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This Starbucks Coffee Cake Recipe may just be better than the real thing! It’s the perfect addition to any brunch and is so good, you will be looking for a reason to invite over guests!
Cake Mix Coffee Cake
One of my favorite things about Easter is Easter Brunch. And one of my favorite brunch recipes is a good coffee cake. This Starbucks Coffee cake is the perfect easy brunch recipe. You start with a boxed yellow cake mix, which guarantees a moist cake. And the cake comes together in a snap. Perfect for a busy holiday.
Why is it Called Coffee Cake When there is no coffee in it?
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love how tender and light the base of the cake is. It is a perfect compliment to the heavier, crunchy, sugary topping and it’s my favorite part. Usually foods with streusel toppings never have enough streusel topping for my liking but this Starbucks Coffee Cake has the perfect cake to topping ratio!
Ingredients Needed
- Yellow Cake Mix, I use a 15.25 oz. size and you will also need the ingredients listed on the back of the box, usually eggs, water and oil.
- Butter, I use salted butter and you want it cold. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to the mixture.
- Flour, I prefer unbleached all purpose flour
- Cinnamon
- Brown Sugar, I use light brown sugar.
- Vanilla Extract
Tips from leigh Anne
- Make sure your butter is cold when making the streusel. Otherwise you will get a dough instead of a crumbly topping.
- When adding the streusel, gently add the topping a little at a time and don’t add big pieces all at once. This will keep the streusel on top of the cake. If it is still sinking into the cake, let the cake bake a few minutes longer before adding the topping.
How to Make Starbucks Coffee Cake
- Prepare yellow cake mix in a bowl following the package directions.
- Pour batter onto a greased baking pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees f until the center of the cake is just barely set.
- Prepare the crumb topping while the cake is baking,
- Mix together butter, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla with a mixer until crumbly.
- Remove cake from the oven when center is barely set.
- Break the crumb topping into marble size pieces with fingers and sprinkle over the top of the cake.
- Return the cake to the oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze coffee cake?
It freezes well. I recommend freezing it by the slice. Wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap and then some foil. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator before eating.
Do I have to use a cake mix for this coffee cake recipe?
I have only made it with a cake mix. If you have a recipe for a homemade cake mix go ahead and use that, just use an equal amount to the cake mix.
Why is coffee cake called coffee cake when there is no coffee in it?
It is called coffee cake because it is meant to be eaten along with a cup of coffee!
If you need less coffee cake be sure and check out my small batch version of this recipe.
For more delicious coffee cake recipes try these:
Be sure and follow me over on YouTube for weekly cooking demos.
Starbucks Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 oz. yellow cake mix (plus ingredients on back of box)
- 1 cup salted butter cold, two sticks
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1 3/4 cups brown sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. vanilla
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Prepare cake mix in large bowl according to directions on box.
- Spray 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray.
- Pour batter into pan.
- Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until center is just barely set.
- While cake is baking, prepare crumb topping.
- In large bowl of electric mixer combine butter, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla until all crumbly.
- Immediately after cake is removed from oven, break crumb topping into marble size pieces with fingers, sprinkling over top.
- Put back in oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes (topping will begin to look a less less wet/raw) let cool fully then dust with powdered sugar using a sieve if desired.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Facts:
Heather Lynn Maenner says
I’ve been making this recipe for years and everyone that buys my products love it.
Regina says
I just made this using a boxed butter cake mix ,this was my first time making streuse too this turned out perfect it was still slightly warm when my husband and I gave it the taste test and it was so scrumptious…thank you for sharing this recipe it will be made again I am positive.
Margaux says
This cake is a HIT everytime I make it, and I have made it probably at least 10 times since I found the recipe a few months ago. I bake for our local Bingo Hall, and the ladies LOVE it. So does my hubby and coworkers as I have made it for them also.
As mentioned – cold butter and making sure the base is cooked enough before putting on the topping are VERY important!
Thank you for making me look good with this. I actually came to find the recipie again so I can make it for a church bake sale this weekend.
Shelly says
I’ve made this so many times now. Lol. My siblings request this coffee cake every time I go visit!! I’m making it right now for my best friend!! I don’t change a thing in this either. It’s soooo good!!