Looking for a delicious and easy dessert? This Quick Coffee Cake recipe requires minimal ingredients and can be whipped up in no time for a delicious anytime treat. Moist, fluffy, and packed with a cinnamon sugar streusel both throughout and on top!
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Coffee Cake is one of my all time favorites! After all, who doesn’t love enjoying a slice of cake for breakfast with a morning cup of coffee, right?! Whether we prepare this for breakfast, brunch, having guests over, or even as an evening treat, this easy coffee cake recipe comes together quickly using a shortcut ingredient that makes this cake fail proof! In fact, this recipe is one that has been in my family for many years and always gets rave reviews from everyone who tries it!
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What is Coffee Cake?
Coffee Cake is traditionally a single layer sweet cake, flavored with cinnamon and topped with a streusel topping. The cake is typically enjoyed with a cup of coffee, despite not actually containing any coffee in the batter. It can be made in several different shapes and size pans depending on preference. From loaf pans, to bundt cakes, and baking pans, there are many options.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Only requires a few ingredients– using simple ingredients, you may already have everything needed to make this recipe. No need to run to the store for ingredients you may never use again.
- Perfect texture and flavor every time– using a shortcut yellow cake mix, this cake is perfectly moist and sweet each and every time.
- Fits any occasion– whether you serve in the morning, afternoon, or evening, this simple coffee cake recipe is just the thing to make anytime!
- A family favorite– this recipe is one that has been in my family for over 30 years! Not only is it a favorite, but its fail proof and a recipe that has been tried and true. With tons of coffee cake options on the internet, this one has been tested and proven a favorite! Even at high altitude!
Ingredients needed to make this Quick Coffee Cake
- Yellow Cake Mix– any brand works, use whichever one you have on hand or you find on sale. My favorite is Better Crocker or Duncan Hines.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding- you will need a 3.4 ounce box of INSTANT vanilla pudding, any brand.
- Eggs– large eggs, this binds the ingredients and adds to the moisture throughout.
- Vegetable Oil– coconut oil also works if preferred.
- Milk– any type including non-dairy milk products work great.
- Vanilla Extract– opt for pure vanilla extract instead of imitation as it provides more flavor.
- Sugar– white granulated sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
- Nuts– optional, chopped pecans or walnuts add a nice crunch throughout.
- Ground Cinnamon– this is the key ingredient to bring all the warm spice in each bite!
How to make the best coffee cake recipe
- In a mixing bowl- beat together the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl- stir together the sugar, nuts, and cinnamon.
- Grease a Bundt pan- and pour the cake batter and cinnamon mixture in layers, ending with the cinnamon mixture on top.
- Bake- in a preheated oven, 350, for 40-60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean once inserted.
Variations and Substitutions
- Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the batter for an added sweetness.
- Sprinkle some light brown sugar on top of the cake prior to baking for a warm sweetness.
- If you like fresh fruit, you can add ½ cup into the batter. Blueberries, blackberries, and peaches are some of our favorites.
- Feel free to make in a different baking dish if you don’t have a bundt pan on hand. You will need to adjust the baking time accordingly, but it will be delicious.
Storing Quick Coffee Cake
- Allow leftovers to fully cool before covering with plastic wrap and storing at room temperature up to 3 days. If you want the cake to last longer, you can cover and store in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
- To freeze, allow the cake to cool completely before placing slices in a freezer safe container or bag up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before serving or reheating.
- To reheat, place single serving on a plate in the microwave and heat in 30 second increments until heated through.
Want to make a Coffee Cake from Scratch?
Here are some family recipes you’ll love:
- Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake– combines all the flavors you love in homemade cinnamon rolls with a moist and fluffy coffee cake. Easy to make and a family favorite, this easy Cinnabon Cake is perfect for any occasion!
- Easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake– using simple ingredients, this coffee cake comes together using minimal effort. With a delicious, sweet icing on top, this cake is perfect any time of the day.
- Applesauce Coffee Cake– perfectly moist, flavorful, and includes a cinnamon streusel that just can’t be beat! Perfect to enjoy with your morning coffee, with brunch, or an anytime treat!
- Strawberry Crumb Coffee Cake– moist, packed with juicy strawberries, and an irresistible buttery crumb topping that everyone will love. Whether you savor it as a classic breakfast treat or a delightful summer dessert option, this coffee cake with fresh strawberries guarantees to be a favorite with everyone!
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Quick and Easy Coffee Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 boxed yellow cake mix
- 1 box vanilla pudding *small box, instant pudding
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup nuts *Chopped
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a Bundt pan.
- In a bowl, beat together the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar, nuts, and cinnamon.
- Pour the batter and cinnamon mixture in layers, ending with the cinnamon mixture on top.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 40-60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean once inserted.
- Allow to cool slightly and serve!
Nutrition
Karen Carvalho says
Can I omit the nuts (perhaps substitute chocolate chips)?
Kristin says
Absolutely! Either omit entirely, or use mini chocolate chips! Either way will be delicious!!
Sandy Salak says
The cake looks amazing, but I am confused about inverting the cake after baking. According to the picture, the widest part of the cake is the top. Hence, the cinnamon mixture with the nuts is on top, but that portion was added last when preparing to bake. So, when the cake is done and has cooled, the cake is inverted onto a plate, which would then mean the narrowest portion should be on top. Is the cake then inverted again to make the cake wider on top showing the cinnamon and nuts?
Kristin says
Great question and sorry for the confusion! Yes, the cake is inverted over onto a plate to get it out of the bundt pan, and then turned over again so that the cinnamon layer is on top. It isn’t required, just a pretty way of serving the cake! You can also cook this and keep it in a bundt pan when serving and just lift the pieces out. However you choose, hope you enjoy!
Belen says
I rarely review recipes but this coffee cake was delicious and felt I needed to let you know. I always double the crumb topping though, and because I didn’t have cinnamon, I used about a teaspoon each of ground nutmeg, ground mace and ground ginger. Even though I didn’t use cinnamon, it was still so delicious. In addition, it was unbelievably easy to make. No doubt this is the best coffee cake I’ve ever made, and I’ve tried many.
Kristin says
Awww, I absolutely love hearing this! Thank you for the rave review! I am so glad you enjoy it as much as my family!!
Marian Blake says
what kind of nuts do you use
Kristin says
I love using chopped walnuts or pecans in this coffee cake! Enjoy!
Mary Beth says
Perfect breakfast/snack cake recipe! I’m back to make it a second time! This cake has a soft, tender texture and is very moist. Thank you for sharing it.
Kristin says
Yay! Love hearing this! This coffee cake has been in my family for many generations and is our go to for any and every occasion!!
Sharon says
Cam I double the nut streusel?
Kristin says
Absolutely! That works great and is a tasty extra addition!
Pat says
Can you add a little bit more cinnamon? My family lives cinnamon.
Kristin says
Absolutely! Feel free to increase to fit desired tastes!
Raine says
Can I cook this in a square cake pan or muffin tins
Kristin says
Absolutely! Just adjust the cook time a bit! Enjoy!
sweetpea says
what do you do about the new (15 oz. ) box of cake mix?
Kristin says
You can go ahead and use that in this recipe, no problems!
margie says
how can i make this with a homemade yellow cake?
Kristin says
Hi Margie,
Depending on the recipe you have for the homemade yellow cake, prepare the yellow cake mix adding only the dry ingredients. Once you have the yellow cake, then you can move on using the original coffee cake recipe. The only wet ingredient you should use from the yellow cake recipe is the vanilla, 🙂
Let us know how it turns out! I have never tried it that way, but see no reason why it wouldn’t work, 🙂