4.70 from 369 reviews

Coffee Cake Cookies

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coffee cake cookies on a gold cooling rack with icing on top of the cookies

When you take a bite of these soft and chewy coffee cake cookies you will savor each bite that includes a blanket of buttery brown sugar streusel and vanilla icing. Each cookie is filled with this cinnamon-y sweet crumble and you won’t be able to stop at just one bite.

After making these apple pie cookies I knew I had to make another thumbprint style cookie.

You’ll love baking these because the whole house gets filled not only with scents of yummy homemade cookies but the irresistible smells of buttery cinnamon-y coffee cake too. It will make you want to grab a plate of them, a cup of coffee, a good book with a blanket and cozy up to treat yourself! Since I have a 14 month old daughter to chase around the house I don’t have much time for that, so I will have to live vicariously through you! ?

cookies on a white plate with powdered sugar icing on top

My childhood memories of my mom’s homemade coffee cake coming out of the oven as I headed downstairs for breakfast inspired me to create these coffee cake cookies.

Just like a great piece of coffee cake, every bite of the coffee cake cookie is crowned with a buttery -sweet cinnamon crumble that is crunchy on top and soft on the bottom. And you can’t forget topping cookies with icing! Oh my gosh the icing is SO GOOD. I feel like they are naked without it! The creamy, buttery, vanilla icing tucks itself around each morsel of the streusel crumble in all of the best ways.

Just writing about them makes me want to eat another one! I mean…look at that crumble!

These cookies are a great grab-and-go quick breakfast treat, mid-day snack, or the perfect pairing with a cup of coffee and I hope you love them!

Once you’ve tried these Coffee Cake Cookies, check out my Cinnamon Banana Bread, Tiramisu Cookies, and Cookie Butter Cookies for more delicious baked goods!

Ingredient Notes

Sscroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements.

ingredients to make cookies in small bowls
  • All-Purpose Flour: All Purpose Flour provides a delicious texture and gives the cookies the perfect chewiness you love.
  • Cake Flour: Adding in cake flour, which is ground extra fine, balances out the texture for a lighter, looser crumb and fluffy texture.
  • Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps keep the cookie from spreading, plus it increases the crumb strength and increases the tender texture of the cookie.
  • Cinnamon: I used Ceylon Cinnamon. It is both healthy and delicious and adds a warm accent of flavor to these Coffee Cake Cookies.
  • Unsalted Butter: The biggest benefit of unsalted butter lets you control the overall flavor of your cookies, plus you get the pure sweet flavor of butter in the cookies.
  • Brown Sugar: I use light brown sugar, but you can easily substitute dark brown sugar.
  • Granulated Sugar: granulated sugar adds to the crispiness of the cookie, and makes for a lighter colored cookie.
  • Vanilla: Vanilla is a must in cookies, it adds a complex and subtle spice, and I always recommend using real vanilla extract.
  • Egg & 1 egg yolk: The protein in eggs adds to a chewy texture, so adding an extra yolk, gives the cookie the extra chewiness that makes these cookies perfect.
  • For the streusel you’ll need softened butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
  • For the icing you’ll need: melted butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla and a pinch of salt.
coffee cake cookies on a gold cooling rack with icing on top of the cookies

Step by Step Directions

This recipe is inspired by the popular thumbprint cookie! It’s like eating coffee cake, but without the hassle of making an entire cake! Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe instructions.

coffee cake cookie dough filled with cinnamon brown sugar streusel filling
  1. Prepare the streusel filling: combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt together. Then work in the butter until small clumps form. Refrigerate.
  2. Make the cookie dough next. This cookie dough for this recipe is my snickerdoodle cookie base, without the white chocolate chips.
  3. Preheat the oven to 400°F
  4. Roll cookie dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with a Silpat mat or parchment paper.
  5. Make an indent in each cookie, using your thumb or the end of a spoon/spatula or something similar. (I used the end of a wooden juicer).
  6. Spoon ~1 Tbsp. of the streusel filling in each cookie and bake for ~9-11 minutes.
  7. Fill the center of each cookie with a little more streusel filling once they’re baked.
  8. Cool for a few minutes. Make the icing and once cookies are cooled, drizzle icing over the tops.
a coffee cake cookie with a bite taken out of it on a white plate with icing on top

Expert Tips

  • Mix the streusel topping and then place it in the refrigerator until ready to use. This will keep the streusel topping consistency we want. The streusel can also be made up to three days in advance and stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
  • You can double the streusel to have extra streusel topping to garnish the cookies with after they bake.
  • Make certain that the unsalted butter for the cookie dough is cold and cubed. There is a case to be made when to use cold butter in cookies especially if you are looking for a crisp texture with a tender center.
  • Using a mixture of all-purpose flour and cake flour gives the cookies just the right tender, cake-y center.
  • Ice the cookies only after they are completely cool. 
  • For added texture to the streusel add shredded coconut, or finely chopped pecans or walnuts.

FAQ

How long do the cookies last?

Cookies will stay fresh for up to 3 days, but make sure they are stored in an air tight container.  If refrigerated, they will last up to a week, and up to 3 months in the freezer.

How do I make homemade cake flour?

Substitute ¾ of a cup of all-purpose flour, and remove 2 tablespoons.  Then add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the flour.  Sift the flour and cornstarch twice so that it  aerates the mixture so that it will have the consistency of cake flour. 

Can I make these gluten free?

Yes! Replace both the All-Purpose flour and Cake flour with: Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour.

cookies stacked on top of each other on a white plate with coffee cake streusel filling and vanilla icing on top

Can’t get enough cookies? Here are some more of my favorites you’re bound to love:

Cookies or Cake?!

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coffee cake cookies on a gold cooling rack with icing on top of the cookies
4.70 from 369 reviews

Coffee Cake Cookies

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 8 large cookies
I've combined two of my favorite desserts into one and made these dreamy coffee cake cookies. They're made with a cinnamon sugar cookie, filled with a buttery streusel and a drizzle of powdered sugar icing on top. Enjoy with a cup of warm coffee and get ready to fall in love with your new favorite cookie!

Ingredients

For the streusel

  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • pinch salt
  • 5 Tbsp. softened butter, unsalted

Cookie Dough

  • 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup cake flour
  • 1 tsp. cornstarch
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 8 Tbsp. cold butter, unsalted, cut into cubes
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk

Icing

  • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 Tbsp. heavy cream
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • pinch salt

Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Prepare the streusel filling: In a medium sized bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt together. Then work in the butter until small clumps form. (I just use my fingers to work it together). Refrigerate.
    1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed, 2 tsp. cinnamon, pinch salt, 5 Tbsp. softened butter, unsalted
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside
  • Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl: all purpose flour, cake flour, corn starch, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
    1 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 3/4 cup cake flour, 1 tsp. cornstarch, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt
  • Place the cubed butter and sugars into the bowl of a stand mixer and secure the paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on and cream until smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
    8 Tbsp. cold butter, unsalted, cut into cubes, 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed, 1/4 cup sugar
  • Add in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla extract and blend until mixed. Use a rubber spatula to knock off mixture if any is sticking to the sides of the bowl and mix again.
    1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk
  • Gradually add in the dry ingredients, about 1/4 cup at a time. Mix until incorporated.
  • Scoop and roll cookie dough into ~8 large balls, or smaller if preferred. Place on prepared baking sheets.
  • Make an indent in each cookie, using your thumb or the end of a spoon/spatula or something similar. (I used the end of a wooden juicer).
  • Spoon ~1 Tbsp. of the streusel filling in each cookie and bake for ~9-11 minutes, or until edges appear set and are slightly golden. (They will continue to bake a bit more on the pan after you pull them out so pull them out just before you think they're done so they don't over-bake/become dry.)
  • *Optional step to get cookies perfectly circular: Immediatley after the cookies come out of the oven, place a circular cookie cutter or a circular drinking glass around one of the cookies (it should be larger than the cookie so you don’t cut off any edges) and give the cookies a spin. Swirling the cookie should help to smooth out any uneven edges.
  • If you have any leftover streusel, top the centers of each cookie with a little more streusel filling, if desired. Let cookies rest on cookie sheet for ~5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.
  • Whisk together the ingredients for the icing and once the cookies are cooled, drizzle icing over the tops and enjoy!
    2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, 3 Tbsp. heavy cream, 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted, 1 tsp. vanilla, pinch salt

Video

Notes

  • Make the streusel up to three days in advance and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
  • You can also double the streusel so you have extra streusel topping to garnish the cookies with after they bake, if needed.
  • Ice the cookies only after they are completely cool. 
  • For added texture to the streusel add shredded coconut, or finely chopped pecans or walnuts.
  • Store cookies in at room temperature in an air tight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 555kcal (28%), Carbohydrates: 76g (25%), Protein: 6g (12%), Fat: 26g (40%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 104mg (35%), Sodium: 445mg (19%), Potassium: 105mg (3%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 44g (49%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 79mg (8%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Krolls Korner

Krolls Korner

Welcome to my tiny “korner” on the Internet! I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves cookies as much as kale. (OK, maybe I like cookies a little bit more but shh, don’t tell anyone). I am so glad you’re here! Follow along for hassle free, realistic and approachable recipes.

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Aly

I made these for a work potluck, the theme was “Farmer’s Market” and I wrapped them in individual bags tied with some bakers twine & burlap string with cute little “coffee cake cookie” tag with a link to the recipe at the bottom. I was told they were “heaven in a bag” and “better than Crumbl”. My new favorite cookie!!! I’ll send you a picture on insta 🙂

Lynn

These are delicious! The combination of AP and cake flour make for a really soft cookie! So glad I tried them!

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Kevin

I loved this recipe. The taste is a great combo of cookie and crumb cake. My one question is that most of your recipes you mention to make 5 ounce or 6 ounce cookies. This recipe mentions that it makes 20 cookies. When I made the dough recipe I came up with about 20 ounces of dough. I made 5 four ounce cookies and they seemed to spread to much. By saying 20 cookies to make that’s about 2.5 ounces per cookie. Is that about the best size to make for this recipe? Or should I cook my 4 ouncers more? Thanks for a wonderful recipe.

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Vicki Ramsey

Wonderful! I used 3 whole eggs instead and they still turned out great

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Ava Kovscek

Turned out amazing!!

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Juliana

Hi! Can the dough and streusel be placed in the freezer? I was planning on making the cookies tomorrow (Wednesday) and baking them on Saturday. Thank you 🙂

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Juliana

Perfect thank you! Can’t wait to try them

Christine

Best cookie I’ve ever had! Followed recipe except for the cold butter for the dough. Cold butter won’t cream so I used room temperature.

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Paula

I had a lot of success with this recipe and everyone loved them; tastes just like coffee cake and the icing with crumble ties it all together. I ran out of regular flour and used all cake flour on this, so they rose quite a bit and were chewy and soft.

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Jill

Is there such a thing as going a little overboard on the “drizzle?” These were so delicious and we decided that they were the perfect cookie to have with coffee in the morning. I will definitely be making these for my sons that will be visiting at Christmas, all in hopes of bringing them home more often ?

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Winnie Chan

Your cookies are simply delicious!! I have been making these for my daughter’s teachers and staff and they have been loving them! Your cookies are so creative and easy to make! It has totally elevated my baking game! In fact, I am baking your cookies for a holiday fundraiser for the school! These coffee cake cookies are one of their favorites!!

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Rhonda

I have made these cookies many times. They are well worth the effort!

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