Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

Quick and easy Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe that uses basic ingredients from your pantry. Baked in a bundt pan, it’s enough to feed a crowd for breakfast!

coffee cake on wood pedestal plate

I don’t know about you…but when I read a recipe for the first time, I base a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on the answers to these questions:

  • How many steps does the recipe have?
  • Are there any weird ingredients?
  • Will my family eat it without asking “What’s in this?”

I know this may seem a bit narrow-minded, but it’s also very realistic. It makes absolutely no sense to try a new and complicated recipe if it’s something my family won’t eat. This sour cream coffee cake recipe screams a unanimous and very loud “YES” to all three questions. Every ingredient in this recipe, except for maybe the sour cream, is in my pantry all the time.

sour cream coffee cake recipe ingredients
ingredients for sour cream coffee cake filling

Why This Recipe Works

There are just a few ingredients, so it’s easy to throw together, and very quickly. It takes just fifteen minutes to get this delicious coffee cake in the oven. And the taste? So moist and sweet.

sour cream coffee cake batter

Main Ingredients

  • Butter
  • Sugar
  • Sour Cream
  • Eggs
  • Flour
  • Leavening
  • Spices
  • Pecans
sour cream coffee cake batter and filling in bundt pan

How to Make

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray 10 in. bundt pan with non-stick baking spray.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In a small bowl mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, flour and pecans.
  • In the bowl of a standing mixer blend butter and sugar until fluffy.
  • Add eggs one at a time mixing well between additions.
  • Add flour mixture and sour cream alternating additions beginning and ending with flour mixture. Scrape sides well.
  • Spoon half the batter in the bundt pan. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over batter. Top with remaining batter.
  • Bake for 50 – 60 min. until pick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan 5 minutes.
  • Turn out onto cooling rack and dust with powdered sugar.
sour cream coffee cake batter in bundt pan

Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe Tips

  • Do not over bake. Check it at fifty minutes, and if you think it needs five more minutes, take it out of the oven. The cake continues to bake in the bundt pan, so if you go for that extra five minutes, it might get a little too done.
  • This coffee cake isn’t all that impressive right out of the bundt pan, but with a dusting of powdered sugar and colorful garnishes, it is a total show-stopper. I used raspberries and blackberries, along with some fresh mint. It’s very easy to include the garnish on the plate when it’s served too. 
  • The best way to store this sour cream coffee cake is in a cake keeper. It will stay fresh, at room temperature, for up to 3 days.
coffee cake batter in bundt pan

This is one of those recipes to have in your arsenal for times when you need a simple but delicious breakfast dish. Grab yourself some sour cream at the grocery store, and make it soon. You (and your family) will love it.

coffee cake on plates with raspberries and blackberries

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coffee cake on wood stand with slices on plates
coffee cake on wood pedestal plate fi

Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

Quick and easy Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe that uses basic ingredients from your pantry. Baked in a bundt pan, it’s enough to feed a crowd for breakfast!
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4.40 from 23 votes
Servings: 10 pieces
Author: Ann Drake
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 sticks butter at room temp.
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 16 oz. sour cream
  • 3 1/2 cups Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2. teaspoon salt omit if you use salted butter
  • Powdered Sugar

Filling

  • 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons Flour
  • 1 cup chopped pecans roasted pecans are the best!

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray 10 in. bundt pan with non-stick baking spray.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In a small bowl mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, flour and pecans.
  • In the bowl of a standing mixer blend butter and sugar until fluffy.
  • Add eggs one at a time mixing well between additions.
  • Add flour mixture and sour cream alternating additions beginning and ending with flour mixture. Scrape sides well.
  • Spoon half the batter in the bundt pan. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over batter. Top with remaining batter.
  • Bake for 50 – 60 min. until pick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan 5 minutes.
  • Turn out onto cooling rack and dust with powdered sugar.

Notes

I prepare my baking pans with Baker’s Joy.
Like this recipe?Follow me at @onsuttonplace

If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!

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Recipe Rating




62 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Loved this coffee cake; it’s especially good for a relaxing brunch with an egg casserole or quiche, and fresh fruit. It can all be done ahead of time, leaving you with nothing to do but be the hostess with the mimosas and mosta! The sour cream gives it a subtle tang. Delish!

  2. It looks great. I have got to make it. Thank you, I apways appreicate your recipes and ideas.

  3. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says:

    Ann, thanks for your recipe. I know it’s going to be delicious! Your recipes always are! I love coffee cakes — and so do my coffee gals who come for coffee each Wednesday. I am going to make your coffee cake for them next week. I know they will love it and ask for your recipe. Thanks, Ann, for always sharing your recipes with us. I print your recipes and put them into my binder with “ANN” on the divider.

    1. Ann Drake says:

      I love this…thank you!

  4. I have read the ingredients several times and I cannot see the coffee? Am I going senile? Please help lol

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Diane! There isn’t actually coffee in the recipe. It’s just called a “coffee cake” because it can be served for breakfast or brunch. You aren’t senile!

  5. Is there an alternative pan that can be used?

  6. Martha Praska says:

    Please leave a comment AFTER you make a recipe. How do I know if I want to try it if all I see is, “It looks good!” I can see that for myself:) Thank you

  7. Ann I laughed out loud at your 3 recipe questions. Wish I had figured out sooner in my “cooking for family” to ask the 3 important questions before tackling a recipe. Would have saved some wasted food and my delicate self esteem. 😏. This cake will be a winner, FOR SURE! Thank you.

  8. I am very confused about the amount of butter as I don’t buy sticks of butter. Could you help with that? Thank you!

    1. One stick of butter is 4 oz. (8 tablespoons)

  9. Ann,
    Both recipes sound delicious. I would like to try out the coffee cake in my pan that makes small bundts. Do you know if the small cakes can be frozen? My husband doesn’t eat sugar, so I sometimes make cakes and freeze smaller portions.
    Thanks much,
    Connie

  10. Thank you so much for the awesome Sour Cream Coffee cake recipe and also the beautiful printables. Your bring so much joy in this crazy time!! Stay safe!

  11. Not the time to host a brunch, it would be difficult to keep everyone 6 ft. apart and eat with a mask on.

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Lynn…I actually meant to plan a brunch for the people living under your roof. I am sorry if I didn’t make that clear. Stay safe, Ann

    2. Mary Choi says:

      I am making this for Easter morning. Sounds wonderful. Also wanted to say that Target’s Magnolia line has a cake stand that looks very similar to yours. I love mine.

  12. This looks delicious!! I have recently been subbing Greek yogurt for fatty butter and sour cream in recipes. I made some strawberry banana muffins with Greek yogurt and they were amazing. I might give this a try and replace all the sour cream with equal amount yogurt and maybe cut down the butter with apple sauce.

    Lana

  13. Cecilia from Georgia says:

    I am sure this bunny cake is good but your Apple cake with glaze is my family’s favorite of all time! I have to bake one and take it whenever I go visit and have one ready to serve when any of them visit me! I need an Apple orchard! Happy Spring!

  14. I’m going to bake the coffee cake this weekend . We will have for afternoon tea. Serious question, do Americans really eat cake for breakfast? My kind of place if you do!

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Alison…yes, I guess we do! A coffee cake is served as the “bread” of the meal. We also serve toast, muffins, bagels, donuts, etc. Enjoy!

  15. Patti Sanchez says:

    Your recipes are so lovely. Thank you for sharing!

  16. I used to make this as a gift at Christmas! Our family enjoyed it not only at breakfast, but as dessert, or in between meals. Since we have too many with nut allergies, I never used nuts … it is still very good! Thanks for sharing!

  17. Looks yummy and beautiful.I have a similar wooden cake stand that I got at Kirklands.

  18. Oh, my goodness. This looks delicious and your photograph is absolutely awesome. I can’t wait to make this. I love coffee cake for breakfast.

  19. The third picture on this page looks like the bottom was frosted before it was removed from the bundt pan. Is this true???

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Ann! That image is of the cake batter in the bundt pan before it is baked. It does look like frosting though!

  20. Recipe printed and in my cookbook! Looks delicious.
    Jo

  21. Anne, I agree. this recipe is delicious. It has been our family special times breakfast coffeecake for years. For me the best part of today’s post was seeing your hands cutting the coffee cake. I consider you my friend and those are the ki, careful hands of a good friend.

  22. Morn Ann~ I’m totally with you on the questions that you pose when reviewing a recipe!! Another one is if I don’t have the item, how important is it to have? Like those ingredients requiring 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt? Admittedly I will still make it and use regular salt or none at all – still tastes good to me! =) Will be making this as I bought some sour cream the other day. True, this is not an in house baking staple and yet knowing I have some recipes that use it, this is the time these will be made. BTW LOVE your blog! Hearing from you is the next best thing to being neighbors!! =-()

  23. I just had a handful of delicious blackberries a few minutes ago and wouldn’t it have been even better with a big handful of this sour cream cake!

  24. Betty Lou says:

    O.K. Ann, I am going to make your sour cream coffee for my quilt bee ladies that are coming over Thursday morning. I know it will be good and not even going to make a test coffee cake first.

  25. LINDA JEWELL says:

    Hi Ann,
    Will this recipe turn out well if I use gluten free flour?
    Some of the guests are gluten free and I would like to make something for everyone.
    thank you,
    Linda Jewell

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Linda…I honestly don’t know. Perhaps you could give it a test run before you need to serve it? I’ve never baked with gluten free flour. I wish I could be more help!

  26. Liz @ Infuse With Liz says:

    We made this on Sunday and it is super good! THX for the recipe!

  27. shirley@housepitality designs says:

    Thanks for the recipe Ann…always looking for great coffee cake recipes for my Sewing Group….I am sure this one would be a hit!!

  28. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says:

    I can’t deny any kind of cake – it’s a weakness! This looks fabulous – the whole family would love it. Have a fabulous Labor Day.
    Kelly

  29. Oh yum! My favorite type of cake. Thanks for the recipe :)

    Dee

  30. This looks amazing and I just bought a large carton of low fat sour cream …..I just might make this in the morning. Sure sounds like it would be so good with my coffee. :))
    xo bj

  31. Lynn Wood says:

    This looks wonderful! I love that it has simple ingredients, I really just won’t go hunting in the grocery store for some strange ingredient. This recipe looks like a winner all the way around!

  32. Ann I make this all the time and it’s always a big hit! Boy could I go for a piece of it right now LOL!

  33. Oh Ann, I wish I had a slice right now!! Yes, I need to go get some sour cream and I’ll be set!! I may make it into mini bundt cakes and then I can freeze them. Thanks for sharing.

  34. My mother made Sour Cream cake when I was growing up. I love the texture and the flavor. I haven’t made one in years because I would be too tempted to eat the whole thing myself! Too many family members have gone to the dark side of gluten-free-eating!

  35. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says:

    I make a sour cream pound cake, but this looks simpler and quicker! Your photos make me wish I had some right now!

  36. Penny @ The Comforts of Home & Flea Market Makeovers says:

    That looks and sounds wonderful! I make one very similar to yours.
    Hugs,
    Penny

  37. Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes says:

    Your cake looks delicious, Ann. I like a good basic cake that can be eaten plain or with fruit without competing flavors. Thanks for the recipe.——— Shannon

  38. haha…You are like me…I don’t want a recipe with fancy ingredients, just what I have on hand!!…Am looking forward to using your recipe for me & my husband…Thanks again for sharing!!

  39. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    This looks very much like a recipe that has been a favorite in our house for many years. My daughter now makes it for brunch for her grad school crowd.

  40. That looks so yummy! The local bakery use to make one that was so good, but they stopped baking it and I am in withdraw!

  41. Ricki Jill Treleaven says:

    I bookmarked the recipe so I can bake it later. I am the very same way about recipes! Thanks for sharing.

  42. sounds wonderful and easy too.I agree, this is the type of recipe that is always a winner, sometimes simple is best, have a wonderful weekend and I hope all is well with you,

  43. Liz @ Infuse With Liz says:

    This does look so good! Have to give it a try!

  44. Michele @ Finch Rest says:

    Mmmmm, thanks, Ann!

    You know I have never made a coffee cake?

    I too am sipping a coffee reading this and wish I could pop over for a bite- looks great. I always love everyone’s coffee cakes but never make them myself – I make scones when that need arises but thinking this next time.’

    I need a new bundt cake pan, my daughter borrowed mine then forgot it was mine and sold it for peanuts at her garage sale, kids, I tell ya! Ugh.

  45. Oh, Ann. I’m looking at this just as I’m having my cup of coffee. And, I’m wishing I was at your house.♥

  46. Sue@Housepretty says:

    This sounds so yummy! And, ingredients already on hand, gotta love that! Thanks for sharing!

  47. Oh yummy! I sure wish I had a piece for my late night..it’s 10 pm here and your sour cream cake with a glass of milk would take me straight to bed, lol!
    Have a nice, long weekend.
    FABBY

  48. Num num nummy! I love this cake! I make one too and could almost eat the whole thing. Well, in a couple of settings! :)
    It does look so pretty too.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

  49. Oh yum, I can almost taste it! Who doesn’t love simple & delicious? I am so pinning this one, Ann!

  50. This looks so good. Especially since I am hungry. I have everything, but the sour cream. Darn.

  51. Keeping it Cozy says:

    Ooh, that looks amazing! Anytime I see sour cream added as an ingredient, I know it’s going to be delicious. I’ve been craving a coffee cake lately, so I’ll be trying this soon! (Gorgeous pictures, too.)

  52. Thank you!
    I am always on the look out for a great coffee cake recipe.

    This sounds delicious!

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

  53. Nana Diana says:

    I’m with you Ann! I look for the same thing in a recipe. I saved this one – I have a week’s worth of company coming in a couple of weeks and I am going to try this. Thanks~ xo Diana

  54. This looks soooo delightful and delicious!!! Not mention sooo pretty too! :) :) Hope you have a great Labor day weekend! xo Holly