Introduction

This classic coffee cake is a perfect companion to your morning brew or an afternoon snack. It features a tender, buttery crumb with a cinnamon walnut streusel topping and an optional sweet icing drizzle for extra indulgence.

The image shows a close-up of several square pieces of crumb cake placed on brown parchment paper on a white marbled surface. Each square has two visible layers: a thick, soft, light beige cake base with a moist texture, and a rough, crumbly, golden-brown streusel topping with darker brown cinnamon specks. A spoon held by a woman’s hand pours a smooth, white glaze in a steady stream over one of the crumb cake squares, adding a glossy contrast against the crumbly top. The background is softly blurred, keeping the focus on the detailed texture and layers of the cake in the foreground. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 egg
1/4 cup oil (vegetable or canola)
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups flour
2 T butter (melted)
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 T flour
1/2 cup walnuts (chopped, optional)
1 T butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 T milk (extra, if needed)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375° F (190° C) and grease or line a 9×9 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, beat the egg. Add sugar, milk, salt, oil, and vanilla, mixing until combined.
Step 3: Spoon flour into a measuring cup, then dump the flour on top of the wet ingredients. Sprinkle baking powder over the flour. Gently mix the baking powder into the top half of the flour, then stir all the flour mixture into the batter until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
Step 4: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Remove from microwave and stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour until well combined. Add chopped walnuts if using.
Step 5: Sprinkle the streusel mixture evenly over the cake batter. Use your finger or the small end of a wooden spoon to poke the streusel halfway down into the batter about 12-18 times, creating pockets of cinnamon flavor.
Step 6: Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out with moist crumbs but not wet batter. Avoid overbaking to keep the cake moist.
Step 7: For the optional icing, mix 1 tablespoon of room temperature butter with powdered sugar. Thin with milk a little at a time until your desired drizzling consistency is reached. Lightly drizzle over the cooled cake.

Tips & Variations

Use chopped pecans or almonds instead of walnuts for a different nutty flavor.
Try adding a teaspoon of instant coffee granules to the batter to enhance the coffee notes.
For a dairy-free option, substitute milk with almond or oat milk and use a dairy-free butter alternative.
Sprinkle a pinch of coarse sugar on top of the streusel before baking for added crunch.

Storage

Store the coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat slices briefly in the microwave to enjoy warm again. The icing drizzle is best added right before serving to maintain its texture.

How to Serve

The image shows close-up square pieces of cinnamon coffee cake arranged in two rows. Each piece has two main layers: the bottom layer is thick and light beige with a soft and fluffy texture, while the top layer is a crumbly blend of brown cinnamon, sugar, and nut bits with a rough surface. A light drizzle of white icing runs unevenly across the crumb layer, adding a glossy contrast. The cake pieces are placed on parchment paper set on a white marbled surface, with the rows extending slightly out of focus in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this coffee cake gluten-free?

Yes, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that measures cup-for-cup. Be sure the baking powder is gluten-free as well.

What if I don’t have a 9×9 baking dish?

You can use an 8×8 inch dish, but the cake may be slightly thicker and require a few extra minutes of baking. Alternatively, a loaf pan can work but adjust the baking time accordingly and check doneness with a toothpick.