Grandma’s Cinnamon Coffee Cake brings back fond memories of lazy afternoons hanging out with my grandmother. She would serve either tea or coffee with our dessert. I usually chose coffee as an adult. I started drinking it when I was 20. As a child, I’d opt for something more kid-friendly like milk or juice.
Grandma’s Cinnamon Coffee Cake
I’ve tried bad coffee cake recipes and this isn’t one of them. One time, I made a coffee cake from a cookbook and it was beyond dry and had a weird aftertaste. Needless to say, it didn’t even compare to grandma’s recipe and I never made it again. I promise you, this cinnamon coffee cake is not like that. It’s sweet, moist and melt-in-your-mouth good. Making this recipe reminds me of my grandma who I miss beyond words.
What is Coffee Cake?
There are many varieties of Coffee Cake depending on what part of the world you are in. My grandma’s recipe is an American Coffee Cake which is more of a crumb cake that has cinnamon on top. Yes, we are Canadian, but we have lots of American influences here in Canada.
The British Coffee Cake is a sponge cake that is flavoured with coffee. I haven’t tried that style yet. All the coffee cakes I’ve made don’t actually have coffee in them.
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How to Make Coffee Cake
It’s very easy! I use an 8×8 square baking pan for this recipe. I find any bigger and the cake is too thin.
You start it the way you would any other cake by creaming the sugar and the melted butter together. The egg and milk are mixed in and you can either stir it by hand or use your mixer to combine. Next, the dry ingredients are added and I usually mix this part by hand so flour doesn’t fly all over my kitchen.
After you spread the batter into the pan, it’s time to make the topping. You don’t even have to mix this part in a bowl. Sprinkle the brown sugar on top and dot the cake with butter. Add a sprinkling of cinnamon and the streusel topping is ready to go.
I recommend checking the cake for doneness at the 30 minute mark. See if a toothpick comes out of the centre clean. Everyone’s oven is different and yours might bake hotter than mine.
Let it cool on a cooling rack until you are ready to serve. It cuts up beautifully once it has cooled a bit.
What to Serve with Coffee Cake
I’m glad you asked! The obvious answer is COFFEE. I mean, it’s in the name of the recipe, right? You can also serve coffee cake with tea.
If you are serving coffee cake for breakfast, enjoy it with a tall glass of your favourite juice. I like freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast.
For the kiddos who want a hot beverage with their snack, make them a hot chocolate.
You’ll also enjoy this Cinnamon Bread.
Coffee Cake Recipes
Check out these yummy coffee cake recipes from my blogger friends!
- Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Coconut Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
- Lemon Rhubarb Coffee Cake
- Coffee Cake Muffins
- Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Lemon Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
- Easy Carrot Coffee Cake
- Peach Coffee Cake
- Coffee Cake Muffins (Vegan)
- Slow Cooker Coffee Cake
- Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins
- Mason Jar Pecan Streusel Coffee Cake
- Apple Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping
You might also like this Peach Coffee Cake, Pecan Coffee Cake Muffins and Streusel Coffee Cake.
Grandma's Cinnamon Coffee Cake
The breakfast cake your grandmother would make! Sweet, moist and crumbly and pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 4 tbsp butter, divided
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F. Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together white sugar and 2 tbsp melted butter. Add in egg and milk and stir to combine. Add in flour, salt and baking powder and stir to combine.
- Spread mixture in pan. Sprinkle brown sugar on top. Dot with remaining butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out of the centre clean. Let cool before serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 pieceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 403Total Fat: 7.7gSaturated Fat: 4.3gUnsaturated Fat: 2.9gCholesterol: 41.6mgSodium: 189.5mgCarbohydrates: 80.5gFiber: 3.2gSugar: 58.3gProtein: 6.9g
Ron says
This has always been a favourite breakfast treat of mine.
Marly says
I love the contrast in colors between the coffee cake and that dark sugary topping! I could see going back for seconds…for sure!
Jenn E says
I’ve only made one cinnamon coffee cake once in home ed class … but you’ve inspired me to make this! It looks amazing!
Lynne Collett says
anything I have to do to make this in muffin pan
Stacie says
Hi Lynne, I haven’t tried it in a muffin pan, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Make sure to grease the pan well and don’t bake them for as long as you would if you were making the cake. If you end up trying it, let me know how it turned out!
Bonnie Speas says
Thanks!
Theresa says
Love your site! Thanks