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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Sandy
What a delicious and moist cake! I can’t wait to make this again when I host my next coffee morning meet up with my friends.
Mary Anne
I love adding sour cream to coffee cake. It makes it so moist. There is nothing worse than a dry coffee cake!
Beth Pierce
I agree!
Lilah
This was absolutely yummy. I ate a warm slice of it with my coffee in the morning. A little slice of heaven on a cold winter day. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Lilah!
Jen
My family loves eating this coffee cake for breakfast. This recipe is so yummy! I have made this many times since you first posted it. It is always a huge hit!
Karen
I baked it yesterday and it was delicious!!! I followed your recipe to the dot, I love it. Thank you so so much…
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Karen! I am so glad that you liked it!
Stacie
What a yummy coffee cake. It was moist and buttery with a delicious struesel swirl and topping. I loved it with my morning coffee and it freezes well. I had to freeze some or I would have eaten the whole cake in a few days,
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stacie! So happy that you liked it.
Frank
What a delicious coffe cake and so easy to make. It reminded me of the delicious recipes my grandma used to make. Thank you!
Monica
Mom used to make this when I was younger. It is so delicious. It is by far my favorite coffee cake.
Ann Marie Torrey
Hi Beth, I’m a little confused for the streusel. It says melted butter, but the preparation says to use pastry blender or box grater. Am I missing something? Thanks so much. I plan on making this tomorrow
Beth Pierce
Hey Ann Marie! I updated this recipe and forgot to update the notes. Please use melted butter. It is much easier and it produces the same results. Thanks for the heads up. I have updated the notes.
Angela Campos
This was an amazing recipe! The entire family loved it, can’t wait to make it again. It will be perfect fro a family brunch.
Luna S
Sounds like a fantastic breakfast to go with a cup of coffee or juice! I will have to try this out, thanks for sharing it.
Jack
This is my favorite coffee cake. It is moist and buttery. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Beth.
Olga
Mmmm, I love coffee cakes! Plus, we always have sour cream at home. I will make it with my son next rainy weekend.
Melanie
This is such a yummy recipe. I have a friend who loves coffee cake. I am sure she would love one of these on her birthday which is coming up soon.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melanie! I sure hope your friend anjoys the cake!
Heather
This is a recipe that puts a smile on my face. Love coffee cake for breakfast lunch and dinner lol.
Beth Pierce
Me too, Heather!
Nancy
I love love love this tasty cake. It also makes a great dessert cake. I could really go for another piece right now but my husband finished it off last night. That dirty dog!