Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake with swirls of cinnamon and chocolate chips is a must try! Make it with red and green chocolate morsels for a festive holiday breakfast or dessert.
Love easy breakfast recipes? Try our pancake mix cake for a fun twist. Or give this classic cinnamon roll recipe a try, you won’t be able to resist them!
Table of Contents
Coffee Cake Recipe
I am pretty obsessed with coffee cakes. AKA breakfast cakes. Otherwise known as cake for breakfast. (see where this is going??)
While many people are weak when it comes to cookies, fudge, brownies, chips, ice cream…coffee cake is my proverbial kryptonite.
I am weak when it comes to an irresistible breakfast cake sitting on my counter. It’s the perfect morning treat that goes so nicely with my morning coffee (hence the name “coffee cake”). The fact that I can serve the same cake for dessert makes it even better.
Today’s recipe was created using my Cream Cheese Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake recipe.
That recipe makes something more similar to a cheesecake, while this is very much a straightforward coffee cake with chocolate chips.
I made this coffee cake recipe in TWO cake pans–one for now and one to freeze for Christmas morning breakfast!
I also used a smaller amount of streusel topping than I do in many of my other coffee cake recipes. Instead, I added in a center layer of chocolate chips and cinnamon swirl to these cakes That turned out to be one of my best-ever ideas.
Chocolate and cinnamon is such an underrated combination! I’m sure you’ll agree that they’re perfectly paired in this holiday breakfast cake.
Holiday Breakfast
I found some red and green chocolate chip morsels at the grocery store this week and made one batch with those for a festive version of this cake.
I also made a batch with regular chocolate chips. You decide which way to go! If you’re reading this post in the middle of summer, you may want to use the regular chocolate chips. Just sayin’.
But if you need a little Christmas in July who am I to stop you? I’m a sucker for a festive cake and the bright colors were such a fun addition.
Come Christmas morning, we’ll be digging into slices of this cake as we sip coffee and cocoa and open presents. If you can’t eat cake for breakfast on Christmas, when can you?
The classic look of the regular chocolate chips was pretty, too. If you’re a fan of white chocolate, you could even try this recipe with half white chocolate morselfs. Serve it for breakfast, brunch, dessert or as an afternoon treat any time of year.
Whichever way you make this cake (and whenever you choose to serve it), I know you’re going to love it!
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Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1. Make the streusel
Combine flour, sugars, cinnamon and butter in small bowl. Mix with hands until crumbly. Set aside.
STEP 2. Make the cake batter
In a large mixing bowl, beat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt on low until combined. Beat in softened butter until mixture is crumbly. Add in eggs, vanilla and buttermilk and beat until fully combined and fluffy. Pour half of mixture in bottom of prepared cake pans lined with parchment paper, dividing evenly.
Spread using the back of a spoon or a small offset spatula. Top with half of the streusel, sprinkling it over both cakes. Add half of the chocolate chips, about 1 cup, dividing evenly between both cakes.
Pour the remainder of the batter over the cakes, dividing evenly. Use your spatula or spoon to spread it out one more time. Top with the remaining streusel and chocolate chips.
STEP 3. Bake the cakes!
Bake cakes in a 325 degree F oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove and cool 15 minutes, then remove cake from pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely.
How long does coffee cake stay good?
This cake is best served within three days of baking if you’re not freezing it. When I made it, we ate one that same day for dessert (and breakfast the next day). The other, I stored in the freezer.
Can you freeze coffee cake?
Absolutely! Freeze in individual slices for quick and easy serving or wrap the cake in plastic wrap and foil. Let thaw on the counter over night and it’ll be ready to enjoy for breakfast the next day.
More Easy Recipes
- Candy Cane Oreo Cookie bars
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake
- Gooey Brownie Bars
- Orange Bread
- Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake
Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup buttermilk
For the Streusel:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels divided
Instructions
- For the cake, grease and flour two 8 1/2 inch round cake pans. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
- For the streusel, combine flour, sugars, cinnamon and butter in small bowl. Mix with hands until crumbly. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt on low until combined. Beat in softened butter until mixture is crumbly. Add in eggs, vanilla and buttermilk and beat until fully combined and fluffy. Pour half of mixture in bottom of cake pans, dividing evenly. Spread using the back of a spoon or a small offset spatula (yes it will be very thin, it’s okay!) Top with half of the streusel, sprinkling it over both cakes. Add half of the chocolate chips, about 1 cup, dividing evenly between both cakes.
- Pour the remainder of the batter over the cakes, dividing evenly. Use your spatula or spoon to spread it out one more time. Top with the remaining streusel and chocolate chips.
- Bake cakes in a 325 degree F oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove and cool 15 minutes, then remove cake from pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely.
- Serve into slices or freeze in an airtight container for later use. ENJOY. Best used within 3 days of baking (if not freezing).
Notes
How long does coffee cake stay good?
This cake is best served within three days of baking if you’re not freezing it. When I made it, we ate one that same day for dessert (and breakfast the next day). The other, I stored in the freezer.Can you freeze coffee cake?
Absolutely! Freeze in individual slices for quick and easy serving or wrap the cake in plastic wrap and foil. Let thaw on the counter over night and it’ll be ready to enjoy for breakfast the next day.Nutrition
I love this cinnamon chocolate chip coffee cake for breakfast. Brew a strong cup of coffee, cut yourself a slice and enjoy!
I made this this morning. Saw it on facebook and was in the mood, had the stuff so I just made it. It was delish. I used 9″ round pans, skipped the parchment paper and used pam for baking to spray instead. My family all enjoyed it. Stuck one in the freezer. It took 35 min in my oven. Thanks for the wonderful family friendly recipes.
Love when the baking spirit strikes. And I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Oh my this looks amazing!
Could you put this in a 9 x 13 pan? I’m at my relatives and can’t get out to get the round pans. if so how long would I bake it?
You definitely could bake in a 13×9, just not sure for how long. I guess I would start at 35 minutes, and check every 5 until it’s done!
Mouth watering!! I love love love coffee cake, saving this recipe!
Love this idea! So fun!
So yummy and FUN!
Love it! So easy and so brilliant to swap regular chocolate chips for the festive Christmas ones. Instant perfect Christmas breakfast!!
Such a great coffee cake Aimee! I love how festive and fun it is π
So I could eat one now….and one for dinner later… :O or you know, save it like you said. Maybe. Probably not. I don’t know if I could wait that long to inhale this cake! π
Oh, I love coffee cake…and this looks super festive with the holiday colors. Thanks!!
Thanks David! I have one saved in my freezer for Christmas morning!
Ah, we think alike! We always have a delicious coffee cake on Christmas morning…it’s a family tradition. π
Cake for breakfast. Yes. And seriously I can’t get enough “crumb” π mmMMmmMMM
No. Never enough crumbs!
I have always liked coffee cake for the most part, but have never seen this version. I’m more used to a cinnamon or apply crumb coffee cake. What a cool take on the old coffee cake!
Thank you!! It definitely was fun “recipe testing” this cake with holiday morsels and without!!
Don’t you just love those red and green morsels! This coffee cake is looking pretty good!!
I do! they just make everything so much cuter this time of year!
I so love coffee cake! It’s so much fun coming up with new flavors. This is fabulous!
Thanks Dorothy! Wish you lived close enough to enjoy this coffee cake in the morning with me π
Coffee cake is my weakness. I love how festive this looks!
Chocolate chip coffee cake looks and sounds perfect for the holidays! Thanks for sharing, Aimee!
I love the fun colors of the holiday version. And I am weak around coffee cake too…can’t resist eating bite after bite!!!
This coffeecake would be perfect for Christmas morning breakfast. Love the red and green chocolate chips π
This looks so delicious, Aimee! I love those festive chocolate chips. π
Thanks Marcie. My family thought it was fun to eat this early before Christmas too!!
Thanks Marcie! What time will you be here for coffee cake? π
I’ll hop a plane and be there in a few hours.
omigoodness this would be super impressive if brought to any holiday party!
Yes it would!! And it tastes amazing too π