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Slice of soft and moist cinnamon crumb cake topped with thick buttery streusel and powdered sugar on a white plate.

Cinnamon Crumb Cake (Soft, Moist & Bakery-Style)

5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 9 large slices
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 677
Soft and buttery cinnamon crumb cake layered with thick streusel inside and on top. This bakery-style crumb cake is moist, fluffy, and easy to make.

Ingredients

Cinnamon Streusel
  • 1 ½ cups (185g) all-purpose flour
  • cup (125g) packed light brown sugar
  • cup (65g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¾ cup (170g) cold salted butter, cubed
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
Coffee Cake Batter
  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (115g) cake flour
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (113g) salted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • ¾ cup (180g) sour cream room temperature
  • cup (80g) whole milk room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
  • Powder Sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

Make the Streusel

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
  • Add the cold butter and cut it in using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until pea sized crumbs form.
  • Add the vanilla and gently toss together. Refrigerate while you make the batter.

Make the Cake

  • In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and oil together on medium speed for 2–3 minutes, until pale and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.Mix in the vanilla. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the sour cream and milk. Mix just until combined. The batter should be thick, fluffy, and spreadable.

Assemble

  • Spread half of the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Remove the refrigerated streusel from the fridge and sprinkle about ⅓ of it evenly over the batter. Squeeze some of the streusel together with your hands to create larger bakery-style crumbs.
  • Top with the remaining batter and gently spread it out. Finish with the remaining streusel on top, again squeezing together to create some larger crumbs. It will be a thick layer.
  • Bake on the middle oven rack for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Allow the cake to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and top with a dusting of powder sugar. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients: Room temperature butter, eggs, sour cream, and milk blend together more smoothly and help create a lighter, more even crumb.
  • Chill the streusel: Keeping the crumble cold helps create larger bakery-style crumbs that hold their shape while baking.
  • Cake flour matters: The combination of cake flour and all-purpose flour gives this cake a soft, plush texture while still supporting the heavy streusel layers. You can substitute the cake flour with all-purpose flour, but expect a denser cake. 
  • Check the cake layer, not the crumbs: When testing for doneness, insert the knife into the cake portion rather than a streusel pocket. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cinnamon Crumb Cake (Soft, Moist & Bakery-Style)
Amount per Serving
Calories
677
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
34
g
52
%
Saturated Fat
 
19
g
119
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
10
g
Cholesterol
 
117
mg
39
%
Sodium
 
516
mg
22
%
Potassium
 
144
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
86
g
29
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
47
g
52
%
Protein
 
8
g
16
%
Vitamin A
 
980
IU
20
%
Vitamin C
 
0.2
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
135
mg
14
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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