This Banana Crumb Coffee Cake is a delightful treat, bursting with sweet banana flavor and topped with a crunchy streusel. It’s perfect for breakfast or brunch with friends!
Honestly, what’s better than a slice of cake with your morning coffee? I always find it hard to resist another piece—it’s that good! Just bake, slice, and enjoy! ☕🍌
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Mashed Bananas: Ripe bananas bring the natural sweetness and moisture to the cake. If you don’t have ripe bananas on hand, you can use applesauce or pureed mango for a fruity twist.
Sour Cream: This ingredient adds richness and keeps the cake moist. You can substitute with plain yogurt or buttermilk if you’re out of sour cream. These alternatives work equally well!
Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level in the cake. If you prefer, you can use margarine or coconut oil, but the texture might be slightly different.
Streusel Topping: The streusel provides a nice crunch. You can swap out the brown sugar for regular sugar, but I love the added depth brown sugar gives with its molasses flavor!
How Do You Achieve the Perfect Crumb Texture?
Getting that perfect crumb texture in your coffee cake is crucial. First, don’t overmix the batter once you add the dry ingredients. This keeps your cake light and fluffy!
- Mix until just combined; some lumps are okay!
- Make sure your butter is softened but not melted when creaming with sugar—this helps trap air and gives a good rise.
- Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack. This prevents it from getting soggy on the bottom.
Following these tips ensures a deliciously tender cake every time! Enjoy your baking!
Banana Crumb Coffee Cake with Easy Streusel Topping
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Cake:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about 2-3 medium bananas)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
- ¼ cup milk
For the Streusel Topping:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe takes about 15 minutes to prepare, plus an additional 40-45 minutes to bake. After baking, let it cool for a bit before slicing. In total, you’re looking at around 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes from start to enjoying your delicious coffee cake!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
First things first! Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×8-inch square baking pan to ensure your cake comes out easily.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt. This will give your cake the right texture! Set this bowl aside for now.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat ½ cup softened unsalted butter with ¾ cup granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes. It’s so satisfying to see it fluff up!
4. Add Eggs:
Now, add the 2 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Make sure everything is well combined—this helps the cake be nice and airy!
5. Bananas and Vanilla:
Add 1 cup of ripe mashed bananas and 1 tsp of vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix until everything is well blended together.
6. Combine Ingredients:
It’s time to add your dry ingredients! Alternate adding them with ½ cup sour cream (or yogurt) and ¼ cup milk to the banana mixture. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix gently until everything is just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
7. Pour into the Pan:
Pour your batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth out the top with a spatula so it bakes evenly.
8. Make the Streusel Topping:
In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt. Add the cold butter cubes and blend using a pastry cutter or your fingers until it looks like coarse crumbs.
9. The Final Touch:
Sprinkle that delicious streusel topping evenly over the batter in the pan. This will give your cake a yummy crunch!
10. Bake:
Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Keep an eye on it—you don’t want to overbake!
11. Cool and Serve:
Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for a few minutes. Then slice it up! Enjoy it warm or at room temperature—it’s a lovely treat with coffee or tea!
Enjoy your moist, flavorful Banana Crumb Coffee Cake with a buttery, crunchy streusel topping! Happy baking!
FAQ for Banana Crumb Coffee Cake
Can I Use Frozen Bananas in This Recipe?
Absolutely! Just make sure to thaw and drain any excess moisture from the frozen bananas before mashing them. This will help prevent your cake from becoming too wet.
What Can I Substitute for Sour Cream?
If you don’t have sour cream available, plain yogurt or buttermilk works perfectly as a substitute. They add moisture and a nice tang to the cake!
How Do I Store Leftover Coffee Cake?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to a week or freeze it for up to 3 months. Just make sure to wrap it well!
Can I Add Nuts or Other Mix-ins?
Definitely! Pecans or walnuts make a great addition. You can stir in about ½ cup of chopped nuts into the batter right before pouring it into the pan. Chocolate chips could also be a delightful twist!
