The secret to this Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Coffee Cake is pancake mix — creating a moist, chewy cake with a crunchy cinnamon-sweet topping. Whipped up in minutes, this coffee cake is weekend perfection!
Some weekends just call for coffee cake. Except if you’re like me, when I get a weekend coffee cake craving, I want it NOW. Well, this Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Coffee Cake recipe is the perfect weekend recipe for when that coffee cake craving comes-a-callin’ and you just can’t wait.
This recipe starts with pancake mix as a base and requires a few staples that you likely already have on hand in your kitchen. It takes less than 15 minutes to mix up and bakes to perfection in just 22 minutes. Less than 45 minutes from start to finsih? Now thats #CoffeeCakeWinning!
The part I love most about this Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Coffee Cake is how the crumb topping forms a crunchy, sweet coating atop the cake when it bakes. I swear this crunchy coating helps seal in all the moisture in the cake itself! Besides being quick and cinnamony delicious, I also favor this coffee cake because it’s just the right amount of light and fluffy while also being slightly chewy and moist. It’s not overly sweet and has a heartiness to it from the pancake mix. It’s perfect to pair with a cup of creamy hot coffee!
For this recipe, I used a local Austin favorite, Kerbey Lane Vanilla Pancake Mix, but you can use pretty much whatever you have on hand — whether it be a multi-grain pancake & waffle mix or an old stand by like Bisquick. If I’m feeling extra fancy on the weekend or plan on bringing the cake to a friend’s brunch, I make a quick icing to drizzle on top of the coffee cake to make it a bit more special!
If you’re looking for other easy weekend coffee cakes, check out my Raspberry Coffee Cake recipe. It’s a family favorite, and like this Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Coffee Cake, it’s quick to make and always a crowd pleaser.
- 2 cups Kerbey Lane Vanilla Pancake Mix*
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅔ cup milk of choice
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup Kerbey Lane Vanilla Pancake Mix
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Preheat the oven to 400*F
- Lightly grease a round 9 inch round pan with baking spray or butter and set aside
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of pancake mix, granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- Add in the milk, egg, and vanilla extract
- Whisk together until all lumps are removed
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and set aside
- To make the crumb topping, combine the remaining ⅓ cup pancake mix, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl
- Using a fork, knife or pastry blender, cut in the chilled butter
- Sprinkle the crumb mixture on top of the coffee cake batter and bake for 22-25 minutes
- Let cool 5-10 minutes and serve*
* If you choose to drizzle the cake with icing, whisk together 1 cup confectioners sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and 1-2 tablespoons of milk until the desired consistency is reached. Drizzle atop cooled coffee cake and serve.
Pancake mix! Genius! We love coffee cake around here.
Who would have thought that you can get such a moist and fluffy coffee cake just by using pancake mix?! Definitely keeping this one in mind.. that cinnamon crumb topping looks fantastic!
What a genius shortcut for coffee cake! This looks amazingly delicious, and like the perfect addition to a holiday brunch. Love all that cinnamon flavor. Yum!
I am a huge fan of coffee cake! I love the quick and easy tip of using pancake mix. Brilliant! Looks and sounds delicious, saving for later!