If you are craving the perfect blend of rich chocolate and the warm depth of coffee, this Chocolate Coffee Cake Recipe is exactly what your kitchen needs. This cake is a moist, tender delight crowned with a fudgy, cinnamon-kissed streusel topping studded with mini chocolate chips. It’s the ideal treat whether you’re indulging in a cozy breakfast, a mid-afternoon snack, or an irresistible dessert. Each bite melts smoothly with a harmonious balance of bold coffee flavor and comforting sweetness that simply keeps you coming back for more.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering simple, pantry-friendly ingredients is the best part about this recipe, yet each one plays a crucial role in building the cake’s fabulous flavors and textures. From the cocoa’s rich chocolate essence to the slight tang of sour cream, every ingredient is here to create something amazing.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the perfect structure to keep the cake tender yet sturdy.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Infuses deep chocolate flavor without added sweetness.
- Granulated and brown sugar: Brown sugar adds moisture and caramel-like notes, while granulated sugar balances sweetness.
- Baking powder and baking soda: The perfect team to give your cake a fluffy rise.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors, cutting through the sweetness beautifully.
- Instant coffee or espresso powder (optional): Intensifies chocolate and adds complexity without overpowering.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Adds richness and tenderness, resulting in a moist crumb.
- Eggs: Bind the batter and contribute to the cake’s light texture.
- Sour cream or plain yogurt: Adds a subtle tang and keeps the cake wonderfully moist.
- Vanilla extract: Brightens and deepens the overall flavor profile.
- Brewed coffee (cooled) or milk: Liquids that enhance moistness and amplify the coffee flavor.
- Brown sugar (for streusel): Sweetens and caramelizes in the topping for a crunchy finish.
- All-purpose flour (for streusel): Helps create that crumbly, buttery texture.
- Cocoa powder (for streusel): Boosts chocolate flavor in the streusel topping.
- Cinnamon: Adds a warm spice note that perfectly complements chocolate and coffee.
- Cold butter (for streusel): Cut in to make the streusel nice and crumbly.
- Mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate: Melty pockets of chocolate for extra indulgence.
How to Make Chocolate Coffee Cake Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pan
First things first, preheat your oven to a cozy 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour a 9-inch pan—square or round works just fine. This small prep goes a long way to ensure your cake releases easily and bakes evenly.
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and if you like, instant coffee or espresso powder. This is where your chocolate and coffee flavors start to unite, setting a beautifully rich foundation.
Step 3: Mix the Batter
Add the softened butter to your dry mix and blend until it looks like coarse crumbs — this step ensures a tender crumb. Now, blend in the eggs, sour cream (or yogurt), vanilla extract, and cooled coffee or milk. Mix until just combined; don’t overmix or your cake might turn dense. The batter should be smooth and luscious, ready to be transformed into cake magic.
Step 4: Pour and Smooth the Batter
Transfer your rich batter into the prepared pan, spreading it out evenly with a spatula. Even distribution here makes sure you’ll have a consistent cake crumb every slice of the way.
Step 5: Make the Streusel Topping
In a separate bowl, stir together the brown sugar, flour, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter with a fork or your fingertips until the mixture is crumbly. Finally, fold in those mini chocolate chips — these will melt just a little, adding bursts of chocolatey goodness to every bite.
Step 6: Add the Streusel and Bake
Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over your batter, covering every inch. Pop the whole pan into the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. When a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs), your cake is done. Let it cool a little before cutting.
How to Serve Chocolate Coffee Cake Recipe
Garnishes
This Chocolate Coffee Cake Recipe shines brilliantly on its own, but feel free to sprinkle powdered sugar on top for a delicate snowy effect or drizzle a smooth chocolate glaze to amp up the decadence. Fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream can add a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors.
Side Dishes
Pair your cake with a warm cup of coffee or creamy milk to complement the coffee note in the cake itself. For brunch, serve alongside fresh fruit or a light salad to balance the indulgence with bright, crisp flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving individual slices with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or layer pieces between spoons of mascarpone for an elegant twist. Wrapping single portions in parchment paper tied with twine makes for charming gifts. For gatherings, stack bite-sized crumbs on dessert platters garnished with cocoa powder or edible flowers.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Wrap your leftover Chocolate Coffee Cake Recipe tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This keeps it moist and flavorful, perfect for quick snacks or last-minute treats.
Freezing
This cake freezes beautifully! Slice it first, wrap each piece in plastic and foil, then place in a freezer-safe bag. It will keep well for up to 2 months. When you want a slice, just thaw overnight in the fridge for a fresh-from-the-oven taste.
Reheating
To revive the cake’s luscious texture, warm slices gently in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds or pop them briefly into a low oven (300°F) wrapped in foil. This softens the crumb and melts those chocolate chips slightly, bringing back that freshly baked charm.
FAQs
Can I skip the instant coffee powder in the recipe?
Absolutely! The instant coffee or espresso powder is optional but highly recommended because it deepens the chocolate flavor. If you prefer to omit it, the cake will still be deliciously chocolatey.
What can I substitute for sour cream in the recipe?
You can use plain yogurt as an easy substitute; it provides similar moisture and tang. If you don’t have either, a buttermilk substitute can work too, but expect a slightly different texture.
Is it possible to make this recipe dairy-free?
Yes, you can substitute dairy ingredients with plant-based alternatives—use a dairy-free butter, non-dairy yogurt, and a milk alternative like almond or oat milk. The flavor might shift a bit, but it will still be moist and tasty.
Why is the streusel topping important?
The streusel adds a delightful crunch and extra burst of chocolate flavor that contrasts wonderfully with the soft, moist cake underneath. It also gives the cake a beautiful textured look that’s hard to resist.
How long does this cake stay fresh?
When stored properly at room temperature in an airtight container, the cake stays fresh for about 3 days. Beyond that, refrigeration or freezing are your best options to maintain quality and flavor.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about this Chocolate Coffee Cake Recipe that makes it a standout in any baking repertoire. It’s incredibly satisfying to whip up with straightforward ingredients that you likely have on hand, plus the combination of chocolate and coffee is simply irresistible. Whether you’re treating yourself or sharing with friends, give this recipe a try—you’ll be delighted by how effortlessly it becomes a new favorite in your home.
Print
Chocolate Coffee Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 9 servings
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Chocolate Coffee Cake is a moist and rich dessert perfect for brunch or a sweet treat with coffee or milk. Featuring a tender cocoa-flavored cake base enhanced with instant coffee powder, it’s topped with a crumbly, chocolatey streusel full of cinnamon and mini chocolate chips for added texture and flavor.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder (optional)
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup strong brewed coffee (cooled) or milk
For the streusel topping:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- â…“ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons cold butter (cubed)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
Instructions
- Prepare baking pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch square or round baking pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and instant coffee powder if using.
- Add butter and form crumbs: Add the softened unsalted butter to the dry ingredients, mixing until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, ensuring even fat distribution for a tender crumb.
- Combine wet ingredients: Add the eggs, sour cream or plain yogurt, vanilla extract, and cooled brewed coffee or milk to the mixture. Mix until smooth and well combined, taking care not to overmix to keep the cake tender.
- Pour batter: Pour the prepared batter into the greased baking pan and spread it evenly for uniform baking.
- Make the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a fork or fingers until the mixture becomes crumbly. Stir in the mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate.
- Top the cake: Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the cake batter, covering the surface completely.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean when done.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled with chocolate glaze for extra presentation.
Notes
- Add a drizzle of chocolate glaze or dust with powdered sugar for extra presentation.
- This cake is great for brunch or as a dessert served alongside coffee or milk.
