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    Home » Breakfast

    Brown Sugar Coffee Cake

    Published: Jan 14, 2019 · Modified: Dec 30, 2024 by Kim Strawn This post may contain affiliate links. 40 Comments

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    4.37 from 44 votes

    This Brown Sugar Coffee Cake makes your morning delicious and easy as it starts with a boxed cake mix! So simple to put together, whip this breakfast recipe up for your family or take it to a gathering.

    brown sugar coffee cake with brown sugar on top and white drizzled frosting

    The kids sure love a coffee cake for breakfast. It is warm, sugary and such a special treat on those school mornings. This Brown Sugar Coffee Cake is a great addition to your breakfast menu. 

    It starts with a boxed cake mix which is a great little trick I love to have up my sleeve. I make plenty of coffee cakes from scratch that does not start with a cake mix like this blueberry coffee cake, or this apple coffee cake, but sometimes speed is imperative.

    Jump to:
    • Instructions
    • Bake
    • Leftovers
    • A few tips
    • Pin for later!
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Instructions

    It really is quite easy to make this breakfast/brunch favorite. All you need are a few ingredients and it does help to have a Kitchen Aid mixer or a hand mixer. I use my Kitchen Aid often and I feel it is worth the investment.

    coffee cake batter in a bowl.

    Mix the cake mix, oil, eggs and sour cream with a mixer. Place the dough in a greased angel food cake pan. (Also called a tube pan.)

    brown sugar crumbles in a white bowl.

    In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle on top of the dough in the pan.

    brown sugar crumbles in a pan.

    Take a knife and swirl the batter in the pan. Just swirl it, nothing too crazy. You will still have plenty of topping on top of the coffee cake. By swirling it, you help some of that brown sugar deliciousness to get on the inside of the coffee cake.

    Bake

    This coffee cake will bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.

    Leftovers

    To store leftovers, place in an airtight container on the counter for up to 48 hours. It can also be stored in a zipped plastic bag.

    A few tips

    • Grease your pan well and when you take the brown sugar coffee cake out of the oven, use a knife to loosen the sides of the coffee cake. Don't try to remove it from the pan yet. Let it sit on the counter for a few minutes. Few=10.
    • You don't have to drizzle frosting on top, but really, for the integrity of the cake, drizzle it. ;-) The frosting is only a two ingredient recipe so it is easy to put together.
    • Some readers told me their cake collapsed. I have made it multiple times and have not had it happen. I believe the collapsing occurred because the brown sugar was in clumps, not fine like sand. If you do that, I don't believe you will have a problem. And, as mentioned above, be sure to let your cake cool for 10 minutes before turning it out of the pan.

    Pin for later!

    Brown Sugar Coffee Cake with white frosting glaze

    📖 Recipe

    Brown Sugar Coffee Cake with frosting drizzle on a blue plate

    Brown Sugar Coffee Cake

    Print Pin
    4.37 from 44 votes
    Brown Sugar Coffee Cake starts with a cake mix. Add brown sugar and cinnamon topping and you have a delicious and quick breakfast or brunch recipe. 
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Keyword breakfaast, coffee cake
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 35 minutes minutes
    Resting Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes minutes
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 429kcal
    Author Kim Strawn
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 box yellow cake mix
    • 3 eggs
    • ¾ cup vegetable oil
    • ¾ cup sour cream
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoon cinnamon

    Frosting

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 3 Tablespoon almond milk or use regular milk

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350*
    • Mix cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil and sour cream in a large bowl with a mixer
    • Mix for 1 minute on low speed then 3 minutes on medium/high speed
    • Place in a greased tube pan and set aside
    • Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle on top of dough 
    • Take a knife and swirl through the dough
    • Place in preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick tests done
    • Set on counter to cool and loosen sides with a knife
    • After 10 minutes remove from pan 
    • After cooling completely, mix together frosting ingredients in small bowl and drizzling on top
      If you need to put the frosting on before it is cooled completely, you certainly can. It just might melt a little bit. Still tastes great. 

    NOTE

    • I do strongly suggest that the brown sugar is completely broken up (like in the picture above) before you sprinkle it on top of dough.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 80mg | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 1.3mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.37 from 44 votes (38 ratings without comment)

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    1. Nancy

      November 04, 2023 at 2:14 pm

      Made this twice and both times the cake sunk.
      Have no clue why

      Reply
      • Kim

        November 05, 2023 at 2:21 pm

        Hmm... I had someone else say the same thing, however I have had many, many reviews saying it was great and worked for them. The only thing I would try is to make sure the brown sugar is completely free of clumps so it isn't heavy. Make sure the brown sugar is like sand.

        Reply
    2. Bobbe

      October 02, 2022 at 2:27 pm

      This cake is soooooooo delicious. Can't keep them long.

      Reply
      • Kim

        October 03, 2022 at 8:58 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
      • DB

        January 31, 2023 at 11:12 am

        Can this cake be mixed up the night before and bake the next morning?

        Reply
        • Kim

          January 31, 2023 at 3:00 pm

          I never have, but I know of those you have and it turned out fine. I certainly would try it!

    3. Sharon

      April 04, 2022 at 1:36 pm

      Can you bake this cake in a bundt pan?

      Reply
      • Kim

        April 04, 2022 at 1:38 pm

        I have never tried it. My first thought would be yes, you could. I would adjust the time accordingly. If you do, let me know!

        Reply
    4. mary

      August 16, 2021 at 5:56 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely the best!!!! Mary

      Reply
      • Kim

        August 16, 2021 at 11:59 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    5. Annie

      June 11, 2021 at 4:45 pm

      5 stars
      My sons constantly ask me to make this. We all love it. So easy & sooo sooo good!!

      Reply
      • Kim

        June 20, 2021 at 2:35 pm

        I am so glad you like it!!

        Reply
    6. Debbie

      April 15, 2021 at 1:53 pm

      5 stars
      This coffee cake was so easy & quick to make & simply delicious! I added in some blueberries, which even made it more yummy. I also put half the batter in the pan and then half the cinnamon mixture and then repeated this and then swirled it. I will definitely be making it again!😋

      Reply
      • Kim

        April 16, 2021 at 10:53 am

        Blueberries would be delicious! Glad you enjoyed it!!

        Reply
    7. Lorraine

      March 27, 2021 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      Very easy to make and delicious..... I made a few changes by putting a teaspoon of vanilla extract in the mixture. I also poured half the batter into a tube pan, then I sprinkled the cinnamon brown sugar mixture then poured the rest of the batter and sprinkled cinnamon brown sugar mixture again on the top....then I used a knife to swirl the mixture into the batter. I also added just a small drop of almond extract in with the milk fir the icing......... this came out fantastic!!!!

      Reply
      • Kim

        April 02, 2021 at 9:53 am

        I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

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    Kim Strawn owner of Baking With Mom.

    Hey There, I'm Kim! I am the owner and recipe creator here at Baking With Mom. I'm also a mom to 4 growing kids so I understand busy! Here you will find recipes that are quick, delicious and can get on the table fast. Read more about me.

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