Hey there, baking friends! I’m super excited to share this fun and delicious recipe with you today—Coffee Cake Cookies.
Imagine the soft, tender crumb of your favorite coffee cake, but in a handheld cookie form.
They’re full of cinnamon, a buttery streusel topping, and finished with a sweet glaze, making them the perfect treat for brunch, dessert, or anytime you want to treat yourself. These cookies are everything you love about coffee cake, but even easier to enjoy!
I’ve tested and perfected this recipe so that it has all the right flavors and textures without any of the hassle.
Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, you’re going to love how simple and rewarding these are to make. Plus, your whole family will absolutely adore them!
What You’ll Need
For the Cookie Dough:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups cake flour (or all-purpose flour as a substitute)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Streusel Topping:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
For the Glaze:
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons whole milk (plus more if needed)
Pro Tips for Success
- Room Temperature Ingredients: This is key! Make sure your butter, egg, and any other dairy products are at room temperature before you start. It helps everything blend together smoothly and gives you the best texture.
- Cake Flour for Softness: I know cake flour might not be something you use often, but it really makes a difference in giving these cookies a soft, tender texture that mimics a real coffee cake. If you don’t have any, all-purpose flour will work, but I really recommend grabbing some next time you’re at the store.
- Chill Your Dough: After mixing your dough, chill it for a few minutes in the fridge. This helps firm up the dough, making it easier to scoop and preventing the cookies from spreading too much when baking.
- Don’t Overmix: When adding the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mix gently and slowly to avoid tough cookies. The dough should just come together—no need to overwork it.
- Streusel Texture: When mixing the streusel, remember: don’t stir it too much! Just use a fork to “claw” the mixture together so it stays crumbly and doesn’t turn into a paste.
Tools You’ll Need
- Electric hand mixer (or stand mixer)
- 2 mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Cookie scoop (or tablespoon)
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper (optional for easy cleanup)
- Wax paper (for glazing)
- Spoon for drizzling glaze
Substitutions & Variations
- Cake Flour: You can use all-purpose flour, but cake flour gives a softer, more delicate crumb.
- Butter: If you need a dairy-free version, you can substitute with dairy-free butter or margarine.
- Egg: To make this recipe egg-free, you can try a flax egg or other egg substitute.
- Glaze: If you prefer, you can dust the cookies with powdered sugar instead of glazing them. It’ll still be delicious, just a bit simpler!
Make-Ahead Tips
These cookies are best fresh, but you can easily make the dough ahead of time and chill it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also make the streusel topping ahead and keep it in an airtight container at room temperature until you’re ready to bake.
How to Make Coffee Cake Cookies
Step 1: Cream the Butter & Sugar
Start by creaming together the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Use your electric mixer to beat them until they’re smooth and fluffy.
Step 2: Add Egg and Vanilla
Next, add the egg and vanilla extract to the bowl. Beat until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. Set this aside while you prepare the dry ingredients.
Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 5: Make the Streusel
For the streusel topping, combine the melted butter, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Use a fork to combine everything until it’s crumbly.
Step 6: Scoop & Shape the Dough
Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place them on a baking sheet. Gently make an indentation in the center of each cookie, then fill it with a spoonful of streusel.
Step 7: Bake
Bake your cookies at 350°F (175°C) for about 12 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden.
Step 8: Prepare the Glaze
While the cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until you have a smooth glaze. Drizzle over your cooled cookies for the perfect finishing touch.
Tips for Leftovers & Storage
Store your leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want them to last a little longer, you can freeze them for up to 2 months. Just make sure they’re completely cooled before storing or freezing!
Conclusion
I really hope you give these Coffee Cake Cookies a try. They’re such a fun and delicious twist on a classic treat! If you bake them, please leave a comment and let me know how they turned out, or if you have any questions. I’d love to hear from you! Happy baking! 😊
