Oh, the pure joy of a warm, fragrant coffee cake! There’s something so comforting about that sweet, cinnamon-spiced goodness, especially first thing in the morning or with an afternoon cup of tea. But let’s be real, sometimes life is just too busy for all the measuring and creaming from scratch. That’s where my secret weapon comes in: the Easy Cake Mix Coffee Cake! Trust me, this recipe is a lifesaver. I’ve pulled it out for countless impromptu gatherings and rushed weeknight treats, and it *always* delivers. It’s so straightforward, you’ll wonder why you ever hesitated to use a box mix!
Why You'll Love This Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Honestly, this coffee cake is a dream for so many reasons:
- Super Speedy: Seriously, you can have this mixed up and in the oven in about 15 minutes flat. Dinner party surprise? No problem!
- Foolproof & Easy: Using a cake mix means no complicated measurements or techniques. It’s virtually impossible to mess up!
- Irresistibly Delicious: That moist cake base with the crunchy, cinnamon-sugar streusel topping? Pure perfection. It tastes way more decadent than it is to make.
- Minimal Cleanup: With just one big bowl for the batter and another for the streusel, doing the dishes is a breeze. Yes!
Ingredients for Your Easy Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Alright, let’s talk about what you’ll need for this little slice of heaven. The beauty of this recipe is that most of it comes straight from your pantry or the grocery store aisle. Grab these and you’re pretty much set!
For the Cake Base:
- 1 box (about 15.25 oz, but check your specific box!) yellow cake mix
- 1 cup sour cream (this is key for moisture, trust me!)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Glorious Streusel Topping:
This is where all the warm, cinnamon-sugar magic happens!
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed brown sugar (get it nice and firm in the cup!)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup (that’s one stick!) cold, unsalted butter, cut into little cubes
How to Make the Best Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Okay, here’s the part where the magic really happens! Don’t let the “cake mix” part fool you; there’s a little technique that takes this from just okay to *OH MY GOODNESS* amazing every single time. Trust me on this, because I’ve made this more times than I can count, and it’s become my go-to for a reason. It’s a lifesaver, just like my moist carrot apple zucchini bread or those cinnamon rolls when I need a quick win!
Preparing the Batter for Your Cake Mix Coffee Cake
First things first, get that oven preheated to 350°F (175°C). While it’s warming up, give your 9×13 inch baking pan a good grease and flour. Now, grab your biggest mixing bowl! Dump in the yellow cake mix, sour cream (seriously, don’t skip the sour cream, it’s like liquid gold for moisture!), vegetable oil, those four eggs, and that splash of vanilla extract. Beat it all up with your electric mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes until it’s just smooth and lovely. You don’t want to go crazy here, just until everything is happily combined. Overmixing is the enemy of tender cake!
Crafting the Perfect Streusel Topping
Now for the best part – the crunchy, cinnamon-y streusel! In a separate medium bowl, toss in your flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Give them a quick whisk to get them acquainted. Then, add in your cold, cubed butter. This is where your fingertips or a pastry blender come in handy. You want to cut that butter into the dry stuff until it looks like coarse crumbs. I love using my fingers because you can really feel when it’s just right – like little pebbles of deliciousness. Nobody likes a dry, hard streusel, and this method ensures it’s perfectly crumbly!
Assembling and Baking Your Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Grab that prepared baking pan. Pour about half of your beautiful yellow batter into the bottom. Now, sprinkle about half of that glorious streusel topping right over the batter. Don’t be shy! Then, carefully pour the rest of the batter on top of that streusel layer. Finish it off by sprinkling the remaining streusel evenly all over the very top. Pop that pan into your preheated oven and let it bake for about 35-40 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a wooden skewer or a toothpick stuck right in the center comes out clean, with no gooey batter clinging to it. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes – don’t try to rush it out! – before gently inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Patience here really pays off for a perfect-looking cake!
Tips for the Ultimate Cake Mix Coffee Cake
You’ve probably noticed that even a humble cake mix can be transformed into something truly special with a few little tricks up your sleeve. Here are my top tips for making sure your Cake Mix Coffee Cake is an absolute showstopper:
- Bring on the room temperature ingredients! Well, almost. For the batter, make sure your sour cream and eggs aren’t straight from the fridge. A little bit of warmth helps them incorporate better, leading to a smoother, more consistent batter. For the streusel, though? Cold butter is absolutely key for those lovely crumbles!
- Don’t be shy with the streusel! Honestly, you can never have too much streusel. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, I always add about a quarter cup more flour and brown sugar to my streusel mix. It just makes for more glorious topping goodness in every bite.
- Tame that pan. A good grease and flour is essential, but for extra insurance, especially if your pan isn’t perfectly non-stick, I like to lightly spray the greased and floured pan with baking spray too. It’s a little extra step, but it guarantees your beautiful cake slides right out.
- Listen to your oven. Every oven is a little bit different, right? So while 35-40 minutes is the guideline, start checking around the 30-minute mark. You want that toothpick to come out clean, but definitely not dry. A slightly moist crumb is exactly what we’re aiming for!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Sometimes you might be missing an ingredient or just want to tweak things a bit! For the sour cream, if you don’t have any, plain full-fat Greek yogurt is a fantastic substitute – it gives you that same amazing moisture and tang. You could also use a dairy-free yogurt alternative. If you’re out of vegetable oil, a neutral-flavored oil like canola or even melted coconut oil (though it adds a subtle flavor) works too. These little swaps help make this recipe super adaptable!
Serving and Storing Your Delicious Cake Mix Coffee Cake
This Cake Mix Coffee Cake is absolutely divine served slightly warm, especially with a big mug of coffee or your favorite tea. I love enjoying it fresh out of the oven – that streusel topping is just magic then! If you happen to have any leftovers (which is rare in my house!), just wrap it up tightly with plastic wrap or pop it into an airtight container. It’ll stay yummy at room temperature for about 2-3 days. If you want to reheat a slice, just pop it in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. It brings back that lovely warmth and makes the streusel nice and gooey again!
Frequently Asked Questions About Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Got questions about whipping up this easy cake mix coffee cake? I’ve got you covered with some common ones I get asked all the time!
Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
Absolutely! While yellow cake mix is my go-to for that classic coffee cake flavor, feel free to experiment. A French vanilla or even a butter cake mix would be divine and give your coffee cake a slightly different, but still delicious, twist. Just make sure it’s a standard size box, around 15.25 oz!
How do I make this dairy-free?
Making this dairy-free is totally doable! For the sour cream, use a good quality dairy-free sour cream alternative or a plain, unsweetened coconut or soy yogurt. For the butter in the streusel, swap it out for a dairy-free butter stick substitute. It works like a charm!
What if I don’t have sour cream?
No sour cream? No problem! As I mentioned, plain full-fat Greek yogurt is a fantastic substitute and adds wonderful moisture. Just make sure it’s plain and full-fat for the best results. You could also use a carton of heavy cream with a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar, let it sit for 5-10 minutes to thicken up, and use that.
Can I add nuts to the streusel?
Oh, yes! Adding nuts to the streusel is a fantastic idea. Chopped pecans or walnuts add such a lovely crunch and depth of flavor. Just add about half a cup of your favorite chopped nuts directly into the streusel mix. They toast up beautifully in the oven!
Estimated Nutritional Information
While every batch can slightly vary depending on the brands you use, here’s a ballpark of what you’re getting in a slice of this wonderful Easy Cake Mix Coffee Cake. Remember, these are just estimates to give you a general idea:
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: Approx. 350
- Fat: Approx. 18g (with about 7g saturated)
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 45g
- Sugar: Approx. 30g
- Protein: Approx. 3g
- Sodium: Approx. 250mg
It’s always good to keep in mind that these numbers are approximate and can change based on your ingredient choices!
Print
Easy Cake Mix Coffee Cake
- Total Time: 55 min
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A simple and delicious coffee cake made with a cake mix.
Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Streusel Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes.
- Pour half of the batter into the prepared baking pan.
- In a separate medium bowl, prepare the streusel topping. Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Sprinkle half of the streusel topping over the batter in the pan.
- Pour the remaining batter over the streusel layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining streusel topping evenly over the top of the cake.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- You can add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the streusel topping for extra crunch.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: coffee cake, cake mix, easy cake, dessert, cinnamon, streusel