This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
This Coffee Cake is so easy and yummy! You’re going to love this moist cake with a buttery cinnamon and sugar crumb topping.
Featured with this Recipe
Easy Coffee Cake Recipe
This coffee cake is light and fluffy, yet moist and delicious. It starts with a box mix, making it simple! It is so easy to do and I almost always have all the ingredients on hand. This is a pretty versatile dish, too — you can add things or take them away as you like. You can add chopped up apples to the crumb topping. Blueberries or shredded coconut make great additions, too! My favorite substitution is using coconut oil instead of vegetable or canola oil. It adds a slight coconut-y flavor which I love, plus it is better for you!
Works Well For A Crowd
This coffee cake is a great dish if you are have guests over and a staple for brunch. It is relatively cheap to make and it serves up to 15 people (depending on how hungry everyone is). It is a winner for kids and adults alike! For a breakfast spread that rivals any B&B, serve with eggs, bacon, fruit, and yogurt. For more breakfast ideas, check out our post 35+ Easy Breakfast Ideas.
Coffee Cake Ingredients
- Cake Batter Dry Ingredients:
- Yellow Cake Mix
- Vanilla Pudding Mix – Adding pudding mix to your cakes makes them so rich and moist!
- Cake Batter Wet Ingredients:
- Water
- Buttermilk – This gives your coffee cake a bright, tangy flavor and adds to the moisture. You can substitute regular milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice if needed.
- Oil – I like to use coconut oil, but you can use vegetable oil or canola oil.
- Large Eggs
- Sour Cream – This will truly take your cake to the next level. Don’t leave it out!
- Streusel Topping (Crumble Topping):
- Light Brown Sugar
- White Sugar
- All-Purpose Flour
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Unsalted Butter – The butter needs to be very cold, not room temperature or melted butter. Pop it in the freezer for a few minutes if needed. If the butter is too warm, then you won’t get that delicious crumbly texture.
- Walnuts – The nuts are optional. You could also use pecans!
Easy Cooking Method
- In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry and wet cake batter ingredients, except for the sour cream. Then, fold in the sour cream using a spatula or large spoon.
- Pour into a 9×13 baking dish.
- Then a separate medium bowl, combine all topping ingredients except butter and walnuts.
- Cut the butter into small cubes and add to flour mixture. Mix with a fork, a pastry cutter, or your hands until crumbly. Stir in the walnuts. Optional: sprinkle in a little vanilla extract.
- Sprinkle half of the topping onto the cake and use a knife to swirl the cinnamon mixture into the cake batter. Pour the rest of the mixture evenly over the top. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- Finally, cut and serve! This coffee cake is delicious warm or cooled. Store any leftovers in an airtight container or cover the pan with plastic wrap.
- For some added sweetness drizzle a little cream cheese frosting glaze or sprinkle on some powdered sugar over the top.
Frequently Asked Questions about Coffee Cake
Coffee cake originated from German roots of a similar dessert eaten in informal social gatherings where people would sit a visit around cups of coffee.
No, the coffee in the name refers to a cake eaten with coffee.
Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
You can eat it cold but if you like it warm just do 15 seconds in the microwave per slice.
READ NEXT: 33+ Breakfast Ideas
More Recipes Like This
If you love this recipe, you should also try our other yummy flavors! Our Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake is one of my all time favorites! Although I think it is a pretty close tie with our Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Coffee Cake. Both are so good, you can’t go wrong! It works out fine because I can make the Pumpkin during Fall and the Blueberry in the spring. And you definitely want to try our Cranberry Almond Coffee Cake during the Holidays.
How to Make Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Video
Equipment
- 9×13 inch pan
- Hand Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 yellow cake mix (15-18 ounce mix)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup oil (coconut oil works great)
- 3 eggs
- 3.4 ounce vanilla instant pudding mix
- 1 cup sour cream
For the topping:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, water, buttermilk, oil, eggs, pudding mix. Beat with a mixer for about 2 minutes. Fold in sour cream.
- In a smaller bowl, combine sugars, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Cut butter into small pieces and add to the sugar mixture. Mix together with a fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Stir in walnuts.
- Pour batter into a greased 9×13 glass baking dish. Sprinkle half of the topping over the batter. Use a knife to swirl the mixture throughout the cake.
- Top evenly with remaining topping.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
I’m a bit confused. I don’t see anything that says add baking powder for rise. But a few comments said they did it as suggested and it worked….. anyone clarify that?
Someone in the comments said they added 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder based off a recipe they found in a cookbook. People have tried it and said it works well!