Buttery Crumb Coffee Cake

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Coffee Crumb Cake â€” This coffee crumb cake recipe couldn’t be easier to make! It’s made with boxed yellow cake mix, which is used in both the batter and the crumble topping.

Coffee Crumb Cake on white platter

Easy Coffee Cake Recipe

I have a thing for buttery crumbs or anything with a crumble or streusel topping. The more crumbs there are, the happier I am.

Let’s talk about coffee cake for a minute — I think it’s very underrated. I would prefer a slice of glazed coffee cake with those big crumbs to a fancy layer cake most any day. It’s even better when the cake is extremely easy and fast to make. I had this coffee crumb cake made, cooled, and ready to dig into in under an hour.

It tastes like something you’d get at a bakery but better because it’s not dry in the least, a problem I find with cake in general from bakeries.

The secret is that I doctored up a box of yellow cake mix. Who knew that cake mix combined with brown sugar and melted butter could yield such a scrumptious crumb topping? If you’re cake mix averse, make this scratch base and use this crumb topping minus the cocoa.

This cake mix coffee cake is soft, fluffy, and tender. The crumbs add subtle texture and it wouldn’t be coffee cake without plenty of glaze. It’s a perfect brunch cake or simply a great recipe to keep on hand for when you need a fast, easy coffee crumb cake that everyone will love.

slice of Coffee Crumb Cake drizzled with glaze

What’s in Coffee Crumb Cake? 

For this yellow cake mix recipe, you’ll need: 

  • Yellow cake mix
  • Eggs
  • Water
  • All-purpose flour
  • Canola oil
  • Light brown sugar
  • Unsalted butter
  • Cinnamon
  • Powdered sugar
  • Corn syrup

slice of cake mix coffee cake on white plate

How to Make Coffee Crumb Cake

To make the cake mix coffee cake base, simply add all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until combined. Turn the batter out into a greased 9×13-inch pan, then make the crumb topping. The crumb topping is made by mashing the ingredients together with the back of a fork until the texture resembles coarse sand. 

Sprinkle the crumb topping over the cake batter, then bake until the center is set. Once the coffee crumb cake is out of the oven, let it cool slightly before whisking together the glaze and drizzling it evenly over top. Give the cake a few more minutes to cool before slicing and serving. 

Can I Make This Easy Coffee Cake Recipe in Advance? 

Yes, you can certainly make this cake mix coffee cake the night before you plan on serving it. The glaze will stay fairly soft, but it won’t soak into the cake, so nothing should get mushy. 

Can I Omit the Glaze? 

Of course! If you don’t have the ingredients for the glaze or simply don’t want to make it, this coffee crumb cake is delicious without it. But try making it with the glaze at least once to know whether or not you like it! 

Buttery Crumb Coffee Cake - A soft, fluffy cake with cinnamon-brown sugar streusel CRUMBS and a perfectly sweet glaze!! An easy coffee cake that's perfect for brunch, holidays, or anytime you're CRAVING cake!!

Tips for Making Crumb Coffee Cake

When making the coffee cake batter, you do NOT make the cake mix according to package instructions. You should measure it out like you would any other dry ingredient and mix it with the ingredients I’ve listed in the recipe card below. 

And when making the crumb topping, you don’t want to overwork the mixture. Tossing lightly with a fork is the way to go. If you overwork the crumb topping, it’ll be too fine in texture and will just sink into the raw cake batter. 

Unlike a layer cake, you actually want to add the glaze to this coffee crumb cake while it’s still a little warm. The residual heat helps the glaze sink into the crumb topping and makes for the most delicious, gooey bite of coffee cake. 

Coffee Crumb Cake â€” This coffee crumb cake recipe couldn't be easier to make! It's made with boxed yellow cake mix, which is used in both the batter and the crumble topping.

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4.41 from 155 votes

Buttery Coffee Crumb Cake

By Averie Sunshine
This coffee crumb cake recipe couldn't be easier to make! It's made with boxed yellow cake mix, which is used in both the batter and the crumble topping.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 9 servings
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Ingredients  

Cake

  • one 15.25-ounce package yellow cake mix; reserve 1 cup
  • 2 large eggs
  • â…” cup water
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup canola oil

Topping

  • 1 cup reserved cake mix
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Glaze

  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tablespoon light-colored corn syrup, helps keep the glaze softer
  • 1 tablespoon water

Instructions 

  • Make the Cake
  • Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9×13-inch metal pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
  • To a large bowl add the cake mix (reserve one cup and add to a medium bowl), eggs, water, flour, oil, and mix with a handheld electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Mix on high speed for about 2 minutes, or until blended, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
  • Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula; set aside.
  • Make the Topping
  • To the medium bowl with the 1 cup reserved cake mix, add the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and mix with a fork until crumbs form. There will be a mixture of sandy crumbs and pebbles.
  • Evenly turn crumb mixture out over the cake mix.
  • Bake for about 22 to 24 minutes, or until cake is set in the center, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no batter. Allow cake to cool in pan on a wire rack while you prepare the glaze.
  • Make the Glaze
  • To a medium bowl, add the confectioners’ sugar, corn syrup (milk or water may be substituted noting glaze will set up harder and crustier), water, and whisk until smooth and combined. Evenly drizzle glaze over cake.
  • Allow cake to cool for about 15 minutes in pan or until sufficiently cooled to slice and serve.

Notes

Cake will keep airtight at room temp for up to 5 days.
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 372kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Sodium: 220mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 45g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Coffee Cake Recipes: 

Sweet Cream Vanilla Coffee Cake â€” You’ll never guess what special ingredient keeps this fast and easy cake so soft and moist!

Sweet Cream Vanilla Coffee Cake - You'll never guess what special ingredient keeps this fast & easy cake so soft and moist!

Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake – An EASY, no-mixer cake studded with juicy blueberries and topped with big buttery streusel nuggets that are just SO GOOD!

Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake on a white plate

Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Coffee Cake – Between the cinnamon-sugar crust AND the cinnamon-sugar swirled through the center, this EASY coffee cake is IRRESISTIBLE!

Slice of Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Coffee Cake on a white plate

Pumpkin Crumb Coffee Cake – A FAST and EASY no-mixer coffee cake with rich pumpkin flavor!! Super soft, tender, and topped with the BEST crumble topping that you’ll fall in love with!

Slice of Pumpkin Crumb Coffee Cake on a white plate

Strawberries and Cream Coffee Cake — Sweet juicy strawberries are found in every bite, and the cream cheese glaze is the perfect tangy complement to the creamy, sweet cake.

Slice of Strawberries and Cream Coffee Cake on a white flowered plate

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Coffee Cake — The cake is soft, fluffy, light, and very moist, with just enough density to give it some heft and dimension.

Slice of Brown Sugar Cinnamon Coffee Cake on a white plate

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My family loves this “homemade” coffee cake. I have been making it for a few years now. It is our special occasion breakfast. In fact, one is cooling right now for breakfast, along with fresh berries.
    I mix the powdered sugar with real maple syrup (and a little vanilla) for my glaze. I cut down the sugars to half of what your recipe calls for and it is still delicious!
    For birthdays, I use the funfetti cake mix for my kids. That was a happy accident that has stuck.
    This alsobskes well on the disposable aluminum cake pans. I make these to bring to the VFW or for our favorite SBux baristas that are working on Christmas morning.

  2. 5 stars
    My family loves this “homemade” coffee cake. I have been making it for a few years now. It is our special occasion breakfast. In fact, one is cooling right now for breakfast, along with fresh berries.
    I mix the powdered sugar with real maple syrup (and a little vanilla) for my glaze. I cut down the sugars to half of what your recipe calls for and it is still delicious!
    For birthdays, I use the funfetti cake mix for my kids. That was a happy accident that has stuck.
    This alsobskes well on the disposable aluminum cake pans. I make these to bring to the VFW or for our favorite SBux baristas that are working on Christmas morning.

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that this has been a favorite for a few years now and that you have cut the sugar in half – great to know!

  3. 5 stars
    This turned out perfectly! Tender crumb and delicious. I skipped the glaze, as I found it sweet enough as is. This simple recipe is a keeper. Thank you!

  4. 5 stars
    This turned out perfectly! Tender crumb and delicious. I skipped the glaze, as I found it sweet enough as is. This simple recipe is a keeper. Thank you!

  5. 3 stars
    This was pretty good but too much brown sugar and not enough cinnamon. I also think it would have been better if the cinnamon was swirled in the cake. It was okay but I’ll change it up or use a different recipe next time.

  6. 5 stars
    I made this yesterday using a Devil’s Food cake mix and it was AMAZING!!!  I took it to a friend’s and today she said her grandkids licked the crumbs from their dishes!😆
    Thank you for a GREAT, easy, delicious recipe!!