The Ultimate Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake: Your Go-To Recipe for Breakfast & Brunch
There’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of cinnamon wafting through your kitchen on a lazy morning. Our Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Recipe isn’t just a treat; it’s an experience. Perfectly balanced with a rich, buttery, and incredibly moist cake base, this recipe boasts a delightful “cinnamony” swirl and a crumble topping that makes it an irresistible choice for breakfast, brunch, or any time you crave a sweet indulgence. Get ready to elevate your coffee break!
Buongiorno from Italy!
While my husband and I are currently enjoying a fantastic vacation in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy, and embarking on a long-awaited day trip to Cinque Terre – a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting in person – I wanted to ensure you still received a wonderful new recipe. This breathtaking view of Cinque Terre, captured by my sister during her visit, perfectly illustrates the beauty we’re exploring. Truly picture perfect, wouldn’t you agree?
Introducing Our Special Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Guest Post!
While I’m away, I’m thrilled to have my incredibly talented friend and former co-worker, Jessica from Stuck on Sweet, share her amazing Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake recipe with you. And let me tell you, it’s absolutely YUM!
Jessica’s blog is a treasure trove of deliciousness, particularly her exquisite sweets. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll find endless inspiration there! Some of my personal favorites include her Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes and her delightful Banana Cream Cupcakes. Jessica and I shared an office for three wonderful years until she recently embarked on a new career path. While I’m incredibly happy for her – especially since her commute shrunk from an hour to about ten minutes – I truly miss her daily presence. She’s one of the sweetest people I know, with an infectious smile and an amazing personality.
In fact, Jess played a significant role in my own food blogging journey. Three years ago, when we started working together, she introduced me to the world of food blogs. I had never read them before, but once she showed me, I was completely hooked! I loved discovering all the innovative and exciting recipes food bloggers created, and thoroughly enjoyed reading their unique stories. So, it’s a genuine pleasure to welcome her here today to share her fantastic Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake. It truly is the perfect treat for any breakfast or brunch occasion. Welcome, Jessica!
Jessica’s Inspiration: The Best Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake
Hello everyone! This is Jessica from Stuck on Sweet. I hope you’re all having a wonderful day! Julia kindly asked me to guest post on her blog while she’s enjoying her incredible Italian vacation. I’m so excited to read all about her trip, especially the delicious food she’ll encounter! 😉
Today, I’m incredibly excited to share an easy (yes, despite the seemingly long ingredient list and instructions, it’s quite straightforward!) Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake with you. I have a feeling you’re going to love this sweet indulgence!
My inspiration for creating this homemade cinnamon coffee cake came from my frequent Starbucks runs. With a few gift cards in hand, I’d often grab my favorite skinny vanilla latte and, more often than not, find myself irresistibly drawn to their blueberry or cinnamon coffee cake. They are just SO good! After countless delicious encounters, I thought, “Why not try making my own?” And so, I did! The result, I believe, is even better than the bakery version, offering a fresh, homemade taste you can’t beat.
The Magic of the Cinnamon Swirl: What Makes This Coffee Cake Special
The cake batter itself is thick, wonderfully creamy, and incredibly tasty. I’m not ashamed to admit I licked the bowl clean – it’s *that* good! One thing you’ll notice about this recipe is that it calls for a generous amount of cinnamon. At first, it might seem like a lot (it certainly did to me!), but trust me, after baking, it transforms into the perfect, comforting level of “cinnamony” goodness, creating a rich and aromatic experience with every bite.
This Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake truly shines because of its layers. The buttery cake, the aromatic cinnamon sugar swirl, and the crunchy streusel topping all come together to create a symphony of flavors and textures. It’s not just a cake; it’s a delightful experience that pairs perfectly with your morning coffee or a cozy afternoon tea.
Key Steps for a Beautiful Swirl and Delicious Topping
The image above highlights a crucial step in achieving that signature swirl. You’ll start by spreading about half of the prepared cake batter evenly across the bottom of your greased baking pan. Then, generously sprinkle the cinnamon sugar filling over this first layer of batter. The batter is quite thick, which can make spreading a bit tricky, but a small spatula worked wonders for me to ensure an even distribution.
Once the filling is sprinkled, carefully spread the remaining batter on top. The next step is where the magic happens for that beautiful swirl! Take a table knife and gently swirl it through the layers of batter and cinnamon mixture. You’re not aiming to fully combine them, but rather to create elegant ribbons of cinnamon throughout the cake, much like a marble cake. This technique not only ensures the cinnamon flavor is distributed perfectly but also gives the coffee cake its stunning visual appeal.
Finally, generously sprinkle the streusel topping over the swirled batter. Again, it might look like a lot, but this layer is essential for that delightful texture contrast. If you prefer an even richer, more buttery streusel, feel free to add a little extra melted butter to the topping mixture. I personally kept it as specified in the recipe, and while it came out slightly more powdery, the flavor was absolutely wonderful and added a fantastic crunch. Now, it’s ready to bake until golden perfection!
Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake
Just look at that swirl! It’s a testament to the simplicity and beauty of this recipe. I truly adore this Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake. It hits all the right notes with its perfectly pronounced cinnamon flavor. The cake itself is incredibly buttery and moist – a word I usually dislike, but it’s truly the best way to describe its tender, rich texture.
This cake is incredibly versatile. It’s substantial enough for a satisfying breakfast, elegant enough for a special brunch, and simple enough for an afternoon snack with a cup of tea. The balance of sweetness from the cake and the warmth of the cinnamon makes it universally appealing.
Tips for Baking Success and Perfect Serving
- Butter Matters: For the topping, while the recipe specifies a certain amount of butter, don’t hesitate to add a tablespoon or two more if you desire a truly rich and clumpier streusel. It’s a matter of personal preference!
- Don’t Overmix: When adding the flour and milk mixture to the butter mixture, beat gently until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a tough cake.
- Temperature is Key: Ensure your butter and eggs for the cake batter are at room temperature. This helps them cream together smoothly, resulting in a lighter, more uniform batter.
- Sour Cream or Yogurt: The sour cream (or plain yogurt) is essential for the cake’s incredible moisture and tender crumb. Don’t skip it!
- Check for Doneness: The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top springs back slightly when gently pressed. Baking times can vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on it.
- Cooling Time: Allowing the cake to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing helps it set, preventing it from crumbling and ensuring clean, beautiful slices.
Serving Suggestions for Your Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake
This Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake is truly at its best when enjoyed fresh, straight from the pan. It’s a delightful standalone treat, but its flavors are truly enhanced when paired with a warm beverage:
- With Coffee: As the name suggests, it’s the ultimate companion to your morning cup of coffee. The robust coffee flavor perfectly complements the sweet, spicy notes of the cake.
- With Tea: For tea lovers, a mild black tea or even a chai latte would make a comforting pairing.
- A Scoop of Ice Cream: For a more decadent dessert, serve a warm slice with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The contrast of warm cake and cold ice cream is heavenly.
- A Light Glaze: While delicious on its own, a simple powdered sugar glaze (powdered sugar mixed with a touch of milk or lemon juice) drizzled over the top adds an extra layer of sweetness and elegance.
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Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake
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Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, if you use unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour, King Arthur Unbleached
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar, light or dark
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, unsweetened
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon salt, 1 1/4 teaspoons if you use unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup sour cream , or plain yogurt
- 1 1/4 cups milk, anything from skim to whole
- 3 3/4 cups All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9″ x 13″ pan, or two 9″ round cake pans.
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Make the topping by whisking together the sugar, salt, flour, and cinnamon. Add the melted butter, stirring till well combined. Set the topping aside.
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Make the filling by mixing together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Note that the cocoa powder is used strictly for color, not flavor; leave it out if you like. Set it aside.
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To make the cake: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, salt, sugars, baking powder, and vanilla until well combined and smooth.
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Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream or yogurt and milk till well combined. You don’t need to whisk out all the lumps.
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Add the flour to the butter mixture alternately with the milk/sour cream mixture, beating gently to combine.
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Pour/spread half the batter (a scant 3 cups) into the prepared pan(s), spreading all the way to the edges. If you’re using two 9″ round pans, spread 1 1/3 cups batter in each pan.
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Sprinkle the filling evenly atop the batter.
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Spread the remaining batter atop the filling. Use a table knife to gently swirl the filling into the batter, as though you were making a marble cake. Don’t combine filling and batter thoroughly; just swirl the filling through the batter.
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Sprinkle the topping over the batter in the pan.
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Bake the cake until it’s a dark golden brown around the edges; medium-golden with no light patches showing on top, and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 to 60 minutes for the 9″ x 13″ pan, 50 to 55 minutes for the 9″ round pans. When pressed gently in the middle, the cake should spring back.
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Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 20 minutes before cutting and serving. Serve cake right from the pan
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We are so grateful to Jessica for sharing this exceptional recipe with us. Her Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake is more than just a sweet treat; it’s a delightful centerpiece that brings warmth and joy to any table. It’s truly even more perfect when enjoyed with a fresh, hot cup of coffee!
Original Source: Stuck on Sweet, Adapted from: King Arthur Flour