Banana Crumb Coffee Cake (Printable)
Moist banana coffee cake with a buttery cinnamon crumb topping and optional glaze—ideal for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cake
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 - 3 ripe bananas, mashed
11 - 1/2 cup sour cream
→ Crumb Topping
12 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
13 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
14 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
15 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
→ Glaze (optional)
16 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
17 - 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon for the cake base.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well, then incorporate vanilla extract.
04 - Mix in the mashed bananas and sour cream until smooth and fully combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just incorporated. Do not overmix to maintain tenderness.
06 - Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and smooth the surface evenly.
07 - In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the topping. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter or forks until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
08 - Distribute the crumb mixture evenly over the batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons milk until smooth, then drizzle over the cooled cake if desired.
10 - Cut into squares and serve when fully cooled.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The crumb topping bakes up into those irresistible nooks and crannies that everyone fights over.
- It&aposs the kind of treat that somehow tastes even better the next morning with a cup of coffee.
02 -
- If you overmix the batter, the cake will lose that melt-in-your-mouth softness—I learned after a few rubbery attempts.
- Making the crumb topping with cold butter is non-negotiable: it&aposll clump and bake into those crave-worthy clusters.
03 -
- Layering half the crumb topping in the middle and the rest on top gives surprise crunch in every bite.
- If your bananas aren’t quite ripe, baking them in their skins for a few minutes sweetens them up fast.