Let’s talk coffee cake. Specifically, a soft, moist coffee cake with a cinnamon streusel topping and filling that starts with a box of yellow cake mix. You’ll want to bookmark this Coffee Cake Recipe with Yellow Cake Mix for Sunday brunch, holidays, or any morning when a slice of something sweet calls your name.
I'm a little partial to this easy coffee cake recipe. It has a special place in my heart—it’s the one my mom made all the time when I was growing up.
She always baked it in a bundt pan and would drizzle the vanilla icing over the top, letting it slowly drip down the sides. Anytime there was a special occasion, potluck, or family get-together, my mom would pack it up in her trusty covered Tupperware cake taker and off we’d go.
Like so many great recipes from that era, it was written on a lined index card and passed from home baker to home baker. It’s an oldie but a goodie, and I love how economical it is thanks to the yellow cake mix. It’s one of those comforting, tried-and-true desserts that never go out of style.
Why You’ll Love This Cake Mix Coffee Cake
- Quick and easy. Starting with a box cake mix keeps things simple. Just mix, layer, bake, and drizzle!
- That streusel topping. The brown sugar crumble adds a cozy crunch on top and through the middle.
- Moist cake texture. Thanks to a secret ingredient, a box of vanilla pudding mix, every bite is soft and flavorful. It really makes this the best coffee cake, in my opinion.
- Tastes homemade. No one will guess you started with a box mix—this has that “from scratch” taste, attributed to the butter flavoring and streusel layer in the middle of the cake.
Other Easy Coffee Cake and Breakfast Recipes You'll Like
If you're looking for another great breakfast recipe to serve at special occasions, try my Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream.
Variations
- Bundt Cake - Bake this in a bundt pan for a stunning presentation. Just grease it well and watch the center of the cake closely as it bakes. The baking time remains the same.
- Chopped Walnuts or Pecans - Add chopped nuts to the cinnamon mixture for texture.
Natalie's Pro Tip
Use a glass or metal pan when making this cinnamon coffee cake to ensure even heat distribution, which helps the cake bake consistently from edge to center. I love this 9" x 13" pan by USA Pan Bakeware. These pans create a slightly crisp edge that pairs perfectly with the soft, moist interior of the cake.
Ingredients
*Please scroll down to the full recipe card for specific ingredient amounts.
How To Make Coffee Cake With Cake Mix
Step 1. Prep your oven and pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9" x 13" glass or metal baking pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Set aside while you mix the ingredients.
Step 2. Make the cinnamon streusel topping. In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender or two forks until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This will be your cinnamon mixture for both the center and the top of the cake. Pop the bowl in the fridge until you're ready to layer it in.
Step 3. Mix the cake batter. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the box of yellow cake mix, instant vanilla pudding mix, vegetable oil, water, vanilla extract, and butter flavoring. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy. This cake batter will smell amazing already—resist the urge to eat it straight from the bowl!
Step 4. Pour half of the batter into the pan. Spoon or pour half of the cake batter into your prepared pan, spreading it out into a thin, even layer. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just enough to cover the bottom.
Step 5. Add the cinnamon streusel filling. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon streusel mixture evenly over the cake batter. This layer gives the center of the cake its cozy, cinnamon roll-like swirl.
Step 6. Add the rest of the batter and top with streusel. Dollop the rest of the batter over the cinnamon layer. Use a spatula to gently spread it out—it’s okay if some streusel peeks through. Finish by sprinkling the remaining brown sugar mixture over the top of the cake batter.
Step 7. Bake the coffee cake. Bake the coffee cake in your preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. The top of the cake should be golden with a slightly crisp streusel topping. Let the entire cake cool completely in the pan before icing.
Step 8. Drizzle the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1-2 Tablespoons of milk (or non-dairy milk if needed). If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk, a teaspoon at a time. Drizzle the classic vanilla glaze over the crumble topping once the cake has cooled completely.
Notes and FAQs
Avoid overmixing the batter as it develops gluten and makes the cake dense.
Make sure to spray the pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.
Coffee Cake Recipe With Yellow Cake Mix
Equipment
- 9" x 13" pan
- Electric Mixer
- Whisk
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
Cinnamon Streusel Filling and Topping:
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter cold and cubed
Cake:
- 13.5 ounce yellow cake mix
- 5 ounce instant vanilla pudding not cook and serve
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon butter flavoring
Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9" x 13" glass or metal baking pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Set aside while you mix the ingredients.
- In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender or two forks until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This will be your cinnamon mixture for both the center and the top of the cake. Pop the bowl in the fridge until you're ready to layer it in.1 cup light brown sugar, 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the box of yellow cake mix, instant vanilla pudding mix, vegetable oil, water, vanilla extract, and butter flavoring with an electric mixer, until smooth.13.5 ounce yellow cake mix, 5 ounce instant vanilla pudding, ½ cup vegetable oil, ¾ cup water, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon butter flavoring
- Pour half of the cake batter into your prepared pan, spreading it out into a thin, even layer. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just enough to cover the bottom.
- Sprinkle half of the cinnamon streusel mixture evenly over the cake batter. This layer gives the center of the cake its cozy, cinnamon roll-like swirl.
- Dollop the rest of the batter over the cinnamon layer. Use a spatula to gently spread it out—it’s okay if some streusel peeks through. Finish by sprinkling the remaining brown sugar mixture over the top of the cake batter.
- Bake the coffee cake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. The top of the cake should be golden with a slightly crisp streusel topping. Let the entire cake cool completely in the pan before icing.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1-2 Tablespoons of milk (or non-dairy milk if needed). If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk, a teaspoon at a time. Drizzle the classic vanilla glaze over the crumble topping.1 cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 Tablespoons milk
Charlotte says
This looks absolutely glorious! I love that it has both streusel and icing! What a great idea to use the cake mix as a base to keep the coffee cake moist! Can't wait to try it!