Imagine biting into a tender, buttery cake interwoven with a bright, zesty lemon flavor, finished with a sweet, crunchy crumble topping. This Lemon Coffee Cake is the perfect treat to brighten your mornings or elevate your afternoon coffee break.
This coffee cake is a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavors with a melt-in-your-mouth crumb and a delightful crunch from the streusel topping.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A lovely balance of tangy lemon and sweet cake, with a buttery, cinnamon-spiced crumble.
- Textures: The cake is soft and moist, with a tender crumb. The streusel topping adds a delightful crunch.
- Total Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes, with approximately 20 minutes of active preparation.
- Difficulty: Beginner-friendly. This coffee cake is easy to make and the results are consistently delicious.
What You’ll Need
This Luscious Lemon Coffee Cake comes together with simple ingredients. You’ll need flour, sugar, butter, and eggs for the cake, along with lemon zest and juice for that signature citrus flavor. The delightful crumble topping requires similar ingredients and a touch of cinnamon to complete the experience. Be sure to have your standard baking equipment like a 9×13 inch baking pan, mixing bowls, and a whisk handy.
Ingredient Notes
- All-Purpose Flour – This is the foundation of our cake and is essential for structure but be sure not to over mix it.
- Granulated Sugar – Adds sweetness and enhances the cake’s tenderness and the streusel topping’s flavor.
- Baking Powder – This is what makes the cake beautifully light and fluffy.
- Salt – Salt balances the sweetness and brings all the flavors together.
- Unsalted Butter – Essential for both the cake and the streusel, providing richness and tenderness. Make sure it’s cold for the streusel.
- Eggs – These bind the ingredients, add moisture, and contribute to the cake’s structure.
- Milk – Adds moisture, and helps create a tender crumb.
- Lemon Zest – The zest provides the vibrant lemon flavor and aroma.
- Lemon Juice – It adds that classic tangy taste to the cake batter.
- Cinnamon – Used in the streusel topping, it infuses a warm, fragrant spice.
- Powdered Sugar – Used for the optional glaze adding a final touch of sweetness.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Nuts: For added texture, consider adding chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, to the streusel topping.
- Citrus Variation: Try substituting the lemon with other citrus, like orange or grapefruit, for a different flavor profile.
- Spice: If you enjoy warmth in your cakes, try adding a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the streusel.
How to Make Luscious Lemon Coffee Cake
Get ready to make a delicious coffee cake! Here’s how you do it, step-by-step:
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grab your 9×13 inch baking pan and grease it thoroughly. This will prevent your cake from sticking, and it’s essential for easy serving.
Next, you will want to make the streusel. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, cold butter, and cinnamon. Use a fork or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it’s crumbly, and refrigerate while you prepare the cake.
Now, let’s prepare the cake batter. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then, in a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, eggs, milk, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
Add the wet ingredients and mix to the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter. Pour half of the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle half of the streusel evenly over the batter. Now, pour the remaining batter over the streusel, and sprinkle the remaining streusel on top.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Pro Tip: Don’t overmix the cake batter; it will cause a tough cake.
Allow the cake to cool completely before drizzling with a powdered sugar glaze, if desired. To make the glaze, combine powdered sugar with a little lemon juice and milk until you get a smooth, pourable consistency. Using a fork or a whisk, drizzle this glaze over the top of the cooled cake for an extra touch of sweetness and visual appeal.
Recipe Tips
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Bringing your eggs and milk to room temperature helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter.
- Don’t Overbake: Over baking the cake will dry it out, so keep a close eye on it toward the end of the baking time.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cake to cool completely before adding the glaze if you are using it.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Prep Ahead: Make the streusel ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake the cake.
FAQs
- Can I substitute the lemon juice for something else? You could try other citrus juices like orange or grapefruit juice, or you can substitute an equal amount of milk.
- How do I store this coffee cake? Store the leftover coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Can I freeze this coffee cake? Yes, you can freeze the cake. Wrap individual slices or the whole cake (without glaze) tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature.
- How will I know when my cake is done? The cake is done when the edges are golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Serving Suggestions
- Coffee & Tea: Enjoy your Lemon Coffee Cake with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, tea, or even a citrus-infused herbal tea for a complete experience.
- Fresh Fruit: Serve with fresh berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, to add extra freshness.
- Whipped Cream: A dollop of fresh whipped cream complements the cake with its light and airy texture.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Warm cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream offers a delightful contrast of temperatures and flavors.
- A Simple Glaze: A simple glaze with powdered sugar, lemon juice, and milk or water adds a final touch of sweetness and visual appeal.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can make the streusel topping a day or two in advance and store it in the refrigerator. The cake can be baked and cooled, then stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen. The glaze is best made just before serving to maintain its consistency.
Print
Luscious Lemon Coffee Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 9x9 inch cake 1x
Description
Luscious Lemon Coffee Cake is a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavors with a melt-in-your-mouth crumb and a delightful crunch from the streusel topping.
Ingredients
Lemon Streusel:
4 Tbsp (57g) butter, melted
1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour, stir, spoon & level
⅓ cup (68g) granulated sugar
1 Tbsp lemon zest, no white pith (about 1 lemon)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Lemon Cake:
2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour, stir, spoon & level
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ cup (113g) butter, (1 stick); room temperature/softened
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
2 Tbsp lemon zest, no white pith (about 2 lemons)
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup (177ml) buttermilk, room temperature
¼ cup (59ml) lemon juice, room temperature
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9×9 inch pan.
STREUSEL. Melt butter. Add flour, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon Juice. Mix until clumpy. Chill
CAKE BATTER. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Cream butter, sugar, and lemon zest. Add eggs one by one, then vanilla. Add half the dry ingredients, mix, then add buttermilk and lemon juice. Mix, then add remaining dry ingredients. Dont over-mix.
ASSEMBLY. Spread batter into pan. Sprinkle streusel topping, breaking up clumps.
Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes, until cake springs back when touched. Cool before serving. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with lemon glaze.
Notes
Bringing your eggs and milk to room temperature helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter.
Don’t overbake the cake will dry it out, so keep a close eye on it toward the end of the baking time.
Allow the cake to cool completely before adding the glaze if you are using it.
For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Make the streusel ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake the cake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
