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These cafe-style coffee cake muffins are light and fluffy with a delicious cinnamon taste. They taste just like coffee cake but in muffin form! They start with a from-scratch muffin batter with a cinnamon brown sugar mixture. The muffins are topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble and then drizzled with a vanilla glaze. They’re so good with the swirl of cinnamon all the way through! Pair your muffin with coffee for the perfect breakfast, brunch, or snack.
These easy coffee cake muffins have the lightest texture and warmest notes from cinnamon. You will love their amazing flavor.
If you’re a coffee treat kind of baker, check out these coffee cake cookies, this cake mix coffee cake, or my pistachio coffee cake.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: This coffee cake muffin recipe has simple steps and common ingredients that make these muffins a breeze, even on busy mornings.
Delicious glaze finish: A sweet vanilla glaze adds an extra indulgence, making these muffins even more tempting.
Kiddies love them: Little ones love the cozy cinnamon flavor and glassy glaze.
Ingredients for Coffee Cake Muffins
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
All-purpose flour: Standard all-purpose flour is used in this recipe for bakery-style coffee cake muffins.
Sugar: You’ll need white and light brown sugar in this recipe.
Baking powder: Make sure the batch is super-fresh. Not to be confused with baking soda in this recipe.
Milk: For best results, use whole milk in this recipe; however, lower-fat milk varieties could also be used.
Oil: Use a mild-flavored oil, such as vegetable or canola oil. Alternatively, you can substitute the oil with ½ cup of melted butter.
Egg: I recommend using large room-temperature eggs.
Ground cinnamon: Don’t skip it – it gives these cinnamon coffee cake muffins next-level yumminess.
Butter: I used salted butter in the crumble topping, although unsalted butter can be used instead. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
Powdered sugar: Make sure it’s sieved well and lump-free.
How to Make Coffee Cake Muffins
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare muffin batter: In a large bowl, mix together all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until well combined and set aside.
Mix wet ingredients: In another large bowl, combine milk, oil, egg, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well blended. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a silicone spatula until just mixed. Set aside.
Make cinnamon swirl: In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Set aside.
Prepare crumble topping: In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until well combined. Set aside.
Assemble muffins: Spoon half of the muffin batter into the muffin cups. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the batter. Add the remaining muffin batter on top and a layer of crumble topping. Bake the muffins at 350°F and cool completely. Let them cool in the muffin pan.
Make vanilla glaze: Mix powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and just enough milk to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle over the cooled bakery-style muffins.
Substitutions and Variations
Dairy substitutes: Almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or other non-dairy milk can replace regular milk. You could even use a little full fat sour cream for some tangy flavor.
Oil: Replace with melted coconut oil or avocado oil for a different flavor.
Egg alternatives: Make this recipe with a flax egg. Combine 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let sit for a few minutes until it thickens. Use 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce as another egg substitute.
Flavor variations: Fold in fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries, or chopped strawberries for a fruity twist. Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for extra crunch. Mix in chocolate chips or chunks for a sweet, indulgent touch.
Spices and flavorings: Use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon for a fall-inspired flavor. Add a pinch of nutmeg to the batter for a warm, spicy note.
Crumb topping and swirl options: Add a streusel topping for an extra layer! You could also add a cinnamon sugar swirl into the batter before baking.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Start with a warm batch of these coffee cake muffins.
Main: Serve sausage breakfast burritos, these breakfast sliders, or try loaded breakfast fries.
Dessert: End with Mexican rice pudding or my carrot cake crepes with blueberries.
How to Store Coffee Cake Muffins
Store: Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Freezer: These muffins are suitable for freezing. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Reheat: You can flash them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them through.
Top Tips
Don’t over-mix: It’s important not to over-mix the muffin batter, which may result in dense and dry textured muffins.
Check doneness: The muffins are cooked through if they bounce back when lightly touched in the center. Alternatively, a skewer or toothpick can be used. Insert the skewer or toothpick into the center of a muffin. The muffins are cooked through if the skewer or toothpick comes out clean.
Measure ingredients accurately: Use measuring cups and spoons for precise measurements. Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife to avoid packing it down.
Don’t overmix the batter: Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can lead to dense, tough muffins.
Use room temperature ingredients: Ensure that ingredients like milk, eggs, and oil are at room temperature for better incorporation and a smoother batter.
Coffee Cake Muffins FAQs
Yes, feel free to fold in chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit for added flavor and texture. Just be sure not to overmix the batter.
Muffins can sink if the batter is overmixed or if the oven temperature is too low. Be careful to mix just until combined and check your oven temperature with a thermometer to ensure it’s accurate.
Make sure to use an oven thermometer to check the temperature and rotate the muffin tin halfway through baking to ensure even cooking. They’re done when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Coffee Cake Muffin Recipe
Coffee Cake Muffins
Equipment
- Muffin Pan 12-Hole
Ingredients
For the Muffins:
- 2 Cups all purpose flour
- 1 Cup granulated sugar
- 3 Teaspoons baking powder
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup milk
- ½ Cup vegetable oil, or canola
- 1 egg
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Swirl:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the Crumble Topping:
- 1/3 Cup butter, melted
- ¾ Cup all purpose flour
- 1/3 Cup brown sugar
- 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Vanilla Glaze:
- 1 Cup powdered sugar
- ½ Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin liners.
- To make the muffin batter, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined.
- Add the milk, oil, egg, and vanilla extract to another large mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the flour mixture and mix with a silicone spatula until just combined.
- To make the cinnamon swirl, combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
- To make the crumble topping, combine the melted butter, flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon in a medium sized mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Divide half the muffin batter between the paper muffin liners. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over the muffins and then top with the remaining batter.
- Use your fingers to sprinkle the crumble topping over the batter and press gently onto the batter surface.
- Bake the muffins for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Make the vanilla glaze by combining the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and just enough milk to make a glaze with a drizzling consistency. Drizzle it over the cooled muffins.
Notes
Check doneness: The muffins are cooked through if they bounce back when lightly touched in the center. Alternatively, a skewer or toothpick can be used. Insert the skewer or toothpick into the center of a muffin. The muffins are cooked through if the skewer or toothpick comes out clean.
Measure ingredients accurately: Use measuring cups and spoons for precise measurements. Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife to avoid packing it down.
Don’t overmix the batter: Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can lead to dense, tough muffins.
Use room temperature ingredients: Ensure that ingredients like milk, eggs, and oil are at room temperature for better incorporation and a smoother batter.
Nutrition
These cafe-style coffee cake muffins are wonderfully light and fluffy, bursting with a delightful cinnamon flavor. They capture the essence of classic coffee cake, but in convenient muffin form! Each muffin begins with a homemade batter mixed with cinnamon and brown sugar. They’re topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble and finished with a sweet vanilla glaze.
Other Muffin Recipes to Try
- My Bisquick and blueberry muffins are shockingly simple to make.
- What could be yummier than a nutella and banana combo in a muffin?
- Try double chocolate, blueberry and banana muffins (they’re seriously rich!)
- These pumpkin and banana muffins scream fall y’all.
- Oreo muffins are a touch of deluxe and have the most incredible texture.
- Make these French toast muffins and serve them for breakfast or brunch with fresh berries.
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.
These coffee cake muffins sound absolutely divine. Can’t wait to have them with my morning coffee!
These muffins are so fluffy and packed with cinnamon flavor! Perfect with my morning coffee.
These coffee cake muffins are light, fluffy, and packed with cinnamon goodness. Pure breakfast bliss!
My husband loves these muffins! I think we will be making them a lot.