Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
This light and fluffy chocolate chip coffee cake makes a perfect snack any time of the day, paired with a hot cup of coffee, of course. With a crumb topping and plenty of sweet chocolate chips, you’ll want to make this again and again!
It’s no secret that I love coffee. But what makes a perfect coffee break is a really delicious baked good. And did I mention my second love is chocolate? So, you can imagine how I felt about enjoying a piece of chocolate chip coffee cake with a hot cup of coffee today.
It’s February, and I live in Canada. So, that means February is cold and snowy. This year we’ve had unprecedented amounts of snowfalls. So much so that, while I’m usually the girl who adores the snow, I’m just praying it finally stops. Those roads are nothing to joke about in this kind of weather.
So, I’m looking for anything that might bring me a little bit of comfort right now, and today that was cake. With chocolate. I mean, that sounds like some serious comfort food, don’t you think?
Yes, I know. It’s February. The month of love. So, I really should be making red or pink desserts like my strawberry cake. But, I don’t know – my heart just really wanted chocolate.
What Makes this Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake one you’ll absolutely love:
- The addition of sour cream makes this cake extra moist
- The chocolate chips give a welcome change for traditional cinnamon-flavored coffee cake
- Ideal for any occasion, you can make it for breakfast, brunch, a snack, or bring it as a dessert dish for a potluck
Also, can we talk about how crumb toppings on any dessert are just…oh, so good.
So, this cake with both a crumb topping AND chocolate is a winner in my books. Actually, I’m literally sitting here typing this out thinking about going to get another piece.
Except, I had two already today.
Key Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
- Sour Cream: I can’t stress this enough. Much like a “power couple,” the sour cream is the power ingredient. It’s what’s going to make your cake moist and give it that perfect fluffy texture.
- Brown Sugar: Added to the crumb topping, it adds a sweet richness you’ll love.
- Butter: This is going to add a rich flavor to your coffee cake.
- Milk Chocolate Chips: That sweet, chocolatey goodness is what will have you coming back for more.
- Baking powder: This will help your cake to rise to it’s perfect fluffiness.
- Vanilla extract: Adds to the medley of flavors in this cake.
- Eggs: Best used at room temperature, these eggs will fluff up your cake.
- Milk: This will add more flavor and richness to your batter.
Do you need a stand mixer to make this?
This post contains affiliate links. Please see our full disclosure policy HERE.
No. Mixing it with a hand mixer, or some good old fashioned elbow grease will work just fine. I spent years mixing all my recipes like that before I just bought my stand mixer a month ago.
What I will say is, the stand mixer has been life-changing, and while an expensive investment, I now wonder why I waited so long to buy one. It makes breads, desserts, and so much more absolutely easy to whip up!
I was advised to only buy the Kitchen Aid stand mixer even though it was more expensive, and I can tell you that I absolutely agree with that assessment.
How to make this Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake Recipe
For a more detailed version of how to make this chocolate chip coffee cake, you’ll find the step-by-step instructions below in the recipe card.
Make the crumb topping first: Mix the brown sugar, flour, and ground cinnamon together. Add the 4 tablespoons of butter into the dry mix. You’ll want to cut it into the mix with either a pastry blender or a couple of butter knives.
I used my stand mixer because, well, I love that thing.
Once you have the crumb topping made, set it aside.
Make the batter: Add your flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and butter to your stand mixer (or a mixing bowl.) Mix together until the butter and dry ingredients form a dry mix.
In a separate bowl beat your eggs. Add the sour cream, vanilla, and milk to it. Mix it together and then add it to your dry ingredients.
Mix together until completely combined. It will most likely have butter chunks in it making the batter lumpy and that’s okay.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Pour your batter into a greased 9 x 9 baking pan. Bake it for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
You’ll want to let the cake completely cool when finished. Store it in an airtight container and it should stay fresh for 3-4 days but if your house is like mine it probably won’t last that long anyways!
More Cakes and Cupcakes you’ll want to Make:
Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 4 tbsp butter, cold
Coffee Cake
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit and grease a 9 x 9 baking dish.
Streusel Topping
- Mix the brown sugar, flour, and ground cinnamon together. Add the 4 tablespoons of butter into the dry mix. You'll want to cut it into the mix with either a pastry blender or a couple of butter knives. Set aside.
Coffee Cake
- Add your flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and butter to your stand mixer (or a mixing bowl.) Mix together until the butter and dry ingredients form a dry crumbly mix.
- In a separate bowl beat your eggs. Add the sour cream, vanilla, and milk to it. Mix it together and then add it to your dry ingredients.
- Mix together until completely combined. It will most likely have butter chunks in it making the batter lumpy and that's okay.
- Fold in the Chocolate Chips.
- Pour batter into your greased pan.
- Top with the crumb topping.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes. Check for doneness by sticking a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean it's done!
- Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.
