Classic Coffee Cake
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Psssssssst. Do you have a sec? I hate to disturb you while you’re working but I’m having people over for breakfast this morning, and I’m serving them this. It’s delicious. It’s just a classic coffee cake, but boy is it hitting the spot. Seriously, on your next break, please stop by for a slice. Would love to have you join our little party.
I found the recipe by googling “best coffee cake ever,” which led me to discover The Pioneer Woman. She’s funny. She described the cake as a complete miracle. How could I resist making a complete miracle? I couldn’t, but I broke one of my rules in the process.
Rules, you ask? Yes. You see, I try hard to follow a recipe — a baked goods recipe at least — to the T first time around. I was doing well until I saw the word milk. And well, you all know about my inability to not substitute buttermilk for milk in a baked goods recipe. It’s a real problem. I’ll leave it at that. And then, to make matters worse, I got really lazy — didn’t want to separate the eggs or beat the whites until stiff peaks formed — and so I substituted in a whole egg. Yikes. I don’t think the Pioneer Woman would approve.
But the cake — oh the cake — it’s so delicious. Thank you Pioneer Woman for sharing such a keeper of a recipe. Everyone here is in total heaven. And readers, I encourage you to check out the PW’s original recipe. I’ve enclosed my lazy-man’s version below, but fully intend to make the original recipe one day.
Ok all of you, back to work. Promise I won’t disturb you again.
PrintClassic Coffee Cake
- Total Time: 1 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
Description
Adapted from The Pioneer Woman
Note: This half of the PW’s recipe. I use a 9-inch square pyrex baking dish, but any 8- or 9-inch square pan will work.
Notes:
- I prefer this without the nuts. It has more of that classic coffee cake taste to me. I should note I’m not a huge fan of nuts in baked goods, so if you like nuts, I say use them.
- I lightly fill a 3/4 cup measuring cup with brown sugar, which makes the topping slightly less sweet, which I prefer.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3/4 stick butter, softened
- 7/8 cup sugar (3/4 cup + 2 T.)
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons buttermilk
For the topping:
- 3/4 stick butter, softened
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons flour
- 3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 1 scant tablespoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup almonds or pecans, chopped (optional — see notes above)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9-inch square pan (or the equivalent) with butter.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Add egg to butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low until combined. Add half of the dry ingredients. Mix until incorporated. Add all of the buttermilk. Mix until incorporated. Add remaining flour and whisk until just combined. Spread batter into prepared pan.
- Meanwhile, make the topping: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to mix everything nicely together. Spread topping over batter. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until no longer jiggly. Let cool on wire rack for 10 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
69 Comments on “Classic Coffee Cake”
This recipe is a staple in my house. I double the recipe and prefer to layer the cake and the topping. I portion it and freeze it so we always have some in case of company or a sweet Sunday Brunch snack for our family. Love this recipe and have used buttermilk, sour cream and plain Greek yogurt all with great results.
So happy to hear this, Emily! I’m going to try the layering method … love that idea!
I feel bad I am just now commenting, I have made this 4 or 5 times and it has become my go to coffee cake. It is super simple, I almost always have all the ingredients on hand and absolutely delicious! I like to serve it with a quiche & fruit for the ultimate brunch. Thanks for sharing!!
As my husband says, “This cake is something special.” I love nuts in my desserts, so you can be sure I added them! Still making my way through your recipes, Alex. Hope you don’t mind all of my reviews!
Oh Lisa, this makes me so happy 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thanks so much for writing, and of course I do not remind the reviews … means the world!
Made this for Easter and it was a huge hit !! Loved it !! Also we used maple sugar instead and still no disappointments whatsoever .
So wonderful to hear this, Jeana!
I’d like to double the recipe. Do I simply double the ingredients and use a 9 by 13 pan?
Yes! Exactly 🙂