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Sour Cream Coffee Cake

ByAmber Brady On Updated
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Recipe
4.58 from 28 ratings

This Sour Cream Coffee Cake is ultra moist, fluffy, and soft with a delicious cinnamon streusel in the center and on top. No glaze needed on this classic crumb cake. It’s an easy 9×13 cake that works for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

Close up of a slice of sour cream coffee cake on a plate with a line of cinnamon streusel in the center of the cake and more streusel on top.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Cake for breakfast… Why not?! This sour cream coffee cake is so EASY and delicious you will be making it again, and again.

I seriously LOVE coffee cake, because I can’t get enough streusel!

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The streusel in this cake is both inside and out, so you get that sweet cinnamon flavor in each bite, with the perfect crunchy crumb topping.

I also might have a slight obsession with adding sour cream to my cakes (like pound cake and banana bars).

What does adding sour cream to cake do? Sour cream adds fat to cakes creating extra moisture. The acidity in sour cream also activates the baking soda and/or baking powder to help the cake rise and creates a soft, tender crumb with a fluffy texture.

Sour cream cake + streusel. Now that’s a winning combo!

Scooping a piece of sour cream coffee cake out of the pan.

Why is it called coffee cake?

The funny thing about coffee cake is that it doesn’t actually have coffee in it.

Most coffee cakes are just a buttery crumb cake that is meant to be served with coffee, or as a breakfast or brunch item.

Classic coffee cakes are popular because they are so easy to make and don’t require frosting. Just make, bake, and eat.

Of course if you really wanted to, you could whip up a glaze to make it sweeter.

Plate of streusel topped cake with a fork on the side.

Cake Batter Ingredients

The best part about making this sour cream coffee cake, is that you probably already have most of the ingredients on-hand. For the cake batter you will need:

  • Butter
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Large Eggs
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Sour Cream
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Baking Soda
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt
Ingredients for Sour Cream Coffee Cake: butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, sour cream, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

How to Make Sour Cream Coffee Cake

  1. Cream the butter with the sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream.
  2. Mix thoroughly and scrape bowl.
  3. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Set aside.
Collage image for how to make sour cream coffee cake. Top: Butter and sugar creamed together with eggs, vanilla and sour cream on top. Middle: Wet ingredients mixed completely. Bottom: Dry ingredients incorporated. Cake batter is ready.

Streusel Ingredients

Once the sour cream coffee cake batter is ready, whip up the quick streusel. You will need:

  • Brown Sugar
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Salt
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Melted Butter
Ingredients for coffee cake streusel: brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, all-purpose flour, and melted butter.

Make the Streusel

  1. Stir together all of the dry ingredients for the streusel in a separate bowl.
  2. Add the melted butter and mix well with a fork until combined and crumbly.
Collage image for how to make coffee cake streusel. Top: Combine brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and flour in a bowl. Bottom: Add melted butter and mix well with a fork until crumbly.

Assemble the Coffee Cake

Once the cake batter and streusel are ready, it’s time to assemble the sour cream coffee cake.

  1. Spread half of the cake batter onto the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch pan. Sprinkle half of the streusel on top.
  2. Dollop the remaining cake batter on top of the streusel and spread it the best that you can (the batter is thick).
  3. Sprinkle the remaining streusel over the cake.
How to assemble coffee cake: Spread half of the cake batter into the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch pan. Middle: Sprinkle half the streusel over the batter. Then dollop the remaining cake batter over the crumbs and spread it evenly. Bottom: Sprinkle remaining streusel over the top of the cake batter, then it's ready to bake.

Baking and Storage Instructions

Bake the sour cream coffee cake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Enjoy warm!

For leftovers, cover the cake pan tightly with foil or plastic wrap. May alternately transfer cake to an airtight container.

Store coffee cake at room temperature for up to 3 days or store in the refrigerator up to one week.

TO FREEZE: Wrap each slice individually with plastic wrap and then foil and place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months.

Top view of sour cream coffee cake in a 9x13 pan with a spatula underneath one slice.

More Brunch and Breakfast Recipes

Close up of a slice of sour cream coffee cake on a plate with a line of cinnamon streusel in the center of the cake and more streusel on top.
4.58 from 28 ratings

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Created by Amber Brady
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
This Sour Cream Coffee Cake is ultra moist, fluffy, and soft with a delicious cinnamon streusel in the center and on top. No glaze needed on this buttery crumb cake. 
Yields15 Servings

Ingredients

Cake:

  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups (360 g) sour cream
  • 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Streusel:

  • ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, and sour cream. Mix thoroughly and scrape bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Set aside.
  • In another bowl, prepare streusel by stirring all of the dry ingredients. Add melted butter and mix well with a fork until combined and crumbly.
  • Spread half of the cake batter into the bottom of a greased 9×13" pan. Sprinkle half of the streusel on top.
  • Dollop the remaining cake batter on top of the streusel and spread it the best that you can (the batter is thick). Sprinkle remaining streusel over the top.
  • Bake at 350˚F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Notes

    • TO STORE: Cover the cake pan tightly with foil or plastic wrap. May alternately transfer cake to an airtight container.
    • Store coffee cake at room temperature for up to 3 days or store in the refrigerator up to one week.
    • May eat leftovers as-is or nuke in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
    • TO FREEZE: Wrap each slice individually with plastic wrap and then foil and place in a freezer bag or container. Freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 slice | Calories: 356kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 233mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
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Did you make this?

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*Originally published 6/20/13. Updated 8/29/21.

I’m a culinary graduate, professional baker, and a true dessert enthusiast. I’m here to guide you through step-by-step recipes that will help you master the art of baking and create mouthwatering desserts.

4.58 from 28 votes (28 ratings without comment)

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18 Comments

  3. Great pick Amber! I love coffee cake and am always on the lookout for new recipes. I’ll have to give this one a try because it looks so delicious 🙂 Have a great weekend.
    xoxo,
    Michelle

    Reply

  4. It looks wonderful especially with all that topping – YUMMY

    Reply

  6. This is one of my favorite coffee cakes. I think, I am going to make this, for my husband.

    Reply

  10. I am so happy you like our Coffee Cake recipe. It is always a treat for us. The surprise recipe swap is a fun way to discover other blogs. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply

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