Brown Butter Coffee Cake
Brown Butter Coffee Cake is a rich, moist dessert featuring nutty browned butter flavor. It has a tender crumb with a cinnamon-sugar swirl or crumb topping, perfect for breakfast or dessert. Easy to make and comforting, this cake pairs wonderfully with coffee or tea. A simple, delicious treat for any occasion.
Equipment
- 9-inch round or square baking pan
- Medium mixing bowls
- Whisk and rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Saucepan (for browning butter)
- Electric mixer or hand whisk
- Sifter (for powdered sugar)
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
For the Streusel Topping:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cubed
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional, for crunch
For the Brown Butter Coffee Cake:
- ½ cup unsalted butter browned and cooled
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons neutral oil such as vegetable or canola
- ⅓ cup milk room temperature
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
For the Glaze Topping:
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ cup powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
Brown the Butter
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Continue cooking, swirling occasionally, until it turns golden brown and smells nutty (about 4-5 minutes). Be careful not to burn it. Set aside to cool slightly.
Prepare the Streusel
- In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the cold cubed butter. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped nuts if using. Set aside.
Mix the Dry Ingredients for the Batter
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch. Set aside.
Combine Wet Ingredients
- In a large bowl, beat together the browned butter, white sugar, and dark brown sugar until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in sour cream, oil, and milk until fully combined.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid over mixing to keep the cake tender.
Assemble and Bake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your baking pan lightly. Pour half the batter into the pan, sprinkle half the streusel evenly over the batter. Add the remaining batter, then top with the rest of the streusel. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Add the Glaze and Cool
- While the cake cools, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle over the warm cake before slicing.