Coffee Cake Recipes for Breakfast or Brunch

Con Poulos

Whether you serve them for breakfast, brunch, an afternoon snack, or dessert, these coffee cake recipes are guaranteed to please.

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Con Poulos

Who wouldn't want to start their morning off with a delicious slice of coffee cake? It has a moist, fine crumb and a sweet-spiced topping made with flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and nuts. And you don't have to be a coffee drinker to enjoy a slice of one of these cakes—they pair just as nicely with another hot or cold drink of your choosing.

Start with a basic recipe, like our Cinnamon Coffee Cake. It's a simple one-layer treat that's a breeze to make—no mixer needed. And we're positive you have all the basic ingredients, like flour, shortening, cinnamon, eggs, and milk, in your pantry already. Once you've mastered that, take it to the next level with our recipe for Sour-Cream Coffee Cake with Cinnamon-Walnut Topping. The inclusion of sour cream makes it taste extra moist and two layers of streusel are swirled throughout the batter. It's poured in a tube pan for slices that are bigger and better than ever.

Then it's time to mix things up a little. Instead of the traditional streusel crumble made with flour, brown sugar, and butter, our Muesli Coffee Cake, pictured here, is topped with muesli—a type of whole grain cereal made with dried fruit and nuts—and blueberries. It's a welcome twist on everyone's favorite breakfast treat. Prefer to try a bright, inspired take on coffee cake? Try our Glazed Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake, which uses the zest and juicy of lemons, plus plump, juicy blueberries to deliver a hit of fresh summertime flavor. Just as delightful is our Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake, which has a layer of Meyer lemon slices in the middle of the cake and a crumbly streusel sprinkled on top. The perfect finishing touch is a sweet lemony glaze is drizzled over the entire cake.

Breakfast is guaranteed to be much more delicious when once of these coffee cakes is placed in the center of the table.

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Cherry-Streusel Coffee Cake

Jonathan Lovekin

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Dress up coffee cake with thawed frozen cherries and an eye-catching milk glaze drizzled on top. The cherries' tart, juicy flavor instantly perks up this satisfying recipe. Raise your hand if you want a slice!

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Almond-Berry Coffee Cake

James Merrell

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While pecans or walnuts frequently make an appearance in coffee cake, this recipe stars almonds for something different, but just as delicious. The filling features a fabulous duo—raspberries folded into blackberry jam.

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Sour-Cream Coffee Cake with Cinnamon-Walnut Topping

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There's streusel both on top and in the filling of this brunch-worthy Bundt coffee cake. One cup of sour cream plus two sticks of butter in the batter keep it super rich and super moist.

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Glazed Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake

Mike Krautter

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Whether you serve it for breakfast or dessert, this stunning coffee cake, upgraded with fresh blueberries and a delectable lemon glaze, is a guaranteed winner. The combination says summer, though we're happy to eat this treat all year long.

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Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

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When it comes to coffee cake, this recipe is about as classic as it gets. In between two layers of moist cake is an epic streusel with cinnamon and toasted pecans added to the usual streusel combination. If that's not enough, there's an additional layer of the streusel sprinkled on top.

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Orange-Cardamom Bundt Cake

Marcus Nilsson

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Inspired by traditional coffee cake, this super moist cake gets a subtle dash of warmth from ground cardamom, a spice often found in chai tea. A glaze made with unsalted butter, orange liqueur, and sugar is brushed on top of the cake for bright, zesty contrast.

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Cinnamon Coffee Cake

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Here's a simply delicious coffee cake that's nut-free and easy to make.

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Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake

Mike Krautter

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This coffee cake tastes like pure sunshine, thanks to Meyer lemon slices, which are arranged evenly throughout the cake batter. An extra dose of brightness comes in the form of lemon glaze drizzled on top.

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Yeasted Coffee Cake with Poppy-Seed Filling

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Most coffee cakes are made without yeast, but this one is extra special and pillowy when left to rise. The streusel filling also has an unexpected twist—the inclusion of poppy seeds and walnuts.

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New York Crumb Cake

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Sara Foster, the acclaimed chef and close friend of Martha, shares her beloved recipe for coffee cake, and it's just like the kind you'd find in the heart of Manhattan. The crumb topping is piled high on top of the cake for one giant bite.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Coffee Cake

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Spring and summer produce marry in this juicy coffee cake recipe. It's flaky, buttery, and perfect for a warm-weather gathering.

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Start Your Morning with One of These 12 Coffee Cake Recipes

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Cherry-Streusel Coffee Cake

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Almond-Berry Coffee Cake

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Sour-Cream Coffee Cake with Cinnamon-Walnut Topping

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Glazed Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake

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Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

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Orange-Cardamom Bundt Cake

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Cinnamon Coffee Cake

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Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake

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Yeasted Coffee Cake with Poppy-Seed Filling

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New York Crumb Cake

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Coffee Cake

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