Go Back
A slice of layered Lemon Coffee Cake with crumb topping, creamy filling, and bright lemon curd on a white plate.
Maryam

Lemon Coffee Cake

A bright, tender crumb cake with punchy lemon flavor and a buttery streusel topping that pairs perfectly with your morning coffee.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

For the Streusel Topping
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter cold, cubed
  • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Cake
  • 0.75 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup sour cream full-fat
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon zest from about 3 lemons
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch Baking Pan
  • Electric Mixer
  • Microplane or fine grater

Method
 

Prep and Make Streusel
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan and line with parchment, leaving an overhang for easy removal. For the streusel, combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Work in the cold butter with your fingertips until clumps form, about 2 minutes. Set in the refrigerator.
Make the Cake Batter
  1. Beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Mix in sour cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth. The batter will look slightly curdled - this is normal.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients on low speed and mix just until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix. The batter will be thick.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan. It will be about 1 inch thick. Sprinkle the cold streusel evenly over the top, breaking up any large clumps. Bake until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 42 to 48 minutes.
  2. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing. The cake cuts cleanly once fully cooled but is delicious slightly warm. Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Notes

For the brightest lemon flavor, zest your lemons before juicing them - the oils in the zest carry more flavor than the juice alone. The sour cream is non-negotiable for moisture; Greek yogurt works in a pinch but the texture will be slightly denser. This cake actually improves overnight as the lemon flavor develops, making it an ideal make-ahead brunch option.