Classic Crumb Cake – This crumb cake is heavenly! The cake is super moist but slightly dense. The crumb topping is full of rich butter and cinnamon goodness. Together, these two elements make an unforgettable cake that you’ll want to have any time of the day!
Food has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. In fact, all of my jobs in high school and college were at food places: supermarkets, restaurants, and coffee shops.
My thought was always: if I like eating there, why shouldn’t I work there? Plus, the perks of the job were going to be free food so it seemed like the obvious choice, right?!
Today’s post is inspired by a food that I ate very much at one of these jobs: classic crumb cake, hailing from the one and only Starbucks. Starbucks was my college job for about 3 years. It was super fast-paced since it was the location attached to the campus library. I loved it. Work went by really fast and we got to experiment with new drinks all the time.
But, of course, the best part was eating all the yummy pastries.
Crumb cake has been a staple at Starbucks for as long as I can remember. Have you had it before? There was just something about the soft cake topped with the dense, cinnamon crumbs that I was obsessed about. Plus, it paired beautifully with their coffee frappuccinos. Ahh to be 10 years younger and not care about calories…That was the life.
I recently got a huge craving for this cake so I knew I had to make it next. I mean, Tyson has been choosing so many recipes recently so it was my turn!
Let me tell you, this cake is just as amazing as I remember it. And Tyson agreed! Every time he took a bite he would tell me how delicious it was. Every single time. But I’m not one to turn down compliments so I let him go on 🙂
The combination of the cake and cinnamon crumbs just melts in your mouth. I can’t remember the last time I made a cake this moist. That’s where the sour cream comes in. Sour cream is a secret ingredient in many cakes to make them super moist, especially pound cakes. It sure does the job on this one, too!
This is actually a really easy simple recipe. It felt nice to take a break from the recipes that took up my whole morning. The cake is ready in under an hour, so you can make it right as you wake up and still have it ready for breakfast.
Or make them right after dinner and have them ready for dessert. This is also a great choice for Christmas morning, when you don’t feel like making anything complicated or time-consuming.
And bonus, you probably have all these ingredients at home. Those are my favorite recipes! Rise and bake. No supermarket visits in my pajamas today, Publix.
Since this recipe is so simple, I struggled with helpful tips for you guys. But c’mon, have I failed you before? I still found a couple:
- Do not forget to place the crumb mixture in the fridge while you make the cake batter. If the mixture does not cool down a little, the crumbs will be too warm and melt into the cake mixture when it’s baking. It will still taste amazing, but it won’t have the crumb texture you’re looking for.
- For an added presentation effect, you can sprinkle the top of the cake with powdered sugar just before serving. I totally forgot to do that because I couldn’t wait to dive in. But it adds a nice touch if you want to impress friends and family.
Now, what are you waiting for?! Make this cake immediately! You won’t regret it.
When you’ve tried them out, let me know how you like it in the comments below. Or let me know what kinds of jobs you had back in the day. Did anyone else work at Starbucks, too?!
Last thing, and then we’ll get to the recipe. If you like this post, make sure to subscribe to the blog so you can get updates about the next posts, including the one later this week. It’s the fastest and most reliable way to stay updated. You can subscribe on the right hand side, under the heading “Stay Connected.” Hope to see you next time!
Recipe (adapted from Cooking Classy):
Classic Crumb Cake
Ingredients
For the crumbs:
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter unsalted, melted
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons flour all-purpose
For the cake:
- 1 cup flour all-purpose
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons butter unsalted, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Instructions
For the crumbs:
- Whisk sugars, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl. Add melted butter and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon to combine.
- Add flour 1/3 of a cup at a time. Mix until fully combined. Place in refrigerator while you make cake batter. Don't worry -it shouldn't look like crumbs yet.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 if you have a dark-coated pan). Prep your 9x9 square pan by lining it with parchment paper with a little hanging over for easy cake removal. Grease the paper with butter to prevent sticking.
For the cake:
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in small bowl to combine. Set aside.
- Whip butter and sugar together with a stand mixer or a hand mixer until it becomes light and fluffy. If using a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment.
- Add egg and vanilla. Mix on low until fully incorporated.
- In a separate small bowl, mix sour cream and milk together.
- Add 1/3 of flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Add 1/2 of the milk mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Repeat again until flour and milk mixtures are fully incorporated into the butter mixture. Now you have the batter ready to go!
Assembling the cake:
- Take a spatula, scrap down the sides of the bowl of the cake batter to make sure you have all the ingredients mixed in. Pour batter into prepared dish and spread into an even layer.
- Remove crumb mixture from the fridge. Using both hands, break apart the mixture into pea-sized chunks and cover evenly over the batter. They do not have to be even chunks. In fact, varied sizes gives the cake more character.
- Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 32-35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. If you want a crispier top layer, cook for full 35 minutes.
- Once finished baking, place on rack to cool for 10 minutes while still in cake pan. Then remove from cake pan to finish cooling on the rack. Can be served warm or cooled.
Classic crumb cake recipes like this are always a favorite because they balance simple ingredients with comforting flavor and texture. I especially like how crumb cakes work for breakfast, dessert, or even alongside coffee during casual gatherings. The step-by-step format here also makes it easier for home bakers to follow without feeling overwhelmed. It reminds me how organized food references such as https://starbucksmenu.us/ help readers quickly explore drinks, bakery items, and seasonal treats in a clean and easy-to-browse way.
This crumb cake looks incredibly comforting and nostalgic. The buttery crumb topping with the soft cake underneath is exactly the kind of classic dessert that never really disappears no matter how food trends change. I honestly think desserts like this work so well alongside casual comfort-food meals too, especially with places like Cookout becoming more popular among younger food lovers who enjoy mixing sweet and savory combos in one order.
What’s interesting is how much menu presentation changes the whole experience now. A well-structured menu makes people explore more items, whether it’s desserts, burgers, BBQ trays, or milkshakes. I’ve actually been checking different combinations and seasonal favorites through https://cooksoutmenus.us/ because it makes browsing the Cookout menu way easier before ordering. Food websites with clean organization genuinely make a difference in how people discover meals online today.
That crumb cake looks incredible, especially with a warm latte on the side. I’ve noticed that bakery-style treats can add up quickly calorie-wise, especially when paired with flavored drinks. If anyone likes planning their coffee choice ahead of time, I sometimes check my drink on this Starbucks calorie calculator https://starbuckscaloriecalculatorr.com/, it lets you adjust milk and syrups so you know what you’re sipping alongside a slice like this.
I made this and it is divine! Very easy, made it first thing in the am with a cup of coffee on hand so I could function. Crumble first, refrigerate it. Use only all purpose flour and follow the instructions. Next time I make it I am adding fresh blueberries from our bushes. Awesome cake and so worth the small bit of time it took as with anything from scratch.
Yay! So glad you loved it, Kathryn! And I love your extra tips. Let me know if you try with blueberries! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Sharon, 4 years later this is still my absolute favorite crumb/coffee cake. I just made one to bring up to the vets office (because they are great)! This is the best best absolute best crumb cake ever. I almost always put a layer of fresh blueberries under the crumb topping. Have never seen/tasted a better crumb than this one. I love it and wanted you to know it still melts my taste buds into heaven.
Kathryn, this is the nicest comment! Thank you so much for being so loyal to this crumb cake. It’s one of my favorites too!
I am still making this, best crumb cake ever! Now I put a layer of room temperature blueberries above the cake and beneath the crumb topping. So so wonderful.
That sounds like a version I make too! Here’s the link to the Blueberry Coffee Cake: http://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/blueberry-coffee-cake/
I made this for a Labor Day Weekend treat and it turned out GREAT… The crumb topping to cake ratio is perfect. Thank you Sharon!
Woohoo! So glad it worked out for you, Ginny! It’s funny how we choose to do more work on labor day weekend. I’ve already baked three separate things this weekend and I’m not done yet!
That looks delicious!! Your pictures are gorgeous!! I’ll be trying this – saved in on Pinterest 🙂
Thanks for the feedback! It’s funny that you mentioned the pictures…I’ve been getting down on myself that they aren’t better. But your comment made me realize that I have come so far already so I should be proud of that! Thanks again 🙂
For the first time ever I am going to bookmark a recipe! This looks gorgeous! I’m not big on baking but I am definitely trying this! Please post more Starbucks recipes! 😉
Aw thanks so much! I am so honored to be your first. That’s such a great idea! I think I might try to make their raspberry cheesecake brownies. Yummmmm
This sounds absolutely delicious! I’ve been doing more desserts lately – definitely adding this one to my list!
Thanks so much! This is a perfect dessert if you don’t feel like working for hours but still want a showstopper. Enjoy!!