High Altitude Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake

Name: High Altitude Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, (fluffed, spooned and leveled); 1/2 tsp coarse Kosher salt ((if using table salt, use half the amount)); 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp ground cardamom; 1/2 tsp instant espresso powder, (optional); 1 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar, (lightly packed); 2 large eggs; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, (melted); 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (fluffed, spooned and leveled); 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar, (lightly packed); 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp coarse Kosher salt ((if using table salt, use half the amount)); 1/2 cup unsalted butter, (melted)

Jump to Recipe

This high altitude cinnamon crumb coffee cake has loads of buttery crumble topping, scattered over a moist sour cream coffee cake.

You might also love these recipes for pumpkin crumb coffee cake, banana bread coffee cake, and gingerbread maple coffee cake.

Cinnamon coffee cake dusted with powdered sugar.

This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I may make a small commission if you purchase a product using those links. This in no way affects my opinion of those products and services. All opinions expressed on this site are my own.

Why You’ll Love This Cake

Easy to Make. This is one of those recipes that’s perfectly uncomplicated, requiring nothing more than just whisking together wet and dry ingredients. It bakes up in about a half hour, and is ready to eat right away!

Delicious Warm or Cold. You can enjoy this coffee cake warm from the oven, or at room temperature. It’s even great days later!

Cake for Breakfast. What better way to get to eat cake for breakfast than with a buttery, crumb topped coffee cake?

High Altitude Tested. I develop all the recipes on my site for Denver’s altitude of 5,280 feet. If you’re at a lower or higher elevation, please see my FAQs for guidance on adjusting recipes for your altitude.

Cinnamon crumb coffee cake, cut into squares, and arranged on a plate.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Ingredients

Unsalted Butter. Adds flavor and richness to the cake. I use unsalted butter so I can control the saltiness.
Granulated Sugar + Dark Brown Sugar. Dark brown sugar adds sweetness, of course, but also moisture, and a subtle hint of molasses flavor.
Eggs. Add structure and richness.
Vanilla. Flavor.
Sour Cream. Moisture, richness and acidity.
All-purpose Flour. Provides structure to the cake batter.
Baking Soda. Leavens the cake, making it rise.
Salt. Balances the sweetness.
Cinnamon + Cardamom. A pinch of cardamom nicely complements the cinnamon, which is our featured spice.

Instructions

Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 F, and position a rack in the center of the oven. Lightly spray a 9×9 inch baking pan with non-stick baking spray, or grease it with butter and flour.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, and espresso powder.
Separately, whisk together the sour cream, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, oil, and vanilla extract.
Add the liquid ingredients to the dry, and stir together with a spatula, just until moistened. The batter will be thick.
Spread the cake batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Topping

In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Drizzle with the melted butter and toss together with a fork until moistened and crumbly.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the cake batter.

Bake

Bake the cake on the center oven rack for about 28-35 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool for 10-15 minutes, and serve warm. If you like, dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar before serving.

Step 1 for making cinnamon coffee cake - bowls of wet and dry ingredients.

Step 2 for making cinnamon coffee cake - mixing wet ingredients into dry ingredients.

Be sure to read all of my BAKING FAQs where I discuss ingredients, substitutions and common baking questions, so that you can be successful in your own baking!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bake this cake the night before?

This cake stays so moist, that to save time in the morning, I will often bake the cake at night to serve the next morning. Simply re-warm pieces for a few seconds in the microwave, and they’ll be soft and warm with that just-baked texture that’s simply irresistible. That said, this is a quick recipe to mix up, and only bakes for 30 minutes. So if your family can wait a half hour for hot, fresh-from-the-oven coffee cake, then bake it first thing in the morning. Your house will smell just incredible.

How long does this cake stay moist?

Leftover coffee cake should be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days to keep it soft and moist.

Almond coffee cake with almond crumb topping. — Almond Coffee Cake

Tiramisu cupcake next to a coffee cup that says "sweater weather". — Almond Coffee Cake

Please check out my Amazon Shop for a curated collection of some of my favorite cake pans from trusted brands, baking tools, ingredients, pretty things and fashion finds. I recommend products that I buy and use every day!

Did you love today’s recipe? Please rate the recipe and let me know in the comments what you thought! Also, be sure to follow Curly Girl Kitchen on Instagram, and tag me when you try one of my recipes so I can see all your delicious creations!