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Chocolate Chip Cookie Coffee Cake. Homemade and super easy coffee cake with brown sugar, maple syrup, and sweet chocolate chips! This coffee cake is nothing fancy, yet SO DELICIOUS. It tastes like the best chocolate chip cookies, but in cake form! Every bite is layered with sweet cinnamon streusel, vanilla cake, and melty chocolate. Enjoy each slice warm with a smear of salty honey butter. So yummy!
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When I was in middle school, around 7th or 8th grade, I slept over at a friend’s house on a Friday night. If you knew me then, and even now, you’d know this was a very rare thing for me. I didn’t love sleepovers. But for whatever reason, I decided on this night, I would actually just stay the night.
When we awoke the next morning my friend’s parents had just returned from picking up coffee cafe at the bakery. When it comes to breakfast, I grew up mainly with Eggo waffles, my dad’s pancakes, eggs, and cinnamon toast (the best). Occasionally my mom would bake a strata. She’d make Dutch Babies all the time. And on Christmas morning she’d make monkey bread and a waffle strata.
Ingredients
- Salted butter
- Maple syrup
- Apple butter
- Vanilla extract
- Large eggs
- Whole wheat pastry flour
- Baking soda
- Cinnamon
- Kosher salt
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Streusel
- All-purpose flour
- Packed brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Salted butter
I did not grow up with coffee cake. So when my friend’s parents served it to us, I thought we were eating cake for breakfast. I remember it being so good. It was a chocolate chip cookie coffee cake. But honestly, from my memory, it tasted like a warm cookie.
Most likely my memory is making the cake out to be way better than it was. But I got to eat a cookie cake, and for breakfast too. Hey, I was in middle school, I didn’t know any differently, and the cake was delicious.
Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure I didn’t have coffee cake again until I started to take over cooking and baking. It was then that I realized that chocolate is not necessarily common in most coffee cakes.
But I’ve always wanted to recreate that cake! And here we are.
With Mother’s Day just over a week away, I knew this was a good time for this recipe. Serve this up at brunch or for dessert. It’s so great either way, and everyone will love it.
Details
This is one of my simpler sweets. First, the batter. We need to mix melted butter with maple syrup, apple butter, vanilla, and eggs. Now, I know the apple butter will throw some of you off. But I promise it’s the secret to creating a really light cake crumb with just the right amount of sweetness.
You don’t taste any apple flavor, just rich notes of brown sugar and vanilla. You could use apple sauce too, but apple butter is best. I always keep my homemade sauce in the fridge, but store-bought is just as great.
Now, the dry ingredients. I like to use whole wheat pastry flour, then baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Next mix, mix, mix. Then stir in lots of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Last up, add the streusel topping: flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter, all mixed together and sprinkled overtop of the cake. No layering or anything fussy.
And now you bake, which only takes about thirty minutes.
I always serve this warm with homemade honey butter. You just have to spread the honey butter all over your warm cake. It’s the most indulgent addition, and it’s absolutely what your cake needs.
Looking for other berry desserts? Here are some favorites:
Strawberry White Chocolate Blondies
Baked Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
Double Strawberry Sugar Cookies
Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Coffee Cake
Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins
Cream Cheese Swirled Cinnamon Carrot Cake Muffins
Blender Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
Bakery Blueberry Vanilla Crunch Muffins
Lastly, if you make this Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup maple syrup, (or brown sugar)
- 1/3 cup apple butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour, (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Streusel
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 9-inch spring form pan.2. In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, maple syrup, apple butter, vanilla, and eggs until smooth. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix in the chocolate chips. 3. To make the streusel. In a bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the butter and use your fingers to mix the butter into the flour until a crumble forms.4. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Top evenly with the buttery streusel mix.5. Bake 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool 5 or so minutes. Serve the cake slightly warm or at room temperature. Serve with salty honey butter spread over each piece. Trust me, make the honey butter (see notes).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
I do not own a spring form pan. So I used a 9 inch pan, buttered it and put in parchment. Worked great! Super easy removal. I live in Denver and made no adjustments. It didn’t sink. Looks about the same height.
We will eat after dinner so I am holding off on my rating. But definitely a 5 star recipe regarding ease of baking.
Hi Kristin,
Love it!!🍪🍦 I am thrilled to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and sharing your review!! xx
So I have to say I don’t usually comment on recipes after I’ve cooked them – for good or bad – but I felt like it was time that I did. I’ve pretty much ditched making recipes written by anyone but Tiegan. So consistent so delicious! This coffee cake came out exactly like the picture, and I am honestly not a talented baker. Tasted great, in the immortal words of my partner “this does not suck”.
Hey Lori,
Happy Monday!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it:) Thanks for your kind message! xT
Hi. Do you think that this recipe will still be good if I use gluten free flour? Thanks!
Julie
Hi Julie,
Yes, an equal amount of gluten free flour should work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Hi Tieghan,
I wanted to make this for mothers day, but could I prep the night before and bake the following day?
Hey Andrea,
Totally, you could also just fully make this the day before, I think it’s great the day after baking too! I hope you love this recipe! xT
Hi Tieghan,
Can I sun almond butter for the apple butter? Apple butter is not available in my area (it’s a seasonal product).
Thanks!
Hey Margaret,
Sorry, I’ve never tested this with almond butter! I think a very thick apple sauce should work for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
This is sooooo incredible!! Fun to make and insanely delicious. I am looking forward to bringing it to a dinner party. My husband said it was the best dessert he’s ever had. The honey butter on top is perfection. Once again outstanding work tieghan! Love!
Hey Kara,
Wonderful!! I’m so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
I made the coffee cake this weekend and it was a huge hit. Everyone raved about it and I was asked for the recipe. It was easy and quick to put together. This recipe is a keeper and will be my go to for future coffee cakes!
Thanks for another great recipe!
Hey Dianne,
Happy Monday!! 🍋🫐 I truly appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it was a hit! xT
Yum! Very tasty cake. It’s very crumbly, and it tastes like a chocolate chip cookie cuddled an apple cobbler. I would recommend doubling up on the topping.
Hey Emily,
Happy Monday!! 🍋🫐 I truly appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it was a hit! xT
In the oven!
I hope you love it!!
I saw this recipe this morning and immediately wanted to bake. Luckily I had all the ingredients except chocolate chips, but I did have espresso chips! Probably used half the chips but it was wonderful. So delicious and easy to make!
Hey Lindsay,
Happy Monday!! 🍋🫐 I truly appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it was a hit! xT
I had maple pumpkin butter so i subbed the maple syrup on the recipe for brown sugar(so not too much maple). Only put 1/4 -1/2 cup choc chips and added 2 overripe bananas mashed.. havent pulled it out yet but it smells amazing on this rainy morning 🙂
Tieghan, I regularly use your recipes and they are always well received, but I thot I’d let you know that your chocolate chip coffee cake got off the chart reviews.:) Thanks for sharing your knack for excellent flavor combinations and outside the box creations. You have a real gift for what you do and we truly appreciate all your hard work! And we’re so glad the sunshine is heading your way!😎
Thanks so much for your kind message Betsy!! I’m so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed! xT
Hey Jessica,
Happy Monday!! 🍋🫐 I truly appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it was a hit! xT
Can’t wait to try this, although I am sad that I don’t have any homemade apple butter on hand (usually do in the Fall though!).
But I must know, what is a waffle strata?! I would love that to be an upcoming recipe – it must be good if your Mom always made it for you all growing up! Sounds wonderful!
Thanks so much Jenna!! Lol it’s basically a waffle casserole:) Let me know if you give this coffee cake a try, I hope you love it! xT
Delicious! A keeper for sure! So easy to make too! I used a cup of chocolate chips instead of a cup and a half (simply to keep the calories down) and it was still amazing!! Highly recommend. Thanks Tiegan!
Hey Jess,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it:)
What can I replace the apple butter with? Thanks!
Hi Joanna,
You can try using a THICK applesauce to see if that works for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
If I don’t have a bunt pan is there an alternative? Thanks!
I came to ask the same question!
Hi Tiffany,
You’ll want to use a springform pan for this recipe:) I hope this helps! xx
Will this work with gluten free flour?
Hi Nancy,
Yes, you can use an equal amount of gluten free flour in this recipe:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope it’s delish! xT
There is no Bundt pan involved. Regular round cake pan. Clear as day. Now go get it done.
Hi Camille,
You are actually going to want to use a springform pan for this recipe:) Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx