These tender, Coffee Cake Donuts with a buttery streusel crumble on top taste like your favorite coffee cake, but in the perfect grab-and-go shape. I started making these on lazy Sunday mornings when I wanted something special but didn't want to deal with a fryer or a mess. They're easy to whip up, bake in just 15 minutes, and fill the kitchen with the kind of warm, sweet aroma that makes everyone wander in asking what smells so good.
If you're looking for more cozy breakfast ideas, you might also love this Delicious Creamy Grits Recipe or these Healthy Deviled Potatoes Recipe to round out your morning spread.
Why You'll Love These Coffee Cake Donuts
You're going to love how simple and forgiving this recipe is. The batter comes together in minutes, and there's no yeast, no rising time, and no deep frying. Just mix, pipe, top with streusel, and bake.
The streusel topping gets beautifully golden and crispy in the oven, adding a satisfying crunch against the soft, moist cake donuts underneath. These taste like something you'd pick up at a bakery, but they're made with everyday pantry ingredients.
They're perfect for weekend brunch, a sweet breakfast treat, or even an afternoon snack with coffee.
Jump to:
Ingredients For Coffee Cake Donuts
Here's what you'll need to make these easy baked donuts from scratch.
See Recipe Card Below This Post For Ingredient Quantities
For the Donuts:
All-purpose flour: Forms the structure and keeps the donuts tender and soft.
Baking powder: Helps the donuts rise and stay light.
Baking soda: Works with the sour cream to create a fluffy texture.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the cinnamon flavor.
Cinnamon: Adds warmth and that classic coffee cake flavor.
Melted butter: Creates richness and moisture in every bite.
Egg: Binds everything together and adds structure.
Brown sugar: Adds deep, caramel-like sweetness and keeps the donuts moist.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the batter and helps with browning.
Milk: Keeps the batter smooth and tender.
Sour cream: Adds tanginess and moisture. You can swap it with Greek yogurt if you prefer.
Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavor with a warm, sweet note.
For the Streusel Topping:
Brown sugar: Adds molasses flavor and helps the streusel get crispy.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps with caramelization.
Cinnamon: The star of the streusel, giving it that signature coffee cake taste.
Melted butter: Coats the dry ingredients and creates those delicious crumbly clusters.
All-purpose flour: Gives the streusel structure and crunch.
How To Make Coffee Cake Donuts
Follow these simple steps to make perfect cinnamon streusel donuts every time.
Prepare oven and pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your donut pan really well with cooking spray or butter to make sure the donuts release cleanly after baking.
Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon until evenly combined. Set this aside.
Mix wet ingredients: Melt the butter and let it cool slightly. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sour cream, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Combine wet and dry: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Use a hand mixer or whisk to gently combine until just incorporated. Don't overmix or the donuts will turn out tough.
Pipe batter into pan: Transfer the batter into a large plastic bag. Snip off one corner and pipe the batter into each donut well, filling them about ¾ full. This makes it much easier than spooning.
Prepare streusel topping: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Pour in the melted butter and use a fork to toss everything until it forms crumbly, coated clumps.
Top donuts: Generously sprinkle the streusel over each donut, making sure to cover the surface. Press it down lightly so it sticks to the batter.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers spring back when lightly touched.
Cool and serve: Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Run a thin butter knife around the edges to loosen them, then carefully lift them out. Enjoy them warm with a cup of coffee.
Equipment For Coffee Cake Donuts
Donut pan: A standard 6-well donut pan works perfectly. You may need to bake in batches.
Mixer: A hand mixer or stand mixer makes combining the batter quick and smooth.
Large plastic bag: This is the easiest way to pipe batter into the donut wells without making a mess.
Fork: For mixing the streusel into crumbly clusters.
Thin butter knife: Helps loosen the baked donuts from the pan without breaking them.
Substitutions and Variations
Sour cream: Swap with Greek yogurt for a tangier flavor and slightly lighter texture.
Milk: Any milk works here, including almond milk or oat milk.
Brown sugar: You can use all granulated sugar if that's what you have, but brown sugar adds a deeper flavor.
Gluten-free option: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
Add-ins: Fold in a handful of chopped pecans or mini chocolate chips for extra flavor.
Storage Your Coffee Cake Donuts
Store these homemade breakfast donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They stay surprisingly moist thanks to the sour cream.
You can also freeze them for up to 2 months. Let them cool completely, then wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature or warm in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds.
Serving Suggestions
These baked vanilla coffee cake donuts are perfect on their own, but here are a few cozy serving ideas:
With coffee: Pair with a hot cup of coffee or a latte for the ultimate coffee and donut pairing.
Brunch spread: Serve alongside The Best Poached Eggs Recipe and fresh fruit for a complete brunch.
Afternoon snack: Warm one up and enjoy with a glass of cold milk.
Dessert option: Top with a drizzle of vanilla glaze or cream cheese frosting for an extra-sweet treat.
Expert Tips
Don't skip greasing the pan: Even nonstick pans need a good coating of spray or butter to release the donuts cleanly.
Use a piping bag: It makes filling the donut wells so much easier and keeps the batter from spilling over the edges.
Don't overmix: Stir the batter until just combined. Overmixing develops gluten and makes the donuts dense.
Press the streusel gently: This helps it stick to the batter so it doesn't fall off after baking.
Let them cool before removing: Donuts are fragile when hot. Give them 10 minutes to firm up before loosening them from the pan.
FAQ
What is a Coffee Cake Donuts?
Coffee Cake Donuts is a moist, tender cake with a cinnamon streusel topping, traditionally served with coffee. It's not coffee-flavored—it's just meant to be enjoyed alongside your morning cup.
What makes a Coffee Cake Donuts different?
Coffee Cake Donuts are denser and more tender than yeast donuts. They're made with baking powder or baking soda instead of yeast, so they don't need to rise. They have a crumbly, moist texture similar to cake.
Are cake donuts unhealthy?
These baked donuts are lighter than fried versions since they skip the oil bath. They're a sweet treat, so enjoy them in moderation. The good news? You control the ingredients and can swap Greek yogurt for sour cream to lighten them up even more.
What are Coffee Cake Donuts made of?
Coffee Cake Donuts are made from flour, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and leavening agents like baking powder. These coffee cake donuts also include sour cream for extra moisture and a buttery cinnamon streusel on top for that classic coffee cake flavor.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Coffee Cake Donuts
Coffee Cake Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour for light, tender crumb
- 1 teaspoon baking powder leavening agent
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda for rise
- ½ teaspoon salt enhances flavor
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon warm spice
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted (adds richness)
- 1 large egg room temperature for better mixing
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar moisture and caramel flavor
- ¼ cup granulated sugar sweetness
- ½ cup whole milk or any milk of choice
- ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt for tanginess
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for flavor
Streusel Topping:
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar sweet topping
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar adds crunch
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon spicy warmth
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted (helps bind crumbs)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour creates crumbly texture
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease or spray your donut pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In a separate large bowl, combine melted butter, sour cream, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, egg, and vanilla.
-
Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep donuts tender.
-
Transfer the batter into a piping bag or a large plastic bag with a corner snipped. Pipe the batter into the donut wells, filling each about three-quarters full.
-
For the streusel, mix melted butter into a bowl containing the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Use a fork to coat evenly, forming coarse crumbs.
- Generously sprinkle the streusel over each donut, pressing lightly so it adheres.
- Bake the donuts in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow donuts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then carefully loosen edges with a thin knife and transfer to a wire rack for an additional 5 minutes.
Leave a Reply