Easy Streusel Coffee Cake: A Simple Recipe for Baking Bliss
Coffee cake is a timeless classic, beloved for its moist crumb and irresistible streusel topping. While some recipes can be intimidating, this Easy Streusel Coffee Cake recipe is designed to be simple and straightforward, perfect for beginner bakers and busy mornings alike. Get ready to enjoy a slice of warm, comforting goodness with minimal effort!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
* **Easy to make:** This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, making it perfect for even novice bakers.
* **Quick:** From start to finish, you can have this coffee cake ready in under an hour.
* **Delicious:** The moist cake, buttery streusel, and optional glaze create a symphony of flavors that will delight your taste buds.
* **Versatile:** Enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet treat any time of day.
* **Crowd-pleasing:** This coffee cake is always a hit with family and friends.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Before you start baking, gather these simple ingredients:
**For the Cake:**
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
**For the Streusel Topping:**
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
**Optional Glaze:**
* 1 cup powdered sugar
* 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment You’ll Need
* 9×13 inch baking pan
* Mixing bowls
* Electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer)
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Whisk
* Spatula
* Parchment paper (optional, for easier cleanup)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Now, let’s get baking! Follow these simple steps to create your delicious Easy Streusel Coffee Cake:
**Step 1: Preheat and Prepare**
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. Alternatively, line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal. This will prevent the cake from sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
**Step 2: Make the Streusel Topping**
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Add the cold, cubed butter. Use a pastry blender or your fingers to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This is a crucial step for achieving that perfect streusel texture. You want small clumps of butter coated in the flour and sugar mixture.
**Step 3: Prepare the Cake Batter**
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This step is important for incorporating air into the batter, resulting in a lighter and more tender cake. Use an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer) for best results, beating for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is pale and airy.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. This helps to emulsify the batter and create a smooth consistency.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the batter, preventing pockets of baking powder or soda that can lead to uneven rising or a bitter taste.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the sour cream or yogurt, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can develop the gluten in the flour and result in a tough cake. The batter should be smooth but not overly runny.
**Step 4: Assemble and Bake**
Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the batter. Don’t be shy with the streusel – it’s what makes this coffee cake so delicious! Gently press the streusel into the batter to help it adhere during baking.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. The cake should be golden brown on top and spring back lightly when touched. Keep an eye on the cake during baking and adjust the baking time as needed, depending on your oven.
**Step 5: Cool and Glaze (Optional)**
Let the coffee cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the cake from sticking to the pan and allows it to cool evenly.
While the cake is cooling, prepare the glaze (if using). In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add more milk or cream if needed to reach your desired consistency. The glaze should be thin enough to drizzle but thick enough to coat the cake.
Drizzle the glaze over the cooled coffee cake. Slice and serve. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
* **Use room temperature ingredients:** Softened butter and room temperature eggs will incorporate more easily into the batter, resulting in a smoother and more even cake.
* **Don’t overmix the batter:** Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to a tough cake. Mix until just combined.
* **Use cold butter for the streusel:** Cold butter is essential for creating a crumbly streusel topping. If the butter is too soft, the streusel will be greasy and clumpy.
* **Adjust baking time as needed:** Ovens vary, so adjust the baking time as needed. The cake is done when a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
* **Let the cake cool completely before glazing:** Glazing a warm cake can cause the glaze to melt and run off.
Variations and Additions
* **Add nuts:** Stir chopped pecans or walnuts into the streusel topping for added flavor and texture.
* **Add fruit:** Sprinkle fresh or frozen berries over the batter before adding the streusel topping. Blueberries, raspberries, or chopped apples are all great options.
* **Add spices:** Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cake batter or streusel topping for a warm and aromatic flavor.
* **Chocolate chips:** Stir chocolate chips into the batter for a chocolatey twist.
* **Citrus zest:** Add lemon or orange zest to the batter for a bright and zesty flavor.
* **Sour cream substitute:** You can substitute plain Greek yogurt for sour cream.
Serving Suggestions
This Easy Streusel Coffee Cake is delicious on its own, but here are a few serving suggestions to elevate your experience:
* Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
* Pair it with a cup of coffee or tea for a perfect breakfast or afternoon treat.
* Offer it as part of a brunch spread with other sweet and savory dishes.
* Wrap individual slices and give them as gifts to friends and neighbors.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for longer storage. Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen coffee cake can be stored for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Detailed Explanation of Ingredients and Techniques
Let’s dive deeper into why each ingredient is important and how certain techniques contribute to the overall success of this coffee cake.
**All-Purpose Flour:** This is the base of the cake, providing structure and binding the ingredients together. Its gluten content contributes to the cake’s texture. Different types of flour will impact the cake. Cake flour, for example, has lower gluten and results in a more tender cake. Bread flour has higher gluten and results in a chewier cake.
**Baking Powder and Baking Soda:** These are leavening agents that create air bubbles in the batter, causing the cake to rise. Baking powder is a complete leavening agent, containing both an acid and a base. Baking soda requires an acidic ingredient (like sour cream) to activate. Using both results in a light and airy cake.
**Salt:** Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and also controls the activity of the yeast (if any, though this recipe doesn’t use it). It’s important to use the right amount of salt; too much can result in a salty taste, while too little can leave the cake tasting bland.
**Unsalted Butter:** Butter adds richness, flavor, and moisture to the cake. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt in the recipe. Softened butter creams better with sugar, creating a lighter and fluffier batter. Cold butter, on the other hand, is used for the streusel to create those desirable crumbs.
**Granulated Sugar:** Sugar adds sweetness and moisture to the cake, and it also helps to tenderize the gluten. It also contributes to the browning of the cake.
**Eggs:** Eggs provide structure, richness, and moisture to the cake. They also help to emulsify the batter, creating a smooth and even consistency. Adding eggs one at a time ensures that each egg is fully incorporated into the batter.
**Vanilla Extract:** Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the cake, adding a touch of warmth and complexity.
**Sour Cream or Plain Yogurt:** Sour cream or yogurt adds moisture and tang to the cake, resulting in a tender and flavorful crumb. The acidity in sour cream also helps to activate the baking soda.
**Brown Sugar (for Streusel):** Brown sugar adds moisture and a caramel-like flavor to the streusel topping.
**Cinnamon (for Streusel):** Cinnamon adds warmth and spice to the streusel topping.
**Cutting in Cold Butter (for Streusel):** This technique is crucial for creating a crumbly streusel topping. The cold butter remains in small pieces, which melt during baking and create pockets of air, resulting in a light and crispy texture.
**Creaming Butter and Sugar:** This technique involves beating together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This incorporates air into the batter, resulting in a lighter and more tender cake. It’s important to cream the butter and sugar for several minutes until the mixture is pale and airy.
**Alternating Wet and Dry Ingredients:** This technique helps to prevent overmixing the batter. Adding the dry ingredients in increments, alternating with the wet ingredients, ensures that the flour is evenly distributed throughout the batter without developing too much gluten.
**Why a 9×13 Inch Pan?**
The size of the baking pan affects the baking time and the thickness of the cake. A 9×13 inch pan provides a larger surface area, resulting in a thinner cake that bakes more quickly. A smaller pan would result in a thicker cake that requires a longer baking time.
**Troubleshooting:**
* **Cake is dry:** This could be due to overbaking, using too much flour, or not enough fat. Be sure to measure the flour accurately and avoid overbaking the cake.
* **Cake is dense:** This could be due to overmixing the batter, not using enough leavening agent, or using cold ingredients. Be sure to mix the batter until just combined and use room temperature ingredients.
* **Streusel is greasy:** This could be due to using butter that is too soft or using too much butter. Be sure to use cold butter for the streusel.
* **Streusel is too dry:** This could be due to using too much flour or not enough butter. Be sure to measure the ingredients accurately.
**Conclusion:**
This Easy Streusel Coffee Cake recipe is a guaranteed winner. Its simple ingredients and straightforward instructions make it a perfect baking project for any skill level. Whether you’re enjoying it for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this coffee cake is sure to become a family favorite. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake a slice of happiness!
Enjoy baking this delightful treat, and don’t hesitate to experiment with different variations to create your own signature coffee cake. Happy baking!