With this delicious treat, you’ll get a moist, tender, and buttery cake with a layer of sweet and tangy cream cheese and a crumbly buttery topping. In a word, it’s heaven! These three elements are already amazing on their own, so just imagine what magic they’ll create together. Actually, don’t imagine it – try it! This recipe is all you’ll need. It’s the perfect way to start the day on a sweet, satisfying note!
Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Full disclosure: unlike most recipes I feature, this one requires a bit of work. But believe me, it’s worth the effort. What makes cream cheese coffee cake stand out from the rest? Well, it’s denser than most cakes, but it’s very moist and crumbly. With its layer of cream cheese and crumble topping, it creates such a heavenly flavor and texture combination. That’s what makes it perfect with coffee! Yes, it will take several steps to make it, but I still highly recommend it. It’s the best coffee cake there is!
Ingredients
For the Cake
Flour – The recipe requires all-purpose, but for a more tender cake, use cake flour.Sugar -You’ll need granulated sugar, but for an extra moist cake, use brown sugar. Brown sugar contains molasses, which makes cakes super moist. It’s sweeter than granulated sugar, though! What you can do is add half-a-cup each of both sugars for a well-balanced flavor.Baking Powder and Baking Soda – The leavening agents in charge of lifting the cake. Make sure they’re active! Test by dropping a teaspoon of baking powder into a glass of water. If it sizzles and bubbles, it’s still potent. Do the same with baking soda, but use vinegar instead of water.Egg – For binding the ingredients together.Butter – For a rich and flavorful cake.Sour Cream – The key to making your cake super moist! You can use Greek yogurt or buttermilk if you don’t have it on hand.
For the Cream Cheese Filling
Cream Cheese, Sugar, and Egg – The combination yields a sweet and tart filling that balances out the sweetness of the cake.
For the Crumble Topping
Flour, Butter, Brown Sugar, and Pecans – Together, they create a sandy and lumpy mixture with a mind-blowing flavor!
Here’s a tip: use cold, cubed butter for the topping. This will ensure that the mixture will be coarse with various sizes of crumbly, buttery lumps. Yum!
Tips for the Best Coffee Cake
You can switch a cup of the cream cheese with ricotta cheese for a flavor and texture variation.Add a teaspoon of vanilla to the cream cheese mixture to enhance its flavor.Use room temperature ingredients, especially for the cream cheese mixture. This will make beating them easier and yield a lump-free filling.As they say, baking is an exact science, so be sure to measure the ingredients accurately! Do the spoon and level method for measuring the dry ingredients. That is, use a spoon to transfer the ingredients to the measuring cup, and level it with a knife.To make your cake moister than ever: swap some of the butter with cream cheese. Aside from making the cake melt-in-your-mouth tender, it also adds a ton of flavor.
How to Layer and Spread the Cake Batter
The cake batter will be very sticky, much like cookie dough. That said, it will be tricky to spread it over the pan and the cream cheese layer. Here are some ways to make it easier:
Use your hands! Grease them with cooking spray to prevent the batter from sticking.Don’t want to touch the batter with your hands? Place it on a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Place another sheet on top and spread it with your hands. Peel off the second layer. Flip over the batter onto the pan and peel off the second sheet of parchment paper. Do the same for the 2nd half of the dough.Use an ice cream or cookie scoop to dollop the dough over the pan. Spread with a spatula.
Does This Loaf Actually Have Coffee?
I once thought that coffee cakes are coffee-flavored, hence the name. Boy, was I wrong! Coffee cakes are apparently called such because they pair well with coffee. So, no, this cake does not contain coffee. I hope this makes non-caffeine drinkers happy! 🙂 It is best eaten with a hot cup of joe, though.
How to Store the Cake
Another thing I love about this coffee cake is that it stays tender and moist for days! All you’ll need is to keep it in an air-tight container at room temperature. The cake keeps well for up to 3 days. Don’t refrigerate the cake, as this will dry it out. If you want a longer shelf-life, just freeze it instead. Wrap the whole loaf or individual slices with plastic wrap. Place it in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the cake on the counter for a few hours, or pop it in the microwave for 10 to seconds. Click on a star to rate it!
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