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    You are here: Home / Breakfast / Muffins / Coffee Cake Muffins

    Coffee Cake Muffins

    April 30, 2018 By Sam 73 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Coffee cake muffin with streusel topping

    Fluffy coffee cake muffins topped off with a mountain of buttery, crumbly streusel!

    These breakfast treats are simple to make and the mile high pile of streusel is absolutely addictive, good luck eating just one!

    Coffee cake muffin on a plate

    I should really probably just call these Coffee Cake Muffins “Streusel Muffins”, instead. Because that’s what we’re really here for, right? All that streusel.

    I mean, I don’t want to sell the actual muffins short, they’re definitely incredible. They’re light, fluffy, perfectly sweetened, flavored with a hint of cinnamon, and made with a combination of butter and oil (for the best flavor and texture — a technique that I use in my banana muffins as well), but it’s the streusel that has me reaching for a second and then a third and then just maybeee picking off the muffin top of a fourth.

    I might have a streusel obsession. How about you?

    A pan of coffee cake muffins

    If you do, you’re going to love these coffee cake muffins as much as I do. Before we can get to the streusel, though, let’s briefly go over how to make the muffins bases.

    If you take a look back at some of my most popular muffin recipes (for example, my chocolate chip muffins or blueberry muffins), you’ll probably notice that the base for each of these is extremely similar. After lots of muffin fails, I determined a few key winning tips that make for some of the best muffins possible.

    First, we start with a combination of butter and oil. Oil makes muffins nice and soft and fluffy, while butter has a great flavor that oil is lacking, but tends to make muffins a bit too dense. By using half of each instead of committing to just one 100%, we get soft and fluffy coffee cake muffins that also have a great, buttery flavor.

    You may also notice that I add cornstarch to the dry ingredients. In my experience, this also helps to make the muffins nice and soft (a technique I also use in my secret ingredient chocolate chip cookies!).

    Alright, now let’s talk about how we make all that streusel.

    A bowl of crumbly streusel topping

    While many streusel recipes start with cold butter, today’s begins with melted butter, which is a technique that I use with my cinnamon coffee cake. I also think it’s much easier to make streusel this way rather than by using a pastry cutter, so that’s another reason this technique is a win for me.

    How Do I Make Streusel for Coffee Cake Muffins

    Firsts, melt your butter. Cut it into pieces before popping it into the microwave so that it melts evenly and doesn’t explode all over your microwave. Speaking of which, I need to clean my microwave.

    Maybe cover the bowl with a piece of wax paper to prevent any potential messes.

    Let the butter cool for a bit while you stir together your flour, sugar, and cinnamon. While we want it to be melted, you also want to be sure the butter isn’t scorching hot before you add it to the dry ingredients. Use a fork to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs (like in the photo above), don’t overwork it or you’ll end up with a paste rather than a crumble. The best part of the streusel is those buttery, sugary clumps!

    A freshly baked coffee cake muffin that's been bitten into

    I use my hands to pile up the streusel evenly over the muffin batter, and gently press down to snuggle that streusel into the coffee cake muffin batter.

    Bake everything on 375 and enjoy!

    PS: when I share coffee cake recipes I often get a lot of questions about where the coffee is in the recipe. I’m not sure if coffee cake is more of an American thing, but coffee cake is typically just a treat that’s served as a nice complement to your coffee, not one that’s made with coffee. I hope that helps clear things up!

    How to Make Coffee Cake Muffins

    Coffee cake muffin

    Coffee Cake Muffins

    Fluffy coffee cake muffins topped off with a mountain of buttery, crumbly streusel!
    These breakfast treats are simple to make and the mile high pile of streusel is absolutely addictive, good luck eating just one!
    4.87 from 23 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 12 muffins
    Calories: 377kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    Muffins

    • ¼ cup melted butter (57g)
    • ¼ cup canola oil may substitute vegetable oil (60ml)
    • ¾ cup sugar (150g)
    • ¼ cup brown sugar tightly packed (50g)
    • 1 large egg + 1 egg white room temperature preferred
    • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup buttermilk room temperature preferred (120ml)
    • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour (220g)
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 2 teaspoons corn starch (cornflour in UK)
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Streusel topping:

    • 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour (156g)
    • ½ cup light brown sugar tightly packed (100g)
    • ⅓ cup sugar (66g)
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 6 Tablespoons butter melted (85g)
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    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and line a 12-count muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.
    • Combine your melted butter and canola oil in a large bowl. Stir well.
    • Add sugar and stir to combine.
    • Add egg, egg white, and vanilla extract. Stir very well, until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.  Add buttermilk and stir.
    • In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, corn starch, cinnamon and salt.
    • Using a spatula, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet, taking care not to over-mix the batter (which will make your muffins dense and tougher).
    • Evenly divide the batter into prepared muffin tin, filling each liner about ⅔ of the way full. Set aside and prepare your streusel topping.

    Streusel

    • Prepare your streusel by whisking together flour, sugars and cinnamon.
    • Pour the melted butter into the mixture and, using a fork, stir until crumbles form. 
    • Using your hands, evenly divide streusel over muffin batter, piling the streusel over the batter and gently pressing the topping into the batter.
    • Bake on 375F for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
    • Allow to cool before serving.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
    « Coconut Cookies
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Maria B Rugolo

      January 22, 2023 at 8:35 am

      Question please: I have made your coffee cake many times over to rave reviews. I’m going to make these muffins and wondered if sprinkling cinnamon sugar between the cupcake batter (as is done in the coffee cake) would make this muffins more like your coffee cake?

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 22, 2023 at 9:16 pm

        Hi Maria! They have a pretty different texture. The coffee cake is a bit more dense so this had to be altered to be fluffier. They have a bit of a different flavor as a result. That being said, you could add the cinnamon sugar in if you’d like. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Karen

      December 03, 2022 at 10:59 am

      Hi! I’m quite confused as to why this is called coffee cake muffins when there is no coffee in the ingredients? Excited to try this recipe!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        December 05, 2022 at 8:45 am

        Hi Karen! Coffee cake gets its name because it is meant to be enjoyed with coffee, not because it contains coffee. 😊

        Reply
    3. Paula

      October 16, 2022 at 1:00 pm

      I have a friend who is gluten free. Can this recipe be made replacing the all purpose flour with 1-1 gf flour? Thank you,

      Reply
      • Sam

        October 16, 2022 at 9:47 pm

        Hi Paula! While I haven’t tried it myself, I think it should work. Let me know how it turns out if you try it! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Mary

      August 02, 2022 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      I screwed these up, but all my fault. Tips: Do not overfill the muffin cups. Allow plenty of room at the top for streusel and press it in well. Don’t overbake! If you think you need an extra minute, set the timer!

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 02, 2022 at 2:49 pm

        O no! I’m so sorry this happened, Mary! I hope they turn out better next time. 🙁

        Reply
    5. Janice Ellsworth

      June 26, 2021 at 9:28 am

      I am new to your wonderful site. My daughter raves about it!
      I want to put chocolate chips in the coffee cake muffins. Minis or regular size? How much? Will it change the baking time?
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 30, 2021 at 9:30 pm

        Hi Janice! You should be able to add chocolate chips without any issue here. The addition will be a to taste addition. It shouldn’t change the bake time or temperature. Enjoy! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Jill

      January 31, 2021 at 3:45 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious coffee cake muffins Sam. My nephew wants blueberry muffins but your blueberry coffee cake looks amazing. Thanks for another great recipe.

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 31, 2021 at 10:02 pm

        Thank you so much, Jill! I’m so glad you enjoyed them. 🙂

        Reply
      • Barbara Owens

        March 17, 2023 at 3:39 pm

        5 stars
        Hi. I made the muffins exactly like the recipe and I am pleased with how perfect they were. Thank you.

        Reply
        • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

          March 20, 2023 at 9:38 am

          Wonderful! We’re so happy you enjoyed, Barbara ❤️

    7. Jenny

      January 24, 2021 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I needed a quick baked good on a Sunday and these did the trick. The only thing I changed was I upped the cinnamon to 1 tsp in the batter. I thought that maybe there was too much crumble when I started mixing it up, but I went ahead and piled it all on anyway. My recommendation: Definitely use it all! I am saving this recipe 🙂 Thanks Sam!

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 24, 2021 at 9:42 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Jenny! You can never have enough topping! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Stefanie Gabel

      December 15, 2020 at 9:38 pm

      Is there any way I can make these the night before and bake in the morning?

      Once made, how should they be stored?

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 16, 2020 at 10:13 pm

        Hi Stefanie! I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure. If you do want to try it I would recommend storing in the refrigerator covered tightly. Let me know how it goes if you try it. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Jasmine

      October 10, 2020 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      Hi, can I make these in a donut pan.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        October 10, 2020 at 2:59 pm

        Hi, Jasmine! I honestly have not tried that! They SHOULD be ok, but the bake time will be different than what is listed. If you try it, I’d love to know how they turn out! 🙂

        Reply
        • Jasmine

          October 16, 2020 at 5:51 pm

          5 stars
          Hi, I made these in a donut pan today, and they were so delicious. Thank you for another great recipe.

        • Sam

          October 17, 2020 at 11:41 am

          I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Jasmine! 🙂

    10. Sally

      September 11, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      5 stars
      Hi, I love these muffins and have made them several times. Do you think I could make this as a cake?

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 11, 2020 at 11:43 pm

        Hi Sally! I actually have a coffee cake recipe you could try. 🙂

        Reply
    11. MaryPili

      August 30, 2020 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is really good, I put more cinnamon because I love it and they are delicious. I totally recomended with a cup of coffee or tea…. Thank you

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 31, 2020 at 1:03 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed them so much! 🙂

        Reply
    12. Joleen

      July 20, 2020 at 11:38 pm

      Can you freeze these?

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 21, 2020 at 10:28 am

        Hi Joleen! I haven’t frozen them but I don’t see any issue freezing them. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Denise Clarkson

      June 03, 2020 at 1:39 pm

      Hi Sam, just put these in the oven and hoping they turn out as good as yours look. My question is about the amount of streusel is more then you need. I don’t want to waste it, can it be kept for a while in the fridge?

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 04, 2020 at 11:16 am

        Hi Denise! That should work fine stored in an air tight container. I like A LOT of topping so I always load mine up. 🙂

        Reply
        • Denise Clarkson

          June 04, 2020 at 12:01 pm

          5 stars
          They were delicious Sam, and next time I will use more for the topping.

    14. Sam K.

      May 27, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      Can I…uhhhh…request a YouTube video for this recipe? Your coffee cake recipe was absolutely delicious. I think these would be too. #datstreusel

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 28, 2020 at 12:10 pm

        I will definitely put it on the list of videos to make. 🙂

        Reply
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