Sour Cream Coffee Cake
If you’re looking for an out-of-this-world, above and beyond coffee cake, you’ve come to the right post. This is no Entenmann’s, for sure. I watched Ina Garten make this cake on an episode of Barefoot Contessa well over a year ago. I looked up the recipe online, saved it, and there it sat ever since. I have been dying to make it but the streusel looked so wonderful that I didn’t want to make it and have to omit the cinnamon and walnuts due to my allergies. Now that my food allergies have gone their merry way, I couldn’t wait to bust out my tube pan and whip up this cake. Speaking of tube pans, this was my first time using one, and now I might be addicted. Incidentally, this was also my first time making a coffee cake. I’ve certainly eaten my fair share, but making one was high on my list of things I want to try.ย I’d still love to try a yeasted coffee cake and see what the significant differences are. If anyone has made one and loved it, please share your recipe!
I don’t recommend making this cake if you are already hungry, because the smell that wafts from the oven is so sinfully delicious that it might make you want to lick the oven door. We’re talking seriously fabulous.
It probably isn’t shocking to hear that the streusel that runs through the middle of this cake and graces the top steals the show. The flavor is absolutely fabulous – not too sweet or dense, and the cinnamon doesn’t overpower as I had suspected it might when I was putting the cake together. The use of cake flour gives a lighter, less-dense texture to the cake and the maple-flavored glaze all add up to an absolutely fabulous accompaniment to a cup of coffee or your favorite tea.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
12 tablespoons (1ยฝ sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1ยฝ cups granulated sugar
3 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1ยฝ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1ยผ cups sour cream
2ยฝ cups cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
ยฝ teaspoon salt
For the streusel:
ยผ cup light brown sugar, packed
ยฝ cup all-purpose flour
1ยฝ teaspoons ground cinnamon
ยผ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
ยพ cup chopped walnuts, optional
For the glaze:
ยฝ cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons real maple syrup
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350ยฐ F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.
Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Finish stirring with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.
For the streusel, place the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and butter in a bowl and pinch together with your fingers until it forms a crumble. Mix in the walnuts, if desired.
Spoon half the batter into the pan and spread it out with a knife. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup streusel. Spoon the rest of the batter in the pan, spread it out, and scatter the remaining streusel on top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
Let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Carefully transfer the cake, streusel side up, onto a serving plate. Whisk the confectioners' sugar and maple syrup together, adding a few drops of water if necessary, to make the glaze runny. Drizzle as much as you like over the cake with a fork or spoon.
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
(Source: Barefoot Contessa)
All images and text ยฉ
Not that I’m impressed a lot, but this is a lot more than I expected for when I stumpled upon a link on Delicious telling that the info is awesome. Thanks.
Wow your coffeecake looks absolutely perfect! I’m saving this recipe.
This looks amazing. I absolutely love coffee cake, especially topped with streusel.
I love coffee cake and this looks amazing!
I would love for you to come to CA! Once my store is up I will post my class schedule for the year! Your coffee cake looks soooo delicious by the way!
Coffee cake can be good or bad. Many are way too dry but this one… with the sour cream and the streusel topping… well brown sugar, butter and nuts on anything is pure heaven. It is no surprise it is stealing the show. I am bookmarking this one!
This looks delicious! My favorite kind of coffee cake!
Wow…that looks jut amazing….lovely pics
Wow, this does look sinful! Coffee cake is such a fantastic treat. This recipe looks great! Thanks for sharing!
i’ve been dying to try this but haven’t come up with an excuse to make it yet… it looks fabulous! maybe next time SIL comes to visit!
JACKIE — I did not toast the nuts and I used Grade A maple syrup.
your pictures of this cake are awesome chelle! i could seriously lick the screen. i need to try this one.
Hi
I was wondering did you toast the nuts and what kind of Maple Syrup did you use Grade B or Grade A. Thanks
I love sour cream in coffee cakes – I think it should be a required ingredient. This looks fabulous – love the fact that streusel is on the top and in the middle – yum!
Looks delicious! This recipe has been on my list of ‘must try’ for quite a while- your pictures have just convinced me to make this sooner rather than later :)
Looks DIVINE!
This looks delicious! I love making coffee cakes, and I will definitely have to try this one.
Mmm, welcome to the world of baking coffee cakes. It’s quite an addictive thing, I think. Man, you totally hit the ball out of the ballpark with this recipe. It looks totally fabulous. Man, I wish I had a slice right now!
This looks great! I’ve been allergic to peanuts/tree nuts my whole life, so I’m used to avoiding them, but I can’t imagine having to avoid cinnamon -it’s in so many things, especially baked goods! Due to my allergies, foods like coffee cake are things I need to make myself to be certain there are not nuts, so it’s nice to have a good recipe :)
Oh my, that cake looks amazing. LOVE the photos! I bet your house was smelling good!! I think I am going to have to make this one soon…and I might just have to lick the oven door:)