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Beginner's easy coffee cake with yeast @dessertfortwo

Iโ€™ve been big on breakfasts lately. Anything warm that I can make the night before and re-heat in the morning is getting me through some chilly mornings. And while my coffee cake muffins have been receiving rave views (I even heard you can use vanilla yogurt with great results!), I wanted a bite of traditional coffee cake. The yeasted kind. Wait, wait! Donโ€™t go. I need you so. I know you and yeast donโ€™t get along. I also know that since itโ€™s winter, youโ€™re even less likely to have success. But Iโ€™m going to walk you through it. I tied on my little white apron and took photos of the whole process. Just consider my extreme dedication to capturing the whole process as a sign of how badly I want you to enjoy a proper yeasted coffee cakeย at least once.

I partnered up with Fleischmannโ€™sย Yeast to bring you this photo series. They gave me a few tips with my yeast game, too. Normally, I bloom yeast in water, which means that I make sure the yeast is alive by letting it soak in warm water with a pinch of sugar for 5 minutes. If the mixture looks foamy, the yeast are alive and doing their thing. Fleishmannโ€™s assured me that I could add their product straight to the flour, no need to proof. I was dubious, but I liked the idea of saving a step (and another dish to wash!).

So, into my bowl went my flour, sugar and salt.

Basic Yeasted Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe @dessertfortwo

Next, I streamed in my instant fast-acting yeast. I also crossed my fingers behind my back for good measure.

Easy coffee cake recipe @dessertfortwo

Hereโ€™s where my game changed even more. I normally use warm water between 110-115 degrees. Fleishmannโ€™s told me that since the yeast is already in the flour mixture, the appropriate temperature for my water was now 130-degrees. I complied.

Recipe for coffee cake made with yeast @dessertfortwo

Then, I streamed in melted butter, egg, and vanilla. All essentials for great-tasting coffee cake. I spread the dough into a 9ร—5โ€ณ loaf pan. If for some reason up to this point, you didnโ€™t catch that my blog is titled โ€˜dessert for two,โ€™ I just want to point it out. Again. This recipe makes two servings. After baking it in a loaf pan, you cut it down the middle and enjoy it.ย Though, you should note that I substituted butter for the oil called for in the original recipe. Butter = better.

Coffee cake recipe @dessertfortwo

Itโ€™s completely okay if the dough doesnโ€™t spread all the way to the edges of the pan. Once it rises, it will. Park it in a warm place. If your house is on the cool side (below 80), go ahead and turn on the oven to 200-degrees for 5 minutes. Turn it off, and place the doughย in for itโ€™s 45 minutes rise time. Yes, itโ€™s kinda cheating, but it also produces perfect results.

Cinnamon coffee cake recipe @dessertfortwo

Spread the cinnamon streusel all over the risen dough. Then, pop it in the oven to bake for 30 minutes. When itโ€™s done, the house will smell lovely, and the coffee cake will look like this:

Cinnamon streusel coffee cake recipe @dessertfortwo

Slice it in two, drizzle it with a vanilla glaze, and enjoy!

yeasted-coffee-cake-h

Yield: 2

Yeasted Coffee Cake

Yeasted Coffee Cake

A small yeasted coffee cake made in a bread loaf pan.

Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Fleischmann'sร‚ยฎ RapidRise Yeast
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/2 teaspoon Spice Islandsร‚ยฎ Pure Vanilla Extract

For the streusel topping:

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Spice Islandsร‚ยฎ Ground Saigon Cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Optional drizzle:

  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • splash of milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon Spice Islandsร‚ยฎ Pure Vanilla Extract

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, add the flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
  2. In a microwave-safe dish, combine the water and butter. Heat to 130-degrees. Ensure the exact temperature with a thermometer.
  3. To the water-butter, stir in the egg yolk and vanilla. Immediately pour this mixture over the flour mixture in the bowl. (Don't let it set or the hot water will cook the egg yolk).
  4. Stir the dough together and then spread it in a greased 9x5" loaf pan. It's okay if it doesn't touch the edges of the pan.
  5. Cover the dough, and let it rise in a warm place. Use a pre-heated (but turned off) oven if necessary. Let the dough rise until it doubles in size, about 45 minutes.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350.
  7. Make the streusel: combine all of the streusel ingredients, working the butter into the dough with your fingertips. Spread it over the dough.
  8. Bake the coffee cake for 30 minutes, testing with a toothpick for moist crumbs before removing it from the oven.
  9. While the cake cools slightly, whisk together the drizzle ingredients. Pour over the cake and serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 398Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 161mgCarbohydrates: 60gFiber: 2gSugar: 30gProtein: 7g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

About Christina Lane

Christina Lane is the author of 5 cookbooks all about cooking and baking for two. She has scaled down hundreds of recipes into smaller servings so you can enjoy your favorite dishes without the leftovers! Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday.

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37 Comments

  1. Susan says:

    Hi Christina! I had an egg yolk to use after making your funfetti cake and decided on your yeasted coffee cake. I followed the recipe directions, but it didnโ€™t rise very much. I notice that in your blog post, you add the warm water separately, and then the melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Iโ€™m wondering if that method would make a difference in the rise? Iโ€™m running low on yeast! I hope you and your family are doing well. I appreciate all of the wonderful recipes Iโ€™ve made from your blog and from your cookbooks!

    1. Christina Lane says:

      Hi Susan!
      I know what you meanโ€“typically, yeast is added to warm water to bloom it and make sure itโ€™s active. In this case, I didnโ€™t want a super tall cakeโ€ฆI envisioned a dense little sponge cake with plenty of crumb topping. I havenโ€™t tried making it the other way, but if youโ€™re seeking a super tall, fluffy cake, I would double the yeast and add it to warm water. Best of luck :)

      1. Susan says:

        Thank you so much for your response! My husband loved it, so Iโ€™ll probably wait to increase the yeast since. Iโ€™m running low on yeast and havenโ€™t been able to fin. All the best to you! ๐Ÿ˜

      2. Katherine Preece says:

        Can I use dryactive yeast instead of rapid rise

  2. Uma says:

    Great recipe for a small batch! I made this yesterday with a couple of changes : didnโ€™t have butter so substituted with ghee, 1 cup AP flour and 1 cup wow flour,as I doubled the quantity of the batch. Came out great! Just enough sweetness to address my sugar craving! With such low levels of sugar n butter, itโ€™s a guilt-free alternative to regular cake. Thanks for this recipe!
    I wonder how to add other ingredients such as fruit, nuts, etc. Your inputs would delight me!
    Uma

  3. Linda Thien says:

    Can you use regular yeast, any change to recipe to accommodate that?
    Thanks for the recipe and pretty website!
    Linda

    1. Christina Lane says:

      Yes, just make sure to proof it first :)

  4. Mary Lake says:

    I am planning to try this but have a quick question. We have so many apples from this fallโ€™s pickings, could I chop a Cortland and add it to the streusel topping. Thanks for the recipe for 2 ! Mary

  5. Nancy Hope says:

    Could cherries or raspberries be incorporated into this recipe??