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Grandma’s New England Coffee Cake Recipe (Copycat)

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 My Grandma’s of New England started baking coffee cakes in 1990 out of Newton, Massachusetts and has grown to become one of the most well known New England Coffee Cakes in the industry, and for good reasons! 

There is a large white rectangular dish with five slices of coffee cake on it. There is a white cloth napkin with fringe edges laying next to the dish. Items are on a wooden surface.

It is a tender cake that is a blend of simplicity and indulgence.


A creamy moist cake, rich with butter, fresh farm eggs, sour cream, and a hint of vanilla. Topped with a brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnut streusel.

Grandma’s Cinnamon Coffee Cake

There is a baked round cake with a hole in the center on a large white round plate. There is a slice cut out of the cake. There is a small white plate with a slice of the coffee cake on it in front. Plates are on a white marbled surface.

 This Grandma’s Coffee Cake Recipe is a really good copycat. 

 I’m sure it will become a family favorite!


So the next time you need a delicious and easy recipe for the holidays or just want a true breakfast treat try this old fashioned coffee cake!

Ingredients For Grandma’s Coffee Cake

There are 4 white bowls of different sizes: The largest bowl has white flour in it. There are 2 medium bowls. One has white sugar in it. One has white sour cream in it. The smallest white bowl has light yellow vegetable oil in it. There are 4 small clear ramekins. Two have white powder in them, one has white salt in it and the last one has a dark brown liquid (vanilla extract) in it. There are 2 brown eggs and a stick of unsalted butter. All items are on a white marbled surface.

For The Cake Batter –

  • Unsalted butter
  • White sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vegetable oil
  • Vanilla extract
  • Sour cream
  • All purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Cooking spray

Cinnamon Streusel Ingredients

There are 3 white bowls all the same size. One bowl has light brown sugar in it. One has large pieces of brown walnuts and the third one has dark ground cinnamon in it. Bowls are on a white marbled surface.

For The Streusel And Topping –

  • Brown sugar
  • Walnuts
  • Ground cinnamon

Equipment And Helpful Tools

  • Large bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Handheld electric mixer / Stand mixer with paddle attachment
  • Bundt pan / 10-inch tube pan (see FAQ’s)
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • Food processor (see FAQ’s)
  • Oven mitts
  • Cake tester / tooth pick
  • Wire rack

Grandmas Coffee Cake Step By Step Easy Recipe

There is a silver electric blender with a plastic bowl on it. There are very small pieces of brown walnuts in the bowl. There are 2 white bowls in front of the blender. There is light brown sugar in one of the bowls and dark brown ground cinnamon in the other bowl. Items are on a white marbled surface.
There is a white bowl with a mixture of light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and small pieces of walnuts. The bowl is on a white marbled surface.
  • Use a food processor to quickly chop walnuts into small pieces. (see FAQ’s)
  • In a small bow mix together the streusel and set aside.
There is a large white bowl with white flour in it. There are 3 small clear ramekins with white powder in them. There is a wood handled mixing utensil laying next to the bowls. All the items are on a white marbled surface.
There is a large white bowl with a white flour mixture in it. There is a wooden handled mixing utensil resting in the bowl. There are 3 empty small clear glass ramekins stacked in front of the large white bowl. Items are on a whit marbled surface.
  • Combine flour with the other dry ingredients in a medium bowl and mix together.
There is a white bowl with chunks of yellow butter and white sugar in it. Bowl is on a white marbled surface.
There is a white bowl with light yellow creamed mixture in it. There is a set of beaters hanging over the bowl. Items are on a white marbled surface.
  • In a large separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together. (see FAQ’s)
There is a white bowl with light yellow creamed mixture in it. There is a raw egg in the bowl. There is a set of mixer beaters hanging over the bowl. There is a brown egg laying in front of the bowl. Items are on a white marbled surface.
There is a white bowl with light yellow creamed mixture in it. There is a gray rubber spatula resting in the bowl. Bowl is on a white marbled surface.
  • Beat in one egg at a time, add the vanilla and vegetable oil and mix well.
There are 3 white bowls. The largest bowl has a light yellow creamy mixture in it with a gray rubber spatula resting in it. The medium size bowl has a white flour mixture in it and the smallest bowl has white sour cream in it. Bowls are on a white marbled surface.
There is a large white bowl with a creamy light yellow cake batter in it. The bowl is on a white marbled surface.
  • Add the sour cream and throughly mix.
  • Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and blend on low speed until completely mixed together.
There is a large white bowl with a light yellow creamy batter in it and a metal spoon resting inside the bowl. There is a small white bowl with s brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut mixture in it. There is a metal round baking pan with a hollow tube in the center. There is light yellow creamy batter spread evenly in the bottom of the pan. Items are on a white marbled surface.
There is a large white bowl with a light yellow creamy batter in it and a metal spoon resting inside the bowl. There is a small white bowl with s brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut mixture in it. There is a metal round baking pan with a hollow tube in the center. There is light yellow creamy batter spread evenly in the bottom of the pan with half of the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut mixture sprinkled over the batter layer. Items are on a white marbled surface.
  • Grease pan with cooking spray and lightly dust with flour.
  • To create the double layer – pour half of the batter in the bottom of the pan.
  • Use a rubber spatula to make it an even layer.
  • Sprinkle half the streusel mixture over the cake batter.
There is a large empty white bowl with a gray rubber spatula resting inside the bowl. There is a small white bowl with s brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut mixture in it. There is a small silver spoon laying in front of the small bowl.There is a metal round baking pan with a hollow tube in the center. There is light yellow creamy batter spread evenly in the pan. Items are on a white marbled surface.
There is a metal round baking pan with a hollow tube in the center. There is cake batter in the pan with a layer of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut mixture covering the entire top. Pan is on a white marbled surface.
  • Pour the rest of the batter over the streusel mixture. 
  • Sprinkle the remaining streusel on top of the batter.
There is a baked cake with a brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut topping in a metal round baking pan with a hollow tube in the center. Pan is on a white marbled surface.
  • Place in a preheated oven.
  • Bake until a cake tester comes out clean when inserted in the center.
  • Let cake cool on a wire rack before inverting onto a serving platter.

See recipe card below for complete ingredient amounts, details, and total time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is A Coffee Cake Called A Coffee Cake?

The simple answer is that it could be a cake or bread but always sweet and served with a cup of coffee.

How Do You Chop Nuts Into Small Pieces Without Using A Food Processor?

If you don’t have a food processor, the easiest way to brake nuts into small pieces is to place them in a zip closure bag.

Use a rolling pin and lightly hit the bag of nuts a few times until you get the size of pieces you want!

What Is The Difference Between A Tube Pan And A Bundt Pan?

Here’s the thing, a tube pan is any round baking pan that has a hollow tube in its center.

The hollow tube conducts heat, which helps cakes bake faster.

The tube also helps cakes release more easily from the pan after it has been baked.

A Bundt pan is a type of tube pan. 

How Long Do You Cream Butter And Sugar For A Cake?

About 2 to 3 minutes on a moderate speed.

You will know you have reached the right stage when the butter mixture is soft yellow and not gritty.

There is a baked round cake with a hole in the center on a large white round plate. Plate is on a white marbled surface.

How To Store

If by chance there is any leftover coffee cake, tightly seal the top of the cake and serving plate with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

The coffee cake can be stored at room temperature for a couple of days.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

To freeze – Tightly wrap with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

If you love coffee cakes, here are two delicious recipes you need to try!

Apple Coffee Cake and Easy Coffee Crumb Cake Without Sour Cream

Grandma’s New England Coffee Cake

There is a baked round cake with a hole in the center on a large white round plate. There is a slice cut out of the cake. There is a small white plate with a slice of the coffee cake on it in front. Plates are on a white marbled surface.

Love This Recipe?

Here are some of my favorite recipes to make during the holidays!

Casseroles – 

Desserts / Sweets – 

Yield: 12 to 15 slices

Grandma's New England Coffee Cake Recipe (Copycat)

There is a large white rectangular dish with five slices of coffee cake on it. There is a white cloth napkin with fringe edges laying next to the dish. Items are on a wooden surface.

A coffee cake that is a blend of simplicity and indulgence. A creamy moist cake, rich with butter, fresh farm eggs, sour cream, and a hint of vanilla. Topped with a brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnut streusel.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • For Batter -
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick - room temperature)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Cooking spray
  • For Streusel Filling -
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Use a food processor to quickly chop walnuts into small pieces. (see FAQ's)
  3. In a small bow mix together the streusel ingredients and set aside.
  4. Combine flour with the other dry ingredients (salt, baking powder, and baking soda) in a medium bowl and mix together.
  5. In a large separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together. (see FAQ's)
  6. Beat in one egg at a time, add the vanilla and vegetable oil and mix well.
  7. Add the sour cream and throughly mix.
  8. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and blend on low speed until completely mixed together.
  9. Grease pan with cooking spray and lightly dust with flour.
  10. To create the double layer - pour half of the batter in the bottom of the pan. Use a rubber spatula to make it an even layer.
  11. Sprinkle half the streusel mixture over the cake batter.
  12. Pour the rest of the batter over the streusel mixture. 
  13. Sprinkle the remaining streusel on top of the batter.
  14. Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean when inserted in the center.
  15. Let cake cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
  16. Hold a serving plate over the base of the cake and invert the pan.

Notes

Equipment And Helpful Tools

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Handheld electric mixer / Stand mixer with paddle attachment
  • Bundt pan / 16 cups tube pan (see FAQ's)
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • Food processor 
  • Oven mitts
  • Cake tester / tooth pick
  • Wire rack

How To Store

If by chance there is any leftover coffee cake, tightly seal the top of the cake and serving plate with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

The coffee cake can be stored at room temperature for a couple of days.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

To freeze - Tightly wrap with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.


© Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Cuisine: American / Category: Breakfast

Phillip Parker

Friday 22nd of September 2023

This was delicious and easy to make! Love all of these recipes

Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen

Wednesday 6th of December 2023

Thank you so much Phillip! I'm happy that you enjoyed the coffee cake!

Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

So glad you enjoyed it Phillip!

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