Best Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake

The best cinnamon walnut coffee cake isn’t complete without a cinnamon swirl and streusel topping, and this one checks all the boxes! It pairs perfectly with your morning coffee or tea and makes a great breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

If you, too, enjoy eating dessert for breakfast, you'll definitely want to try our orange cranberry bundt cake and glazed lemon loaf cake ASAP.

Coffee cake is one of our favorites to make and eat! This cinnamon walnut version adds a twist with a spiced walnut filling and a sweet glaze that gives it a cinnamon roll-like flavor.

The cake is fluffy and moist, with layers of sweet cinnamon filling and toasted walnuts. It’s topped with a crumbly spiced streusel and a drizzle of powdered sugar icing.

What Is Coffee Cake?

Despite the name, coffee cake doesn’t actually have coffee in it. It’s a lightly sweetened cake with a crumbly streusel topping, best enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea—or maybe even a mug of homemade cinnamon hot chocolate. Some versions include fruit, nuts, or even chocolate for extra flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Made with pantry staples (you probably have everything on hand)
• The filling and topping come together in minutes with a food processor
• Finished with a quick and easy 3-ingredient glaze
• It’s cake for breakfast—what’s not to love?

Recipe Ingredients

Butter: Either salted or unsalted butter can be used in this recipe. If you use unsalted, add an extra pinch of salt for the best flavor.

Sour cream: Makes the cake super moist with a slight tanginess that pairs well with the other flavors. Plain Greek yogurt also works as a substitute.

All-purpose flour: Gives the coffee cake its structure and perfect texture. It’s the best choice for this recipe. Learn more about how it works in our post, What is All-Purpose Flour?.

Milk: We recommend using 2% or whole milk here for the best texture and flavor. Feel free to substitute with your milk of choice, but nonfat milk is not recommended.

Walnuts: Whole, chopped, or halves all work since they’ll be processed. Toasting is optional but definitely recommended for extra flavor. Not a fan of nuts? You can leave them out entirely!

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake

✏️ Prep Tip: Use Room Temperature Ingredients
Take the butter, milk, egg, and sour cream out of the fridge 15-20 minutes ahead of time. They mix better at room temperature and give the cake a lighter texture. Short on time? Here’s how to soften butter quickly.

Make The Batter

Step 1: Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the dry ingredients together until combined and set aside.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg, vanilla, and sour cream.

Step 3: Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix on low just until combined, then mix in the milk. Gently stir in the remaining dry ingredients just until combined and set the batter aside.

Make The Filling & Topping

✏️ Recipe Tip: Toast The Walnuts
This is totally optional but definitely recommended because it adds great flavor! Just spread the walnuts on a lined baking sheet and bake at 325°F for 8-12 minutes until golden brown. Let them cool before using. If you need more guidance, check out How to Toast Nuts from The Pioneer Woman!

Step 4: For the filling, pulse all ingredients (except the walnuts) in a food processor until it has a sandy texture. Add walnuts and pulse again until finely chopped. Transfer the mixture to a separate bowl and set aside.

Step 5: For the streusel topping, add all of the ingredients to the food processor and pulse until crumbly. (There may be some larger chunks, and that’s okay!) Set the mixture aside.

Assemble & Bake

Step 6: Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x9 pan. Pour half the batter into the pan, sprinkle on the filling, then spread the remaining batter over it. Top with streusel. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool before glazing.

Glaze & Serve

Step 7: In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla and stir until smooth.

Step 8: Once the cake is completely cooled, drizzle the glaze on top of the cake. Slice and serve alone or with your favorite hot drink!

Expert Tips

Measure your flour correctly. Too much flour can make your cake dry and dense. Instead of scooping directly from the bag, fluff the flour with a spoon, then spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife.

Don’t overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of soft and fluffy. Once the flour is just combined and there are no dry spots in the batter, stop mixing!

Do the toothpick test. Stick a toothpick into the center of the cake to check for doneness. If it comes out with a few moist crumbs, the cake is ready. If there’s wet batter on the toothpick, give it a few more minutes in the oven and check again.

🍰 Want even more ways to perfect your coffee cake? Take a look at these 15 Tips You Need When Making Coffee Cake from Tasting Table!

How To Store Coffee Cake

One great thing about this coffee cake is that it stores really well! Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Be sure to let it thaw completely before serving.

Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake FAQ’s

More Brunch Recipes

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