BAKES/ BRUNCH/ SWEETS/ WINTER

Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Hello, welcome to Djalali Cooks. Today’s sweet treat is perfect for Christmas morning. I love a good coffee cake this time of year and this one ticks all the boxes. Cinnamon and sugar with nuts and chocolate – a perfect combination, layered with rich, moist yellow cake. So great with a cup of coffee! This recipe is from Diane Morrisey; it’s a tradition in her family to have this cake on Christmas morning and I can see why – it’s super easy and super delicious. Let’s get to it.

Easy Dessert, Coffee Cake, Breakfast, Brunch, Holiday Baking, Holiday Recipe, Holiday Cake, Christmas Morning, Streusel, Chocolate, Bundt Cake, Tube Cake, Simple Cake, Box Cake Mix

This Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee Cake comes together really easily; we are using a box cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and vanilla for the cake. The streusel topping is cinnamon, sugar, chocolate chips, sweetened coconut and pecans (or walnuts).

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a bundt or tube pan and set aside. Whisk together the streusel toppings in a medium bowl and set aside. Once whisking together the cinnamon and sugar, use your hands to really mix the nuts, coconut and chocolate chips into the cinnamon sugar.

In a separate large bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and the boxed cake mix. Then add the sour cream, eggs, vanilla and oil. Whisk until it comes together and then switch to a silicone spatula until the batter is smooth.

Now, pour half of the cake batter into the prepared tube or bundt pan and smooth out the top with the spatula. I only have a bundt pan; since we are adding streusel to the top, this is not the best choice, because we will present the cake with the streusel on top, meaning the pretty bundt design will not be on display. But it’s not a deal-breaker. You’ll see what I mean…

Then sprinkle half of the streusel mixture over the surface of the batter.

Then, top the streusel with the remaining half of the batter. Smooth the surface of the batter and sprinkle the remaining streusel over the top.

Easy Dessert, Coffee Cake, Breakfast, Brunch, Holiday Baking, Holiday Recipe, Holiday Cake, Christmas Morning, Streusel, Chocolate, Bundt Cake, Tube Cake, Simple Cake, Box Cake Mix

Place the pan on a rimmed sheet tray and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out dry.

Easy Dessert, Coffee Cake, Breakfast, Brunch, Holiday Baking, Holiday Recipe, Holiday Cake, Christmas Morning, Streusel, Chocolate, Bundt Cake, Tube Cake, Simple Cake, Box Cake Mix

Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Let the cake cool for 20 minutes or so before un-molding it. I am going to invert it, then invert it again so the streusel topping is on top.

It’s a little sad not to see the pretty bundt shape, but I do like to see the streusel topping for the presentation. This Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee Cake is so moist and the streusel topping gives wonderful texture variation with the pecans, chocolate chips, toasty coconut and the sugar has caramelized in spots to give a crispy edge to the top. Wonderful!

Easy Dessert, Coffee Cake, Breakfast, Brunch, Holiday Baking, Holiday Recipe, Holiday Cake, Christmas Morning, Streusel, Chocolate, Bundt Cake, Tube Cake, Simple Cake, Box Cake Mix

We loved this cake so much I am making another one for Christmas day. It’s a great coffee cake that keeps really well covered on the counter for days. I do hope you give it a try, and I thank Diane Morrisey for sharing her family tradition! If you want to try something a little different for Christmas morning, try my Cranberry Orange and Ginger Scones. Take care and be well, xo Kelly

Key Equipment

Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee Cake

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Dessert, Breakfast, Brunch American
By Diane Morrissey Serves: 8-12
Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 50-60 Minutes Total Time: ~1 Hour, 20 Minutes

This Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee Cake comes together quickly and easily. With a delicious streusel topping, it's perfect for Christmas morning.

Ingredients

  • 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
  • 1 Small Box Vanilla Instant Pudding
  • 1 cup Sour Cream
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1/2 cup Vegetable or Grapeseed Oil
  • Streusel
  • 2 cups Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 cup Shredded Sweetened Coconut
  • 1/2 cup chopped Pecans or Walnuts
  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 2 tsp. Cinnamon

Instructions

1

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a bundt or tube pan and set aside. Whisk together the streusel toppings in a medium bowl and set aside.

2

In a separate large bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and the boxed cake mix. Then add the sour cream, eggs, vanilla and oil. Whisk until it comes together and then switch to a silicone spatula until the batter is smooth.

3

Now, pour half of the cake batter into the prepared tube or bundt pan and smooth out the batter with the silicone spatula. Then sprinkle half of the streusel mixture over the surface of the batter.

4

Then, top the streusel with the remaining half of the batter. Smooth the surface of the batter and sprinkle the remaining streusel over the top.

5

Place the pan on a rimmed sheet tray and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out dry.

6

Let the cake cool for 20 minutes or so before un-molding it. Invert it, then invert it again so the streusel topping is on top.

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  • Deborah H
    December 21, 2022 at 8:12 am

    I’m definitely adding this to my Christmas baking list. My grandchildren have recently discovered they love coffee cake…now add chocolate and it’s sure to be a big hit.
    Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

    • Kelly Djalali
      December 21, 2022 at 10:41 am

      Merry Christmas, Deborah! The addition of chocolate definitely makes this a winner for all the chocolate lovers out there. I am already excited to make it again on Saturday! Have a wonderful holiday! xo Kelly

  • Mari
    December 21, 2022 at 9:01 am

    This would be perfect for anyone of any age who had a sweet tooth, and it might even convert someone who didn’t. This would be a lovely indulgence for a special day, or any day ending in Y. My husband would have eaten the entire cake before it was even out of the oven. Stealth eating was his specialty and he never gained a pound from it, which is always how it goes. I think this will be a big hit with my family. Can you believe it’s almost Christmas? When I was younger, the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas were endless. Now that I’m older, I would appreciate more time to get everything done. Another month would be perfect. It won’t be Christmas until I’ve seen all the classic movies from the 40’s at least once. It’s A wonderful Life and Miracle On 34th Street are the best, but I wouldn’t say no to The Bishop’s Wife or any .adaptation of A Christmas Carol. I might even eat some coffee cake while I watched the movies. Make that I totally would eat some! Happy Wacky Wednesday to Kelly, Alex, Terry, Gran, and the three little rascals. No bad wether here, but some people will be getting storms and high winds. We are fortunate to live where we usually just get te tail end of a bad storm. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who endures a turbulent Christmas this year. Stay safe everybody.

    • Kelly Djalali
      December 21, 2022 at 10:46 am

      Merry Christmas, Mari! Ok, so I think if it’s not already on your list, you have to add The Muppet Christmas Carol to your movie list. Such a cute take on A Christmas Carol! We might get a little snowfall in Athens this weekend…which would be pretty. We are expecting unusually frigid temperatures. Stay warm and safe! xo Kelly

  • Terry
    December 21, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    This recipe looks great. I will add it to the line up and keep you posted. Heard you guys might get snow but definitely going to be cold. Our snow finally is melting thank goodness .. be safe have a great week be warm safe 🎄☃️🤗❤️ mom

    • Kelly Djalali
      December 22, 2022 at 7:58 am

      It might snow here, Mom. But it likely won’t accumulate. I will keep you posted! xo Kelly

  • Sally Burke
    December 22, 2022 at 11:21 pm

    Hi Kelly, that cake sure does look super moist, but where is the coffee in the recipe, or is it called a Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee cake ‘cos you eat it with coffee? Wishing you and Alex a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Look forward to catching up again in 2023 🎄🥳
    All the best
    Sally 🥂🤗

    • Kelly Djalali
      December 23, 2022 at 7:40 am

      Hi Sally, You guessed it; a cake like this is called a coffee cake because it’s meant to be enjoyed with a cup of coffee. It’s typically a cake with streusel topping and cinnamon. We wish you and your family a happy Christmas! Take care, xo Kelly