March 29, 2025

New York-Style Coffee Cake: The Ultimate Crumb Lover’s Dream

If you’ve never had a proper New York-style coffee cake, let me tell you—you’re in for a treat. And if you have? Well, you already know that it’s all about that crumble.

Seriously, the crumble-to-cake ratio here is about 40/60, and that’s how it should be. A thick layer of buttery, cinnamon-packed crumble on top of a soft, rich cake. Perfection.

This is the kind of cake you want to enjoy with your favorite beverage—whether you’re a coffee enthusiast, a tea drinker, or someone who prefers an extra-large glass of milk (hey, no judgment).

What You’ll Need

For the Crumble (A.K.A. The Best Part)

🥣 1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
🍯 ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
🧂 ½ cup granulated sugar
🍂 1 tsp ground cinnamon
🧈 ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
🧂 ¼ tsp salt
✨ ¼ cup cornstarch

For the Coffee Cake (Yes, There’s Cake Under All That Crumble)

🧈 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp
🍚 ¾ cup granulated sugar
🥚 2 large eggs, room temp
🌿 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
🥛 1 cup sour cream, room temp
🌟 ¾ tsp baking soda
🧂 ½ tsp kosher salt
🥣 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
❄️ Powdered sugar, for dusting

How to Make It

Step 1: Make the Crumble (a.k.a. The Star of the Show)

  1. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
  2. Pour in the melted butter and mix until everything is evenly coated. The texture should be thick and clumpy—that’s what we want!
  3. Pop the crumble in the fridge while you make the cake batter.

Step 2: Make the Cake (Because You Need a Base for That Crumble)

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang so you can lift the cake out easily.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a hand or stand mixer until it’s light and fluffy.
  3. Add in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each.
  4. Add the vanilla and mix until smooth.
  5. Mix in the sour cream.
  6. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and gently mix until just combined—don’t overdo it!

Step 3: Assemble & Bake

  1. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
  2. Grab that crumble from the fridge and sprinkle it evenly over the batter, making sure to cover every inch.
  3. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Let it cool, then remove it from the pan and dust with powdered sugar.

Enjoy Every Crumb!

This coffee cake is everything—soft, crumbly, sweet (but not too sweet), and completely irresistible. It’s perfect for lazy weekend mornings, afternoon pick-me-ups, or midnight snacking (we don’t judge).

At Feed Your Soul, we take pride in our process, our facility, our team, our products, and our mission to give back. Because when food is made with love, it just tastes better. 💛

So go ahead, make this coffee cake, pour yourself a cup of something delicious, and enjoy every single bite. You deserve it. 🥄☕🍰

Written by mya zoracki