Traditional Plant-Based Cooking

  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Terms & Swaps for US Visitors
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Terms & Swaps for US Visitors
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Terms & Swaps for US Visitors
×
Home » Baking » Cakes, traybakes, & fridge bakes

Vegan Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

Published: Mar 26, 2022 · Modified: Apr 1, 2024 by Jacq · This post may contain affiliate links ·Leave a Comment

Spread the love
   12  
12
Shares
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This recipe for Vegan Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake is adapted from Betty Crocker's old-fashioned 1970s recipe. Our American-style coffee cake is egg-free and dairy-free, yet features the best crunchy streusel topping and a soft, fluffy sponge. This cake is perfect if you love the flavours of cinnamon buns or anything with a sweet cinnamon theme. As this is an American coffee cake, it's not actually flavoured with coffee; rather, it's a type of cake that's traditionally served alongside a nice cup of coffee or tea.

slice of coffee cake on flower patterned cake plate and cake fork, red coffee mug to side with whole cake at edge of photo with cake slice handle.

A streusel coffee cake is a fluffy and light sponge cake that has a crisp cinnamon streusel topping baked directly on top of the cake - the result is just delicious and very moreish and has the potential to easily become your new favourite bake.

Jump to:
  • Origin of cinnamon streusel coffee cake
  • What is a streusel topping?
  • Who is Betty Crocker?
  • Vegan streusel coffee cake
  • How To Prepare
  • Recipe Notes
  • FAQ
  • More vegan brunch, breakfast or afternoon tea recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Comments

Origin of cinnamon streusel coffee cake

In Britain, a coffee cake is actually flavored with coffee, but in the US, an American coffee cake is less likely to contain actual coffee or coffee essence.

Instead, an American-style coffee cake is actually a cake that is intended to be eaten along with a cup of coffee. Cinnamon is a popular flavor for coffee cake and is frequently used to flavor the streusel or crumb topping that is scattered over the unbaked cake. It's easy to understand, as the flavors of sweet cinnamon pair so nicely with freshly brewed coffee.

American coffee cakes are said to have German origins, as German immigrants to the American colonies brought over their family recipes for streusel and crumb cakes. As a result of the American revolt over the British tea taxes, which led to the Boston Tea Party protest of 1773, coffee began to be a popular drink within the colonies as tea was rejected. A slice of coffee streusel cake was the perfect accompaniment to the new hot drink of choice.

Slice of coffee cake on flower plate with cake knife and fork, small red coffee mug and saucer to side, Mother's day card to side and small grey mug with white flowers to side, red and white check tablecloth, small flower heads scattered around.

American coffee cake is commonly enjoyed for brunch or even breakfast so it's ideal for a special brunch for those extra special days - such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, or just as an everyday treat along with a nice cup of coffee or tea. It can be enjoyed warm from the oven and even served with custard or cream for dessert.

What is a streusel topping?

The term "streusel" is a German word that means to scatter, strewn, sprinkle, or throw in granules. The streusel topping is commonly made with a mixture of flour, sugar, margarine or vegan butter, and cinnamon powder, and is sprinkled over the cake batter before baking.

Who is Betty Crocker?

Betty Crocker is a name that many of us are familiar with, especially when we find ourselves flipping through the pages of a cookbook, browsing recipes online, or even seeing those instant cake mixes on the supermarket or store shelfs. However, you might be surprised to learn that Betty Crocker isn't a real person as instead, she is a fictional character created as a marketing tool.

The story begins in the early 1920s with the Washburn-Crosby Company, which would later become part of General Mills. They wanted a way to connect with customers and answer their cooking and baking questions in a more personal manner. Thus, Betty Crocker was born, her last name taken from a retired company director, William Crocker, and her first name chosen for its warm, friendly sound.

Betty Crocker became the face of the company, representing the stereo-typical homemaker - knowledgeable in the kitchen, gracious, and always ready with a helpful tip or a delicious recipe. Over the years, she has been portrayed in various images, updated to reflect the changing times and to continue appealing to new generations.

Through radio shows, cookbooks, and grocery products Betty Crocker has shared countless recipes and cooking advice, becoming a trusted name in American homes.

In essence, Betty Crocker symbolises the essence of American cooking - blending traditional baking with modern baking.

whole coffee cake on white cake plate with coffee patterned table mat and red spotty sugar bowl, red spotty milk jug and small coffee mug and saucer to side.

Our vegan cinnamon streusel cake does not require many ingredients as the main cake is prepared with just 6 pantry ingredients while the streusel topping only needs 4 pantry ingredients. It is also very easy and quick to prepare as the main cake ingredients are simply added to a bowl and mixed. Likewise the topping is mixed in one bowl.

Vegan streusel coffee cake

This vegan recipe for coffee cake has been adapted from the Betty Crocker recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake from the Betty Crocker Cookbook (1972).

Betty Crocker's recipe includes egg and shortening, while our vegan recipe omits the egg and uses vegetable oil instead of shortening. The result is an amazingly light, fluffy, and perfectly moist sponge.

The flavours are similar to cinnamon rolls or buns, and the streusel topping is nicely crunchy, crisp, and chewy in places.

The original recipe instructs that the cake be baked at a higher temperature of 375°F or 190°C and for a shorter time of 25-30 minutes.

However, for this vegan recipe, we reduced the temperature to 350°F/180°C, which increased the cooking time to 40-45 minutes for an electric oven, and this worked beautifully.

This coffee cake is perfect for baking for loved ones on Mother's Day or Father's Day, and is especially suitable for kids to try their hand at baking with adult supervision.

So why not surprise your mom, mum, grandmother, or special someone with a delicious Mother's Day breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea?

How To Prepare

We like to keep our vegan baking frugal and budget-friendly and so aim to only use easily accessible every-day store cupboard ingredients for our recipes. We try not to use any specific vegan ingredients such as egg-replacers as with the right recipe they are generally not required.

For this vegan cinnamon streusel coffee cake the ingredients you will require for the cake part are - plain or all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, granulated sugar, vegetable oil and dairy-free milk. However, if preferred you can use any type of milk.

For the cinnamon streusel topping ingredients you will need - plain or all-purpose flour, vegan margarine or butter, powdered cinnamon, and dark brown sugar.

streusel topping ingredients added to small bowl.
streusel topping prepared and ready to sprinkle on to unbaked coffee cake.

First prepare the cinnamon streusel topping:

Step 1: Add the flour, margarine, brown sugar and cinnamon into a small bowl.

Step 2: Using your fingertips rub the margarine into the rest of the ingredients until it resembles clumpy crumbs.

Step 3: Set the crumble aside until the cake is ready to be baked.

coffee cake ingredients in mixing bowl.
coffee cake ingredients whisked together and poured into a cake pan with paper insert.

Next prepare the coffee cake:

Step 1: Add the flour, baking powder, plant-based milk, vegetable oil, salt, and sugar into a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Using an electric hand whisk or stand whisk blend until everything is combined - this won't take long so don't over mix. Alternatively mix with a mixing spoon.

Step 3: Scoop the cake batter into a cake pan.

unbaked coffee cake with cinnamon streusel sprinkled over ready to be baked.
cinnamon coffee cake baked and cooling in the pan on top of a wire rack.

Step 4: Sprinkle the cinnamon streusel mixture over the cake.

Step 5: Bake for 40-45 minutes.

Step 6: Cool in the cake pan for at least 15 minutes before carefully removing from the pan.

slice of coffee cake on flower patterned cake plate and cake fork, red coffee mug to side with whole cake at edge of photo with cake slice handle.

Step 7: Serve warm or cool on a cooling rack to room temperature.

Recipe Notes

Storing

Store the cake for 4-5 days, possibly a day or so longer.

Store the coffee cake within a cake tin or similar. If storing the cake within a plastic container then the cake can be wrapped with kitchen foil as this will help keep the topping crisp. Although even if the topping does go a little soft it can be revived by warming the cake in a hot oven for a few minutes.

Likewise older slices of cake can be refreshed by placing in a hot oven for a few minutes.

To freeze wrap the room temperature cake in food and freezer safe wrap and freeze for 2-3 months. To defrost, remove the wrappings and allow the cake to defrost to room temperature. If necessary pop the cake or slices of cake into a hot oven to re-freshen and re-crisp the streusel topping.

FAQ

Can I replace the cinnamon?

Of course, if you are not keen on cinnamon as the main flavour you can always leave it out or replace it with warm spices of your choice - such as apple pie spice mix, pumpkin pie spice mix, mixed spice, all-spice, powdered ginger, etc. Or omit the spices all-together.

What dairy-free milk works best with this cake?

We like to use soya milk or oat milk for our bakes as we find these have the best results but you can use any kind of dairy-free milk you prefer.

Can I use dairy milk instead?

If you are vegetarian or prefer to use another milk other than plant-based milk, then this will work fine with this cake recipe.

What kind of vegetable oil works best?

We like to use sunflower oil or rapeseed oil, or just oil that is labelled as - vegetable oil - as we find that those types of oil do not have a strong flavour as they are quite neutral. But if you have a specific oil that you like best for baking then you can use that.

More vegan brunch, breakfast or afternoon tea recipes

The following are our family favourite recipes that we enjoy for breakfast, brunch, morning coffee or tea break, afternoon tea, or as an after dinner supper-time snack. They are all British classics and as they are egg-free and dairy-free recipes and only use every-day pantry ingredients they are very frugal yet delicious!

The Mincemeat Crumble Traybake is easily adapted as the sweet mince-meat filling can be switched out for fruit jam, stewed apples or applesauce. Likewise the Old-Fashioned Cherry Scones can have the candied cherries switched out for a dried or candied fruit of your choice.

The Traditional Scotch Pancakes can be enjoyed warm with maple or golden syrup or your choice of toppings or served cold spread with vegan butter and fruit jam which is a particular favourite with our family.

And finally our Old-Fashioned Seed Cake is a Victorian classic and is perfect for any afternoon tea especially a Hobbit themed tea party, or even for a Downton Abbey afternoon tea. Although, we do especially like seed cake for brunch as well as for part of our Scottish New Years buffet.

  • A close up of a cherry scone filled with jam and cream sitting on a spotty plate with pink mat underneath.
    Old-Fashioned Cherry Scones
  • A stack of pancakes with syrup running down and sitting on a turquoise plate.
    Vegan Traditional Scotch Pancakes
  • Vegan seed cake on a vintage tray with pink flower pattern, antique cake knife to side, flower patterned teapot, sugar dish, milk jug, and tea cup and saucer to side, crochet tablecloth background.
    Old-Fashioned Seed Cake
  • A festive patterned plate with mincemeat crumble traybake bars on top and small hessian plant pot to side.
    Vegan Mincemeat Crumble Traybake

***please note: for US measurements click the 'US customary button' within the recipe and the measurements will switch to tablespoons, cups, and ounces.***

📖 Recipe

two slices of cinnamon streusel topped cake on small flower patterned plates, whole cake in background with cake slice.

Vegan Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

Course: Afternoon tea, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 12 small slices 8-9 larger
Calories: 231kcal
Author: Jacq
This recipe for Vegan Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake is adapted from Betty Crocker's old-fashioned 1970s recipe. Our American-style coffee cake is egg-free and dairy-free, yet features the best crunchy streusel topping and a soft, fluffy sponge.
This cake is perfect if you love the flavours of cinnamon buns or anything with a sweet cinnamon theme. As this is an American coffee cake, it's not actually flavoured with coffee; rather, it's a type of cake that's traditionally served alongside a nice cup of coffee or tea
Print Recipe
US Customary - Metric

Equipment

  • cake pan/tin 8-9 inch diameter lined with baking paper or cake paper insert
  • electric hand whisk optional, can just mix by hand with a mixing spoon
  • Mixing bowls
  • cooling rack

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 235 grams plain flour [all-purpose flour]
  • 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 140 grams granulated sugar [or caster sugar]
  • ½ teaspoon salt [we use sea salt]
  • 150 mililitres plant-based milk [such as soya, oat or almond, or replace with your usual milk]
  • 70 grams vegetable oil [such as sunflower or rapeseed]

Streusel topping:

  • 70 grams dark brown sugar [or light brown sugar]
  • 45 grams plain flour [all-purpose flour]
  • 3 tablespoons vegan margarine [or vegan butter]
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder [add an extra ¼-½ teaspoon of cinnamon if stronger flavour preferred]

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 160 Fan / 180 C / 350 Fahrenheit / Gas 4.
  • Prepare the cake pan by greasing with a little margarine and lining with baking paper. Or pop in a paper cake insert.

Prepare the streusel cake topping:

  • Add all the streusel ingredients to a bowl and rub the margarine into the rest of the ingredients until the mixture resembles clumpy crumbs.
    70 grams dark brown sugar, 45 grams plain flour, 3 tablespoons vegan margarine, ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder

Prepare the cake batter:

  • Pop all the cake ingredients into a mixing bowl and use an electric hand whisk or a stand whisk to beat all the ingredients together. This won't take long as it just needs mixing until everything is combined.
    Alternatively whisk by hand using a mixing spoon.
    235 grams plain flour, 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder, 140 grams granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 150 mililitres plant-based milk, 70 grams vegetable oil
  • Scoop the cake batter into the cake pan and level out the top so that it is evenly spread out.
  • Sprinkle over the streusel crumb topping.
  • Bake on the middle oven shelf for 40-45 minutes. Fan ovens will likely be quicker than other oven types so if using a fan oven check your cake at the 40 minute mark.
    Our electric oven [180C] usually takes 45 minutes to bake the streusel cake and we don't test the cake until the 45 minute mark for done-ness.
    The cake is ready when the dark golden top is firm and a skewer popped into the middle comes out clean. Although, the streusel topping will firm up more as it cools.
  • Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes within the cake pan before carefully removing to cool on a cooling rack. The coffee cake can be eaten warm from the oven or at room temperature.

Notes

  1. This coffee cake can be stored in a cake tin or a similar container for 4-5 days, and possibly a bit longer. If you opt to store it in a plastic container, it's advisable to wrap the cake in kitchen foil. This helps maintain the streusel topping's crunchiness.
  2. For longer storage, the streusel cake can be frozen, wrapped in food wrap and kitchen foil, for up to 2-3 months. Just remember to remove the food wrappings before defrosting it to room temperature.
  3. If you have leftover slices that you'd like to refresh, simply pop them into a hot oven for a few minutes. This method is perfect for reviving that fresh-baked warmth and crispness, making your cake feel like it's straight from the oven.
  4.  Feel free to adjust the amount of cinnamon in the streusel topping according to your taste preferences. If you're a fan of strong cinnamon flavours, adding an extra ¼-½ teaspoon of cinnamon will enhance the cake's warmth and spice.
  5. When baking, especially if you're using a fan oven, it's crucial to check your cake at the 40-minute mark to prevent over-baking. Each oven is unique, so adjustments to baking times may be necessary to achieve that perfect bake.
  6. This coffee cake is perfect for various occasions, from a cozy family brunch to a special afternoon tea. It's an especially great treat for celebrating special days like Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, or for a Thanksgiving brunch.
  7. You can serve this cake warm from the oven with custard, cream, or a scoop of ice-cream. Or at room temperature with a nice cup of tea or coffee.

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 264mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg

Comments

Prepared our Vegan Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake? We would love to know how you got on with the recipe as it's one of our all-time family favourites. It would be very appreciated if you would drop us a comment below and click the star ratings. Thanks so much! Love, Jacq x

More Cakes, traybakes, & fridge bakes

  • Fruit cake sliced into on a serving plate.
    Vegan Cut and Come Again Cake
  • A ground rice cake on a red patterned vintage cake plate, with vintage tea cup and saucer, and serving plate in background, pink and white flowered table cloth.
    Old-Fashioned Ground Rice Cake
  • Slice of Welsh apple cake with cream poured over, small Welsh dragon ornament in front, apples in background with a teapot, featured image.
    Welsh Apple Cake [Teisen Fala]
  • Bramble muffins featured image.
    Old-Fashioned Bramble Muffins
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Photo of Jacq the admin wearing sunglasses, outside with trees in background and blue skies.

Hello! Welcome to our collection of traditional family favourite recipes. We have old-fashioned favourites reinvented with vegan-friendly every-day ingredients.

Find out more →

🍽️ Free Recipe Booklet! Subscribe &
receive our '9 old-school dinner recipes made vegan (pdf), as a thank-you!

Visitors favourite recipes

  • close up of chocolate pudding with chocolate pudding in background, and shortbread biscuits and strawberries in background.
    Tofu Chocolate Pudding
  • Medieval potage stew served in a wooden bowl, with fork and spoon, little bread rolls at the side, and candlestick
    Medieval Potage Stew
  • Close up bowl of vegetable soup with yellow handled spoon and second bowl in background, slices of bread to side on a mat with fox image.
    Old-Fashioned Golden Vegetable Soup

Vegan recipes for warm summer days

  • Bowl of Italian bread salad, featured image.
    Italian Bread Salad [Panzanella]
  • A stack of walnut celery sandwiches on yellow flower patterned plate with celery leaves to side.
    Old-Fashioned Walnut and Celery Sandwiches
  • A bowl of garlic oil spaghetti with tomatoes and spinach and wedge of focaccia to side, larger pot to side, and bowl of fresh spinach to side.
    Italian Garlic Spaghetti [Spaghetti Aglio e Olio]
  • wooden board with vegan ploughman baguette and salad and fruit pieces at the side, small brown dish of pickled onions, small butter dish to back, and cream coloured place mat.
    Vegan Ploughman's Lunch [Sandwich or Platter]

Footer

↑ back to top

✨ About ✨

  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy
traditional family favourites new logo

✨ Contact ✨

  • Contact us
  • About
  • Work with us

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 * Traditionalplantbasedcooking

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.