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You will be obsessed with these tender, light coffee cake cookies with a crunchy streusel topping and sweet glaze drizzled over each one. They are perfect to munch on with a mug of coffee or hot chocolate. The cozy spices and buttery goodness in these bakery-style cookies are just next-level delicious. You’ll whip up the 2-ingredient glaze in minutes to finish off this gourmet-looking (but totally easy) cinnamon crumb cake cookie recipe.
Make a batch of these tender, buttery coffee cake cookies with the perfect blend of spices, a crunchy streusel crumb topping and finished with a drizzle of glaze.
You could also try ginger molasses cookies, devil’s food cookies, canestrelli cookies, or chocolate-dipped ginger cookies.
Why You’ll Love It
So easy: Simple ingredients and basic steps make these cookies easy to whip up. They are even great for beginner bakers.
Trendy: It’s a delicious viral TikTok recipe adapted from Mallory @thepalatablelife‘s Gilmore Girls Coffee Cake Cookies.
Delicious flavor: The warm, comforting spices and buttery streusel topping give these crumble cake cookies an incredibly cozy feel in every bite.
Perfect texture: These cookies have a soft, tender interior with a slightly crisp edge. The streusel adds a yummy crunch.
Freezer-friendly: Make a batch and freeze for an on-the-go delicious treat.
Ingredients for Coffee Cake Cookies
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Unbleached all-purpose flour: Provides structure and stability to the cookies.
Cake flour: Makes a lighter, softer texture.
Cornstarch: Creates a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Salted butter: Provides richness and moisture; the salt enhances flavor.
Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and a caramel-like sweetness.
White granulated sugar: Balances the sweetness and helps achieve a crisp edge.
Powdered sugar: Provides sweetness and a smooth texture for the glaze.
Milk: Thins the powdered sugar to create a pourable consistency and add creaminess to the glaze.
How to Make Gilmore Girls Coffee Cake Cookies
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Mix dry ingredients for the cookie dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cake flour, cinnamon, baking powder, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.
Mix the wet ingredients for the cookie dough: In another bowl, use a hand mixer to cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar together. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture.
Combine mixtures: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until fully incorporated. Set aside.
Mix streusel ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, melted butter, and salt using a fork until combined.
Scoop cookie dough: Use a medium cookie scoop (about 1½ tablespoons) to place cookie dough on a prepared cookie sheet, leaving 1½ to 2 inches between each. Press the center of each cookie down using a cookie tamper or the back of a spoon.
Add streusel: Scoop about two teaspoons of streusel, crumble it, and fill the center of each cookie.
Bake: Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes.
Make the glaze: While the cookies are baking, mix the powdered sugar with milk until smooth.
Pipe glaze: Place the glaze in a piping bag or Ziploc bag. When ready to use, cut a small hole and pipe it over the cooled cookies.
Substitutions and Variations
Cake flour: If you don’t have cake flour, make your own. Remove 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour from each cup and replace it with cornstarch.
Butter: You can also use unsalted butter; add a pinch of salt.
Sugars: Swap dark brown sugar for light brown sugar for a richer, more caramel-like flavor.
Mix-ins: Add chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit to the dough or streusel for added texture and flavor.
Dairy-free: Use a dairy-free butter substitute and plant-based milk for the glaze to make the cookies dairy-free.
Egg substitute: For a vegan version, replace the egg with a flaxseed or chia seed egg (1 tablespoon of flaxseed or chia seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water).
Different toppings: For a different taste, top the cookies with a cinnamon-sugar mixture or drizzle with caramel sauce instead of streusel.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Serve a plate of these incredible salt & pepper pork bites or a lighter appetizer of heirloom burrata tomato salad. These delicious devilled eggs always go down really well!
Main: A pot of this American-style chopped suey is almost addictive. Try this beanless chili as another crowd-pleasing main course.
Dessert: End with a plate of crumb cake cookies and steaming, frothy, warm milk.
How to Store Cinnamon Crumble Cookies
Store: At room temperature, keep the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: To freeze cooled cookies, layer them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper.
Thaw: To thaw, place frozen cookies at room temperature for about 30 minutes or warm in a 300°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
Top Tips
Chill the dough: To prevent spreading, chill the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes before baking for great results. This honestly makes such a difference.
Measure flour correctly: Use the spoon-and-level method to measure flour accurately, avoiding dense cookies.
Room temperature ingredients: Use room temperature butter and eggs for easier mixing and better texture.
Bake evenly: Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking for even cooking.
Coffee Cake Cookies FAQs
Yes, you can use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour, but the cookies may be slightly less tender.
Adjust the thickness of the glaze by adding more powdered sugar for a thicker glaze or more milk for a thinner consistency.
Powdered sugar is recommended for the glaze due to its smooth texture, but you can experiment with alternatives if needed.
Coffee Cake Cookie Recipe
Coffee Cake Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough:
- 2 Cups all purpose flour, unbleached
- ½ Cup cake flour
- 2 Teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 Teaspoon baking powder
- 1 Teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ Teaspoon baking soda
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ¼ Teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 Cup salted butter, 2 sticks, at room temperature
- ¾ Cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ Cup granulated sugar
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
For the Streusel:
- ½ Cup + 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- ½ Cup + 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- 6 Tablespoons butter, melted
- ⅛ Teaspoon salt
For the Glaze:
- 1 Cup powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
For the Cookie Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, cake flour, cinnamon, baking powder, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg together. Set aside.
- In another mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar together.
- Add the egg and the vanilla extract. Mix until all ingredients are combined.
- Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Mix until the flour is all incorporated. I used a Danish dough whisk, but you can use a mixing spoon or spatula. The dough might be too thick for a hand mixer. Set aside.
For the Streusel:
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, butter, and salt. Use a fork and mix until all ingredients are combined.
Make the Cookies:
- Use a medium cookie scoop (1½ tablespoons), scoop the cookie dough, and place it on the prepared cookie sheet. Leaving 1½ to 2 inches between each.
- Press the middle down, using a cookie tamper or the back of a spoon.
- Add the streusel in the middle. I used a small cookie scoop (2 teaspoons) and then crumbled the streusel in my fingers before filling up the middle of the cookie.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes.
- While the cookies are baking, make the glaze. Mix the powdered sugar with the milk.
- Place the glaze in a piping bag or a Ziploc bag. Keep it close until ready to glaze the cookies.
- Take the cookies out and let them cool on the cookie sheet for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Place the cookies on a cooling rack.
- Glaze the cookies but cut a small hole in the bag. Glaze them to your liking and serve.
Notes
Measure flour correctly: Use the spoon-and-level method to measure flour accurately, avoiding dense cookies.
Room temperature ingredients: Use room temperature butter and eggs for easier mixing and better texture.
Bake evenly: Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking for even cooking.
Nutrition
You’ll fall in love with these delicate, airy coffee cake cookies with a crispy streusel topping and a bright glaze. Alternate sipping on hot coffee with nibbling on a cookie! These cookies’ warm spices and rich, buttery flavor are irresistible. The two-ingredient glaze comes together quickly, adding the perfect finishing touch to these easy yet gourmet-looking crumb cake cookies.
Other Cookie Recipes To Try
- These are the tastiest lemony ricotta cookies that always remind me of my favorite bakery.
- Kids (and adults) go crazy for the bright and tangy lemonade crinkle cookies.
- Make Linzer cookies – they have that incredible melt-on-the-tongue goodness with a pop of jam!
- Try apple muffin-top cookies with a luscious vanilla maple glaze.
Nothing beats a good ol’ caramel-stuffed cookie recipe.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
