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Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Espresso Cake – Finances Bytes


In the event you’ve by no means made Espresso Cake earlier than, then boy, are you in for a deal with! This breakfast cake is buttery, moist, and topped with an excellent scrumptious streusel crumb topping. It’s so good that my household likes to eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And as fancy as it could look, it nonetheless is available in at below a greenback a slice and is made with easy substances. And don’t fear for those who’re not a espresso fan; this cake doesn’t comprise any espresso. Nevertheless it’s completely excellent to get pleasure from with espresso! Now, who’s prepared for cake for breakfast?

Side view of a slice of coffee cake on a plate with a fork.

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What Is Espresso Cake?

After I say espresso cake, I’m speaking concerning the basic breakfast cake with two delightfully candy yellow cake layers, a fragile cinnamon sugar filling, and a crumbly streusel topping. However regardless of its identify, this cake doesn’t really comprise any espresso. It originates from Seventeenth-century Germany and is often served with espresso, therefore the identify! I add somewhat bitter cream to my batter for further moisture and a touch of tanginess, and every part else is made with primary pantry substances like flour, sugar, butter, and eggs.

Change out your common cinnamon rolls or blueberry muffins for this simple breakfast (or anytime!) deal with, and also you’ll see why my household can’t get sufficient of it.

Right here’s what you’ll have to make this bitter cream espresso cake recipe:

  • All Objective Flour: The bottom of the cake and streusel topping. Be sure to use all-purpose flour!
  • Baking Powder & Baking Soda: I take advantage of each leavening brokers to assist the cake rise and create a superbly smooth and fluffy crumb.
  • Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness and a delicate caramel taste to the crumbly streusel topping.
  • Granulated Sugar: I went for normal granulated sugar within the cake batter and cinnamon sugar combination. It provides a impartial sweetness that doesn’t overpower the vanilla or cinnamon flavors. Granulated sugar can be a should for a lightweight and ethereal cake texture!
  • Salted Butter: That is utilized in each the cake batter and the crumble topping. Nevertheless, it’s actually vital to notice what temperature your butter needs to be when making this recipe. The butter within the cake batter needs to be softened so it lotions along with the sugar, however the butter for the topping needs to be chilly.
  • Eggs: Use giant eggs at room temperature. They act as a binding agent and add moisture to the cake.
  • Vanilla Extract: I really like the delicate vanilla taste from the cake paired with the warming cinnamon filling and topping.
  • Floor Cinnamon: A must have in any espresso cake recipe! I sprinkle cinnamon sugar between the layers of batter and add extra cinnamon to the crumble topping for an additional cozy contact.
  • Bitter Cream: The key ingredient to maintain this cake further moist and tender. It additionally helps to activate the baking soda, which provides to the cake’s rise. Ensure that your bitter cream is at room temperature to assist it combine with the opposite substances evenly.
  • Salt: A pinch of salt within the cake batter balances out the sweetness and enhances all the different flavors.
  1. I examined this recipe just a few instances and located that utilizing chilly butter for the crumb topping gave me one of the best texture. Nevertheless, your butter for the cake batter should be softened. If you could soften your butter rapidly, you’ll be able to fill a glass with scorching water, dump it out, and pop the glass over the butter for a couple of minutes till softened—take a look at my Instagram reel to see this in motion!
  2. I take advantage of a meals processor to chop the chilly butter into the opposite crumb topping substances as a result of that’s what we’ve got in our check kitchen, and it’s simple to make use of. However you’ll be able to actually use a pastry cutter or a fork as an alternative.
  3. It may be somewhat difficult when spreading the second half of the cake batter on prime of the cinnamon sugar layer. Simply take your time and do your finest!
  4. This recipe for espresso cake is scrumptious as is, however I’d by no means say no to a drizzle of vanilla glaze on prime! Combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract till the specified consistency is reached, then drizzle over the cooled cake.
  5. You would additionally strive swapping the cinnamon within the streusel topping for pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice (just like the crumble in our apple crumble recipe!)

Can I Freeze Espresso Cake?

Sure, this cake is freezer-friendly! Simply let your cake cool utterly, then wrap every slice tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a gallon-size freezer bag. Once you’re craving somewhat one thing candy, simply take nonetheless many slices out you need and allow them to thaw on the countertop, or microwave for just a few seconds till warmed via. Freeze for as much as 3 months.

Storing Leftovers

This selfmade bitter cream espresso cake shops very well and stays moist for days, because of the bitter cream! I’d place any leftover slices in an hermetic container and preserve them at room temperature for as much as 3 days.

Overhead view of a coffee cake cut into slices, with one slice flipping on its side.Overhead view of a coffee cake cut into slices, with one slice flipping on its side.


Espresso Cake Recipe

This Espresso Cake is buttery, moist, tremendous fluffy, and topped with an irresistible streusel crumb topping. It’s completely scrumptious any time of the day!

Side view of a slice of coffee cake on a plate with a fork.Side view of a slice of coffee cake on a plate with a fork.

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Crumb Combination

  • cup all-purpose flour ($0.20)
  • cup brown sugar, packed ($0.48)
  • 2 tsp floor cinnamon ($0.20)
  • 7 Tbsp salted butter, chilly ($0.98)

Cake Batter

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ($0.35)
  • 1 tsp baking powder ($0.10)
  • ½ tsp baking soda ($0.05)
  • ¼ tsp salt ($0.02)
  • ½ cup salted butter, softened ($1.12)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar ($0.24)
  • 2 giant eggs, room temperature ($0.49)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract ($0.60)
  • 8 oz. bitter cream, room temperature ($1.25)

Cinnamon Sugar

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar ($0.08)
  • 1 ½ tsp floor cinnamon ($0.15)

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Begin by making the crumb combination. In a meals processor mix collectively the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.* Then lower the chilly butter into cubes and add it to the processor. Pulse the butter with the remainder of the substances for just some seconds till the combination is crumbly. No have to over-pulse. You may need some giant and small crumbles. Set the crumb combination to the aspect.

  • Now, for the cake batter, whisk collectively the dry substances (all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt) in a big mixing bowl.

  • In a separate giant bowl mix the softened butter and granulated sugar along with a hand mixer till properly mixed. Add the eggs and vanilla to the bowl and mix collectively till mixed. Now add the bitter cream to the bowl and briefly mix with the remainder of the substances till mixed.

  • Add the dry substances to the identical bowl because the moist substances. Mix on low velocity till simply mixed. Don’t over-mix at this level. The batter can be thick.

  • Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper. Add half of the cake batter to the baking dish and unfold it out evenly.

  • Subsequent, make the cinnamon sugar combination. In a small bowl, add the granulated sugar and floor cinnamon and blend them collectively.

  • Sprinkle all the cinnamon sugar evenly over the primary layer of cake batter.

  • Now add the remainder of the cake batter on prime of the cinnamon sugar layer. I like to do that by first including giant dollops of the batter on prime. Then, utilizing a rubber spatula, rigorously unfold the batter evenly across the baking dish, attempting to not disturb the cinnamon sugar layer an excessive amount of. Ensure that the batter is unfold all the way in which to the perimeters of the pan.

  • Add the ready crumb combination evenly on prime of the cake. Bake the cake within the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or till a toothpick inserted comes out clear.

  • Take away the cake from the oven and permit it to chill for about quarter-hour earlier than lifting the parchment paper out of the baking dish. Minimize into your required quantity of servings (I lower mine into 9 giant slices). Take pleasure in!

See how we calculate recipe prices right here.


*In the event you don’t have a meals processor you’ll be able to mix the butter and crumble combination collectively utilizing a pastry cutter or a fork.

Serving: 1sliceEnergy: 496kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 5gFats: 25gSodium: 353mgFiber: 1g

Learn our full diet disclaimer right here.

A slice of coffee cake split in half on a plate with a fork.A slice of coffee cake split in half on a plate with a fork.

the right way to make Espresso Cake – step-by-step pictures

Sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a food processor.Sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a food processor.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Begin by making the crumb combination. In a meals processor mix collectively ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, ⅔ cup brown sugar, and a pair of tsp cinnamon.*

Butter cubes added to sugar streusel topping for coffee cake in a food processor.Butter cubes added to sugar streusel topping for coffee cake in a food processor.

Then lower 7 Tbsp of chilly butter into cubes and add it to the processor. Pulse the butter with the remainder of the substances for just some seconds till the combination is crumbly. No have to over-pulse. You’ll need some giant and small crumbles.

Streusel topping for coffee cake in a mixing bowl.Streusel topping for coffee cake in a mixing bowl.

Set the crumb combination to the aspect.

Flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a mixing bowl.Flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a mixing bowl.

Now, for the cake batter, whisk collectively the dry substances (1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt) in a big mixing bowl.

Sugar and butter in a mixing bowl.Sugar and butter in a mixing bowl.

In a separate giant bowl mix ½ cup softened butter and ¾ cup granulated sugar along with a hand mixer till properly mixed.

Eggs added to creamed butter and sugar mixture in a mixing bowl.Eggs added to creamed butter and sugar mixture in a mixing bowl.

Add 2 giant eggs and a pair of tsp vanilla to the bowl and mix collectively till mixed.

Sour cream added to the wet ingredients for coffee cake in a mixing bowl.Sour cream added to the wet ingredients for coffee cake in a mixing bowl.

Now add 8 oz. bitter cream to the bowl and briefly mix with the remainder of the substances till mixed.

Dry ingredients added to the wet ingredients for coffee cake in a mixing bowl.Dry ingredients added to the wet ingredients for coffee cake in a mixing bowl.

Add the dry substances to the identical bowl because the moist substances. Mix on low velocity till simply mixed. Don’t over-mix at this level. The batter can be thick.

Coffee cake batter in a in a parchment lined baking dish.Coffee cake batter in a in a parchment lined baking dish.

Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper. Add half of the cake batter to the baking dish and unfold it out evenly.

Cinnamon sugar in a bowl.Cinnamon sugar in a bowl.

Subsequent, make the cinnamon sugar combination. In a small bowl, add ¼ cup granulated sugar and 1 ½ tsp floor cinnamon and blend them collectively.

A spoon sprinkling cinnamon sugar over coffee cake batter in a parchment lined baking dish.A spoon sprinkling cinnamon sugar over coffee cake batter in a parchment lined baking dish.

Sprinkle all the cinnamon sugar evenly over the primary layer of cake batter.

A spatula spreading the top layer of coffee cake batter in a parchment lined baking dish.A spatula spreading the top layer of coffee cake batter in a parchment lined baking dish.

Now add the remainder of the cake batter on prime of the cinnamon sugar layer. I like to do that by first including giant dollops of the batter on prime. Then, utilizing a rubber spatula, rigorously unfold the batter evenly across the baking dish, attempting to not disturb the cinnamon sugar layer an excessive amount of. Ensure that the batter is unfold all the way in which to the perimeters of the pan.

Batter and streusel topping for coffee cake in a parchment lined baking dish.Batter and streusel topping for coffee cake in a parchment lined baking dish.

Add the ready crumb combination evenly on prime of the cake. Bake the cake within the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or till a toothpick inserted comes out clear.

Freshly baked coffee cake in a parchment lined baking dish.Freshly baked coffee cake in a parchment lined baking dish.

Take away the cake from the oven and permit it to chill for about quarter-hour earlier than lifting the parchment paper out of the baking dish. Minimize into your required quantity of servings (I lower mine into 9 giant slices). Take pleasure in!

Overhead view of a coffee cake cut into slices.Overhead view of a coffee cake cut into slices.

This simple, moist cinnamon espresso cake is method higher than those on the espresso store. And with a recipe this straightforward, you don’t even want to depart your own home for a scrumptious breakfast deal with!



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