This sour cream coffee cake is absolute bliss! It's soft, fluffy, and has a cinnamon sugar streusel. This cake is super soft thanks to the sour cream. It is truly the perfect way to start the day.

It's got a cinnamon sugar filling and is topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel. The hint of cinnamon flavours mixed with the warm spices and fluffy cake is out of this world.
For more coffee cake recipes, try Applesauce Coffee Cake, Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins, and Brown Butter Coffee Cake.
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Why this recipe works
Fluffy simple cake - This is a soft and fluffy coffee cake. It is so good!
Cinnamon filling - A layer of cinnamon and brown sugar is sprinkled in the middle adding even more flavour.
Brown sugar streusel - Full of buttery sugar goodness, this 5 ingredient crumble crisps up while baking and adds the perfect crunch.
Ingredients Notes
Scroll to view a few ingredients notes. Full recipe and measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Baking soda & baking powder - Make sure it isn't expired!
Cinnamon - An essential spice in this cake!
Cornstarch – This helps add a tender crumb to the cake.
Eggs – Remove two hours before baking.
Flour – I used all-purpose flour for this recipe and it cannot be substituted for any other type of flour.
Sour Cream - Make sure it's at room temperature and it is full-fat sour cream. This is a main ingredient in this recipe.
Vanilla – Using a good quality vanilla is important to enhance the flavours.

Step by step instructions
Here is how to make and bake this Sour Cream Coffee Cake. You will need an 9×9 square pan lined with parchment paper, three mixing bowls, a spatula, and a whisk.
Step 1 – Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C and line and grease a 9×9 inch square pan. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside. This will be the filling.
Step 2 – Make the streusel. In a medium sized bowl, add flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter. Using a fork or your hands, mix this until combined. Then add 1 tbsp of extra flour on top and using your hands, crumble the streusel into smaller and larger pieces. You may need 1 more tbsp of flour. Set aside in the fridge when done.

Step 3 – Mix dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, add in flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Mix together and set aside.
Step 4 – Whisk wet ingredients. In a large bowl, add oil, butter, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Whisk together until well combined and smooth. Then mix in the white sugar.


Step 5 – Add in dry ingredients. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and using a spatula, gently fold to create a soft cake batter.


Step 6 – Layer. Add half of the batter into your prepared pan and spread evenly. Then sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar topping, and about 4-5 tbsp of the streusel. Add the remaining half of your batter evenly, and then the rest of your streusel on top. I recommend dolloping the batter using a cookie scooper. This helps to evenly distribute the batter without disturbing the filling layer!



Step 7 – Bake. Bake the cake for 35-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out dry. Mine took 45 minutes. If it is wet, then the cake hasn’t fully baked yet so continue to bake at 5 minute intervals. Allow it to cool completely.

Expert Baking Tips
Here are a few expert baking tips from my kitchen to yours
- Make sure all of your wet ingredients are at room temperature. It’s important or else the ingredients won’t work the way we want them too together.
- The type of sour cream you use matters. Make sure it is full fat.
- For the streusel: Make sure the butter is softened. If you make it with melted butter, the streusel will not turn out.
FAQ
Why isn’t there any coffee in this cake?
Coffee cake actually doesn’t have any coffee in it! It’s meant to be paired with a cup of coffee.
Why is there sour cream in this cake and can I taste it?
You cannot taste it at all. Using sour cream in cakes creates a superrrr soft and tender cake. It is what fluffy dreams are made of. If you don’t have any sour cream on hand, use full fat plain yogurt instead.
Can I use bananas instead of sour cream?
Check out Banana Sour Cream Coffee Cake.

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Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
For the cinnamon filling
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For the streusel
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 cups all-purpose flour + 1-2 tbsp on the side
- 6 tbsp butter softened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C and line and grease a 9×9 inch square pan. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside. This will be the filling.1/4 cup dark brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon
For the streusel
- In a medium sized bowl, add flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter. Using a fork, mix this until combined. Then add 1 tbsp of extra flour on top and using your hands, crumble the streusel into smaller and larger pieces. Set aside in the fridge when done.1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 6 tbsp butter
For the cake
- In a medium-sized bowl, add in flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Mix together and set aside.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1/2 tsp salt
- In a large bowl, add butter, oil, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Whisk together until well combined. Then add in white sugar and whisk in.1/2 cup butter, 2 tbsp oil, 1 cup white sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup sour cream, 1 tbsp vanilla
- Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and using a spatula, gently fold to create a soft cake batter.
- Add half of the batter into your prepared pan and spread evenly. Then sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar topping, and about 4-5 tbsp of the streusel. Add the remaining half of your batter (I find using a cookie scooper works best to not disturb the layer below) and *gently* spread evenly, and then the rest of your streusel on top. Check photos above to see visual.
- Bake the cake for 35-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out dry. Mine took 50 minutes. If it is wet, then the cake hasn’t fully baked yet so continue to bake at 5 minute intervals. Allow it to cool completely.
Brittany says
This worked exactly as written, thanks! It is amazing!
Ania says
Hi Brittany, I'm so happy to hear this, thank you!
Sara says
I made this cake for the weekend ...so,so delicious and the texture is fantastic . Thanks for an amazing recipe . Definitely will make it again . Next time I may add more cinnamon in the streusel .
Ania says
Hi Sara! I'm so happy to hear this and that the coffee cake was delicious on your weekend. Thanks for sharing, it made my day 🙂
Donna Formoe says
I want to make this coffee cake. The only ingredient I don't have is corn starch.
Ania says
Hi Donna, the cornstarch adds a nice texture to the coffee cake, but you can make it without it. Just add 1 tbsp of extra flour. Enjoy!