Festive Eggnog Coffee Cake: Your Ultimate Holiday Breakfast & Brunch Indulgence
Usher in the holiday season with a truly special treat: this delightful Eggnog Coffee Cake. It’s an absolutely perfect recipe for festive breakfasts, cozy brunches, or even a comforting dessert alongside a warm drink. This cake brilliantly transforms the rich, creamy, and subtly spiced flavors of eggnog into an incredibly flavorful, tender, and moist coffee cake that will have everyone reaching for a second slice.
While some may shy away from drinking eggnog straight from a glass, its magic truly comes alive when incorporated into baked goods. The unique blend of nutmeg, vanilla, and creamy richness in eggnog lends an unparalleled depth and a wonderfully tender texture to cakes, cookies, and more. This recipe celebrates that transformative power, creating a coffee cake that is not just a seasonal novelty, but a genuinely delicious and eagerly anticipated holiday staple.
Beyond its festive appeal, what makes this Eggnog Coffee Cake recipe truly stand out is its balance of flavors and textures. The cake itself is infused with genuine eggnog, providing that signature creamy taste and making it incredibly soft. Complementing this, a generous layer of crumb topping, delicately spiced with nutmeg, adds a delightful textural contrast and an aromatic flourish. It’s a holiday treat that manages to be both indulgent and wonderfully comforting, a true highlight of any festive spread.
Why You’ll Adore This Eggnog Coffee Cake
- Uniquely Festive Flavor: Captures the essence of the holidays with every bite, without being overly sweet or cloying. The eggnog imparts a gentle, spiced warmth that is irresistible.
- Incredibly Moist & Tender: Thanks to the eggnog and sour cream in the batter, this coffee cake boasts an exceptionally soft, melt-in-your-mouth crumb that stays fresh for days.
- Perfect Crumb Topping: The buttery, spiced nutmeg crumb topping adds an essential crunch and a burst of flavor, elevating this cake from good to extraordinary.
- Ideal for Holidays: Whether it’s Christmas morning breakfast, a festive brunch, or an afternoon fika, this cake is guaranteed to impress and delight.
- Easy to Make Ahead: A fantastic option for busy holiday entertaining, as it can be baked the night before and served warm.
Essential Ingredients for Your Eggnog Coffee Cake
For the best results, always measure your ingredients accurately and have them ready before you begin baking. You’ll find the complete, printable recipe card with exact measurements at the bottom of this post.
- Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: These two sugars work in harmony. Granulated sugar provides foundational sweetness and helps tenderize the cake, while brown sugar adds a deeper, molasses-like flavor and contributes to the crumb topping’s irresistible texture.
- All-Purpose Flour: The structural backbone of both the cake and the crumb topping. Ensure it’s properly measured, preferably by weight or by spooning into a measuring cup and leveling off.
- Nutmeg: The quintessential spice for eggnog flavor. We use it in both the cake and the crumb topping to amplify that warm, festive aroma. Freshly grated nutmeg offers a superior flavor profile.
- Unsalted Butter: Essential for richness and moisture in the cake, and crucial for creating that perfectly crumbly topping. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the total salt content in your baking.
- Eggs: Act as a binder, provide structure, and contribute to the cake’s richness and moisture. Ensure they are at room temperature for better emulsion with other ingredients.
- Sour Cream (or Greek Yogurt): A secret weapon for an incredibly moist and tender coffee cake. Its acidity reacts with the leavening agents, and its fat content ensures a plush crumb. Full-fat plain Greek yogurt can be a suitable substitute for a similar effect.
- Eggnog: The star ingredient! Choose your favorite brand of full-fat eggnog for the best flavor. It infuses the cake with its distinctive festive taste and contributes significantly to the cake’s tender texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the other flavors and adds a touch of classic sweetness. Pure vanilla extract is always recommended for superior taste.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents work together to give the cake its beautiful rise and light texture. Ensure they are fresh for optimal results.
- Salt: A pinch of salt is vital in baking to balance the sweetness and bring out the full depth of flavor in all the ingredients.
You might notice that this recipe doesn’t call for a multitude of spices often found in other holiday baked goods, like excessive cinnamon or cloves. This is intentional. The star, eggnog, already carries a beautiful, nuanced spice profile, primarily nutmeg and vanilla. By using just a touch more nutmeg, we enhance that signature flavor without overpowering the delicate balance that makes this Eggnog Coffee Cake so delightful.
How To Craft the Perfect Eggnog Coffee Cake
Creating this festive coffee cake is simpler than you might think. Follow these detailed steps to ensure a delicious and beautifully baked result.
- Prepare Your Pan and Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when the cake goes in, promoting an even bake. Lightly grease an 8-inch baking pan, or for easy removal and cleanup, line it with parchment paper, allowing the edges to overhang.
- Master the Crumb Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, both granulated and light brown sugars, a generous pinch of nutmeg, and the cubed cold butter. Using your fingertips, work the butter into the dry ingredients. This method helps create distinct crumbs rather than a paste. Continue mixing until the mixture resembles coarse sand with some pea-sized crumbs. Set this delicious topping aside.
- Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and the melted (and slightly cooled) butter until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined. Next, add the eggnog, sour cream, a large egg, and the vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly until all these liquid ingredients are fully incorporated and homogenous. Ensure the egg is completely blended in for an even texture in the final cake.
- Incorporate the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the additional nutmeg. Whisking dry ingredients separately ensures even distribution of leavening agents and spices. Gradually add this dry mixture to your wet eggnog mixture. Mix with a spatula or on low speed with an electric mixer *just* until the flour streaks disappear. Overmixing will develop the gluten too much, resulting in a tough cake, so stop as soon as it’s combined. The batter will be quite thick.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the thick cake batter evenly into your prepared baking dish. Spread it gently with a spatula to cover the bottom. Evenly sprinkle the reserved crumb topping over the batter, then gently press it down a little with your hand to help it adhere to the cake during baking. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Check for Doneness: The cake is ready when a wooden toothpick or a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, or with just a few moist crumbs attached. Avoid overbaking, as this can lead to a dry cake.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the coffee cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes before attempting to slice. Cooling allows the cake to set and firm up, making for cleaner slices and preventing it from falling apart. Serve warm or at room temperature, perhaps with an extra sprinkle of nutmeg or a dollop of whipped cream.
Pro Tips & Delicious Variations for Your Eggnog Coffee Cake
- Lining the Baking Dish: For flawless removal and effortless serving, I highly recommend lining your 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on the sides. The delicious crumb topping tends to melt and stick to the pan during baking, and this simple trick ensures you can lift the entire cake out cleanly before slicing.
- Make Ahead for Stress-Free Holidays: This Eggnog Coffee Cake is an absolute dream for holiday entertaining because it can be prepared the night before. Once cooled completely, cover it tightly and store it at room temperature. On serving day, simply warm it gently in the oven for a few minutes (around 300°F/150°C for 10-15 minutes) to revive its delicious warmth and aroma. It’s truly best served slightly warmed.
- Enhance with Nuts: If you’re a fan of nuts, consider adding about half a cup of finely chopped pecans or walnuts to your crumb topping mixture. They introduce a fantastic earthy flavor and a wonderful textural crunch that complements the soft cake beautifully.
- Scaling Up for a Crowd: Planning for a larger gathering? No problem! This recipe doubles perfectly. Simply double all the ingredients and bake the coffee cake in a larger 9×13 inch baking dish. Keep an eye on the baking time, as it might need an extra 5-10 minutes.
- Avoid Overmixing: The golden rule for tender cakes! Overmixing the batter develops the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a tough, dense cake. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet *just* until they are combined and no streaks of flour remain. A few small lumps are perfectly fine and often result in a more tender crumb.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For a smoothly emulsified batter and a more even bake, ensure your egg, sour cream, and eggnog are at room temperature. This helps them incorporate more easily with the butter and sugar, creating a cohesive and well-structured cake.
- Freshly Grated Nutmeg: While pre-ground nutmeg works, grating fresh nutmeg offers an intensely aromatic and superior flavor. It makes a noticeable difference in the overall holiday spice profile of the cake.
- Optional Eggnog Glaze: For an extra touch of decadence, whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons of eggnog and a splash of vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle this glaze over the cooled cake before serving.
- Serving Suggestions: Beyond coffee, this cake pairs wonderfully with a glass of milk, a warm mug of spiced tea, or even a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a more dessert-like experience.
Storage Tips for Your Eggnog Coffee Cake
Proper storage ensures your delicious Eggnog Coffee Cake remains fresh and moist. Leftover cake will keep well for 2-3 days when stored at room temperature. Make sure to cover it tightly with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out. If you wish to extend its freshness, you can refrigerate it for up to 5 days, though the texture might become slightly firmer. To enjoy refrigerated slices, simply reheat them briefly in the microwave until just warm, or pop them in a toaster oven for a few minutes for a crisper topping.
More Delightful Holiday Breakfast Recipes
Looking for more festive morning inspiration? Explore these other delicious breakfast recipes perfect for the holiday season:
- Eggnog French Toast
- Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls
- Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
- Pumpkin Waffles
- Nutella Crepes
- Monkey Bread Muffins
- Eggnog Muffins
- Gingerbread Pancakes
Eggnog Coffee Cake
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Ingredients
Crumb Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, cut into cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Cake
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
- 1/2 cup eggnog
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 whole large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350º F (175°C). Grease or line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
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To make the crumb topping, combine flour, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, nutmeg, and cubed butter in a small bowl. Use your fingers to mix thoroughly until it forms a coarse sand-like texture with some larger crumbs. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar and melted (and cooled) butter until smooth and well combined.
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Add the eggnog, sour cream, large egg, and vanilla extract to the wet mixture. Mix until everything is fully combined and the egg is completely incorporated.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg until thoroughly combined. Add this dry mixture to the eggnog mixture and mix just until the ingredients come together and no dry streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix.
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Pour the thick batter into your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the prepared crumb topping generously over the top of the batter, then gently press down with your fingers.
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Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached.
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Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes before carefully lifting it out by the parchment paper overhang. Let it cool further before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Love this festive Eggnog Coffee Cake? We’d be thrilled to hear from you! Leave a comment and rating below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Eggnog Coffee Cake
- Can I use light eggnog for this recipe?
- While you can use light eggnog, for the richest flavor and most tender crumb, full-fat eggnog is highly recommended. The fat content contributes significantly to the cake’s moisture and luxurious texture. If you use light eggnog, the cake might be slightly less moist and flavorful.
- Can I make this coffee cake gluten-free?
- I haven’t personally tested this recipe with gluten-free flour. However, many readers have success substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend that contains xanthan gum. The texture might be slightly different, but it should still be delicious. Always check your baking powder and baking soda to ensure they are gluten-free.
- What if I don’t have sour cream?
- Sour cream is key for moisture and tenderness. If you don’t have it, a good substitute is full-fat plain Greek yogurt. It offers a similar tang and rich consistency that works well in baking. Buttermilk can also work in a pinch, but you might need to adjust the wet ingredient ratios slightly.
- How do I prevent the crumb topping from sinking?
- The main reasons crumb topping sinks are usually a batter that is too thin or crumbs that are too heavy/wet. In this recipe, the batter is thick, which helps. Ensuring your butter for the crumb topping is cold and cutting it into cubes (not melting it) helps create distinct crumbs that stay on top. Gently pressing the topping onto the batter before baking also helps it adhere.
- Can I freeze Eggnog Coffee Cake?
- Yes, absolutely! Once the cake has cooled completely, you can freeze individual slices or the whole cake (if uncut) tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, then an additional layer of aluminum foil. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 1-2 months. Thaw at room temperature and warm gently before serving.
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