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By: Leigh Anne Wilkes
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This Starbucks Coffee Cake Recipe may just be better than the real thing! It’s the perfect addition to any brunch and is so good, you will be looking for a reason to invite over guests!
Cake Mix Coffee Cake
One of my favorite things about Easter is Easter Brunch. And one of my favorite brunch recipes is a good coffee cake. This Starbucks Coffee cake is the perfect easy brunch recipe. You start with a boxed yellow cake mix, which guarantees a moist cake. And the cake comes together in a snap. Perfect for a busy holiday.
Why is it Called Coffee Cake When there is no coffee in it?
You’d be surprised how often I get asked that question! I guess it’s called coffee cake because it is often eaten along with a cup of coffee!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love how tender and light the base of the cake is. It is a perfect compliment to the heavier, crunchy, sugary topping and it’s my favorite part. Usually foods with streusel toppings never have enough streusel topping for my liking but this Starbucks Coffee Cake has the perfect cake to topping ratio!
Ingredients Needed
- Yellow cake mix. I used a 15.25 oz. size and you will also need the ingredients listed on the back of the box, usually eggs, water and oil.
- Butter. I used salted butter and you want it cold. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to the mixture.
- Flour. I prefer unbleached all purpose flour
- Cinnamon
- Brown Sugar. Use light brown sugar.
- Vanilla Extract
How to Make Starbucks Coffee Cake
- Start with a yellow cake mix. Prepare it in a bowl following the package directions.
- Pour batter onto a greased baking pan and bake at 350 degrees until the center of the cake is just barely set.
- While it is baking, prepare the crumb topping by mixing together the butter, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla with a mixer until crumbly.
- Immediately after cake is removed from oven, break the crumb topping into marble size pieces with fingers, sprinkling over the top of the cake.
- Return the cake to the oven for another 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Pair this with
- Breakfast Pizza
- Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
- Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Quiche Lorraine
- Salmon Quiche
- Chili Rellano Casserole
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use something other than a cake mix?
I have only made it with a cake mix. If you have a recipe for a homemade cake mix go ahead and use that, just use an equal amount to the cake mix.
My streusel topping turned into dough?
Your butter probably wasn’t cold and you may have overworked the mixture, causing the butter to melt and make it doughy.
Can I use a cake mix other than yellow?
I have only ever used a yellow one, using a different flavor will change the flavor of the coffee cake.
Can I freeze Starbucks Coffee Cake?
It freezes well. I recommend freezing it by the slice. Wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap and then some foil. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator before eating.
My streusel topping sinks through the cake.
Gently add the topping, a little at a time, don’t had big pieces all at once. You can also bake it for a few more minutes to allow it to set up more.
If you need less coffee cake be sure and check out my small batch version of this recipe.
For more delicious coffee cake recipes try these:
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
- Small Batch Coffee Cake
- Blueberry Coffee Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake
- Blueberry Lemon Curd Coffee Cake
Be sure and follow me over onYou Tubefor weekly cooking demos.
4.83 from 180 votes
Starbucks Coffee Cake
Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
This Copycat Recipe for Starbucks Coffee Cake may just be better than the real thing! It is the perfect thing to add to your Easter brunch or anytime breakfast or brunch!
serves: 12 servings
Prep:10 minutes minutes
Cook:20 minutes minutes
Total:30 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 oz. yellow cake mix (plus ingredients on back of box)
- 1 cup salted butter cold, two sticks
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1 3/4 cups brown sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. vanilla
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350
Prepare cake mix in large bowl according to directions on box.
Spray 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray.
Pour batter into pan.
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until center is just barely set.
While cake is baking, prepare crumb topping.
In large bowl of electric mixer combine butter, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla until all crumbly.
Immediately after cake is removed from oven, break crumb topping into marble size pieces with fingers, sprinkling over top.
Put back in oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes (topping will begin to look a less less wet/raw) let cool fully then dust with powdered sugar using a sieve if desired.
Cut into squares and serve.
Tips & Notes:
I have only made it with a cake mix. If you have a recipe for a homemade cake mix go ahead and use that, just use an equal amount to the cake mix.
Be sure your butter is cold otherwise your streusel topping will get doughy.
If your streusel starts to sink through the top of the cake when adding, bake for a few more minutes to allow it to set a bit more.
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 511kcal (26%) Carbohydrates: 86g (29%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 16g (25%) Saturated Fat: 10g (63%) Cholesterol: 40mg (13%) Sodium: 458mg (20%) Potassium: 100mg (3%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 50g (56%) Vitamin A: 480IU (10%) Vitamin C: 0.1mg Calcium: 144mg (14%) Iron: 2.4mg (13%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine:American
Did you make this?I love seeing what you made. Be sure to share a picture and tag @yourhomebasedmom on social media!
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Reader Interactions
4.83 from 180 votes (164 ratings without comment)
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Tina says
Hi… can I make this cake in a round pan and if yes what size and for how long? Thanks
Reply
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
I have never done it but two 8 inch pans should work.
Reply
LAURA says
I have made this several times and everyone enjoys it. Make with Aldi’s Classic Yellow cake mix and I add pecans to 1/2 of the cake. Delicious. Regular request from our 7 yr old grandson.
Reply
Judith Minder says
I have made this recipe three times for our church coffee hour. It is always a hit and disappears completely. It’s not the only item for our coffee hour. There are always many more items. My only complaint is that the topping takes long to crumble and add evenly to the cake. Otherwise this is a keeper recipe with people asking for the recipe.
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Cathleen Kenny says
Awesome
Reply
Elaine says
This is a delicious coffee cake!
But I used an all butter yellow cake mix… so moist and light!
This is as good as Starbucks cinnamon coffee cake!!
So easy to make:)Reply
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