CINNAMON SWIRL COFFEE CAKE

Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake is a soft, tender cake infused with layers of cinnamon-sugar goodness. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet afternoon treat, this coffee cake features a delicious swirl of cinnamon throughout the batter and a crumbly streusel topping that adds a satisfying crunch. Pair it with a cup of coffee or tea for a cozy, comforting experience.

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon 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, cold and cubed

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×9-inch square baking pan or a similar-sized baking dish.
2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
4. Add the sour cream: On low speed, add the sour cream (or Greek yogurt) and mix until just combined.
5. Add the dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cake dense.
6. Prepare the cinnamon swirl: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon.
7. Layer the cake: Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the batter. Then, pour the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon layer and spread it out gently with a spatula.
8. Make the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the streusel. Add the cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to mix until crumbly.
9. Add the streusel topping: Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top of the cake batter.
10. Bake: Bake the coffee cake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, you can cover it with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking.
11. Cool and serve: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy it warm or at room temperature, ideally with a cup of coffee or tea.

This Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake is moist, buttery, and packed with cinnamon flavor. It’s the perfect sweet treat for breakfast or a cozy afternoon snack!