A slice of soft and delicious coffee cake can be enough to make you say, “This is the best snack ever!” Cakes are especially popular for morning treats and social gatherings. But how easy is it to make a homemade coffee cake that doesn’t flop?
We are going to give you a detailed answer in this article. We will share the easiest homemade coffee cake recipe that requires only a few ingredients. Our guide will ensure that even first-time bakers can achieve a moist, flavorful coffee cake that impresses at any table.
Ready for it?
What Is A Coffee Cake?
Coffee cake is a sweet treat that’s loved by most people worldwide. The concept originated in Vienna, Austria, where pairing a sweet snack with coffee became popular.
This tradition traveled to the U.S. with European immigrants and has spread to other places in the world. Over the years, people started adding variations to the recipe. Some add fruits like blueberries, nuts, and spices to enhance flavour and texture.
How to Make A Coffee Cake
To make a homemade coffee cake, place one room-temperature egg in a large bowl. Add a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder to the egg for a rich coffee flavour. Stir in ⅓ cup of condensed milk and mix them using a hand beater.
Next, blend in ½ cup of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, ¼ cup of sugar, ½ teaspoon of baking powder, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is consistent and lump-free. Adjust the consistency with about ¼ cup of water as needed.
Pour the batter into a mould and bake in a preheated oven at 170 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes. Once baked, let it cool and then run a knife around the edges to remove it from the mould.
Homemade Coffee Cake Recipe
Servings: 6-7, Prep Time: 10-12 minutes, Baking Time: 25 minutes, Course: Snack, Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Egg: 1 (room temperature)
- Coffee: 1 teaspoon
- Condensed Milk: ⅓ cup
- All-purpose Flour: ½ cup
- Cocoa Powder: 1 tablespoon
- Sugar: ¼ cup
- Baking Powder: ½ teaspoon
- Salt: A pinch
- Water: ¼ cup (adjust as needed for consistency)
Directions
- First of all, take one egg (room temperature) in a large bowl. Room temperature is important because it helps the egg to whip better and hold more air. Eggs are always easier to whisk and blend into a smooth texture at room temperature. So, take the egg out of the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before you start baking.
- Add 1 teaspoon of coffee to the egg. Now, let’s talk about the coffee you should use in the recipe. I am using simple, instant coffee for the recipe as I had this only type in my kitchen.
You can use espresso powder, which is even more popular in the recipe. Espresso powder is highly concentrated, and it provides a deeper coffee flavour. You can also use any strong-brewed coffee without any worry.
- This time, you will add ⅓ cup of condensed milk (which is the showstopper of the recipe!). Condensed milk is the reason this cake is moist, sweet, and creamy. It will work like a charm to balance the intense flavour of the coffee.
- Now, use a hand beater or an electric beater to mix all the ingredients. We are using a hand beater and trying to achieve consistency. Try to maintain consistency, as shown in the picture below.
- After that, add ½ cup of colour, 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, ¼ cup of sugar, ½ teaspoon of baking powder, and a pinch of salt to the mixture. I am using all-purpose flour here to get a soft, tender crumb for the cake. You can use whole-wheat flour for the recipe but get ready to have a denser and heavier cake in that case.
- Now, it’s beating time once again. Mix all the ingredients with the hand beater. Add ¼ cup of water (the measurement can vary according to the desired consistency) in the middle of the beating process. Stop beating once there are no lumps in the cake batter. It should look something like the picture below.
- Pour the batter into the mould you’re using to bake the cake. Bake the cake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Keep the temperature 170 degrees Celsius.
- Remove the cake from the oven after 25 minutes, and it should be baked perfectly.
- Use a knife to remove the cake from the mould. Be extra careful in this step as you don’t want to brak the cake’s structure. Gently run the knife along the edges between the cake and the mould to loosen it. It will let your cake come out smoothly maintaining its shape and texture.
- And done! Cut the cake into slices and serve it with other delicious side dishes (we will recommend some in the next section).
Which Side Dish to Serve with Homemade Coffee Cake?
For me, the coffee cake itself seems perfect as a snack; I don’t need anything else with it. But my family members love to pair the cake with coffee or tea. If you want to use the cake for breakfast, you can add savoury dishes such as frittata, a plate of fresh fruit, or even scrambled eggs.
You can also add caramel, berries, chocolate, or plain butter croissants to explore different flavour dynamics to please your tastebuds!
Chef’s Tips
- When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Please this is an important note, you can’t over-mix the ingredients as it can lead to a tough cake for the formation of too much gluten.
- If you’re unsure about whether the cake is done or not, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake towards the end of baking. If it comes out clean or with a only few moist crumbs, the cake is done. Otherwise, you may need to bake it for a few more minutes.
- If you want to store leftover cake, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. You can store it for up to 3 days in this way. If you want to store it for longer, keep it in the freezer; it will last for three months or more.