This Sour Cream Coffee Cake is rich, decadent, and buttery, with a generous layer of streusel crumb through the center and over the top. My husband and I enjoy this cake with a hot cup of coffee for breakfast or with a cold glass of milk for dessert.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this delicious sour cream coffee cake recipe. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, this moist and flavorful cake will become a new favorite in your household. If your family is anything like mine, they love a good coffee cake. This is one of our absolute favorites.
The butter and sour cream mixture gives this decadent coffee cake its great flavor and helps keep it moist for days. The cinnamon streusel filling elevates it to the next level. This tasty cake comes together quickly and easily, making it ideal for holidays and brunches. If you like this recipe, try New York crumb cake, applesauce cake, cream cheese pound cake, or spice cake.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, eliminate the added salt in the coffee cake.
- Large eggs: brought to room temperature
- Vanilla extract: the pure stuff, please
- Sour cream: Use the full-fat kind for the best texture and flavor.
How to make Sour Cream Coffee Cake
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Start by whisking together the ingredients for the streusel. Whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in the melted butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Set that aside for a few minutes while you mix the coffee cake.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Now, cream the butter and sugar using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs and vanilla to the butter mixture. Keeping the mixer on low, add the flour mixture and the sour cream in three increments, alternating between the two. Scrape down the bowl and beaters several times.
Pour half the cake mixture into a baking pan coated with nonstick baking spray. Sprinkle with half the streusel crumb mixture, and carefully spoon the remaining batter on top. Use an offset spatula to gently spread the coffee cake mixture in an even layer. Sprinkle with the remaining streusel crumb topping, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Preparation Tips
- Use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to cream the butter and mix the coffee cake ingredients. It will take several minutes to cream the butter and the sugar.
- Always preheat your oven and load the cake on the middle rack in the center.
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel crumb for more texture and flavor.
- For a change of pace, cut the ingredients in half for the streusel and use it for the center layer. Then combine 1/4 cup powdered sugar with 1/2-1 teaspoon milk. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.
Store and Freeze
You can store the leftover coffee cake on the counter for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To freeze, first, cool completely. Then, cover with two layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
More Breakfast Recipes
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Streusel Crumb Topping
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray with cooking spray or butter a 9×9 inch baking dish with nonstick baking spray.
- Whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Stir in the melted butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Set that aside for a few minutes while you mix the coffee cake.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate medium bowl.
- Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs and vanilla. Keeping the mixer on low, add the flour mixture and the sour cream in three intervals alternating between the two. Scrape down the bowl and beaters several times.
- Pour half of the cake mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with half the streusel mixture and carefully top with the rest of the cake batter. Use an offset spatula to gently spread the coffee cake mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining streusel.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Notes
- Use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to cream the butter and mix the coffee cake ingredients. It will take several minutes to cream the butter and the sugar.
- Always preheat your oven and load the cake on the middle rack in the center.
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel crumb for more texture and flavor.
- For a change of pace, cut the ingredients in half for the streusel and use it for the center layer. Then combine 1/4 cup powdered sugar with 1/2-1 teaspoon milk. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.
Nutrition
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Kim
OMG oh wow! This was so delicious. The whole family loved it. My family is begging me to make it again already. Maybe this weekend I will make two of them. One for me and one for the rest of them.
Nikita
I made this last Sunday and shared it with my Grandma! We both thought it was so yummy. My grandma said that she is going to share the recipe with her old ladies club.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Nikita! I am so glad that you and your Grandma enjoyed the coffee cake.
Richard
My new favorite coffee cake. The crumb was light and buttery andthe cinnamon streusel topping really took it over the top. I will make it again and again.
Stephanie
Oh my goodness, what a delicious cake! My whole family enjoyed it for dessert.
Debbie
This Sour Cream Coffee Cake was absolutely delicious! I really enjoy a buttery cake with streusel crumb. Especially with a hot cup of coffee!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Debbie! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Kimberley
This is such a delicious recipe. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Kimberly!
Sheryl
Could you double this and use a 9×13 pan?
Beth Pierce
I am always hesitant to advise people without a test because of the leavening ingredients. I do not think that I would do that. I think that I would make 2 9x9s. You can certainly double the topping ingredients without any problems.
tweenselmom
I need to try making this. I’m a coffee lover and I haven’t done a coffee cake ever. Thanks for the tip!
Tisha
I made this last week. It was absolutely amazing!
Andrea
Wow, this is a fabulous coffee cake. Love that streusel.
Liza
What a fantastic recipe! The sour cream in the cake batter elevates the flavors in this coffee cake to a whole new level, and I love the crunch of walnuts in the streusel topping.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Liza! I am so glad that you like it!
Jen
This was delicious! I made it for a special after school treat and my kids loved it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Jen! So glad that the kids enjoyed it!
Holley
Now this is a coffee cake! I just love the addition of walnuts as well! Great recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Holley!
Janessa
This was fabulous! Love the streusel topping!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Janessa!
Sandra
This is such a treat for breakfast! Perfect with coffee! Love it!
Beti
Such a delicious coffee cake! My husband and I enjoyed it with a fresh pot of coffee!