Coffee Cake Cookies

Table of Contents

1. Coffee Cake Cookie Ingredients
2. Coffee Cake Cookies Substitutions and Additions
3. How To Make Coffee Cake Cookies
4. Troubleshooting This Coffee Cake Cookie Recipe
5. How To Serve Coffee Cake Cookies
6. How To Store Coffee Cake Cookies
7. Why We Love This Coffee Cake Cookie Recipe
8. Coffee Cake Cookies Frequently Asked Questions
9. More Recipes You'll Love
10. JUMP TO RECIPE

If you love the flavors of a classic coffee cake recipe, you’re going to adore these coffee cake cookies. The streusel topping is the star, made with just a few ingredients to create that perfectly crumbly texture we all know and love. With minimal prep and a short baking time, these cookies deliver all the flavor without the wait. You’ll also love how versatile they are—great for breakfast, a snack, or even a little bit of indulgence with your morning coffee.

What You Need To Know

• MAIN INGREDIENTS: all-purpose flour, cake flour, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, egg, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, half & half
• QUICK STEPS: Make the crumb topping and set aside, mix dry ingredients for the cookie dough, cream butter and sugars, combine wet and dry ingredients, shape dough into balls and indent the center, chill dough, fill indentations with crumb topping, bake, make icing, drizzle over cooled cookies
• TOTAL TIME AND YIELD: 1 hour 45 minutes total, yields 20 cookies

Why This Recipe

• Unlike traditional coffee cakes, this recipe comes together quickly with minimal prep time, thanks to straightforward steps like chilling the dough and baking in small batches for consistent results.
• What sets it apart is the use of both all-purpose flour and cake flour, which helps create a lighter, bakery-style cookie texture.

Coffee Cake Cookie Ingredients

These coffee cake cookies combine the rich, buttery goodness of a traditional coffee cake with the convenience of a cookie. The combination of flours, a crumbly streusel topping, and a sweet vanilla glaze creates a cookie that feels special but is easy enough to whip up anytime.

Here’s what you’ll need to make them:

Streusel Topping.

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Cookie Dough

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cake flour
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 ½ – 2 ½ tablespoons half & half
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Coffee Cake Cookies Substitutions and Additions

• Cake flour: If you don’t have cake flour, you can make your own by measuring one cup of all-purpose flour, then removing two tablespoons and replacing them with cornstarch. This keeps the light, fluffy texture.
• Light brown sugar: For a deeper molasses flavor, you can swap this out for dark brown sugar. This will give the cookies a richer taste.
• Unsalted butter: If you only have salted butter, you can use it but be sure to reduce or omit the additional salt in the recipe to balance it out.
• Granulated sugar: You can substitute coconut sugar for a more natural sweetness. Keep in mind, it may slightly darken the cookies and give them a more caramel-like taste.
• Half & half: If you’re out of half & half, you can use whole milk for a thinner glaze or heavy cream for a richer, creamier result.
• Vanilla extract: For a fun twist, try using vanilla bean paste or even almond extract instead. Almond extract will add a nutty depth of flavor that pairs well with the cinnamon crumb.
• Cinnamon: Feel free to add nutmeg or cardamom for a spicier, more complex flavor in both the crumb topping and the dough.

How To Make Coffee Cake Cookies

Making these coffee cake cookies is a straightforward process, but a few extra tips will help you get the perfect texture and flavor. From chilling the dough to creating the crumbly topping, follow these steps exactly to make sure your cookies come out soft and chewy, with a crunchy streusel topping and a perfectly drizzled vanilla glaze.

STEP ONE: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, unsalted butter, cinnamon, and salt.

Using a fork, press the ingredients together until they’re well combined and form a crumbly mixture. Once mixed, refrigerate the crumble while you prepare the cookie dough.

PRO TIP: For larger crumbs, you can use your hands to gently press the mixture together. This helps create that ideal crumb topping texture that gives these cookies their signature flavor.

STEP TWO: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

This step helps distribute the dry ingredients evenly so your cookies bake properly. Set the flour mixture aside.

STEP THREE: In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld electric mixer on medium speed, beat the unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar for about 30 seconds to one minute, or until the mixture is light and fluffy.

This step is crucial for incorporating air into the dough, which will give the cookies a soft texture. Be sure your butter is softened to room temperature for the best results.

STEP FOUR: Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture, and beat again until smooth and fully combined.

Using both the egg and the egg yolk gives these cookies extra richness and helps keep them soft. Make sure the mixture is well-blended before moving on to the next step.

STEP FIVE: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until everything is incorporated. The dough will be thick, which is what you want for these cookies.

Avoid over-mixing, as this can result in tougher cookies.

STEP SIX: Using a two-inch cookie scoop, scoop out dough balls and gently roll them in the palms of your hands to form smooth balls. Place each dough ball onto one of the prepared baking sheets, leaving an inch or two of space between them.

STEP SEVEN: Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, press an indentation into the center of each dough ball to hold the crumble topping. To prevent the dough from sticking, dip your thumb or spoon into a bit of all-purpose flour before pressing.

STEP SEVEN: Place the baking sheet with the shaped dough into the refrigerator and allow it to chill for 30 minutes to one hour. Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape and keeps the crumb topping from spreading too much during baking.

Don’t skip this step, as it’s key to achieving the right texture.

STEP EIGHT: While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F. Remove the crumble topping from the refrigerator, so it’s ready when the dough has finished chilling.

STEP NINE: Fill the indentation of each cookie with a heaping tablespoon of the chilled crumble topping.

STEP TEN: Bake the cookies for nine to eleven minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. The cookies will spread slightly as they bake.

STEP TEN: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five to eight minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

STEP ELEVEN: While the cookies are cooling, prepare the icing by whisking together the powdered sugar, half & half, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle the icing over the cooled cookies using a spoon.

Let the icing set for 30-40 minutes before serving or storing.

Troubleshooting This Coffee Cake Cookie Recipe

The cookies spread too much during baking.
Be sure to chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading.

The crumble topping doesn’t stick to the cookies.
Press the crumble topping gently into the indentation of the dough to help it adhere better.

The cookies are too hard or dry.
Avoid over-baking. Pull the cookies out when the edges are just turning golden brown and the center is set but still soft.

The icing is too runny.
Add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until the icing reaches your desired consistency.

The dough is too sticky to shape.
Dust your hands and the back of the spoon with a little all-purpose flour to prevent sticking when forming the dough balls.

The cookies don’t hold their shape during baking.
Use the proper mix of all-purpose flour and cake flour to help the cookies maintain structure. Also, make sure your butter is at room temperature for better texture.

The crumb topping isn’t crunchy enough.
Make sure the butter in the crumble is fully softened and mixed well. Larger chunks of butter crumbs will help keep the topping crunchy.

The cookies stick to the baking sheet.
Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easy removal and to prevent sticking.

The cookies are too salty.
If you use salted butter instead of unsalted butter, reduce the additional salt in the recipe or omit it altogether.

The dough cracks when you make the indentation.
If the dough cracks, dip your thumb or spoon in all-purpose flour to make the indentation smoother.

How To Serve Coffee Cake Cookies

These coffee cake cookies are versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of settings, whether you’re serving them with your morning cup of coffee or adding them to a holiday dessert spread. Their soft, chewy texture and rich crumb topping make them the perfect sweet treat for any occasion.

With Coffee or Tea: Serve these cookies with a warm cup of coffee or tea for a classic pairing. The cinnamon and vanilla glaze in the cookies complement the rich, bold flavors of coffee or the light floral notes of tea, making them an ideal choice for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

As a Dessert Platter Addition: Add these coffee cake cookies to a dessert platter alongside blueberry coffee cake, mini cupcakes, or cinnamon roll cookies. The variety of flavors and textures will make the platter more appealing, with the chewy coffee cake cookies offering a unique twist on traditional cookies.

Ice Cream Sandwiches: For a fun dessert, you can use these cookies to create ice cream sandwiches. Simply take two cookies and fill them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The crumb topping and cinnamon in the cookies pair wonderfully with the cold, creamy ice cream for a delicious treat.

Breakfast or Brunch: Incorporate these cookies into your next brunch spread. They work well as a sweet addition alongside savory dishes like an egg casserole or breakfast sliders. The crumb topping and cinnamon filling give them the perfect balance to enjoy with a more savory meal.

Holiday Gatherings: These cookies make an excellent addition to any holiday dessert table. Serve them next to other holiday treats like sour cream coffee cake or pumpkin pie. The vanilla icing adds a festive touch, and the warm cinnamon flavor makes them a hit at Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings.

Crumbled Over Yogurt or Pudding: For a creative twist, crumble the cookies over a bowl of Greek yogurt or vanilla pudding. The crumb topping adds a crunchy texture, while the cookie base provides a soft contrast, making this a fun way to enjoy the cookies in a new form.

How To Store Coffee Cake Cookies

Properly storing your coffee cake cookies will help keep them fresh and ready to enjoy, whether you’re making them ahead of time or saving leftovers. With the right approach, you can make sure these cookies maintain their soft texture and delicious crumb topping for days to come.

MAKE AHEAD: You can make these cookies ahead of time by preparing the dough and crumb topping in advance. Shape the dough into cookie dough balls, make the indentations, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.

You can also prepare the crumb topping and keep it stored in the fridge in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble and bake the cookies.

IN THE FRIDGE: Once baked, these cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. The crumb topping will stay crisp, and the vanilla glaze will hold its texture. Be sure to let the cookies cool completely before refrigerating to avoid condensation.

IN THE FREEZER: To freeze, allow the cookies to cool fully, then place them in an airtight container or wrap them individually in plastic wrap. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to three months.

When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw at room temperature or in the fridge overnight. You can freeze the cookie dough as well, just shape it into balls and freeze them unbaked. When ready to bake, thaw the dough in the fridge for a few hours, then bake as directed.

REHEATING: If you want to warm up your cookies, you can reheat them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. For a crispier texture, use the oven at 300°F for five to seven minutes, or until warmed through. Be cautious when reheating so that the crumb topping stays crunchy and the cookies don’t become too soft.

Why We Love This Coffee Cake Cookie Recipe

There are so many reasons why these coffee cake cookies have become a favorite around here. It’s not just the comforting flavors, but also how simple and flexible the recipe is, making it a great addition to any baking rotation.

Easy to Make: With straightforward steps and basic ingredients, anyone can whip up these cookies without breaking a sweat.

Bakery-Style Cookies at Home: The combination of cake flour and all-purpose flour gives these cookies that soft, airy texture you’d expect from a bakery.

Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s for a casual coffee morning or a holiday dessert table, these cookies fit right in and always impress.

Great for Make-Ahead: You can easily prep the dough in advance, so you’ll have fresh cookies ready to bake whenever you need them.

A Unique Twist on Classic Coffee Cake: These cookies deliver all the comforting flavors of a traditional coffee cake recipe in a fun and portable form.

These coffee cake cookies are the perfect mix of soft, chewy texture and a buttery crumb topping that brings comfort to every bite. Whether for a quick snack or a special occasion, this easy recipe will quickly become a go-to favorite.

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