If you’re anything like me, you know there’s something truly comforting about the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and a slice of warm, homemade coffee cake. This German coffee cake recipe can be breakfast or dessert. It’s perfect for cozy mornings and afternoon chats. A homemade German coffee cake is about to become your new go-to for any occasion that calls for a little sweetness.
Ingredients for German Coffee Cake
Almond tops the cake for a bit of streusel crunch and combines perfectly with the cinnamon in the dough. Here are the ingredients for my almond German coffee cake recipe:
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- butter
- sugar
- flour
- almond extract
- eggs
- white whole wheat flour
- baking powder
- almond milk
- sliced almonds
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
Tools Needed to Make Coffee Cake
Making a recipe for German coffee cake is pretty straightforward. You’ll need:
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Measuring spoons and measuring cups
- Electric Mixer
- Baking pan
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How to Make Coffee Cake
In this recipe, begin by mixing the sugar, butter, and almond extract until everything is smooth and creamy. Then, add the eggs one at a time. Beat them into the mixture well as this helps make your batter fluffier. Then alternate adding the dry ingredients with the milk.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease your pan.
Gently spread half of the batter into the baking pan. If the batter is too sticky, dip a spoon or spatula in water before spreading it. The water keeps the batter from sticking.
Then, sprinkle half the almond, sugar, cinnamon mixture over the dough. Layer the remaining dough on top and sprinkle the remaining nut mixture on the top.
Tips for Fluffy Coffee Cake
For a fluffier coffee cake, avoid overmixing the batter. Fold the ingredients in gently and stir just until combined. All the cake to rise a bit before baking. Give it just a little extra time to develop a few air pockets.
Variations of German Coffee Cake
This is a recipe for German coffee cake, but experiment with different variations. My kids love it when I add raisins to the dough.
This recipe calls for almonds, but other nuts such as walnuts or pecans would also be delicious. Alternatively, you can also leave out the nuts altogether.
I’ve also experimented with different shapes. Sometimes I make this recipe in a Bundt pan or even a loaf pan. Just adjust baking times accordingly and always check your cake for doneness.
What is the Difference Between Cake and Kuchen?
Have you heard of Kaffee und Kuchen? This refers to a German tradition of having coffee with cake. “Kuchen” is the German word for “cake.” It refers to a specific, but simple, style of cake. It is often less sweet and can be topped with fruits, nuts, or streusel.
In America, we use “cake” as reference to a sweet, baked dessert. They are usually covered in icing, contain fillings, and are decorated. They are generally more elaborate than a coffee cake, or “kuchen”.
When to Serve Coffee Cake
Traditionally, coffee cake is served in Germany in the late afternoon and is served with coffee. It’s the perfect excuse to gather with friends and family for a nice afternoon break.
In the United States, we often serve coffee cake in the morning as a part of breakfast.
In my opinion, there’s no wrong time to serve, or eat, coffee cake! The warm, cinnamon flavor makes the perfect match for a strong cup of coffee (or with a glass of milk for the kids).
To make it into a heartier snack, serve it with fresh fruit such as raspberries, strawberries, or peaches.
For more German recipes, try these:
- Here’s How to Make Traditional Glühwein
- My Grandmother’s German Lebkuchen Cookie Recipe
- German Sour Cream Twists – My Grandmother’s Sugar & Yeast Cookies
German Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x9 baking pan.
- In a large mixing bowl beat together butter, sugar, and extract until creamy.
- Beat in 1 egg at a time.
- In another bowl, mix together flour and baking powder.
- Slowly add flour to butter mixture, alternating with milk.
- Spread 1/2 of batter into greased pan.
- In another mixing bowl, combine nuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Sprinkle 3/4 of nut mixture over the batter in the pan.
- Add remaining batter on top of nut layer and spread carefully.
- Top with remaining nut mixture.
- Bake 30-35 minutes until golden brown and cake tester comes out clean.
- Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
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Hi visiting thru Domestic Superhero – just had to pop over – One of my Aunts was German and she cooked some really good food with coffee cake the thing she made often. This was a treat for me back in the early 70s. Thanks for the memory.
Hi JoAnn. My grandmothers were German and Dutch. So I know exactly what you mean. Food brings back some great memories. Thanks so for stopping by.
Mmm looks very yummy!
It’s great. Perfect with coffee
This looks like it’s delicious. My husband would love this.
It’s really easy. He’ll love you if you made it for him.
I have a Dutch cookbook like that. It’s probably a good thing our cookbooks don’t have pictures. We’d be constantly cooking if they did. 🙂
I completely agree.