The Easiest Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe You’ll Ever Love

Coffee cake cookies merge the beloved breakfast pastry’s comforting essence with a convenient, handheld treat that sparks immediate delight.

Warm spices dance through a tender, buttery foundation, creating a nostalgic yet modern sweet experience.

Crumbly streusel topping adds delightful texture and complexity to each carefully crafted morsel.

Subtle notes of cinnamon weave through the cookie, elevating a simple snack into something extraordinary.

These delectable morsels bridge traditional baking with contemporary culinary creativity, appealing to both classic and adventurous palates.

Soft, rich, and remarkably satisfying, they craft ordinary moments into special occasions.

Prepare to fall in love with a dessert that reimagines classic comfort in every irresistible bite.

Why You’ll Love Coffee Cake Cookies

• Craft Irresistible Streusel Swirls: Elevate your cookie game with a delightful streusel filling that adds a magical crunch and warmth of cinnamon to each bite, creating a perfect marriage between classic coffee cake and cookie textures.
• Master Bakery-Level Technique: The recipe employs professional baking methods like creating thumb indentations and using a mix of flour types, giving home bakers a chance to produce cafe-quality cookies with impressive visual and taste appeal.
• Quick Comfort Dessert Solution: These cookies deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort, taking just 20 minutes from prep to plate – ideal for spontaneous sweet cravings or unexpected guests wanting a delicious treat that feels both familiar and innovative.

Essential Ingredients for Coffee Cake Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour, Cake Flour: Provide structure and soft texture to the cookies.
• Cornstarch: Helps create a tender and delicate crumb.
• Cinnamon: Adds warm, aromatic flavor throughout the cookie.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents for proper cookie rise.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Butter: Key for rich flavor and tender texture, use cold and cubed.
• Brown Sugar, White Sugar: Provide sweetness and contribute to cookies texture.
• Egg Yolk, Whole Eggs: Bind ingredients and add moisture to the dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and classic bakery flavor.

• Flour: Creates crumbly streusel base.
• Brown Sugar: Adds caramel-like sweetness to the topping.
• Cinnamon: Provides warm spice notes.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness of the streusel.
• Butter: Helps bind streusel and create rich flavor.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet glaze.
• Heavy Cream: Provides creamy consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle flavor to the icing.
• Salt: Enhances overall taste.

How to Make Coffee Cake Cookies from Scratch

Step 1: Prepare Streusel Filling

• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Salt

Gently work softened butter into the dry ingredients using your fingers until small, crumbly clumps form. Pop the mixture into the refrigerator while you prepare the cookie dough.

Step 2: Preheat and Prep Baking Sheets

Warm up the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking.

Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Cake flour
• Cornstarch
• Cinnamon
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt

Step 4: Cream Butter and Sugars

Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream cold cubed butter with brown sugar and white sugar for 1-2 minutes until the mixture becomes smooth and well combined.

Step 5: Add Wet Ingredients

Blend in egg yolk, whole eggs, and vanilla extract. Scrape down the bowl’s sides to ensure even mixing.

Step 6: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, incorporating about at a time. Mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix.

Step 7: Shape Cookie Dough

Form the dough into 8 large balls (or smaller if preferred). Place these evenly on the prepared baking sheets.

Step 8: Create Streusel Indentations

Make a small indent in each dough ball using your thumb or the back of a utensil. Fill each indentation with about of the chilled streusel mixture.

Step 9: Bake the Cookies

Slide the baking sheets into the preheated oven. Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges are set and lightly golden. Avoid overbaking.

Step 10: Shape Cookies (Optional)

Immediately after removing from the oven, use a circular cookie cutter to create perfectly round edges if desired.

Step 11: Cool the Cookies

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 12: Add Finishing Icing

• Melted butter
• Heavy cream
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Drizzle the smooth icing over the cooled cookies for a delightful finishing touch.

Tips for Perfect Coffee Cake Cookies

• Chill the Streusel: Refrigerate the streusel mixture for at least 15 minutes to help it maintain its crumbly texture and prevent melting during baking.
• Ensure Butter Temperature: Use cold, cubed butter for the cookie dough to create a flakier, more tender texture that mimics a classic coffee cake.
• Create Perfect Indentations: Gently press a small spoon or the back of a measuring spoon into cookie dough balls to make uniform wells for the streusel filling.
• Avoid Overmixing: Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined to keep cookies tender and prevent a tough, dense texture.
• Cool and Shape Immediately: Remove cookies from the oven and use a cookie cutter right away to create perfectly round edges while the cookies are still warm and malleable.

Storing and Reheating Coffee Cake Cookies

• Refrigeration: Store cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Seal tightly and keep refrigerated for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and prevent moisture buildup.
• Room Temperature: Let cookies sit at room temperature for soft, tender texture when serving. Place in sealed container away from direct sunlight and heat sources to preserve streusel crunch and overall quality.
• Reheating Method: Warm cookies gently in microwave for 8-10 seconds on 50% power to restore softness without compromising texture. Alternatively, place cookies in preheated oven at 300°F for 2-3 minutes to refresh their just-baked warmth and restore crisp edges.

Pairing Suggestions for Coffee Cake Cookies

• Brew Coffee Companion: Pair these coffee cake cookies with a robust medium-roast coffee that complements the cinnamon notes. The warm, rich flavors of the coffee will enhance the sweet streusel and buttery cookie base, creating a delightful morning or afternoon treat.
• Creamy Milk Matchup: Serve these cookies alongside cold whole milk or a vanilla almond milk. The creamy liquid cuts through the cookie's sweetness and provides a refreshing contrast to the warm spices and rich texture.
• Dessert Wine Delight: Match these cookies with a sweet dessert wine like moscato or a light port. The wine's subtle sweetness and fruity undertones will beautifully highlight the cinnamon and brown sugar elements in the cookies.
• Ice Cream Dream: Top the cookies with a scoop of vanilla bean or cinnamon ice cream. The cold, smooth ice cream creates a luxurious contrast against the warm, crumbly cookie texture, elevating the entire dessert experience.

Fun Variations of Coffee Cake Cookies

• Nutty Swirl Cookies: Replace part of the streusel with chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch and deep nutty flavor. Toast nuts lightly before mixing to enhance their natural richness.
• Chocolate Chip Coffee Variation: Fold mini chocolate chips into the cookie dough for a decadent sweet complement to the cinnamon streusel. Dark chocolate chunks work exceptionally well with the coffee cake profile.
• Maple Pecan Spin: Swap white sugar with maple syrup in the dough and sprinkle candied pecans on top of the streusel for a rich, caramelized autumn-inspired cookie. Drizzle maple glaze instead of vanilla icing for deeper sweetness.
• Berry Cream Cookies: Mix finely chopped dried cranberries or blueberries into the streusel for a fruity burst. Top with a cream cheese glaze instead of traditional icing to create a tangy, complementary finish.

Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Indulgent coffee cake cookies combine the best of two beloved desserts, blending rich cinnamon swirls with classic cookie crunch. Crumbly streusel topping and warm spices create a delightful treat you’ll savor with your morning brew or afternoon snack.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 1.25 cups (157 grams) all-purpose flour
• 0.75 cups (90 grams) cake flour
• 0.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 pinch of salt

Primary Sweeteners:

• 0.75 cups brown sugar, packed
• 0.25 cups sugar

Wet Ingredients and Fats:

• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 8 tablespoons (113 grams) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
• 5 tablespoons (71 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar, sifted

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Instructions

1. Craft the streusel filling by blending all-purpose flour, rich brown sugar, fragrant ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a medium mixing bowl. Massage softened unsalted butter (226 grams or ) into the dry ingredients using fingertips until it forms delicate, crumbly clusters. Chill the streusel mixture in the refrigerator while preparing the cookie dough.
2. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
3. Sift together all-purpose flour, delicate cake flour, cornstarch, ground cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and a touch of salt to create a uniform dry ingredient blend.
4. Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream cold cubed unsalted butter (226 grams or ) with brown sugar and granulated white sugar for 1-2 minutes until the mixture becomes smooth and pale.
5. Incorporate one egg yolk, two whole eggs, and pure vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly, pausing to scrape down the bowl’s sides ensuring complete integration.
6. Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, adding approximately at a time. Mix gently to combine, being careful not to overmix the dough.
7. Portion the cookie dough into eight generously sized balls or smaller uniform sizes according to preference. Arrange these on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them evenly.
8. Create a gentle indentation in the center of each dough ball using your thumb or the back of a small spoon. Fill each depression with about of the chilled streusel mixture.
9. Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes, watching for lightly golden edges and a set appearance. Avoid overbaking, as the cookies will continue to set after removal from the oven.
10. Immediately after baking, use a circular cookie cutter to trim and perfect the cookie edges while still warm, ensuring a professional, uniform shape.
11. Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for five minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
12. Prepare the drizzle by whisking melted unsalted butter (56 grams or ), heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a tiny pinch of salt until a smooth, pourable icing forms. Drizzle artfully over the cooled cookies.

Notes

• Capture the essence of a classic coffee cake transformed into an indulgent, crumbly cookie experience.
• Streusel topping becomes a luxurious filling, adding irresistible texture and warm cinnamon notes to each bite.
• Blending two beloved desserts creates a unique treat that surprises and delights with its innovative approach.
• Precise mixing techniques ensure a tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookie with perfectly balanced sweetness and spice.
• Gentle shaping and careful baking guarantee a bakery-style cookie that looks as amazing as it tastes.
• Optional icing drizzle provides a final touch of decadence, elevating these cookies from good to absolutely unforgettable.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 267 kcal
• Sugar: 17 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 37 mg