If you love a good slice of classic coffee cake but crave the convenience of a hand-held treat, these Coffee Cake Cookies will steal your heart. Picture a buttery, soft cookie packed with just the right hint of cinnamon, crowned with a crumbly streusel topping, and—if you’re feeling a bit indulgent—a sweet vanilla drizzle. They’re easy enough for a cozy afternoon of baking, but impressive enough to wow at your next brunch or cookie swap. Once you smell them baking, you’ll see why Coffee Cake Cookies are impossible to resist!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of these Coffee Cake Cookies comes from a handful of familiar, wholesome ingredients, each playing a role in creating their iconic flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Let’s break down what you’ll need, along with a few tips to help you bake with confidence.
- Unsalted Butter, softened: Creates a rich, tender base and helps the cookies stay soft.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and gives the cookies their classic golden color.
- Brown Sugar: Brings a subtle molasses flavor and extra moisture.
- Eggs: Bind everything together for a pillowy, cake-like crumb.
- Vanilla Extract: Infuses warmth and depth to every bite.
- All-Purpose Flour: Essential for creating structure in both the cookies and streusel.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: A dynamic duo that ensures your cookies puff up just right.
- Salt: Balances all the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
- Ground Cinnamon: The key to that unmistakable coffee cake aroma and taste.
- Streusel Topping (Flour, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Melted Butter): This crumbly mixture captures everything we love about classic coffee cake.
- Optional Glaze (Powdered Sugar, Milk, Vanilla): Adds a purely decadent touch and that bakery-style finish.
How to Make Coffee Cake Cookies
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is fluffy and lighter in color—this usually takes about 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to keep the dough smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract for that cozy aroma.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This step makes sure the leaveners and spices get evenly distributed so every Coffee Cake Cookie bakes up just right.
Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add your dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing on low just until a soft, cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix—stop as soon as you don’t see any streaks of flour. The dough should be easy to handle and slightly sticky.
Step 4: Make the Streusel Topping
Streusel is what gives Coffee Cake Cookies their signature crunch! In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then drizzle in the melted butter. Stir gently with a fork until the mixture forms sweet, crumbly clumps—you want pieces big and small for maximum texture.
Step 5: Shape and Top the Cookies
Scoop the dough into balls using about two tablespoons per cookie, placing them a couple of inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. Gently flatten each ball with your fingers or the bottom of a measuring cup, then lavish each cookie with about a tablespoon of that luscious streusel, pressing lightly so it sticks.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes, just until the edges turn golden while the centers are set but still soft. Let them cool on the baking sheets for five minutes—this helps them set—then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Step 7: Glaze the Cookies (Optional)
If you love that signature coffee cake finish, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together until silky smooth. Once your cookies are completely cool, use a spoon or fork to drizzle the glaze over each one for a little extra sweetness and shine.
How to Serve Coffee Cake Cookies
Garnishes
You can give these cookies a delightful finishing touch with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, a light dusting of powdered sugar, or an extra drizzle of glaze right before serving. For extra flair, a few toasted chopped pecans or walnuts on top can add a nutty crunch that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon notes.
Side Dishes
Pair Coffee Cake Cookies with a piping hot cup of coffee (naturally!), a big mug of chai, or even a tall glass of cold milk for the ultimate cozy snack. If you’re setting up a breakfast or brunch spread, surround them with fresh berries, fruit salad, or yogurt parfaits for a crowd-pleasing balance of sweet and refreshing.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack Coffee Cake Cookies in a pretty tin lined with parchment for gifting, or arrange them in a tiered dessert stand alongside other baked treats. For an extra-special dessert, sandwich a scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies and serve immediately—pure bliss!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Coffee Cake Cookies fresh by placing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to 4 days. If you’ve added the glaze, layer parchment between them to prevent sticking.
Freezing
You can absolutely freeze both the unbaked dough balls (without streusel) and baked cookies. For unbaked dough, flash-freeze the balls on a tray, then transfer to a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 2 months. For already-baked cookies, wrap them individually and drop into a freezer bag, storing them for up to 2 months as well. Add the glaze after thawing for best results.
Reheating
To bring that fresh-from-the-oven magic back, pop cookies in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes or give them a quick zap in the microwave for about 10 seconds. This will refresh their texture and make them taste just-baked, especially lovely if you froze them!
FAQs
Can I make Coffee Cake Cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely! The dough can be mixed, shaped into balls, and refrigerated up to 48 hours ahead. For longer storage, refer to the freezing directions so you can enjoy freshly baked cookies any time you like.
What’s the best way to keep the streusel from falling off?
Pressing the streusel gently but firmly onto the slightly flattened cookie dough helps it stay put during baking. A light touch of damp hands won’t hurt if the streusel seems a bit loose!
Can I skip the glaze?
Yes, the glaze is totally optional. The cookies taste fantastic on their own, thanks to the buttery dough and crumbly streusel. The glaze simply adds a classic coffee cake vibe and a touch of sweetness for extra flair.
Are Coffee Cake Cookies suitable for special diets?
These cookies are vegetarian and can be made nut-free as written. While not gluten-free or vegan, you could experiment with your favorite GF flour blends or plant-based butters and egg replacers for a twist, though results may vary.
How can I make my Coffee Cake Cookies extra soft?
Be sure not to overbake! Remove them when the edges are golden but the centers are still a little soft; they’ll continue to set as they cool. Using room-temperature butter and eggs helps create that lovely, soft texture too.
Final Thoughts
These Coffee Cake Cookies are pure comfort in cookie form—a little bit nostalgic, a lot delicious, and the easiest way to make any day feel special. Bake up a batch soon and let each bite transport you to cozy mornings and cheerful gatherings—your friends and family will thank you!
Print
Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the delightful flavors of coffee cake in cookie form with these soft and crumbly coffee cake cookies. With a buttery cookie base, a cinnamon streusel topping, and an optional sweet glaze, these cookies are perfect for any time of day.
Ingredients
Main Cookie Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the streusel topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
For the glaze (optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Make the streusel topping: Mix together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in the melted butter until crumbly.
- Form and bake cookies: Scoop dough into 2-tablespoon-sized balls, place on the baking sheet, flatten slightly, and press streusel topping onto each. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
- Add glaze (optional): Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Drizzle over cooled cookies before serving.
Notes
- You can freeze the cookie dough balls before baking for up to 2 months. Thaw slightly before baking with streusel.
- The glaze is optional but adds a classic coffee cake finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
