If you are searching for a dessert that combines the warm, comforting flavors of coffee cake with the handheld ease of a cookie, you have just struck gold with this Streusel-Stuffed Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe. These delightful cookies are bursting with cinnamony streusel right in the center, delivering soft, tender dough and a crunchy, buttery filling in every bite. The perfect companion for your morning coffee or a sweet afternoon treat, this recipe brings together simple pantry staples to create an irresistible treat that feels like a cozy hug in cookie form.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Streusel-Stuffed Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe plays a vital role in creating the perfect balance of texture and flavor. From the soft flours that ensure tender cookies, to the rich butter that adds depth and moisture, every component is essential.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure and a classic cookie base that’s tender and soft.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel note that deepens the flavor.
- Cinnamon: The star spice that brings warmth and aromatic spiciness to both cookie dough and streusel.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors beautifully.
- Butter (both softened and cold): Butter works double duty here—soft for the dough, cold for the crumbly streusel texture.
- Cake flour: Keeps the cookies tender and light, perfect for that melt-in-your-mouth experience.
- Cornstarch: Adds softness and a delicate crumb to the cookies.
- Baking soda and baking powder: Create just the right lift and lightness without overpowering the dough.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and a bit of crispness to balance the chewiness.
- Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and rounds out the aromatic profile.
- Egg and egg yolk: Provide richness and help bind the cookie dough for perfect shape retention.
- Heavy cream or milk: Softens the topping and helps the glaze come together smoothly.
- Powdered sugar: The sweet base of the luscious vanilla glaze to finish off the cookies.
How to Make Streusel-Stuffed Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Streusel Filling
Start by combining the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Cut in cold butter with your fingers or a pastry cutter until you achieve small, crumbly clumps. This mixture will create that signature streusel texture inside your cookies. Pop it into the fridge to chill while you prepare your cookie dough. Chilling the streusel keeps the butter firm, so you’ll get those wonderful crunchy clumps after baking.
Step 2: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets
Set your oven to 400°F and prepare two baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats. This high heat bakes the cookies quickly, ensuring a golden edge while keeping the center soft and filled with streusel goodness.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients for Dough
In a large mixing bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This combination of dry ingredients ensures the dough will be tender yet sturdy enough to hold the streusel filling without spreading too much.
Step 4: Cream Butter and Sugars
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream together the cubed cold butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Then add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly. This wet mixture forms the rich base of the cookie dough, delivering buttery flavor and moisture.
Step 5: Incorporate Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredient mix to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. Avoid over-mixing to keep your cookies tender and soft—remember, gentle handling is key for that perfect crumb texture!
Step 6: Scoop, Shape, and Fill
Roll the dough into even balls. Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, gently create an indent in each ball. Fill each indentation generously with the chilled streusel mixture. This pocket of sugary, buttery streusel inside the dough is what makes these cookies so unique and irresistible.
Step 7: Bake
Bake the cookies in your preheated oven until the edges are set and golden brown, about 10–12 minutes. Keep a close eye as they bake quickly at this temperature, ensuring the centers remain soft and moist, bursting with that cinnamon-sugar filling.
Step 8: Optional Shaping and Cooling
If you want a neat round shape, gently press a cookie cutter around the warm cookies while they are still hot out of the oven. Once shaped, let the cookies rest for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. This cooling period helps them firm up just enough to handle without losing any of their tender texture.
Step 9: Prepare the Vanilla Glaze and Drizzle
Whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, a pinch of salt, and heavy cream or milk until smooth and pourable. Drizzle this luscious glaze over the cooled cookies for an extra burst of sweetness and that classic coffee cake finish everyone loves.
How to Serve Streusel-Stuffed Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
A simple dusting of cinnamon on top of the glaze adds a smoky warmth and beautiful color contrast. You can also sprinkle chopped nuts like toasted pecans or walnuts for an added crunch and nutty aroma that complements the cinnamon streusel perfectly.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or chai tea, as the spices in the drink lift the cinnamon flavor in the cookies. For an indulgent treat, serve alongside a small bowl of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive touch, arrange the cookies on a wooden platter with sprigs of fresh rosemary or cinnamon sticks. You can also sandwich softened cream cheese frosting between two cookies to create mini coffee cake cookie sandwiches that are sure to wow guests at your next gathering.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your leftover Streusel-Stuffed Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This keeps them soft and fresh while preserving the delicate balance of the cookie and streusel textures.
Freezing
If you want to enjoy these cookies later, freeze them after they have fully cooled. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep beautifully for up to 2 months without losing their delightful crumb.
Reheating
To bring frozen or leftover cookies back to life, warm them in a preheated 300°F oven for 5–6 minutes. This will revive the buttery aroma, soften the cookie slightly, and bring out the melty goodness of the streusel center, making each bite feel freshly baked.
FAQs
Can I make the streusel filling ahead of time?
Absolutely! The streusel can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 2 days before you make the cookies. Just keep it chilled until you’re ready to use it to ensure the butter stays firm and crumbly.
What if I don’t have cake flour?
You can substitute cake flour with all-purpose flour, but for every cup of all-purpose flour, remove 2 tablespoons and replace with cornstarch. This mimics the tenderness provided by cake flour.
Can I use salted butter in this recipe?
Yes, but be sure to reduce the added salt slightly to avoid the cookies becoming too salty. The recipe’s small salt amounts help balance the sweetness and enhance flavor.
How do I prevent the streusel from leaking out during baking?
Make sure to chill the streusel well before filling the cookies, and create a good-sized well or indent in the cookie dough to hold it in place. Don’t overfill, and the dough will help keep the filling contained as it bakes.
Can I make these cookies vegan?
While this recipe relies on eggs and butter for the perfect texture and flavor, you can experiment by using vegan butter and egg substitutes like flax eggs, but results may vary. The streusel might need some adjustment as well, but it’s worth a try for plant-based bakers!
Final Thoughts
There is something truly special about the Streusel-Stuffed Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe—it brings the nostalgic comfort of coffee cake to a delightful handheld form that’s hard to resist. This recipe is perfect for sharing with friends or treating yourself on a quiet afternoon. Once you try these, they’ll quickly become a favorite for coffee breaks, brunches, or whenever a sweet little pick-me-up is needed. So roll up your sleeves, dive in, and enjoy every bite of these cinnamon-studded, buttery treasures!
Print
Streusel-Stuffed Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Streusel-Stuffed Coffee Cake Cookies are a delightful twist on classic coffee cake, featuring a tender cookie base filled with a rich cinnamon streusel and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze. Crispy edges and soft centers make them perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Streusel Filling
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 5 Tbsp softened unsalted butter
Cookie Dough
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 3/4 cup cake flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 8 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
Icing
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3 Tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Prepare the streusel filling: In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Work in softened butter until small clumps form. Refrigerate to firm up.
- Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 400°F (204°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy cookie removal.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cubed cold butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing well to incorporate.
- Add dry ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined to form a cookie dough.
- Shape cookies: Scoop and roll the dough into balls, then make an indent in the center of each cookie to hold the streusel filling.
- Fill cookies and bake: Spoon the prepared streusel into each cookie indent. Bake in the preheated oven until edges are set and golden, about 10-12 minutes.
- Shape cookies (optional): While cookies are still warm, use a cookie cutter to shape them as desired.
- Cool the cookies: Let the cookies rest for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare and drizzle icing: Whisk together melted butter, heavy cream (or milk), powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies for a sweet finish.
Notes
- Refrigerate the streusel filling to help it hold shape during baking.
- Cold butter in the dough helps create a tender texture and prevents spreading.
- Use cake flour for a lighter, softer cookie texture.
- Optional shaping when warm allows for uniform and neat cookie edges.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days to keep them fresh.
- Heavy cream can be substituted with milk for a lighter icing.
