13 Coffee Cake Recipes With So Much Crumb Topping You Will Fight Over the Corners

Remember when a neighbor dropped by and someone always cut a square of coffee cake? These soft, buttery cakes were made for slow mornings, church brunches and holiday guests. Most are mixed in one bowl and topped with a mountain of cinnamon crumbs. If you love vintage bakes, do not miss our pound cake and bundt cake recipes. Pour a fresh cup and tell us: are you a corner piece person or a middle piece person..

Classic Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

This is the coffee cake that started it all. A tender sour cream cake gets a ribbon of cinnamon sugar in the middle and a thick crumbly streusel on top. It is the recipe that lived on an index card in grandma kitchen drawers all over America. Bake it the night before a holiday morning and let everyone help themselves. Do you pick the crumbs off the top first? Be honest.

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, 1 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Streusel: 1 cup flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 cup cold butter.

How to make it: Beat the butter and sugar, then add the eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Mix in the flour, soda and baking powder. Rub the streusel ingredients together into crumbs. Spread half the batter in a 9 by 13 pan, sprinkle with a third of the crumbs, add the rest of the batter and top with the remaining crumbs. Bake at 350F for 35 to 40 minutes.

New York Crumb Cake, the Coffee Cake With Giant Crumbs

In New York delis, the crumb topping is nearly as thick as the cake itself. Big, buttery chunks of cinnamon streusel sit on a soft vanilla base and a cloud of powdered sugar falls over everything. It is messy in the best way. The secret is melted butter in the crumbs, which makes them extra chunky. Is this the ultimate coffee cake, or is that too much crumb?

You will need: Cake: 1 3/4 cups flour, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup milk, 2 teaspoons baking powder. Crumbs: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 cup melted butter.

How to make it: Mix the crumb ingredients with a fork and set aside. Beat butter and sugar, add eggs, then flour and baking powder with the milk. Spread in a 9 by 13 pan. Squeeze the crumb mix into big clumps and cover the batter. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake in a Bundt Pan

Baked in a bundt pan, this coffee cake has a hidden tunnel of cinnamon, brown sugar and pecans running through the middle. Sour cream keeps it moist for days, and a simple vanilla glaze drips down the ridges. It is the one you bring to a new neighbor or a holiday brunch. Every slice shows off that pretty swirl. Who taught you to bake a bundt?

You will need: 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup butter, 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cups sour cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda. Filling: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk.

How to make it: Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and sour cream, then the dry ingredients. Spoon half into a greased bundt pan, add the filling, then the rest of the batter. Bake at 350F for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool 15 minutes, flip out and drizzle with glaze.

Apple Crumb Cake With Fall Spices

Fall apples make this one extra special. Thin slices of tart apple are tucked into a spiced batter, then buried under a brown sugar crumble. As it bakes, the apples soften and the whole house smells like an orchard. Serve it warm with a little whipped cream for dessert, or cold with coffee the next morning. Which apples do you bake with: A) Granny Smith, B) Honeycrisp, C) Gala or D) whatever is in the fridge?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup buttermilk, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 apples thinly sliced. Crumb: 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 6 tablespoons butter.

How to make it: Make the batter by creaming butter and sugar, adding eggs, then flour, baking powder, cinnamon and buttermilk. Spread in a 9 inch pan and layer the apples on top. Cover with the crumb mix. Bake at 350F for 45 to 50 minutes.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Three layers make this one a showstopper: a soft vanilla cake, a sweet cream cheese layer and juicy blueberries under a golden crumb. It tastes like a cheesecake and a muffin had a baby. Frozen berries work fine, just do not thaw them first. It is a perfect make ahead coffee cake for Christmas morning. Would your family eat this for breakfast or dessert?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1 egg, 3/4 cup milk, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 1/2 cups blueberries, crumb topping.

How to make it: Spread the cake batter in a 9 inch pan. Beat the cream cheese, sugar and egg and spoon over the batter. Scatter the blueberries on top and cover with crumbs. Bake at 350F for 50 to 55 minutes until golden. Cool before cutting.

Cherry Crumb Cake

A can of cherry pie filling turns a simple cake into something festive and bright. Red cherries peek through the golden crumbs like little jewels, which makes it a natural fit for Christmas and Valentine brunches. It is one of the easiest coffee cake recipes in this list, and it feeds a crowd. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream. Have you ever baked with pie filling? It is a great shortcut.

You will need: 1 box yellow cake mix or 2 cups homemade batter, 1 can cherry pie filling, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.

How to make it: Spread the batter in a greased 9 by 13 pan. Spoon the cherry filling over it in dollops. Rub the flour, sugar and butter into crumbs and sprinkle on top. Bake at 350F for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool and drizzle with a little almond glaze.

Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake

Fresh raspberries and almonds are a match made in heaven. This tender cake is studded with berries and finished with sliced almonds and a dusting of powdered sugar. It looks bakery fancy but takes only 15 minutes to put together. A little almond extract in the batter makes it taste like a European pastry. Perfect for a baby shower or a girls brunch. Would you make it with raspberries or blackberries?

You will need: 1 3/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, 1 1/2 cups raspberries, 1/3 cup sliced almonds.

How to make it: Cream butter and sugar, add the eggs, sour cream and almond extract. Mix in the flour and baking powder. Spread in a 9 inch springform and press the raspberries into the top. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 350F for 40 to 45 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar.

Rhubarb Crumb Squares

If your grandma had a garden, she probably made this. Tart rhubarb bakes into a jammy layer under a sweet, sandy crumb. The contrast of sour and sweet is what makes it so addictive. You can use frozen rhubarb in winter or swap in strawberries for a sweeter version. Cut it into squares and serve with vanilla ice cream. Does rhubarb remind you of someone special?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1 egg, 1/2 cup milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 3 cups chopped rhubarb, 1/4 cup sugar, crumb topping.

How to make it: Make a soft batter with the butter, sugar, egg, milk, flour and baking powder. Spread in a 9 by 13 pan. Toss the rhubarb with 1/4 cup sugar and spread on top. Cover with crumbs. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes until golden.

Coffee Cake Muffins With Streusel Tops

All the joy of coffee cake in a handheld size. Each muffin gets a cinnamon swirl in the middle and a tall crumb hat on top. They are perfect for school mornings, bake sales or a quick breakfast on the go. They freeze beautifully too, so bake a double batch and warm one in the microwave whenever the craving hits. How many would you grab on your way out the door?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sour cream, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon soda. Swirl: 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Crumb topping.

How to make it: Make the batter and fill 12 muffin cups halfway. Sprinkle with the cinnamon swirl mix, then add the rest of the batter. Pile crumbs on top. Bake at 375F for 18 to 22 minutes.

Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Loaf

This soft loaf is part bread and part cake, with ribbons of cinnamon sugar swirled all the way through. Slice it thick, toast it lightly and spread with butter. It is wonderful on a cold weekend morning and makes a lovely gift wrapped in parchment and twine. The swirl comes from twisting a knife through the layers. Have you ever tried coffee cake toasted? It is a game changer.

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 teaspoon baking soda. Swirl: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon.

How to make it: Mix the batter. Pour half into a loaf pan and sprinkle with half the swirl. Add the rest of the batter and the remaining swirl. Run a knife through in a zigzag. Bake at 350F for 50 to 55 minutes.

Glazed Banana Bread Loaf

Got brown bananas? This is the best way to use them. It is softer and sweeter than regular banana bread, with a vanilla glaze on top. The bananas keep it moist for days, so it is great for busy weeks. Add a handful of chocolate chips if you want to make the kids very happy. Poll: A) plain, B) chocolate chips, C) walnuts or D) all of the above?

You will need: 3 ripe bananas, 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, powdered sugar glaze.

How to make it: Mash the bananas. Beat in the butter, sugar, eggs and sour cream. Stir in the flour, soda and cinnamon. Bake in a loaf pan at 350F for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool and drizzle with glaze.

Southern Pecan Praline Squares

This is a Southern style coffee cake with a sticky, crunchy praline topping made from brown sugar, butter and toasted pecans. As it bakes, the topping melts into the cake and turns into caramel. It is rich, so small squares are enough. Serve it at Thanksgiving brunch and watch it vanish. Are you a pecan pie fan too?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 teaspoon soda. Topping: 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans.

How to make it: Bake the cake batter in a 9 by 13 pan at 350F for 20 minutes. Melt the butter and brown sugar and stir in the pecans. Spoon over the half baked cake and bake 15 to 20 minutes more until bubbly. Cool before cutting.

Espresso Coffee Cake for Real Coffee Lovers

Most coffee cake has no coffee in it at all, but this one does. A shot of espresso in the batter and the glaze gives it a deep mocha flavor that pairs perfectly with your morning cup. Layers of cinnamon crumb keep it cozy and familiar. It is the one to bake for the coffee snob in your life. Do you take your coffee black or with cream?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons instant espresso, 2 teaspoons baking powder, crumb topping, coffee glaze.

How to make it: Dissolve the espresso in 2 tablespoons hot water. Mix it into the batter with the sour cream. Layer batter and crumbs in a 9 inch pan. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes. Drizzle with a glaze of powdered sugar and coffee.