1861-1900 - Immigrant communities, American diners, church and school kitchens.

Coffee Cake

Name: Coffee Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; For Streusel Topping:; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed; 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Coffee cake is a moist, sweet cake often topped with cinnamon sugar streusel, enjoyed in schools, churches, and diners during the early 1900s. This American breakfast favorite embodies community gathering traditions and immigrant influences melding into everyday comfort food.

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Difficulty

Medium

Prep time

15 minutes

Cook time

40 minutes

Total time

55 minutes

Servings

Region

German American and Scandinavian American Midwest and Northeast bakeries

Era introduced

1861-1900

Introduced by

Immigrant communities, American diners, church and school kitchens.

Recipe tools

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The Story

Coffee cake gained widespread popularity in the United States between 1900 and 1929, particularly within immigrant communities settling in urban centers. Commonly served in schools, churches, diners, and state fairs, the cake's sweet cinnamon streusel topping made it a beloved companion to morning coffee or afternoon tea. It reflected the blending of European baking traditions with American ingredients and social habits. Coffee cake became a symbol of accessible comfort, community sharing, and daily ritual in immigrant city life.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Equipment

Baking pan
Oven
Cutting board
Chef's knife
Mixing bowl
Whisk
Measuring cups and spoons

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
Alternately add the flour mixture and sour cream to the butter mixture, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
Prepare streusel topping by combining brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts if using; cut in cold butter until crumbly.
Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle half the streusel over it.

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