Easy Coffee Cake

Everybody needs a go-to recipe they can turn to for leisurely morning baking, and this easy coffee cake is just the thing. A plush vanilla cake layer made with melted, in lieu of softened, butter comes together quickly without the need for an electric mixer, saving you time while ensuring you don’t overmix the batter. Sour cream, which is used without restraint in this recipe, lends the cake a tangy richness and unbeatable tenderness that keeps it soft and springy for days. A ripple of cinnamon sugar throughout creates a striking caramel-like ribbon while a crowning of cinnamon sugar streusel provides a contrasting crunch. In short: It’s the coffee cake you know and love, simplified for everyday baking.

While the recipe itself is easy, assembling the cake requires some finesse. To make your life easier, use a cookie scoop to evenly dollop the second layer of cake batter on top of the cinnamon sugar filling instead of pouring the remaining batter in the center. The evenly spaced dollops will help you spread the batter across the filling without compromising the ripple effect. While serving the cake for breakfast alongside a cup of coffee is an obvious pairing, it’s equally delicious served with tea or cold milk or eaten all by itself as a midday snack.