I’m obsessed with these coffee cake cookies. Each bite delivers a perfect harmony of cinnamon cookie dough layered over crumbly, buttery streusel topped with smooth powdered sugar icing. The balance of flavors and textures makes them ideal for a cozy coffee break. I love this delightful treat!

Jump to Recipe

I’ve always loved experimenting in the kitchen and this recipe is one of my favorites. I combined two of my favorite desserts into one, creating these Coffee Cake Cookies that blend a delightful cinnamon sugar cookie with a buttery streusel filling.

I start with classic ingredients like 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and unsalted butter to form the perfect cookie dough. The streusel filling is a mix of brown sugar, 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, and a touch of cinnamon which gives these cookies a gourmet feel without being too fancy.

To finish, I drizzle a simple powdered sugar icing made with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract over the top. I love sharing recipes like this on my blog as they bring together the best of coffee cake cookies, crumble cookie recipes and even a bit of holiday baking magic.

Enjoy these treats with a warm cup of coffee.

Why I Like this Recipe

I love this recipe cause it mixes two of my favorite desserts into one neat treat. First off, it’s a killer combo of a cinnamon sugar cookie and a buttery streusel filling that makes every bite super tasty. I also like how the powdered sugar icing adds an extra layer of sweet that just ties the whole thing together perfectly. Plus, making these cookies is actually not too hard and feels fun—it’s like a mini baking adventure that always ends with a yummy treat. Lastly, I enjoy munching on these with a hot cup of coffee, ’cause it just makes my day every time I take a bite.

Ingredients

Print Recipe (No Advertisments)

All-Purpose Flour: Provides essential carbs for energy and structure, but has little fibre.
Unsalted Butter: Adds rich flavor and moisture with healthy fats, making cookies tender.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens evenly, providing delightful energy spikes but mostly empty carbs.
Egg: Contributes important protein and acts as a binder to keep the dough together.
Brown Sugar (streusel): Deepens flavor with molasses tones, adding moisture and slight chewiness in filling.
Cinnamon: Infuses warm spice and depth, boosting aroma and taste in the dough and streusel.
Powdered Sugar Icing: Provides a luscious, smooth finish with extra sweetness for a perfect touch.

Ingredient Quantities

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for cookie dough)

For the streusel filling: 1 cup brown sugar

For the streusel filling: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

For the streusel filling: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the streusel filling: 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed

Optional for the streusel: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

For the powdered sugar icing: 1 cup powdered sugar

For the powdered sugar icing: 2-3 tablespoons milk

For the powdered sugar icing: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make this

Print Recipe (No Advertisments)

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to keep your cookies from sticking.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

3. In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup softened butter with 1 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until well combined.

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Do not overmix or the cookies might turn out tough.

5. For the streusel filling, in another bowl, combine 1 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup flour, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Then cut in 6 tablespoons cold cubed butter using your fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mix becomes crumbly. If you’re using nuts, stir in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans now.

6. Scoop about a tablespoon of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet and slightly press it into a small disc.

7. Spoon a generous dollop of the streusel on top of the cookie disc, then cover it with a bit more of the cookie dough if you want the filling to be sealed, or leave it open for a more rustic look.

8. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes or until the cookies just start to get a light golden color on the edges.

9. While the cookies are cooling, prepare the icing by stirring together 1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust the milk to reach your desired consistency.

10. Once the cookies have cooled a bit, drizzle the powdered sugar icing over the top and grab a cup of warm coffee to enjoy these dreamy coffee cake cookies!

Equipment Needed

1. Oven – You need one to bake your cookies at 350°F.
2. Baking sheet – Make sure to line it with parchment paper.
3. Medium bowl – For whisking the dry ingredients together.
4. Whisk – To mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
5. Large bowl – For creaming the softened butter and granulated sugar.
6. Electric mixer or hand beater – To help blend the butter mixture until light and fluffy.
7. Measuring cups and spoons – Essential for getting all your ingredient amounts right.
8. Additional bowl – For mixing the streusel ingredients.
9. Pastry cutter or your fingertips – To cut the cold butter into the streusel mix.
10. Cookie scoop or tablespoon – To portion out the dough onto the baking sheet.
11. Small bowl – For stirring together the powdered sugar icing.
12. Spatula – For scraping mixtures and smoothing the dough as needed.
13. Cooling rack – So the cookies can cool evenly after baking.

FAQ

Q: Can these cookies be made ahead?

A: Yeah, you can make them a day or two before and keep 'em in an airtight container. Just let the streusel set a bit before storing.

Q: Can I use a different type of nut in the streusel?

A: Sure, you can swap walnuts or pecans with almonds or any other nut you like, or even leave the nuts out if that's your thing.

Q: Do I need to cool the cookies before drizzling the icing?

A: Absolutely, let 'em cool completely so the powdered sugar icing doesn't melt all over and becomes a mess.

Q: Can I substitute oil for butter in this recipe?

A: You might try it, but note that butter adds flavor and helps with texture. If you use oil, expect a slightly different taste and consistency.

Q: How do I know when the streusel filling is ready?

A: You wanna see that it comes together in clumps but isn’t too wet, so once you mix it and it holds together with a bit of crunch, you're set.

Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations

All-purpose flour: You can swap it with whole wheat pastry flour for a nuttier flavor, but you might need a tad more liquid.
Granulated sugar: Try using coconut sugar in equal amounts. It gives a subtle caramel note though the texture might be a bit different.
Unsalted butter: If you’re out of it, use salted butter instead, but cut back on any extra salt added to the recipe.
Egg: In a pinch, 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce can replace one egg. The cookie might be a bit cakey, but it’s a solid alternative.
Optional nuts (walnuts): You can always use pecans instead, or just leave out the nuts if you’re not into that texture.

Pro Tips

1. Dont overwork the dough when mixing in the flour – if you mix too much it could turn the cookies tough, so keep it light and mix just until you dont see dry spots.
2. Make sure your butter for the streusel is ice cold before you cut it in – this helps form crumbly bits that give you a nice contrast in texture.
3. Keep a close eye on the baking time, because even just a minute too much can make the edges overly crunchy while the insides are still soft.
4. Let your cookies cool down a bit before drizzling the icing on top – if you do it too soon the icing might run right off instead of giving you that perfect sweet finish.