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Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Recipe

This cozy coffee cake features a tender vanilla crumb with rich cinnamon swirls through every slice. It bakes beautifully, smells outrageous, and makes breakfast feel far more organized than reality.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 38 minutes
Total Time 53 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices
Calories 305 kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • Spatula,
  • 8x8 Baking Pan
  • Butter Knife
  • Measuring cups
  • Cooling rack
  • Freezer
  • oven

Ingredients
  

Cake Batter

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Cinnamon Swirl

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 2 tbsp flour

Glaze Optional

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8x8 pan with parchment.
  • Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
  • Whisk sugar, melted butter, eggs, sour cream, milk, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
  • Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture just until combined. Batter should be thick but spreadable.
  • Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, melted butter, and flour into a thick swirl paste.
  • Spread half the batter in pan. Dollop half the cinnamon mixture. Repeat layers.
  • Use a knife to swirl gently through batter for ribbons without overmixing.
  • Bake 35 to 38 minutes until golden and center springs back lightly. Cool before slicing.

Notes

For a softer cake, remove when center is just set. For crisper edges, bake several extra minutes. Freeze slices wrapped tightly for two months. Chill before cutting for cleaner swirls. Add nuts, apple bits, or espresso powder for flavor twists. Store covered two days room temperature or five days chilled.
Keyword Bristle Cookie, Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake, coffee cake, Ice Cream Cookie