Is there anything better than the smell of coffee and chocolate baking in your kitchen?
I don’t think so!
This Mocha Coffee Cake is like a big, warm hug for your taste buds.
It’s got a super soft, moist cake base with just the right hint of coffee and a crumbly chocolate-cinnamon streusel on top.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on the drizzle of coffee glaze!
This is the kind of cake you can enjoy with a cup of coffee in the morning, as a mid-day snack, or even as dessert.
Bonus?
It’s kid-friendly if you go light on the coffee flavor—my kids love the chocolatey crumb topping!
Let me show you how easy it is to make this crowd-pleaser.
You’re going to love it, and I bet it’ll become one of your family’s favorite recipes too!
What You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up this delicious cake:
For the Cake:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
- ¼ cup brewed coffee (cooled)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Streusel Topping:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
For the Coffee Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons brewed coffee (adjust to desired consistency)
Pro Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients. This helps everything mix together smoothly for the fluffiest cake!
- Don’t overmix the batter. Once the wet and dry ingredients are combined, stop mixing. Overmixing can make the cake dense.
- Go heavy on the streusel topping. Seriously, the more, the better—it’s the best part!
- Taste-test your coffee glaze. Adjust the strength of the coffee flavor to your liking. If kids will eat it, go lighter on the coffee.
- Let the cake cool before glazing. Otherwise, the glaze will just melt off (been there, done that).
Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- 9×9-inch baking pan
- Whisk
- Fork (for the streusel)
- Spatula
Substitutions & Variations
- No sour cream? Use Greek yogurt instead.
- Want a caffeine-free version? Use decaf coffee or swap it with milk.
- Chocolate boost? Sprinkle chocolate chips into the batter for extra indulgence.
- Nutty topping? Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel for some crunch.
Make Ahead Tips
- You can bake the cake a day in advance and glaze it just before serving. Store the cake covered at room temperature.
- Freeze unglazed slices for up to 3 months—just thaw and add the glaze when you’re ready to eat!
How to Make Mocha Coffee Cake
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Step 3: Cream the butter and sugar
In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Step 4: Add wet ingredients
Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Then add sour cream, vanilla, and cooled coffee, mixing until smooth.
Step 5: Combine wet and dry ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Don’t overmix!
Step 6: Make the streusel topping
In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and cubed butter. Use a fork to mix until crumbly.
Step 7: Assemble and bake
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 8: Make the coffee glaze
Whisk together powdered sugar and brewed coffee until smooth.
Step 9: Glaze the cake
Once the cake has cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top. Slice and serve!
Leftovers & Storage
Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can refrigerate it for up to a week—just bring it to room temp before eating.
Let’s Bake!
There you have it—your new favorite Mocha Coffee Cake recipe!
Whether you make it for breakfast, dessert, or a little coffee-date treat, it’s bound to impress.
I’d love to hear how it turns out for you!
Leave a comment below with your thoughts or any questions.
Now, go brew some coffee and get baking! ☕🍰
