The Best Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake Recipe

Elevate your brunch experience with this exquisite Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake. This recipe combines an incredibly moist vanilla coffee cake with a rich, decadent cheesecake layer, topped with fresh, juicy strawberries. It’s the perfect treat for breakfast, dessert, or any special occasion. This easy-to-make cake will undoubtedly add a sweet and memorable touch to any table. Prepare to impress your friends and family with this delightful confection!

One of the best aspects of this cake is its versatility. It serves as a blank canvas for your favorite fruits. Feel free to experiment by swapping in other berries like blueberries or raspberries, or try apples, peaches, or plums for a completely customizable treat that you can enjoy any time of the year. The possibilities are endless, making it easy to adapt this coffee cake to your personal preferences and seasonal ingredients.

Table of Contents

• Ingredients
• How to Make This Coffee Cake
• Tips and Tricks
• More Sweet Breakfasts to Try
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake Recipe

Coffee cake holds a special place in my heart because it cleverly disguises dessert as an acceptable breakfast option. Let’s be honest, there’s no need to sugarcoat it – we all love having dessert for breakfast! Whether it’s a raspberry sour cream coffee cake or individual coffee cake muffins, coffee cake stands out as the perfect sweet breakfast, a delightful snack to enjoy with a cup of coffee, or a standout treat for a weekend brunch. And yes, it absolutely makes a fantastic dessert too!

This particular coffee cake, distinguished by its extra-moist texture and the harmonious pairing of cream cheese and fresh strawberries, is the ultimate sliceable sweet, suitable for any time from breakfast through dessert. The construction of this cake is straightforward yet yields incredible results: a layer of vanilla-infused batter forms the base, followed by a generous layer of rich cream cheese filling, and then topped with another layer of batter and beautifully arranged sliced strawberries. As it bakes in the oven, it transforms into a delightful fusion of coffee cake and cheesecake, offering a unique and satisfying culinary experience.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a comprehensive list of everything you’ll need to create this irresistible strawberry coffee cake, complete with its decadent cream cheese filling. Each ingredient plays a vital role in achieving the perfect flavor and texture.

• Flour: For best results, use the scoop-and-sweep method to accurately measure your flour. This ensures a consistent and light cake texture.
• Baking Powder: This recipe calls for both baking powder and baking soda. Baking powder provides additional lift to the cake, complementing the baking soda without neutralizing all the tanginess of the buttermilk.
• Baking Soda: As a leavening agent, baking soda requires an acidic ingredient to activate. In this case, it’s the buttermilk that triggers its leavening action, contributing to the cake’s rise and airy texture.
• Salt: A small amount of salt is crucial for enhancing the overall flavor profile of the baked goods. It balances the sweetness and brings out the complexity of the other ingredients.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar not only adds sweetness to the cake but also contributes to its tenderness and moistness. The right amount of sugar is key to achieving that perfect balance.
• Butter: It’s essential to use unsalted butter to maintain precise control over the salt content in this recipe. Make sure the butter is properly softened so that it blends evenly into the batter, creating a smooth and consistent mixture.
• Eggs: One egg is mixed into the batter to bind the ingredients and enrich the cake, providing structure and moisture. The other egg is combined with cream cheese and sugar to create the cheesecake-like filling, adding a creamy, decadent layer to the coffee cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhance the flavor by using homemade vanilla extract. Its rich, aromatic essence elevates the overall taste of the coffee cake.
• Buttermilk: This thick and tangy dairy product adds moisture to the cake and activates the baking soda, contributing to a light and fluffy texture. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, refer to the tip below for a quick and easy substitute.
• Cream Cheese: Opt for full-fat cream cheese to ensure the richest flavor and creamiest texture in the filling. The high-fat content contributes to the decadent and luxurious feel of the cheesecake layer.
• Strawberries: Use a small paring knife to carefully remove the green caps from the strawberries and then slice them lengthwise. This method ensures even distribution and a beautiful presentation on top of the coffee cake.
• Powdered Sugar: A light dusting of powdered sugar, applied through a fine-mesh sieve, adds an elegant finishing touch to the coffee cake. It not only enhances the visual appeal but also provides a subtle sweetness that complements the flavors underneath.

Refer to the recipe card for detailed information on ingredient amounts and specific instructions.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Achieving the best results with this cream cheese-filled strawberry coffee cake requires careful attention to each step. Follow these detailed instructions to ensure your cake turns out perfectly moist, flavorful, and visually stunning.

1. Prepare Your Pan: Start by greasing the cake pan thoroughly. Then, line the bottom with parchment paper, and grease the parchment paper as well. This double layer of protection guarantees that the cake will release effortlessly from the pan once it’s baked.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, use a whisk or a fork to thoroughly combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Ensure that these ingredients are evenly distributed to promote consistent leavening throughout the cake.
3. Cream the Wet Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together one cup of the sugar and the softened butter until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is crucial for creating a tender cake crumb. Next, add one egg and the vanilla extract, and beat until well combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are fully incorporated.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: As with many cake recipes, you’ll incorporate the wet and dry ingredients alternately, along with the buttermilk. Begin by mixing in about one-third of the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture. Then, add half of the buttermilk, followed by another third of the dry ingredients. Finish by adding the remaining buttermilk and the rest of the flour mixture. This method prevents overmixing and ensures that the dry and wet ingredients are completely combined, resulting in a moist and tender cake.
5. Make the Filling: In a separate bowl, use a fork or whisk to combine the cream cheese with the remaining sugar and egg. Mix until the filling is smooth and creamy. This decadent cream cheese mixture will create a delightful cheesecake layer in your coffee cake.
6. Layer the Batter: Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared cake pan, spreading it evenly across the bottom. Then, carefully spread the cream cheese mixture over the batter in an even layer, ensuring it reaches all edges of the pan. Finally, top with the remaining cake batter, spreading it gently to cover the cream cheese filling.

7. Bake the Cake: To prevent the strawberries from overcooking and becoming mushy, remove the cake from the oven about halfway through the baking process (around 20 minutes). Gently press the sliced strawberries into the top of the cake batter in an even and attractive arrangement. Then, return the pan to the oven and continue baking until the cake is golden brown and fully cooked. To check for doneness, insert a cake tester or toothpick into the center of the cake; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before removing it and serving.

Looking for More Sweet Breakfast Ideas?

If you’re craving more delicious and sweet breakfast options, here are a few recipes to try:

• Easy Cream Cheese Danish
• Overnight Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
• White Chocolate Chip Raspberry Scones
• Cinnamon French Toast Muffins
• 5-Ingredient Strawberry Breakfast Pastries
• Pecan Sticky Buns

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Breakfast

Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Whip up a better breakfast with a quick and easy recipe for extra-moist coffee cake layered with cream cheese and fresh strawberries!

Author: Kelly Senyei

Prep Time

20
minutes

mins

Cook Time

50
minutes

mins

Total Time

1
hour

hr
10
minutes

mins

Servings 8 servings

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 
  
  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 
  
  1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 
  
  1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 
  
  1/4 teaspoon salt
• 
  
  1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
• 
  
  1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 
  
  2 large eggs, divided
• 
  
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 
  
  3/4 cup buttermilk
• 
  
  3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 
  
  1 cup sliced strawberries
• 
  
  Powdered sugar (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray then line it with parchment paper and grease the parchment paper with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set the mixture aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together 1 cup of the sugar with the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 1 egg and the vanilla extract and beat until combined. Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Set the batter aside.
• In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese with the remaining ¼ cup sugar and 1 egg until creamy.
• Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Top it with the cream cheese mixture, spreading it into an even layer, then top it with the remaining half of the batter.
• Bake the cake for 20 minutes until it has puffed slightly then remove it from the oven and press the sliced strawberries on top. Return the pan to the oven and bake the cake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes until it’s cooked throughout. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the pan, slice and serve.