This recipe for Cinnamon Coffee Cake is a Starbucks copycat recipe so you can eat this delicious dessert at home! Made from the same recipe that Starbucks uses, you are going to love this classic treat.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: I made this recipe today and it turned out. Amazing! My Husband definitely approves and wanted me to tell you thank you from him, lol!
Starbucks Cinnamon Coffee Cake is one of my favorite treats to get when I’m picking up my daily coffee. I was thrilled to find out that I could make it at home using the recipe provided at Starbucks website.
I have tweaked this recipe using the ingredients I have on hand and simplified some of the instructions. You are going to love the end result of this moist and delicious coffee cake laced with cinnamon goodness!
If you love coffee cake, be sure to try my Cherry Coffee Cake, Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake or my Blueberry Ricotta Coffee Cake. For a classic coffee-flavored dessert, check out my Tiramisu Recipe! Biscoff lovers be sure to this simple Biscoff Toffee recipe, and if you love cinnamon try these Cinnamon Chip Muffins!
The BEST Cinnamon Coffee Cake
This recipe for Starbucks Cinnamon Coffee Cake is the best, especially since it’s a recipe shared from Starbucks itself. Here, I give you additional guidance and simplify how to make the recipe using what you have.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake is a sweet and satisfying snack cake with layers of flavors and textures. There is a crunchy cinnamon topping as well as cinnamon layer within the cake.
This is a great recipe to have on hand for entertaining. It’s simple to make and can feed a crowd. Plus, it’s great to make ahead of time.
I’ve updated the recipe so that you can make it in one bowl. In addition, I have tested this recipe out using different types of greek yogurt and flours, so that you can make it without having to purchase additional ingredients.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake is a great recipe to have on hand for brunches or the holidays. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed!
Ingredients and Substitutions
To make Starbucks Cinnamon Coffee Cake you will need: butter, sugar, eggs, greek yogurt, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Flour: the original recipe calls for cake flour. I have made this recipe using both cake flour and all-purpose flour. The cake flour will give a slightly lighter cake crumb, but using it is definitely not necessary. All-purpose flour will work just fine here.
- Greek yogurt: Starbucks’ recipe doesn’t specify what kind of greek yogurt should be used here. I have made this Cinnamon Coffee Cake using both nonfat and whole milk varieties. The whole milk made the cake slightly moister, but not it’s definitely not necessary. Feel free to use whatever plain greek yogurt you have on hand.
How to Make Starbucks Cinnamon Coffee Cake
This recipe has been modified from the original version from Starbucks. I have simplified the steps and make the baking instructions clearer, as well as provided substitutions for some of the ingredients.
To make this Cinnamon Coffee Cake, start by spraying a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with nonstick spray and lining with parchment paper. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
Step 1: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy; about 2 minutes. Add in the eggs and mix again. Then, add in the greek yogurt and vanilla and mix until well combined.
Step 2: To the same bowl, mix in the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the flour and mix until all of the ingredients are well combined, scrapping down the sides of the bowl as you mix.
Step 3: To make the cinnamon streusel, in a separate bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add in cubed butter and work into the mixture using either a fork or your hands.
Step 4: Spread half of the coffee cake batter into the bottom of the greased pan. Next, sprinkle on half of the cinnamon streusel mixture. Dollop on the remaining batter and use a butter knife to spread it around. Sprinkle on the remaining cinnamon streusel.
Bake in a preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the coffee cake comes out clean. You will know the cake is done when the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan. Be careful not to over bake.
Let cool on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes before cutting a square. Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea!
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- To make Starbucks Cinnamon Coffee Cake, use a 9 x 13 inch baking pan rather than a loaf pan. A loaf pan will not be large enough.
- The original recipe calls for cake flour. I have made this recipe multiple times and all-purpose flour works just fine.
- You can use either whole or nonfat plain greek yogurt here.
- Leftover Cinnamon Coffee Cake can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze in an airtight container for up to two months.
There are a few defining characteristics of coffee cake. Most coffee cakes have a vanilla base with a flavor layer of cinnamon, brown sugar, dried fruit or nuts. Almost all coffee cakes have a streusel topping but they are typically not frosted. There is no actual coffee in coffee cake.
You will know your coffee cake is done baking when the edges of the cake start to pull away from the sides of the pan. Check for doneness using a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. Be sure to test for doneness soon so that you don’t over bake the cake.
If you don’t have a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, a standard sized 10 cup bundt cake pan would be a great alternative. The baking times will differ, so be sure to test for doneness using a toothpick.
Similar Recipes
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Equipment
- 9 x 13 in baking pan
Ingredients
- ¾ cups unsalted butter, softened (one a half sticks)
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cups Greek yogurt (non fat or whole milk work)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour (original recipe calls for cake flour)
Cinnamon Streusel
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed (half a stick)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and line a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Then, add in the eggs and mix until well combined. Add in the Greek yogurt and mix to combine. Mix in the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the flour, using a rubber spatula to ensure all of the ingredients are well combined.
- For the cinnamon streusel, in a separate bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add in the cold cubed butter and use your hands or a fork to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles a coarse crumble.
- Spread half of the batter into the bottom of the baking pan. Sprinkle on half of the cinnamon streusel mixture. Dollop on the remaining batter and spread over the top using a knife. Sprinkle on the remaining cinnamon streusel mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the coffee cake comes out clean.
Notes
- Cake flour is recommended but regular all purpose flour works great too.
- I have made this with both whole milk and nonfat Greek yogurt. The whole milk Greek yogurt gives a slightly richer texture, but the nonfat works fine as well.
- The batter will be thick so I recommend using a butter knife to spread it in the pan. For the top layer, gently dollop on the remaining batter and spread gently so that you don’t disturb the middle streusel layer.
- Be careful no to over bake the coffee cake. You will know the cake is done when it starts to pull away from the edges of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze this cake for up to two month.
- This recipe has been adapted from the original Starbucks recipe. I have tested this recipe numerous times using different variations of ingredients and instructions. This is my version of the original recipe found at: https://athome.starbucks.com/recipe/cinnamon-coffee-cake
Can I use sour cream instead of yogurt?
Yes, that works!
HI! Can this be made in a bundt pan? baking time 50 minutes?
Thanks for your opinion, making for a mens bridge game tomorrow
Melissa
Yes! Just start testing the cake for doneness around 40 minutes. Enjoy!
Okay so this is my first time making something advanced and making a cake from scratch. I messed up with my first layer and put too much batter and kind of ran out on the second layer 😅 I’ll keep that in mind for next time nevertheless it tastes so good.
I made this recipe today and it turned out. Amazing! My Husband definitely approves and wanted me to tell you thank you from him, lol!
Can I make this cake into small loaf pans so I can give them for gifts?
Absolutely! What a great idea. Just watch the baking time and use a toothpick to test for doneness.
Love it!
Thank you, Marina!
I work at starbucks but have celiac disease and can’t eat gluten, it is painful seeing all the pastries and not being able to try them! i’ve always wanted to try a coffee cake, so i’ve been looking for recipes to make gluten free, and this one worked out great! i just substituted the all purpose flour for rice flour and added some xanthum gum. it needed to be cooked longer but otherwise turned out wonderful! i think it’s because this recipe has so many wet ingredients and eggs.
Thanks so much for the comment, Micah! Glad to hear you were able to enjoy this treat 🙂
Can you use regular plain yogurt?
That works!
Thank you for your quick response, Angela! I made the cake this morning using cake flour, but I don’t always have that on hand, so it’s good to know it can be made with all-purpose. We tried a piece slightly warm and it does taste a lot like Starbucks! The coffeecake sold in Starbucks has a very thick streusel topping, so I doubled the streusel and, just eyeballing it, used about 1/3 in between the cake layers and about 2/3 on top. That worked well, but I think the streusel needs something to make it more crumbly. More butter maybe? I used doubled strength vanilla and Vietnamese cinnamon, both strong flavors, and that worked well. I saw the recipe on the Starbucks site, but it didn’t have the detailed instructions you give above. Thank you for that, especially for the tip for adding and spreading the second layer of batter. All in all, the cake itself is so good that I would like to try it without the streusel layers or topping and frosted as a special occasion cake.
You said you have made this with all-purpose flour with good results. Did you use 2-1/2 cups of all-purpose flour or did you have change the amount?
I use the same amount. I hope you love it!
Enjoyed this for breakfast this morning and started my day off right! So easy and delicious; easily a new favorite recipe!
This coffee cake tasted even better than the Starbucks version!! It was crumbly, sweet, and delicious!
This is the best coffee cake ever–love making it this time of year too!
Nothing like a simple and comforting cake! This was awesome, and my house still smells like heaven! Thanks for the recipe!