If you have a box of yellow cake mix in the pantry, you’re already halfway to making this Cake Mix Coffee Cake! The yellow cake mix is prepped with sour cream, eggs and vanilla, then it gets layered with a SUPER flavorful cinnamon, butter and pecan swirl. After it bakes you will drizzle a vanilla glaze over the top. No one will know it started with a box mix—this one tastes and looks completely homemade.
This Cake Mix Coffee Cake makes a great sweet breakfast or brunch bread (especially when you have house guests!), or a mid-afternoon snack with a cup of coffee!
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Ingredient Details
There are three parts to this coffee cake recipe; the cake mix, the cinnamon pecan streusel and the icing glaze. Here are the ingredients that make up these parts:
Yellow Cake Mix – any store bought yellow cake mix will work. I have made it with Duncan Hines, Pillsbury and Aldi. You will not prepare the cake mix, you will use the dry mix and blend with the ingredients in the recipe card below.
Eggs – three large eggs combine with the yellow cake mix to make the cake batter.
Sour Cream – using sour cream for the cake batter makes for a really tender, rich and moist cake!
Vanilla –a little vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the cake.
Pecans – chopped pecans create a wonderful texture in the coffee cake streusel layers!
Butter – melted salted butter brings the streusel together.
Cinnamon – it is not a typo, you will need 2 Tablespoons of cinnamon! I promise it gives the most amazing cinnamon flavor without being overpowering!
Icing – the icing is a classic vanilla glaze. You will need powdered sugar, melted butter, milk and vanilla.
How To Make Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Step 1
Make the cinnamon streusel layer by combining the pecans, ⅔ cup yellow cake mix, melted butter and cinnamon. Set aside.
Step 2
Mix the batter by blending the sour cream, remaining cake mix, vanilla and eggs.
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Prep a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray. Pour half the cake batter in, top with a layer or streusel, top with remaining cake batter, then remaining streusel.
Step 4
Bake for 30 minutes, until set and golden. While it bakes, stir together the icing.
Step 5
Let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes, then drizzle with the icing. Cut into squares and serve!
Recipe tips to remember
- Any brand of yellow cake mix will work!
- Don’t prepare the cake mix, you will use it dry with the ingredients in the recipe card.
- Yes, it is 2 tablespoon of cinnamon, it looks like a lot, but it is perfect!
- Using an offset spatula to spread the batter in the pan can make the task a little easier.
More Sweet Baked Treats
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Cake Mix Coffee Cake Recipe + Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 3 eggs - lightly beaten
- 1 ½ cups sour cream
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 3 Tbsp. butter - melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- nonstick spray
Vanilla Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp. butter - melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9×13 inch pan by spraying with baking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine ⅔ cup of the dry yellow cake mix with the cinnamon, melted butter, brown sugar and chopped pecans. Mix with a fork until the mixture looks like wet sand. Set aside.(Yes, it is 2 tablespoon of cinnamon, not a typo)2 Tbsp. cinnamon, 3 Tbsp. butter, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup chopped pecans
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the remaining dry yellow cake mix with the eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Mix on low speed with an electric mixer until just combined. Then mix for 1 minute on medium speed.3 eggs, 1 ½ cups sour cream, 2 tsp. vanilla
- Time to layer the coffee cake, an offset spatula can make this a little easier! Pour half of the batter into the prepared 9×13 inch pan. Spread evenly. Sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture over the batter.
- Top with the rest of the batter and try to spread as evenly as possible.
- Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar mixture over the top.
- Bake at 350℉ for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown and when a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking prepare the icing. Mix all the icing ingredients in a bowl and stir until it becomes a thick drizzling consistency.1 cup powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp. butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 tablespoon milk
- Let the coffee cake cool for 10-15 minutes. Drizzle the frosting over the top and serve immediately.
Pat says
This cake sounds wonderful! But could it work eliminating tye icing?
Susie Weinrich says
Definitely! It would still be amazing. If it is for a special occasion you could serve the icing on the side for people to drizzle on their individual slice.