This Chocolate Coffee Cake is moist, tender and loaded with chocolate chips and crunchy walnuts! Topped with a thick layer of cinnamon and cocoa streusel and drizzled with a sweet glaze, it's highly addictive and perfect for breakfasts, snacking or desserts!Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.
3CupsAll Purpose Flour– spooned & leveled; sifted (SEE NOTES)
2TBSUnsweetened Cocoa Powder- sifted, plus more for pan (SEE NOTES)
2tspBaking Powder
1/2tspBaking Soda
1/2 tspKosher Salt
1CupGranulated Sugar
1/3CupLight Brown Sugar- packed
½CupVegetable Oil
2Large Eggs
1 1/4CupButtermilk- (I used low-fat, but do not use skim!)
2tspVanilla Extract
1CupSemi-Sweet Chocolate Chips - (use high quality such as Ghirardelli) (about 6 ounces)
Streusel:
2/3CupLight Brown Sugar- packed
2/3CupSemi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2/3CupWalnuts– finely chopped (or Pecans)
2tspGround Cinnamon
1TBSCocoa Powder
Glaze:
1CupPowder Sugar
2-3TBSButtermilk
1tspVanilla Extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch tube pan with a removable bottom, Bundt pan or 8x8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or pan release (SEE NOTES). Dust the inside of the pan with cocoa powder and gently tap out the excess.
Prepare the streusel topping: In a medium mixing bowl, make the streusel by combining all of the streusel ingredients together. Season with 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Mix until well incorporated. Set aside.
Prepare the cake – dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir to combine. Set aside.
Prepare the cake – wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl with a handheld mixer, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the sugars, oil and eggs. Beat on medium speed until light in color and well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add in the buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until JUST combined. Very gently fold in the chocolate chips.
Layer the cake: Pour half of the coffee cake batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle ¾ cup of the streusel evenly over the batter. Repeat by adding the rest of the batter to the pan and then evenly top with the remaining streusel.
Bake: Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and place the pan on a wire rack. Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove cake from pan and place on a wire rack. Allow the cake to cool completely.
While the cake is baking, make the glaze: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of buttermilk and all the vanilla. Whisk until smooth and no lumps remain. For a thinner glaze, add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is achieved. Set aside.
To serve: While the cake is still slightly warm, drizzle the coffee cake with half of the glaze. Let the cake cool completely (30+ minutes) and drizzle with remaining glaze. Slice, serve and enjoy!
Notes
You can replace 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder with 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder for a richer, more chocolaty flavored cake.
You MUST sift the flour and cocoa powder. The cake will come out dense and dry unless you sift those ingredients. Likewise, do NOT overmix the batter when you add the dry ingredients to the wet. Stir them until JUST combined and then very gently fold in the chocolate chips. Over-mixing will produce a dense cake.
Do NOT overbake the cake! Bake the coffee cake until the top feels pillow-soft and slightly springy to the touch.
Coffee cake will keep stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days, however coffee cake tastes best the first 2 days.
Homemade pan release:¼ Cup All Purpose Flour¼ Cup Vegetable Shortening¼ Cup Vegetable OilDirections:
In a bowl using a whisk or handheld mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat ingredients until thoroughly combined.
To use, dip a pastry brush in the mixture and coat baking pan with a generous layer of pan release. Be sure to get the mixture into the nooks and crannies of pans. Note: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Nutritional information is an approximation based upon 12 servings. Information includes cake, streusel and glaze.