cake dense and tough instead of tender and light.
- If your crumble looks too loose, it means your butter was still too warm; chilled melted butter or even softened butter mixed in with a fork works better and gives you those crunchy clusters everyone loves.
- The cinnamon-sugar layer will sink slightly into the batter as it bakes, which is exactly what should happen—it creates a marbled effect that looks beautiful when you slice it.
03 -
- Room-temperature ingredients mix together more smoothly and create a more tender crumb than cold ingredients straight from the fridge.
- If you want the crumble extra crunchy, melt your butter and toss it with the dry ingredients, then chill the mixture for 15 minutes before sprinkling it on top.