Imagine every charming thing you love about coffee cake—cinnamon, buttery crumble, a sweet glaze—and shrink it into a delightfully chewy cookie. That’s the magic of Coffee Cake Cookies: all your favorite morning flavors reimagined as a shareable, hand-held treat. With their golden, cinnamon-spiced streusel crowns and drizzles of vanilla glaze, these cookies taste like a cozy brunch, a bakery window, and a little moment of happiness in every bite.

Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

All the ingredients here are familiar pantry staples, but each one plays a special role in building the signature flavor and texture of these Coffee Cake Cookies. Don’t overlook the difference between cake flour and all-purpose flour, or the little touches like cornstarch and cinnamon—they bring everything together for that classic coffee cake nostalgia packed into a cookie.

All-purpose flour (for cookies & streusel): The foundation for your dough and crumbly streusel, this gives structure and a soft but sturdy bite.
Light brown sugar: Adds both sweetness and a molasses warmth that makes the cookies and streusel extra rich.
Ground cinnamon: Absolutely essential for that classic coffee cake taste; don’t be shy, it’s the soul of the recipe.
Salt: Just a pinch in the streusel and a little more in the dough and glaze makes every flavor sing.
Unsalted butter: Used both softened in the streusel and cold in the dough—this keeps the cookies thick, tender, and rich.
Cake flour: The secret to that bakery-soft texture, cake flour lightens up the cookie for a tender crumb.
Cornstarch: A cookie baker’s trick for extra tenderness and a plush, melt-away bite.
Baking soda & baking powder: Both leaveners are needed for the perfect balance of lift and chew.
Granulated sugar: Offers that classic cookie sweetness and helps the dough brown nicely.
Large egg + egg yolk: The duo adds richness and moisture, with the extra yolk making the cookies extra chewy.
Vanilla extract: A background note that brings the sweet and spicy flavors together beautifully.
Powdered sugar: The base for the silky, pourable glaze that makes these Coffee Cake Cookies so irresistible.
Heavy cream or milk: Gives the glaze a dreamy consistency, but both options work.

How to Make Coffee Cake Cookies

Step 1: Make the Streusel Topping

Start by combining your flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Add the softened butter and use a fork or your fingers to work everything together until the mixture is wonderfully crumbly and clumpy—think little buttery nuggets of flavor! Pop the streusel into the fridge so it stays firm and crumbly for topping your cookies later.

Step 2: Prepare the Cookie Dough

While your streusel chills, get your cookie dough going. In a big bowl, cream together the cold cubed butter with both sugars until it’s smooth and a bit fluffy. Cold butter is key for those thick, almost cake-like cookie centers! Beat in the whole egg, the yolk, and vanilla extract until everything is silky and fully blended.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mixing these dry ingredients separately lets the leaveners and spices distribute evenly—no clumps of baking soda or streaks of cinnamon!

Step 4: Mix Dry Into Wet

Now, gently add your dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Use a spatula or mixer on low to combine just until a thick, gorgeous dough forms. Don’t overmix! The dough will be a bit stiff, which is perfect for shaping into big, bakery-style balls.

Step 5: Shape and Top With Streusel

Roll the dough into large balls (you’ll get about 8 from this recipe) and place them on parchment-lined baking sheets, giving them space to spread. Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to make a shallow well in the center of each ball and fill it generously with your chilled streusel. This topping melts into a golden, crisp swirl, just like a slice of classic coffee cake.

Step 6: Bake

Bake the cookies at 400°F for about 9 to 11 minutes, watching for lightly golden edges. The centers will look slightly underdone, but that’s the secret to their dreamy, chewy texture. Let them cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack.

Step 7: Glaze and Finish

Whisk together melted butter, powdered sugar, cream (or milk), vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to create a thick but pourable glaze. Wait until your Coffee Cake Cookies are fully cool, then drizzle the glaze over the crunchy streusel tops. The sweet drizzle sets into a delicate icing—absolute perfection!

How to Serve Coffee Cake Cookies

Garnishes

For a bakery-style wow factor, sprinkle the freshly glazed cookies with a light dusting of extra cinnamon or a few pinches of turbinado sugar. If you’re feeling fancy, add a handful of toasted, chopped pecans on top of the streusel before baking for extra crunch. Every little touch makes Coffee Cake Cookies that much more special!

Side Dishes

Of course, fresh Coffee Cake Cookies are pure bliss all on their own—especially with a mug of freshly brewed coffee or cold milk. But if you’re putting out a brunch or dessert spread, pair them with fresh berries, a platter of sliced fruit, or even a creamy Greek yogurt parfait for a lovely balance of sweetness and tartness.

Creative Ways to Present

Stack these beauties on a pedestal cake stand, tuck them into a pretty bakery box lined with parchment for gifting, or arrange them on a big platter beside tiny espresso cups for a coffee-themed gathering. For parties, cut each cookie in half with a sharp knife and nestle the halves upright on a tray—the swirling streusel and glaze look stunning from every angle.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftover Coffee Cake Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. As always with cookies, try to let them cool completely before sealing to keep that topping crisp and the interiors soft. A slice of sandwich bread in the container can help keep them from drying out!

Freezing

Both the baked cookies and the raw dough balls freeze wonderfully. For the easiest future treat, shape and stuff your cookie dough with streusel, then freeze the raw dough balls on a tray before transferring to a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, simply add a minute or two to the baking time—no need to thaw!

Reheating

If your Coffee Cake Cookies have lost just a bit of their fresh-from-the-oven softness, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave will bring them right back to that bakery texture. For a crispier edge, try giving them a minute or two in a 300°F oven. Either way, let the glaze set again before stacking or serving.

FAQs

Can I use only all-purpose flour if I don’t have cake flour?

Absolutely! While cake flour gives a delightfully tender cookie crumb, substituting with all all-purpose flour works just fine. The texture may be a touch denser, but your Coffee Cake Cookies will still taste homemade and delicious.

Do these cookies actually taste like coffee?

Despite their name, Coffee Cake Cookies don’t include any coffee in the ingredients—they’re inspired by the classic cinnamon coffee cake, which is meant to be enjoyed alongside a hot cup of joe. The flavors are all about cinnamon, brown sugar, and buttery streusel.

Can I make these smaller for a bigger batch?

Definitely! Just scoop smaller cookie portions, top with less streusel, and bake for a minute or two less. Keep in mind, the signature magic of Coffee Cake Cookies is their bakery-style size, so the texture will change with smaller cookies, but they’ll still be irresistible.

Is it important to chill the streusel before using?

Yes—chilling helps the butter stay cold so the streusel sets up into flavorful, crunchy clumps rather than melting away. This step ensures that each Coffee Cake Cookie has that irresistible crumbly topping you love.

Can I prepare the dough in advance?

You sure can! The dough can be made and stored in the fridge up to 24 hours ahead, or rolled into balls and frozen for longer storage. When the craving strikes, you’re already halfway to a fresh pan of cookies.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever craved a slice of cinnamon coffee cake but wished it was portable, these Coffee Cake Cookies are calling your name. They bring together all the best bakery flavors in a format you can share (or keep entirely to yourself). You’ll want to make them again and again—so go on, let your kitchen smell like cinnamon and happiness!

Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 26 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 8 large cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Coffee Cake Cookies are a delightful treat that combines the flavors of a classic coffee cake in cookie form. These cookies feature a cinnamon streusel topping and a sweet glaze, making them perfect for breakfast or a snack with your favorite cup of coffee.

Ingredients

Scale

For the streusel topping:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

For the cookies:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze:

2 tablespoons melted butter
3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

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Instructions

Prepare the streusel: Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in softened butter until clumps form. Chill while making the dough.
Make the dough: Preheat oven to 400°F. Cream cold butter with sugars. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix in combined dry ingredients until dough forms.
Form cookies: Roll dough into balls, place on baking sheets, make indentations, and fill with streusel. Bake until lightly golden.
Glaze: Whisk melted butter, cream, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Drizzle over cooled cookies.