Our Best Coffee Cake Recipes

Updated October 21, 2019
Credit: Sheri Giblin; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Amy Stone

Eat cake for breakfast with these deliciously moist cake recipes that pair perfectly with a cup of coffee. 

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Any Flavor Buttermilk Coffee Cake

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Any Flavor Buttermilk Coffee Cake Recipe

Customize your topping with any fruit-nut combo. We like plum preserves, sliced plums, and almonds, or strawberry jam, sliced strawberries, and pecans.

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Roasted Grape and Pear Kuchen

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mindi Shapiro and Amanda Widis

Roasted Grape and Pear Kuchen Recipe

The word "kuchen" means "cake" in German, and more specifically, a cake typically served with coffee. The roasted grapes and pears in this recipe are a sweet addition.

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Whole-Grain Apple Cake with Yogurt Cream

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Whole-Grain Apple Cake with Yogurt Cream Recipe

There's a trifecta of textural awesomeness here, as the buttery-crisp topping meets silky-smooth yogurt cream on moist, tender cake. By using whole-wheat pastry flour in place of all-purpose, we triple the fiber per slice to a hearty 4 grams. For a chunkier cake texture, use chopped apples instead of shredded. This cake is great served warm or at room temperature.

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Blueberry-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Credit: Leigh Beisch

Blueberry-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake Recipe

Elaine Wing Hillesland, owner of Alegria Oceanfront Inn and Cottages in Mendocino, CA, serves this cake to her bed-and-breakfast guests.

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Coffee Lovers' Coffee Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Coffee Lovers' Coffee Cake Recipe

A buttery coffee crumb mixture makes a shortbread-like crust for this easy snack cake.

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Coffee Cake Pound Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Coffee Cake Pound Cake Recipe

This recipe marries two Southern specialties, coffee cake and pound cake, to create one buttery, best-of-both-worlds breakfast treat.

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Blueberry Coffee Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Blueberry Coffee Cake Recipe

This moist, tender blueberry coffee cake scored high in our Test Kitchens, where tasters unanimously considered it a delicious way to use the first blueberries of the season. Studded with plump, juicy berries, the cake also features a sprinkling of turbinado sugar on top that adds another dimension of texture. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or as a snack to savor with coffee, it's a recipe you'll make more than once.

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Cinnamon-Apple Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Cinnamon-Apple Cake Recipe

The cream cheese in the batter give this cake lots of moisture. Because it's so tender, use a serrated knife for cutting.

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Glazed Lemon Buttermilk Cake

Glazed Lemon Buttermilk Cake Recipe

This lemon buttermilk cake is great with a cup of morning coffee or mixed berries and a scoop of sorbet for dessert. Use a whole teaspoon of lemon extract for more intense lemon flavor.

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Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Credit: Randy Mayor; Jan Gautro

Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

This cake keeps well in an airtight container for several days. If you don't have a Bundt pan, use a 10-inch tube pan.

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Blueberry-Lemon Coffee Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Blueberry-Lemon Coffee Cake Recipe

Blueberries and lemon are a natural match, and they come together nicely in this fruit-filled coffee cake. Almond paste, a sweet mixture of ground almonds and sugar, contributes a mildly nutty flavor and moist texture.

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Overnight Coffee Crumble Cake

Credit: Luca Trovato; Styling: Dani Fisher

Overnight Coffee Crumble Cake Recipe

Pep up your mornings or snack time with a warm slice of Overnight Coffee Crumble Cake. A splash of bourbon adds richnes and umph to the powdered sugar glaze that's drizzled over this homemade coffee cake.

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Breakfast Coffee Cake

Credit: Randy Mayor

Breakfast Coffee Cake Recipe

"I like to have this on hand for snacking or taking to friends. It freezes nicely without the icing. I created this recipe when my son married a nutritionist." -Kathy Frederickson, Leominster, MA

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Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake Recipe

Serve this buttery cake for a make-ahead brunch dish or at the end of a casual meal.

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Banana Coffee Cake with Macadamia Nuts and Coconut

Credit: Randy Mayor; Fonda Shaia

Banana Coffee Cake with Macadamia Nuts and Coconut Recipe

Substitute pecans if you prefer to make this company-worthy coffee cake.

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Make-Ahead Coffee Cake

Credit: Dominic Perri; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Make-Ahead Coffee Cake Recipe

"I adapted this cake from my daughter's school cookbook." Julie DeSchepper, 61, Overland Park, Kan.

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Apple-Cinnamon Coffeecake

Credit: Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Apple-Cinnamon Coffeecake Recipe

This coffee cake is best served warm. To prepare ahead, cool completely, wrap (still in the pan) in foil, and leave out at room temperature for up to one day, or freeze for up to three months. To reheat thawed cake, unwrap and bake at 250° for 15 to 20 minutes.

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Cinnamon-Pecan Streusel Coffee Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Cinnamon-Pecan Streusel Coffee Cake Recipe

Enjoy this moist coffee cake for breakfast, or serve it with coffee for a great after-dinner dessert!

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Coffee Cupcakes

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski

Coffee Cupcakes Recipe

Get your caffeine fix in the morning with these coffee cupcakes. If you prefer a single-layer cake to cupcakes, use a 9-inch square baking pan or round cake pan. Bake the cake at 350º for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

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Caramel-Crumb Coffee Cake

Caramel-Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe

This sweet breakfast cake features a delicious caramel streusel.

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Triple-Chocolate Coffee Cake

Triple-Chocolate Coffee Cake Recipe

Your book club won't know what hit them. Gone are the days of crumbled coffee cakes. Welcome to the land of triple-chocolate coffee cake goodness. Enjoy by serving with wine, milk, or simply another slice of coffee cake.

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Chocolate-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Chocolate-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake Recipe

Combine chocolate velvet cake batter with a cream cheese mixture to make this beloved and delicious coffee cake.

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Sour-Cream Coffee Cake

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Sour-Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

Forget the box! We have a Sour-Cream Coffee Cake that's simple to whip for dessert or a breakfast treat. We include a whole cup of chocolate chips, too!

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Cranberry-Orange Coffee Cake

Cranberry-Orange Coffee Cake Recipe

Dress up coffee cake for the holidays by adding cranberry sauce, pecans and a sugary citrus glaze. 

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Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce Recipe

Enjoy the fabulous flavor combination of bananas foster with this coffee cake.

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Brown Butter-Sour Cream Crumb Cake

Credit: Christina Holmes

Brown Butter-Sour Cream Crumb Cake Recipe

Excellent with coffee or tea, this moist cake has lots of crisp, salty, buttery crumbs on top.

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Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

Mix the dry ingredients with the wet until just combined (don't overstir) for the best result. This is tastiest warm from the oven, but leftovers are also delicious.

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Blackberry-Peach Coffee Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Stylist: Rose Nguyen

Blackberry-Peach Coffee Cake Recipe

You will not be disappointed with this Blackberry-Peach Coffee Cake recipe. As one online reviewer says, "I took the cake to my office and there was not even a crumb left on the plate!

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Pumpkin Crumb Coffee Cake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Stephana Bottom

Pumpkin Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe

Prepare this moist, pumpkin spice-flavored coffee cake for a delicious fall breakfast treat.

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Blueberry Coffee Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Blueberry Coffee Cake Recipe

Combine the dry ingredients the night before for a quick morning start. Serve this cake warm or at room temperature.

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Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake Recipe

Make the most of apple season with this delicious Caramel Apple Coffee Cake.

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Walnut Cake with Praline Frosting

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Walnut Cake with Praline Frosting Recipe

This easy sheet cake is rich enough for adults to enjoy after dinner with coffee, yet just sweet enough to be a treat for children, too.

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Rhubarb-Sour Cream Snack Cake with Walnut Streusel

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Rhubarb-Sour Cream Snack Cake with Walnut Streusel Recipe

Well-chopped rhubarb offers bursts of tartness in this moist, spicy coffee cake.

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Upside-Down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-Roasted Pears

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Karen Shinto

Upside-Down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-Roasted Pears Recipe

This old-fashioned, moist cake, jazzed up with vanilla bean and roasted pears, takes on even more flavor if you start the pears a day ahead so they can steep in their syrup. The recipe comes from Romney Steele, author of Plum Gorgeous.

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Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Credit: Victor Protasio

Blueberry Yogurt Cake Recipe

This easy blueberry coffee cake gets some of its tenderness from the addition of yogurt and has crunch from the walnuts.  It's a great choice when you need something sweet for breakfast or brunch.

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Maple-Glazed Pumpkin-Cranberry Coffee Cake