These coffee cake bars feature a tender, slightly dense crumb with a ribbon of sugary cinnamon running through the center and a generous streusel on top. They’re ideal to bring to a book club, share with friends, or enjoy alongside a hot cup of coffee.
If you enjoy baking with your morning coffee, try more baked goods like traditional scones, blueberry muffins, or sweet cream cheese muffin buns for similar cozy treats.
This recipe was first published 09/25/18 and has been updated with new photos and an improved recipe.
Coffee cake is one of my earliest dessert memories. A friend of my mom’s used to bring it to their book club, and I would always sneak a piece. Coffee cake often feels nostalgic and comforting, which is why it’s such a crowd-pleaser.
What I appreciate most about these bars is how simple and forgiving the recipe is. Mix the batter, layer with streusel, bake, and you’re done.
These bars are a bit denser than a traditional coffee cake—somewhere between a cake and a bar—so they’re sturdy enough to enjoy with your hands or on a plate with a fork. They’re also convenient to transport to gatherings.
Ingredients
Below is a quick overview of what you’ll need. For exact amounts, refer to the recipe card in the recipe section.
- butter
- cane sugar
- brown sugar
- eggs
- sour cream
- milk
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- salt
- powdered sugar
Why I Love This Recipe
Every bite delivers buttery, cinnamon-sweet streusel and a tender cake layer underneath. It’s a perfect cozy treat for fall or any time you want a comforting dessert.
The method is straightforward—no special equipment or advanced baking skills required. A few pantry ingredients and basic mixing are all it takes.
The cinnamon flavor really shines and gives these bars a warm, familiar taste that appeals to many.
How To Make Coffee Cake Bars
Make the batter: Start by creaming softened butter with cane (or white) sugar. Add the eggs, sour cream, milk and vanilla, mixing until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour with baking soda, baking powder and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until combined.
Prepare the streusel: Use cold butter straight from the refrigerator, cut into cubes. Combine the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon, then work the cold butter in with your hands or a pastry cutter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
Use an 8×8″ pan for taller bars; a 9×13″ pan will yield shorter bars. Line the pan with parchment for easy removal. The batter is thick, so spread it as evenly as you can.
Layer the bars: Press half the batter into the prepared pan, then sprinkle half of the streusel over it. Spread the remaining batter on top (it will be thick) and finish with the remaining streusel.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool before drizzling with icing.
More Baked Goods Recipes
- Orange Almond Muffins
- Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
- Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Banana Bread
Coffee Cake Bars With Streusel Topping
16 squares
15 minutes
45 minutes
1 hour
These coffee cake bars have a soft crumb with a sugary cinnamon swirl and a thick streusel topping. Perfect for sharing with friends over coffee.
Ingredients
Coffee Cake Batter:
- ½ c butter, softened
- ¾ c cane sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ c sour cream
- ¼ c milk
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ c all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
STREUSEL:
- ½ c butter, cold
- 1 ¼ c all-purpose flour
- ¾ c brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
ICING:
- 1 c powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tsp water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Beat together the softened butter and sugar. Mix in the eggs, sour cream, milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, then stir into the wet ingredients.
- Make the streusel by mixing the cold butter into the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon until coarse crumbs form.
- Line an 8″x8″ square pan with parchment. Spread half the batter in the bottom, sprinkle half the streusel, then spread the remaining batter and top with the rest of the streusel.
- Bake 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool. Whisk the powdered sugar with vanilla and water to make a drizzle, then drizzle over the cooled bars.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 310
Total Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 58mg
Sodium: 216mg
Carbohydrates: 44g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 25g
Protein: 4g
Nutrition figures are estimates from online calculators and should be used as a general guide.
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