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Eggless Starbucks Coffee Cake

prep time: 30 min | bake time: 40 min | total time: 1 hr 10 min

This Eggless Starbucks Coffee Cake features a soft vanilla cake layered with cinnamon sugar with a buttery crumble topping. Easy to make, bakery-style, and can be made dairy-free too.

Starbucks Copycat Coffee Cake without eggs !

If you’ve ever walked into Starbucks and been tempted by that thick slice of cinnamon coffee cake sitting in the bakery case, you’re not alone. There’s something incredibly comforting about a soft vanilla cake topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel crumb and paired with a warm cup of coffee or tea.

The good news? You don’t need a trip to the coffee shop to enjoy it. This Eggless Starbucks Coffee Cake recreates everything we love about the classic bakery favorite.  As someone who grew up baking and enjoying eggless desserts, I know how difficult it can be to find recipes that don’t feel like a compromise. This coffee cake isn’t missing anything. It’s soft, fluffy, rich, and packed with cinnamon flavor in every bite.

What is Coffee Cake?

Despite its name, coffee cake typically doesn’t contain any coffee. The name comes from the fact that it’s traditionally served alongside coffee or tea.

Coffee cake is a popular American style cake known for its soft texture and crumbly streusel topping. This recipe follows the classic style that Starbucks is famous for, featuring a moist vanilla cake, a ribbon of cinnamon sugar filling, and a thick buttery crumb topping.

Close-up of cinnamon streusel topping on coffee cake
Bakery-style cinnamon crumb coffee cake

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Completely eggless
  • Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients
  • Can be made dairy-free
  • Tastes just like the Starbucks version
  • Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert
Homemade Vegan Starbucks copycat coffee cake

Ingredients for Eggless Starbucks Coffee Cake

Vanilla Cake Ingredients

  • Milk: Adds moisture and richness, creating a soft and tender cake. For dairy-free, use oat, almond or soy Brands like Oatly, Silk, and Califia Farms work well.
  • Lemon Juice or White Vinegar: Combined with milk to create a homemade buttermilk substitute, which helps produce a soft, fluffy texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and depth of flavor. Pure vanilla extracts from Nielsen-Massey or McCormick are great options.
  • Cornstarch: Helps create a soft, tender, bakery-style crumb by reducing the protein content of the flour mixture.
  • Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Work together to help the cake rise evenly while keeping it light and fluffy.
  • Sugar (Cane or Caster): Sweetens the cake while contributing to its moist and tender texture. For a vegan option, use organic cane sugar.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure while maintaining a soft and delicate crumb.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the cake.
  • Melted Butter: Adds richness, moisture, and flavor. For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter such as Miyoko’s, Country Crock Plant Butter, or Earth Balance.

Cinnamon Sugar Layer Ingredients

  • Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a subtle caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with cinnamon.
  • Ground Cinnamon: Brings warm, cozy spice throughout the cake and creates the classic coffee cake flavor.

Crumble Topping Ingredients

  • All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the streusel topping and creates the signature crumbly texture.
  • Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the topping become golden and crisp while baking.
  • Ground Cinnamon: Infuses the streusel with warm cinnamon flavor.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the buttery streusel flavor.
  • Butter: Holds the streusel together and creates those delicious crumbly clusters. For a dairy-free option, use Miyoko’s, Country Crock Plant Butter, or Earth Balance.

How to Make Crumble Topping

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and mix with a fork until large crumbs form. Place the bowl in the refrigerator while you prepare the cake batter.

Crumble Topping Recipe
Crumble Topping for Cinnamon Coffee Cake

How to make the Vanilla Cake

In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk and lemon juice (or vinegar). Add the sugar and vanilla extract and whisk until combined.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently whisk until just combined. Pour in the melted butter and mix until you have a smooth, lump-free batter. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in a dense cake.

Milk for eggless cinnamon cake measured in a bowl
Dry ingredients being folded into wet mixture to form smooth batter for cinnamon coffee cake
Plain vanilla batter prepared in a mixing bowl for cinnamon coffee cake
Cinnamon Coffee Cake Batter

Starbucks Coffee Cake Assembly: 

Pour half of the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly using an offset spatula. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the batter.

Carefully spoon the remaining batter over the cinnamon sugar layer. Gently spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the top of the cake.

Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Starbucks Coffee Cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar
Eggless Starbucks Coffee Cake with icing

Frequently Asked Questions About Starbucks Coffee Cake

Eggless Starbucks Coffee Cake sliced on a plate

Watch This Video for Strawberry and Cream Cake

Did you make this Starbucks Copycat Cinnamon Cake?

Snap a photo, share your masterpiece and tag me @pastrybysaloni  , I’d love to see your stunning bakes.

If this recipe has you craving more, you’re in for a treat! My collection of irresistible vegan desserts has everything from rich, chocolatey delights to perfectly fluffy pastries.

Here are three must-try favorites:

And finally… grab a copy of my cookbook Vegan Baking Made Simple – this is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about baking traditional recipes without dairy or eggs! Available on Amazon HERE

Eggless coffee cake with cinnamon sugar filling
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Eggless Starbucks Coffee Cake

This Eggless Starbucks Coffee Cake features a soft vanilla cake layered with cinnamon sugar and topped with a buttery crumble. Easy to make, bakery-style, and can be made dairy-free too.
Author: Saloni Mehta
Rate
Yield: 9 servings
Prep: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 40 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

Crumble Topping

  • 65 g All Purpose Flour
  • 75 g Light Brown Sugar or castor sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon Powder
  • 1/8 tsp Salt
  • 35 g Butter melted; see notes for options

Cinnamon Sugar Layer

  • 85 g Light Brown Sugar
  • 1+1/2 tsp Cinnamon Powder

Vanilla Cake

  • 240 ml Milk at room temp; see notes for options
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice or white vinegar
  • 180 g Castor Sugar or cane sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 280 g All Purpose Flour
  • 8 g Corn Starch
  • 1+1/2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 110 g Butter melted; see notes for options

Vanilla Icing (optional)

  • 120 g Powdered Sugar or icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp Milk of your choice

Instructions

For the Crumble Topping

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and mix with a fork until large crumbs form.
  • Place the bowl in the refrigerator if its too warm while you prepare the cake batter.

For the Cinnamon Sugar Layer

  • In a small bowl, combine the light brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

For the Vanilla Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line an 8x8-inch (20x20 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk and lemon juice (or vinegar). Stir and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until slightly curdled, creating a homemade buttermilk.
  • Add the sugar and vanilla extract and whisk until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently whisk until just combined. Pour in the melted butter and mix until you have a smooth, lump-free batter. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in a dense cake.

Cake Assembly before Baking

  • Pour half of the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly using an offset spatula. Sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the batter.
  • Carefully spoon the remaining batter over the cinnamon sugar layer. Gently spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle all of the crumble topping evenly over the top of the cake.
  • Bake for 35 - 40 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20–30 minutes before lifting it out using the parchment paper overhang.
  • Prepare the (optional) vanilla icing by combining powdered sugar and milk in a bowl and stir until smooth. Pour the icing all of the cake and let it set.
  • Slice into squares and serve slightly warm or at room temperature with a cup of coffee, chai, or tea.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Cup vs weighing scale: The US customary cup measurement serves as a rough estimate, as it can have uncertainties, so for precise results, it's recommended to weigh your ingredients using a digital scale in grams. 
  • Before you start to make any recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the process will go smoothly and easily.
  • For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with for accuracy.
  • Milk: You can use any dairy-free unsweetened milk (like almond, soy, oat) or dairy based whole milk.
  • Butter: Dairy-free salted butter sticks or any salted butter of your choice. For dairy-free: Use vegan butter sticks like Miyoko’s, Earth Balance, or Country Crock Plant Butter.
  • Sugar: Cane sugar can be substituted with granulated sugar or castor sugar. Ensure the sugar is vegan-friendly (some sugars are processed with bone char) or organic cane sugar.
Saloni Mehta Pastry Chef and Food Blogger

Meet Saloni

I’m a former pastry chef with a love for breads, cakes and everything in between! My recipes are easy to follow, egg free and are designed to be shared with others!

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