Delight in these enchanting coffee cake cookies that bring together a tender cinnamon sugar base and a rich, buttery streusel filling. Crowned with a smooth powdered sugar icing, each bite offers an irresistible harmony of spice and sweetness. Pair them with a warm cup of coffee for a truly indulgent treat.
I’ve been working on a recipe that brings a fun twist on two classic desserts. These Coffee Cake Cookies combine the best parts of a cinnamon sugar cookie with a delicious, buttery streusel filling.
I wanted something you could enjoy with a warm cup of coffee, so I put together a cookie dough using 2 1/4 cups of all purpose flour, 1 cup of unsalted butter, granulated sugar and eggs for a soft texture and a hint of vanilla extract. The streusel is a mix of 1/2 cup light brown sugar, all purpose flour and ground cinnamon, mixed with cold diced butter to create a crunchy filling.
The cookies get finished with a simple powdered sugar icing made from powdered sugar, milk and a touch of vanilla extract for sweetness. They make for great holiday baking and fall treats with a bit of nutritional value from its basic ingredients that you can count on.
Why I Like this Recipe
1. I really love how these cookies bring together two of my favorite desserts in one bite. The combo of a soft cookie dough with that buttery streusel fillin makes every bite a little adventure in flavor.
2. I enjoy that they’re super easy to make—even when my kitchen gets a bit messy, the process feels fun and the results are totally worth it.
3. The powdered sugar icing on top gives a sweet finish that reminds me of warm, cozy mornings, and it pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee.
4. I like the fact that the recipe gives me room for improvise, like adding a little extra cinnamon or tweaking the icing. This makes it feel like home-cooked comfort with a casual, creative twist.
Ingredients
- All Purpose Flour: provides carbs and structure to cookies, giving them a chewy texture.
- Unsalted Butter: adds rich flavor and moisture, tenderizing the dough and making it melt in your mouth.
- Granulated Sugar: sweetens the dough while helping produce a lovely browning on the edges.
- Light Brown Sugar: offers extra moisture and a subtle molasses flavor to elevate the taste.
- Ground Cinnamon: lends a warm, aromatic spice that infuses both the dough and streusel.
- Eggs: supply protein and bind ingredients together, ensuring a soft, sturdy cookie.
- Vanilla Extract: adds depth and a classic taste that rounds out the sweetness and spice.
- Milk: gives icing a smooth, creamy texture and balanced consistency.
Ingredient Quantities
- Cookie Dough – 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- Cookie Dough – 1/2 tsp baking soda
- Cookie Dough – 1/2 tsp salt
- Cookie Dough – 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Cookie Dough – 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- Cookie Dough – 1 cup granulated sugar
- Cookie Dough – 2 large eggs
- Cookie Dough – 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Streusel Filling – 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- Streusel Filling – 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- Streusel Filling – 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Streusel Filling – 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
- Powdered Sugar Icing – 1 cup powdered sugar
- Powdered Sugar Icing – 2 to 3 tbsp milk
- Powdered Sugar Icing – 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
How to Make this
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon.
3. In another big bowl, cream 1 cup unsalted butter (softened) with 1 cup granulated sugar until its light and fluffy then beat in the 2 large eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
4. Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
5. For the streusel filling, mix 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup light brown sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon in a small bowl then cut in 1/4 cup cold diced unsalted butter until the mixture becomes crumbly.
6. Scoop out balls of cookie dough onto the prepared sheet about 2 inches apart, then make a small indentation in the center of each cookie with your thumb.
7. Fill each indentation with a spoonful of the streusel mixture and gently press it in.
8. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden on top.
9. While the cookies bake, prepare the powdered sugar icing by whisking 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 to 3 tbsp milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract until its smooth.
10. Once the cookies have cooled a bit, drizzle the powdered sugar icing on top and enjoy with your warm cup of coffee.
Equipment Needed
1. Oven
2. Baking sheet
3. Parchment paper
4. Large bowl for wet ingredients
5. Medium bowl for dry ingredients
6. Small bowl for streusel filling and icing
7. Whisk
8. Electric mixer or hand mixer
9. Measuring cups and spoons
10. Cookie scoop or regular spoon
11. Cooling rack (optional)
FAQ
Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- All Purpose Flour: Try swapping it out with whole wheat pastry flour for a nuttier flavor. The cookies might be a bit denser but still delicious.
- Baking Soda: If you dont have any on hand, use baking powder instead by using about 1 1/2 tsp for the 1/2 tsp baking soda. The rise wont be exactly the same but they should turn out fine.
- Unsalted Butter: You can substitute with an equal amount of coconut oil or light margarine. Keep in mind that these swaps can add a slightly different flavor to your cookies.
- Light Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar can work as a replacement if you prefer a richer, more molasses-like taste or even raw sugar can be used; just note that moisture and sweetness might vary a bit.
Pro Tips
1. Make sure your butter is really soft; if it’s too hard it wont cream properly so your cookies might turn out dense.
2. When mixing in the dry ingredients, stir just until you no longer see big pockets of flour – over mixing can make the cookies tough.
3. If you’re having trouble getting an even crumbly streusel, try cutting the cold butter into uniform bits and chill them a little bit beforehand so it stays solid till you mix.
4. Always let your baked cookies cool a bit on the tray, they continue to set as they cool down and its easier to add the glaze without it running off.
Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
My favorite Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Oven
2. Baking sheet
3. Parchment paper
4. Large bowl for wet ingredients
5. Medium bowl for dry ingredients
6. Small bowl for streusel filling and icing
7. Whisk
8. Electric mixer or hand mixer
9. Measuring cups and spoons
10. Cookie scoop or regular spoon
11. Cooling rack (optional)
Ingredients:
- Cookie Dough – 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- Cookie Dough – 1/2 tsp baking soda
- Cookie Dough – 1/2 tsp salt
- Cookie Dough – 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Cookie Dough – 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- Cookie Dough – 1 cup granulated sugar
- Cookie Dough – 2 large eggs
- Cookie Dough – 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Streusel Filling – 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- Streusel Filling – 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- Streusel Filling – 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Streusel Filling – 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
- Powdered Sugar Icing – 1 cup powdered sugar
- Powdered Sugar Icing – 2 to 3 tbsp milk
- Powdered Sugar Icing – 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon.
3. In another big bowl, cream 1 cup unsalted butter (softened) with 1 cup granulated sugar until its light and fluffy then beat in the 2 large eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
4. Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
5. For the streusel filling, mix 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup light brown sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon in a small bowl then cut in 1/4 cup cold diced unsalted butter until the mixture becomes crumbly.
6. Scoop out balls of cookie dough onto the prepared sheet about 2 inches apart, then make a small indentation in the center of each cookie with your thumb.
7. Fill each indentation with a spoonful of the streusel mixture and gently press it in.
8. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden on top.
9. While the cookies bake, prepare the powdered sugar icing by whisking 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 to 3 tbsp milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract until its smooth.
10. Once the cookies have cooled a bit, drizzle the powdered sugar icing on top and enjoy with your warm cup of coffee.
