Sour Cream Streusel Coffee Cake
This Sour Cream Streusel Coffee Cake is a terrific brunch recipe with tender cake and layers of cinnamon and walnut streusel. A timeless classic!
A Sour Cream Coffee Cake is a classic morning treat with the sour cream providing a moist crumb that can’t be beat!
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Sour Cream Streusel Coffee Cake
This was one of those coffee cake recipes that made the rounds at my mom’s bridge club gatherings back in the ’70s. It was called Merk’s Coffee Cake and there are numerous versions on the web.
The vintage streusel coffee cake recipe from my mom called for shortening, so I’ve updated this version with butter and vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla. Feel free to use vanilla extract, just use a premium brand like Nielsen-Massey for the best results.
Tips for Making a Perfect Streusel Coffee Cake
I took this layered cake and walnut streusel treat over to my knitting group. My girlfriends inhaled (in the most lady-like way, of course) their slices and even the picky hubby sampled a piece sans streusel (no “funny stuff” for him!).
This sour cream streusel coffee cake would be ideal for your Mother’s Day brunch or whenever you’re having guests join you for breakfast. It’s also a nice gift for new neighbors or families with a new baby.
Make sure to butter and flour your Bundt pan well. Alternatively, you can use and oil and flour baking spray like Baker’s Joy.
Don’t over mix the coffee cake batter. This will cause tunnels while it cooks.
Put about half the batter into the prepared pan using your best estimating abilities, top with half the streusel, the rest of the batter, then the remaining streusel. Using an offset spatula helps to smooth out the layers of batter.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Let the streusel coffee cake cool for 15-20 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack.
More Brunch Recipes
Baked Eggs over Maple Roasted Vegetables from Big Bear’s Wife.
Pear Oatmeal Crème Brûlée from The Spiffy Cookie.
Chocolate Chip Flaxseed Waffles from Hip Foodie Mom.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Granola from Baking a Moment
Braided Cinnamon Danish
Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
Blackberry Bran Muffins
Sour Cream Streusel Coffeecake
A family recipe for a classic sour cream streusel coffee cake.
Ingredients
For streusel:
- 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 cup walnut pieces, I recommend California Walnuts
For cake:
- 1⁄2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 3⁄4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste, I recommend Nielsen-Massey
- 1⁄2 pint (1 cup) sour cream
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Butter and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan (or spray with oil/flour baking spray). Set aside.
- Mix together streusel ingredients in medium bowl till butter is mixed in completely. Use fingers to break mixture apart into dime sized crumbs or smaller.
- In a large bowl,beat together butter and sugar, then mix in eggs.
- Add vanilla bean paste and sour cream, and then slowly add the dry ingredients. Mix till combined, but take care not to overmix.
- Put half the batter in the prepared pan and smooth top. Sprinkle with half the crumbs. Add the rest of the batter followed by the rest of the crumbs.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes until top is browned, and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes, then remove cake from pan to a cooling rack.
- Cool completely before serving.
Notes
Cooling time not calculated into total time.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 431Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 348mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 2gSugar: 28gProtein: 7g
27 Comments on “Sour Cream Streusel Coffee Cake”
mmmm this coffee cake is SUCH a great breakfast! and that streusel is gorgeouuuus
This cake is perfect for Mother’s Day brunch or any other special weekend. It looks gorgeous, Liz! Love the streusel!
Mmmm. This is a classic and if the recipe is from your mother’s files, undoubtedly it is divine! I’ve got lots of vanilla bean paste in the pantry…I’ve got a good idea where it’s being used next =)
Lizzy,
Streusel coffee cake is a favorite in my house. It looks delicious. Thanks for all the wonderful giveaways.
Annamaria
I am just having my morning coffee.. How good would have been a slice like this alongside:) Looks delicious
My momma and I are doing a road trip for Mothers Day, will have to make this delightful coffee cake for munching along the way. 🙂
I already have my breakfast but I will take a piece of this lovely coffee cake again !
That’s a really pretty cake. I love recipes from the 70’s. I have a cake recipe from that era that is also made using sour cream – I’m glad to still have it! xx
I would inhale this coffee cake too, and I don’t have to be a lady about it! 😉 I enjoy hearing about your Mom’s recipes and seeing how you brought them up to today.
This is such a lovely cake.. a must try for.. anything that comes from grandmas and or moms is definitely a winner. Thanks Liz and happy mothers day.
Well I happen to be in the market for recipes for this Mother’s Day, will look at the links! And great coffee cake, classics last but loving that added walnut streusel!
That streusel is calling me… ohhh, MUST have this SOON!
Your cake looks so good and the sour cream must have added richness to it. 🙂
This looks delicious! I look forward to making this for my family.
I need to make this and put to bed the idea (once and for all) that ring cakes are always dry. GREG
That streusel looks marvelous!
What a terrific looking coffee cake! Love streusel — one of those things I just can’t resist. Love to have a slice of this right now! 😉 Thanks so much for this.
I had forgotten all about this cake. Thanks for the memories and the recipe.
This cake sounds perfect for a brunch and I love that you’ve used an old family recipe. I wish I had more of those! PS I think it’s hilarious that your husband defines streusel as “funny stuff.” 😛
That sure would be perfect for Mother’s Day brunch. I like that you used a bundt cake pan for this – so pretty. I love anything baked that used sour cream – it seems to turn out best for me. Wish I could join your knitting club – just can’t get the hang of knitting so I’ve resorted to doing a bit of crocheting.
It’s slightly disturbing how long it’s been since I’ve made a coffee cake or bundt cake. This is looks good when you slice into it!
Love using sour cream in baking, this coffee cake looks amazing.
Liz.
Your coffee cake is the same recipe that I make every year for Christmas morning. sometimes I mix craisins or fresh cranberries with the streusel.
Looks good 🙂 Must save it 😀
These are the kinds of cakes I really like Liz! Bookmarked-love the sour cream:@)
A bite of soft and tender cake with a crunchy streusel, perfect for breakfast! Wish I can have some!
I love that streusel, what a perfect coffee cake!