If you love the warm, comforting flavors of traditional coffee cake but want something portable and perfectly portioned, this Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe is exactly what you need in your life. These delightful cookies capture all the cinnamon-spiced goodness and buttery crumbly streusel topping you adore from your favorite coffee cake, but in a tender, chewy cookie form. Imagine biting into a soft cookie crowned with a crunchy cinnamon streusel and drizzled with a sweet vanilla glaze—pure bliss with every bite. Whether it’s for a cozy afternoon treat or a special brunch accompaniment, this recipe promises a gorgeous balance of texture and flavor that feels like a warm hug from your oven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the right ingredients for this Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe is the first step to baking up these magical treats. Each component is straightforward yet carefully chosen to build layers of flavor and texture—from the richness of butter to the spice of cinnamon and the satisfying crumbly streusel topping.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Essential for a tender dough and rich flavor; softened for easy creaming with sugars.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender cookie crumb.
- Brown sugar: Brings moistness and a subtle molasses note enhancing the depth of flavor.
- Large eggs: Bind the dough and add richness for a soft texture.
- Vanilla extract: Brightens and rounds out the flavors beautifully.
- All-purpose flour: The base for structure, used in both the dough and streusel topping.
- Baking powder: Adds lightness and lift to the cookies.
- Baking soda: Works with acids to help the cookies rise and stay tender.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- Ground cinnamon: The hallmark spice that fills these coffee cake cookies with warmth.
- Brown sugar for streusel: Creates that irresistibly sweet and crunchy topping.
- Unsalted butter (melted for streusel): Binds the streusel together and crisps as it bakes.
- Powdered sugar (optional glaze): For drizzling, adds a silky sweetness and beautiful finishing touch.
- Milk (optional glaze): Thins the glaze to perfect drizzling consistency.
How to Make Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures a clean surface that helps the cookies bake evenly and prevents sticking, setting you up for cookie perfection from the start.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with the granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color. This process aerates the fats, which is key to a tender, airy crumb—totally worth the arm workout or mixer time!
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Slowly beat in the eggs one at a time to maintain a smooth batter, then mix in the vanilla extract. This gives your cookies a boost of richness and a lovely fragrance that signals the comfort to come.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon together. This ensures even distribution of leavening agents and spices to deliver uniform flavor and rise throughout your cookies.
Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet batter, stirring until just combined and a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, or the cookies may turn out dense instead of tender and chewy.
Step 6: Make the Streusel Topping
Mix together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the streusel, then stir in the melted butter until it forms coarse crumbs. This topping will add that signature crunch and sweetness on top of each cookie, making every bite extra special.
Step 7: Form and Top the Cookies
Scoop out 2-tablespoon-sized dough balls and place them onto your prepared baking sheet with about 2 inches of space between each. Gently flatten every cookie slightly and press roughly 1 tablespoon of the streusel topping onto each one. The streusel adheres best this way and bakes into a delightful little crust atop the soft cookie base.
Step 8: Bake and Cool
Bake your coffee cake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges turn golden and the centers look set. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack. This resting time lets the cookies firm up slightly, making them easier to handle while keeping their tender centers intact.
Step 9: Add the Optional Glaze
If you love that final touch of sweetness, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to create a smooth glaze. Drizzle this over the cooled cookies for an irresistible shine and a hint of creamy sweetness that perfectly complements the cinnamon and buttery flavors.
How to Serve Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
These cookies are stunning just as they are, but feel free to sprinkle a bit of extra cinnamon sugar on top before baking for a sparkly finish. A light dusting of powdered sugar right before serving can also add a delicate elegance perfect for special occasions or coffee dates.
Side Dishes
Serve Coffee Cake Cookies alongside a hot cup of coffee, chai latte, or warm tea to highlight the cinnamon notes and offer a balanced, cozy treat. Fresh fruit like sliced apples or berries can provide a refreshing contrast that makes your snack feel even more complete.
Creative Ways to Present
For a delightful brunch or dessert plate, stack the cookies and tie them with a pretty ribbon or arrange them on a tiered platter alongside mini muffins and scones for a homemade bakery vibe. You can even sandwich some cream cheese frosting between two cookies for a decadent twist that will impress everyone at your next gathering.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, store any leftover Coffee Cake Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh for up to 4 days, maintaining their tender texture and delicious streusel crunch. Proper storage ensures each bite is just as enjoyable as the first.
Freezing
If you want to make these cookies in advance, you can freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, let them thaw slightly, then add the streusel topping and bake as usual. Baked cookies also freeze well—just wrap them tightly and thaw at room temperature for a quick sweet treat anytime.
Reheating
To bring frozen or leftover cookies back to life, warm them briefly in a microwave for about 10 seconds or in a low oven (300°F) for 5 minutes. This revives their soft, freshly baked texture and reactivates the buttery aroma that makes this Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe so irresistible.
FAQs
Can I use margarine instead of butter?
While margarine can be substituted in a pinch, using unsalted butter gives the best flavor and texture for coffee cake cookies. Butter’s richness and ability to cream well are key to that tender, flavorful bite.
What if I don’t have brown sugar for the streusel?
You can substitute light molasses mixed with granulated sugar or just use all granulated sugar, but brown sugar provides moisture and caramel notes that make the streusel topping wonderfully tender and sweet.
How do I make the glaze thicker or thinner?
Adjust the amount of milk used in the glaze to change its consistency. Use less milk for a thicker glaze perfect for dolloping, or more milk for a thinner drizzle that spreads easily over the cookies.
Can I add nuts to the streusel topping?
Absolutely! Chopped walnuts or pecans make fantastic additions to the streusel, adding a pleasant crunch that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon and brown sugar.
Are these cookies suitable for freezing after baking?
Yes, baked Coffee Cake Cookies freeze well. Just store them in an airtight container or freezer bag and thaw them at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy. They freeze better than many delicate baked goods, keeping their flavor and texture.
Final Thoughts
This Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe is truly a delightful way to enjoy the classic flavors we all cherish from coffee cake, but in a fun, portable cookie form. With its irresistible cinnamon streusel and optional vanilla glaze, it’s a recipe that’s comforting, impressive, and surprisingly easy to make. I encourage you to give it a try and share these cookies with friends—you’ll quickly find these treats becoming a beloved staple in your baking repertoire. Happy baking!
Print
Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Coffee Cake Cookies combine the delightful flavors of classic coffee cake with the convenient bite-sized form of a cookie. Featuring a soft, cinnamon-spiced dough topped with a crumbly streusel and an optional sweet vanilla glaze, they are perfect for breakfast, snack time, or dessert. Easy to prepare and bake, these cookies offer a bakery-style treat right from your home oven.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time to incorporate thoroughly, then add the vanilla extract for flavor enhancement.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms that is easy to handle but not overly sticky.
- Prepare streusel topping: In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then stir in the melted butter until the mixture is crumbly and resembles coarse crumbs.
- Form cookies: Scoop the dough into 2-tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Flatten each cookie slightly to create a disk shape.
- Add streusel topping: Press about 1 tablespoon of the streusel mixture onto the top of each cookie, ensuring it adheres well but does not sink into the dough.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes or until the edges turn golden and the centers are set, indicating they are fully cooked through.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare optional glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and drizzle it over the cooled cookies to add a classic coffee cake finish.
Notes
- You can freeze the cookie dough balls before baking for up to 2 months. Thaw slightly before baking and applying the streusel topping.
- The optional glaze adds a traditional sweet finish reminiscent of classic coffee cake but can be omitted if desired.
- Make sure not to overbake; cookies should have golden edges with soft centers for the best texture.
