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Cherry Coffee Cake Recipe with Crumb Topping

Cherry coffee cake is a delightful treat that you can easily whip up for a delicious breakfast or a satisfying mid-morning snack. Bursting with the sweetness of cherries and the comforting flavors of a classic coffee cake, this delicious coffee cake is great for dessert as well. 

Perfect with a cup of coffee or tea, this coffee crumb cake will start your morning off right. 

Up close shot of a slice of Cherry Coffee Cake.

This cherry coffee cake is perfect for the Christmas season or during cherry season when using fresh cherries. This coffee cake is an easy make-ahead breakfast recipe for any special occasion.

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Ingredients in Cherry Coffee Cake

Squares of Cherry Coffee Cake on parchment paper with plates.
  • granulated sugar
  • unsalted butter, softened
  • almond extract
  • vanilla extract
  • baking powder
  • large eggs
  • all-purpose flour
  • salt
  • can of cherry pie filling

Crumble Topping

  • unsalted butter, softened
  • all purpose flour
  • brown sugar
  • ground cinnamon

Coffee Cake Drizzle

  • powdered sugar
  • milk

See the recipe card for ingredient amounts and directions.

Cherry Coffee Cake without icing and uncut.
Glazed and uncut 9x13 dish of Cherry Coffee Cake.

How to Make Cherry Coffee Cake

Making a cherry coffee cake is simple and requires only a few ingredients. Get your ingredients ready ahead of time by softening your butter and setting the eggs out to room temperature. 

Step 1: Preheat Oven

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). While the oven is heating up, prepare a 9 x 13-inch baking dish by greasing it with butter or non-stick spray to prevent the cake from sticking. You can also use parchment paper to line the baking dish.

Step 2: Prepare the Batter

In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and almond extracts, and beat in the eggs until just combined. 

Next, in a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.

Step 3: Make the Crumble Topping

In a small food processor or using a pastry blender, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a food processor and blend until large crumbs come together. If you prefer smaller crumbs, continue blending until the desired crumbs are reached.

Step 4: Fill Baking Dish and Bake

Pour two-thirds of the batter into the prepared baking dish and evenly spread the cherry filling over top of the cake layer. Use an offset spatula to evenly spread the pie filling over the batter to create the cherry layer.

Drop the remaining cake batter by the spoonful on top of the cherry filling.

Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the top of the coffee cake and gently press it down into the batter.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown. 

Allow the coffee cake to cool completely before drizzling with icing. 

Step 5: Drizzle with icing. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and the milk and mix until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled coffee cake, slice, and serve. 

Enjoy your delicious homemade treat with a cup of coffee or tea!

Hint: Using a small food processor is useful when making an easy crumb topping. Just use short pulses to get coarse crumbs to fine crumbs depending on preference.

A slice of Cherry Coffee Cake with crumb topping on a plate.

Substitutions

When making a cherry coffee cake, you may want to try different ingredient substitutions to suit your preferences or accommodate dietary restrictions. 

  • Oil: Instead of using butter in your cherry coffee cake, you can substitute it with a neutral oil like vegetable oil, canola oil, or even coconut oil. Using oil will result in a slightly different texture.
  • Fruit: If you don't have cherry pie filling on hand or want to try something different, other fruit fillings can also work beautifully in this recipe. You can also use frozen cherries or fresh cherries in this recipe. 
  • Nuts: For added crunch or a nutty flavor, consider adding pecans to your cherry coffee cake crumble. You can incorporate them into the streusel topping or simply sprinkle them on top.

Remember that when making substitutions, the end result may vary slightly from the original recipe, but experimenting with ingredients can lead to new and delicious variations. Happy baking!

Cut squares of Cherry Coffee Cake on parchment paper.

Variations for Cherry Coffee Cake

When it comes to customizing your cherry coffee cake, there are plenty of options to explore. For instance, you can easily swap out the typical cherry pie filling with other fruit-based fillings, such as blackberry, blueberry, apple, or pineapple, to create a unique and delightful twist to the classic recipe.

Toppings: If you prefer to leave the crumb topping off of this cake, simply omit it from the recipe and bake as directed. You can choose to leave the cake drizzle off as well. Mixing nuts into the crumb topping will give the cherry coffee cake a nice crunch.

Tweaking the Filling: If you prefer using fresh cherries, you can make homemade cherry pie filling or you can mix nuts, or chocolate chips right into the filling.

A cake server holding up a slice of Cherry Coffee Cake.

Storing Coffee Cake

This cherry coffee cake is very easy to store for short term or long term storage. The first step is to allow the coffee cake to cool completely before putting it in an airtight container. This will prevent condensation from building up inside the container and making the cake soggy. You can store the coffee cake at room temperature for up to 4 days.  For longer storage, you can place the coffee cake in the refrigerator. This method can extend the freshness of your cake up to a week. For the best flavor, set the cake out to reach room temperature or put it in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up. 

For long-term storage, you can freeze your cherry coffee cake. To do this, slice your cake into pieces and wrap each individual slice in plastic wrap, and place them in a freezer safe bag.  When you're ready to enjoy your frozen cake, let it thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature. 

Following these storage tips will ensure that you can savor every bite of your cherry coffee cake, whether it's for breakfast, dessert, or a midday treat. Remember - keeping the cake properly stored is the key to maintaining its delicious taste and texture.

Tools Needed to Make a Coffee Cake

To make a coffee cake, you will typically need the following tools:

A fork of Cherry Coffee Cake with a plate under it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ingredients are needed for a sour cherry coffee cake?

For a sour cherry coffee cake, you'll need the following ingredients: fresh or frozen sour cherries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch to make the filling.

How can I make a vegan cherry coffee cake?

To make a vegan cherry coffee cake, substitute regular milk with non-dairy milk, such as almond, soy, or oat milk. Replace the eggs with a vegan egg substitute, like flax eggs or applesauce. Use vegan butter or coconut oil instead of regular butter.

How can I prepare a cherry coffee cake using a cake mix?

To make a cherry coffee cake using a cake mix, prepare the cake mix according to the package instructions, adding a teaspoon of almond and vanilla extract for extra flavor.

Pour two-thirds of the batter into a greased 13x9 pan, then spoon cherry pie filling over the batter, finishing the cake layers with spoonfuls of cake mix. Bake according to the directions on the back of the cake mix box.

What is the recipe for a healthy cherry coffee cake?

For a healthier cherry coffee cake, start by using whole wheat flour or almond flour instead of all-purpose flour. Replace granulated sugar with a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

Use a healthier fat option like coconut oil or avocado oil instead of butter. You can also add in some nuts, such as almonds or walnuts, for added heart-healthy fats and protein.

How can I make a cherry coffee cake using frozen cherries?

To make a cherry coffee cake with frozen cherries, first let the cherries thaw and drain any excess liquid. Once drained, add in granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch to make the filling.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 15 slices

Cherry Coffee Cake with Crumb Topping

Up close shot of a slice of Cherry Coffee Cake with crumb topping.

Cherry coffee cake is a delightful treat that you can easily whip up for a delicious breakfast or a satisfying mid-morning snack. Bursting with the sweetness of cherries and the comforting flavors of a classic coffee cake, this delicious coffee cake is great for dessert as well. 

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

Coffee Cake

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 21 ounce can of cherry pie filling

Crumble Topping

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon

Coffee Cake Drizzle

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Coffee Cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and lightly grease a 13x9 baking dish or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine the butter and the sugar until creamy. Beat in the almond and vanilla extracts.
  3. Beat in the eggs just until combined.
  4. In a medium bowl combine the baking powder, salt, and the all-purpose flour.
  5. Gently blend the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until combined.
  6. Pour two-thirds of the batter into the prepared baking dish and evenly spread the cherry filling over top of the batter. Use an offset spatula to evenly spread the pie filling over the batter.
  7. Drop the remaining cake batter by the spoonful on top of the cherry filling.
  8. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the top of the cake batter and gently press it down into the batter.
  9. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
  10. Allow the coffee cake to cool completely before drizzling with icing.

Crumb Topping Directions

  1. In a small food processor and or by using a pastry cutter or fork, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a food processor and blend until coarse crumbs come together.
  2. Sprinkle over the coffee cake and gently press the crumbs down into the top of the cake.

Coffee Cake Drizzle

  1. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and the milk and mix until smooth.
  2. Drizzle over the cooled coffee cake, slice, and serve.

Notes

Freezer instructions: Cool the coffee cake completely and slice your cake into pieces. Wrap each individual slice in plastic wrap, and place them in a freezer-safe bag.  When you're ready to enjoy your frozen cake, let it thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

15

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 453Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 119mgCarbohydrates: 69gFiber: 1gSugar: 33gProtein: 5g

Nutrition calculation is a rough estimate and can vary depending on the cooking technique and the exact ingredients used. For informational purposes only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Amy Liu Dong

Sunday 5th of November 2023

This flavor is new to me but I’ll gladly try it! It looks delicious and interesting!

Jamie

Sunday 5th of November 2023

Oh my, this cake is an instant favorite with its Cherry Coffee flavor! Plus it really looks so delicious and the presentation is just so enticing and very tempting! I loved it!

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