Banana coffee cake is a soft, moist and fluffy banana cake layered with a sweet cinnamon sugar, topped with crunchy streusel. This banana crumb cake makes the perfect dish for breakfast or brunch.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I absolutely adore a delicious coffee cake recipe. My Pumpkin Coffee Cake, Buttermilk Coffee Cake, Cream Cheese Coffee Cake, Blueberry Coffee Cake, Maple Pumpkin Coffee Cake are just a few I love from the blog. This buttermilk coffee cake recipe is filled with the coziest flavors and textures. If you’re a fan of decadent breakfast dishes or just love a wonderfully delicious streusel banana cake paired with your coffee, this recipe is for you.
- Layers of flavors and textures. From the soft, fluffy and moist crumb banana cake to the sweet cinnamon sugar and crunchy spiced streusel, this banana coffee cake will have you going back for seconds.
- Easy to make, bake and eat. This banana coffee cake tastes like you just bought it from a bakery, but simple to make and comes together quickly. Simply make the streusel, mix up the streusel, cinnamon sugar and banana cake batter, layer, top, bake and enjoy.
- You have some ripe bananas to use up. Rather than making another loaf of banana bread, make this quick and easy banana crumb cake.
Ingredients
This moist cinnamon streusel banana coffee cake requires a handful of simple ingredients to make and you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge.
Streusel Topping and Cinnamon Sugar
Gather all purpose flour, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and cold cubed unsalted butter.
Buttermilk Coffee Cake
Gather all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, bananas, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and buttermilk.
Substitutions
This banana crumb coffee cake is as easy to make as it is delicious. Here are my recommended substitutions to make this cake if you need them.
- All purpose flour: To make this banana coffee cake gluten free, use a good 1-1 gluten free flour. I recommend using the one from Bob’s Red Mill. Measure based off of weight (240 g) versus cup for cup.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: These both act as leaveners in this coffee cake.
- Mashed Banana: Make sure the bananas are fully ripened with some brown spots.
- Granulated Sugar: This coffee cake with bananas call for granulated and light brown sugar, but maple sugar would also work well to make this refined sugar free.
- Unsalted Butter: Feel free to use an equal amount of salted butter in place of the unsalted butter. Just make sure to omit the added salt. Vegan butter or plant based can also be used in place of regular unsalted butter.
- Eggs: This recipe has not been tested without eggs.
- Buttermilk: This ingredient is standard in this banana coffee cake. However, a thick and creamy greek yogurt works or sour cream can also work.
- Vanilla Extract: This is more for background flavor and nicely enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
Variations
- Banana Coffee Cake Bundt Cake: Generously grease a 10 -12 cup capacity bundt pan. Prepare the streusel topping, cinnamon sugar and coffee cake according to the recipe directions. Transfer ½ of the banana cake batter into the bundt pan and top with the cinnamon sugar layer. Repeat with the remaining banana coffee cake and the streusel. Bake at 350 F (177 C) for 50 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then inverted onto a serving plate to cool to room temperature.
- 9 - inch springform pan: Prepare the recipe as written, but rather than use a 9 inch square pan, use a 9 inch (23 cm) springform pan. Bake for 40 - 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
How To Make
Learn how to make banana coffee cake in a few easy steps.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Lightly grease and line the bottom and long sides of a 9 x 9 inch (23 cm) cake pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for the streusel topping. Work in the melted butter a little at a time until a sand like texture develops. There will be a few bigger crumbs, but most should be finer, smaller pieces. Place the bowl in the fridge until the coffee cake is ready for topping. In another bowl whisk the light brown sugar and cinnamon together until well combined. Set aside for now.
- In a medium bowl whisk the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas until mostly smooth with very few lumps. Whisk in the melted butter, light brown sugar, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and buttermilk until well combined. Whisk in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Evenly spread half banana cake batter into the prepared pan. Top the banana cake layer with the cinnamon sugar. Repeat with a second layer of coffee cake. Top with the streusel. Bake the coffee cake for 45 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the banna crumb cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the pan in the pan for 15-20 minutes. Gently lift the coffee cake out of the pan using the parchment paper. Transfer to a serving plate or serve right from the pan. Make the vanilla glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk or heavy cream. Top the banana cake coffee cake with the glaze, slice and enjoy!
How To Make Ahead, Freeze and Store
- Make Ahead: Parts of these coffee cake can easily be made ahead of time. To do this simply prepare streusel topping according to the recipe directions and place it in an airtight storage container and refrigerate until you’re ready to make the coffee cake.
- Store: Place the slices of the banana bread coffee cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Then the banana crumb cake should be transferred to the fridge for up to another 2 - 3 days.
- Freeze: Make sure the coffee cake with bananas is completely cooled to room temperature. Individually wrap each slice in plastic wrap and place in a ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you plan on freezing the coffee cake, I suggest leaving the glaze of until right before serving.
- Thaw: The easiest and tastiest way to thaw the coffee cake is to let it sit out at room temperature for at least two hours or overnight in the fridge. Enjoy at room temperature or microwave the coffee cake slice for 20 - 30 seconds for that “fresh from the oven” taste.
M’s Expert Tips
- Use ripe bananas. Just like making banana bread, use ripe bananas with lots of brown spots for the best banana coffee cake.
- Bring cold ingredients to room temperature. This allows the ingredients to mix together more evenly which requires less mixing, resulting in soft, fluffy, moist and tender coffee cake.
- Use whole fat ingredient. The more fat, the more tender and flavorful the cake will be. Use whole milk buttermilk, sour cream or yogurt.
- Measure the flour properly. I highly recommend using a food scale to get perfectly measured ingredients every time.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Always use the lowest speed on your electric mixer or mix in the dry ingredients by hand. Make sure to mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
- Use the baking times as a guide. All ovens vary and baking times should be used as a guide. As a general rule, when the coffee cake becomes really fragrant, it’s a good idea to start checking. Begin checking on the coffee cake at the minimum baking time. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out with a few moist crumbs or clean.
FAQs
Does coffee cake have coffee in it?
The name “coffee cake” implies that this type of cake is perfect when served with coffee.
What makes coffee cake different than cake?
Coffee cake is a bit denser than regular cake and is usually topped with streusel. Coffee cake is typically flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger.
Can I make this banana bread coffee cake in a different size pan?
Double the recipe to make this coffee cake in a 9 x 13 size pan. Keep in mind that the baking time may need to be a bit longer.
How can I ripen bananas quickly?
Place the bananas in a paper bag with apples or avocados. Alternatively bake the bananas for 15 - 20 minutes in a 300 F oven or until the banana skin turns brown and the flesh softens.
Other Banana Recipes to Try
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
- Brown Butter Banana Bread
- Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Banana Bundt Cake
- Banana Bread Pudding
If you try this Banana Coffee Cake recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! - M
Banana Coffee Cake Recipe
Banana coffee cake is a soft, moist and fluffy banana cake layered with a sweet cinnamon sugar, topped with crunchy streusel. This banana crumb cake makes the perfect dish for breakfast or brunch.
Equipment
- 1 9 x 9 (23 cm) pan
- 1 sheet parchment paper
- 1 whisk and flexible spatula or spoon
Ingredients
Cinnamon Streusel Topping
- 1 cup (120 g) all purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 6 - 8 tablespoons melted butter
Cinnamon Sugar
- 6 tablespoons (75 g) light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Banana Coffee Cake
- 2 cups (240 g) all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mashed banana about 2 medium bananas
- ½ cup (113 g) melted butter
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2 - 3 tablespoons (30 - 45 ml) milk or heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Lightly grease and line the bottom and long sides of a 9 x 9 inch (23 cm) cake pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for the streusel topping. Work in the melted butter a little at a time until a sand like texture develops. There will be a few bigger crumbs, but most should be finer, smaller pieces. Place the bowl in the fridge until the coffee cake is ready for topping.1 cup (120 g) all purpose flour, ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, ¼ cup (50 g) sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon , 6 - 8 tablespoons melted butter
- In another bowl whisk the light brown sugar and cinnamon together until well combined. Set aside for now.6 tablespoons (75 g) light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- In a medium bowl whisk the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together until well combined.2 cups (240 g) all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas until mostly smooth with very few lumps. Whisk in the melted butter, light brown sugar, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and buttermilk until well combined. Whisk in the dry ingredients until just combined.1 cup mashed banana , ½ cup (113 g) melted butter, ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, room temperature, 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract , ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
- Evenly spread half banana cake batter into the prepared pan. Top the banana cake layer with the cinnamon sugar. Repeat with a second layer of coffee cake. Top with the streusel.
- Bake the coffee cake for 45 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the banna crumb cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool the pan in the pan for 15-20 minutes. Gently lift the coffee cake out of the pan using the parchment paper. Transfer to a serving plate or serve right from the pan.
- Make the vanilla glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk or heavy cream. Top the banana cake coffee cake with the glaze, slice and enjoy!1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar, 2 - 3 tablespoons (30 - 45 ml) milk or heavy cream
Notes
Store: Place the slices of the banana bread coffee cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Then the banana crumb cake should be transferred to the fridge for up to another 2 - 3 days.
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