Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Coffee Cake Cookies offer the perfect blend of tender cookie dough with a cinnamon-spiced streusel center and a sweet vanilla glaze. These treats bring the cozy flavors of coffee cake into a fun, handheld form that’s perfect with your morning coffee or afternoon tea.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch salt
• 5 Tbsp softened unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 3/4 cup cake flour, spooned and leveled
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 8 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 3 Tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch salt

Instructions

1. Step 1: Prepare the streusel filling by combining 1/2 cup flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Work in 5 Tbsp softened butter with your fingers until small clumps form, then refrigerate.
2. Step 2: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 3/4 cup cake flour, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
4. Step 4: Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the 8 Tbsp cold butter cubes, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Step 5: Add in the egg, egg yolk, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Mix until combined, scraping down the sides if needed.
6. Step 6: Gradually add the dry ingredients in about 1/4 cup increments, mixing just until incorporated after each addition.
7. Step 7: Scoop and roll the dough into 8 large balls (or smaller if you prefer more cookies), placing them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheets.
8. Step 8: Create an indent in each cookie using your thumb, the end of a spoon, or a floured wooden juicer end to prevent sticking.
9. Step 9: Fill each indent with about 1 tablespoon of the chilled streusel filling. Bake for 8 to 11 minutes, until the edges have set and turned lightly golden. Remove just before fully done to keep them moist.
10. Step 10: (Optional) Immediately after removing from the oven, place a circular cookie cutter or glass around each cookie and gently spin it to smooth out edges for a neat round shape.
11. Step 11: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
12. Step 12: Whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt, 2 Tbsp melted butter, and 3 Tbsp heavy cream or milk to make the icing. Drizzle over cooled cookies and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• Use cake flour for a tender, delicate crumb but cake flour can be substituted with an equal amount of all purpose flour for a slightly sturdier cookie.
• For extra flavor, add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the streusel filling.
• If you don’t have a wooden juicer, the back of a small spoon or your thumb work just as well to create the indentation.
• Try swapping the vanilla in the icing for almond extract for a different flavor twist.

Storage

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerate for up to a week, but bring to room temperature before serving. Reheat slightly in the microwave (10–15 seconds) if desired for a soft, warm treat.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the cookie dough and streusel filling can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking.

What if I don’t have cake flour?

You can substitute cake flour with an equal amount of all purpose flour, but the cookies may be a bit less tender. For best results, use cake flour if possible.

Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 150 reviews

These Coffee Cake Cookies combine the warm flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar with a buttery streusel filling and a sweet vanilla glaze, creating a delightful treat that tastes like coffee cake in cookie form. Crispy on the edges and soft in the center, they are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack with coffee or tea.

• Author: Amy
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 22–24 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Streusel Filling

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 5 Tbsp softened unsalted butter

Cookie Dough

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 3/4 cup cake flour, spooned and leveled
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 8 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk

Icing

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 3 Tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Prepare the streusel filling: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Work in the softened butter using your fingers until small clumps form. Refrigerate the mixture while you prepare the dough.
2. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (204°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
3. Combine dry ingredients for dough: In a large bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. Cream butter and sugars: Place cubed cold butter and both brown and granulated sugars into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy.
5. Add eggs and vanilla: Incorporate the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract into the creamed butter mixture. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed and mix again until fully combined.
6. Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet mixture in increments of 1/4 cup, mixing after each addition until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
7. Form the cookies: Scoop the dough and roll into about 8 large balls (or more if smaller cookies are preferred, about 22-24). Place on prepared baking sheets, spaced to allow spreading.
8. Indent cookies and add streusel: Make an indent in the center of each cookie using your thumb, the end of a spoon, or a floured utensil like a wooden juicer. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of the chilled streusel filling into each indent.
9. Bake the cookies: Bake at 400°F for 8-11 minutes, or until the edges are set and just lightly golden. Remove them just before they appear fully baked to prevent dryness, as cookies will continue to cook on the hot sheet after removal.
10. Optional step for shape: Immediately after baking, use a circular cookie cutter or a glass slightly larger than the cookie to gently spin the cookie and smooth out uneven edges for a perfect circle.
11. Cool the cookies: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
12. Prepare and drizzle icing: Whisk together melted butter, heavy cream or milk, powdered sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Once the cookies are cooled, drizzle the icing over the tops and serve.

Notes

• Using cake flour helps yield a tender, soft texture in the cookies.
• Cold butter cubes in the dough ensure a flaky, layered texture similar to coffee cake.
• Do not overbake cookies; removing them slightly underdone keeps them moist inside.
• Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• For a milk alternative in icing, almond or oat milk can be used.
• Rolling dough balls smaller will yield more cookies and shorter bake times.

Keywords: coffee cake cookies, streusel cookies, cinnamon cookies, baked cookies, coffee cake recipe, sweet cookies with icing