The best Vegan Coffee Cake ever, and it’s SO easy to make! Perfect for holiday celebrations or weekend breakfasts.
Along with my 1 Hour Vegan Cinnamon Rolls and Vegan French Toast Casserole, this Vegan Coffee Cake should be at the top of your list to make for holiday mornings!
It’s such an easy recipe with no fuss at all! It’s moist, fluffy and full of cinnamon streusel goodness.
How to make vegan coffee cake
The full recipe is at the bottom of the post, but let me show you how easy it is.
- Make the coffee cake batter, and pour half into a lightly greased cake pan. It doesn’t have to be exactly half, just estimate half.
- Make the streusel (it’s just combining cinnamon and brown sugar). Sprinkle half of it on the batter, then pour the rest of the cake batter on top. It won’t cover the streusel completely, and that’s okay.
- Sprinkle the rest of the streusel on top.
- Drizzle 2 tablespoons of melted vegan butter on top of the streusel, then bake for 40-45 minutes.
That’s it! The vegan butter may still look wet, but it will get crunchy with the brown sugar/cinnamon in just a couple of minutes of cooling. Serve warm with a cup of coffee!
Special Tips & Substitutions
- This recipe makes a lot (about 16 servings) so if you don’t want that much, cut the ingredients in half and make it in an 8 x 8 inch pan.
- Oil free option: Replace the oil with applesauce in the cake, and leave out the vegan butter drizzle.
- Whole grain: Use white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour instead of white flour.
- Gluten free: Use a quality gluten free all purpose flour blend.
Want more vegan holiday breakfast ideas?
- 1 Hour Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
- Vegan Caramel Monkey Bread
- Vegan Blueberry Scones
- Easy Vegan Quiche
- Vegan French Toast Casserole
- Cinnamon Sugar Vegan Donuts
- Best Ever Vegan Waffles
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Vegan Coffee Cake
The best Vegan Coffee Cake ever, and it’s SO easy to make! Perfect for holiday celebrations or weekend breakfasts.
Ingredients
Coffee Cake
- 1 1/4 cups unsweetened soy milk
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup canola oil OR melted coconut or avocado oil
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Cinnamon Streusel
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
For drizzling on top
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch cake pan.
- Combine the non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar. Stir a little, then set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar with a large spoon until well combined.
- To the bowl with the dry ingredients, pour in the milk/vinegar mixture, oil, applesauce and vanilla. Stir until combined. Pour half of the batter into the prepared cake pan.
- Make the Cinnamon Streusel: In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together.
- Sprinkle half of the cinnamon streusel over the batter in the pan, then pour the rest of the cake batter on top. Sprinkle with the rest of the streusel.
- Drizzle with melted vegan butter.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. The vegan butter may still look wet in places, but it will harden as it cools and add a nice crunch to the cake.
- Serve with a cup of coffee, if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- May substitute a different milk such as coconut, almond, cashew or oat milk.
- This recipe makes enough for a crowd, so feel free to cut the ingredients in half and make it in a 8 x 8 inch pan if you'd like.
- Oil free: I don't think it tastes great with no oil at all, but if you must you could use all applesauce in place of the oil, and leave out the vegan butter drizzle on top.
- Gluten free: I haven't tried it, but I think a quality gluten free all purpose flour should work quite well. Simply subbing almond or coconut flour will not work.
Nutrition
Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 157mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @nora_cooks_vegan_ or tag #noracooks!
can I use maple syrup in stead of white sugar ?
I’ve never tried it, but you would be adding liquid so that will probably mess up the recipe. You may have to adjust elsewhere, and then it’s kind of a different recipe so I’m not quite sure.
Hi! We love this recipe, thank you! Can I prepare the batter up to baking, but refrigerate it over night instead, and then bake it Christmas morning?
I’m quite sure that it will work okay to do this, I’ve just never tried it myself. Enjoy!
Best thing I’ve put in my mouth hole this week.
Sooooo fluffy and soft.
I forgot the oil…didn’t even notice it until reading the reviews. Made my own applesauce by putting a fresh apple in the vitamix with a splash of the milk, used oatmilk, doubled the vanilla, reduced the topping by half and added Fresh blueberries and it is DIVINE. It is fluffy and moist very delish. It is a wonderful recipe that lends itself well to personal interpretation. A keeper!
how long is it good for? ok to make a day or 2 ahead?
It will taste BEST the day you make it, or the next day. After that, it starts to dry out but it still is pretty good for up to 4 days, especially if stored in the refrigerator/covered.
Hiya,
This looks delicious!! I don’t have any applesauce on hand 🙁 Is there a good substitute I could use please?
You could use 2 flax eggs if you have that (2 tbs ground flax mixed with 5 tbs water), or plant based yogurt. You might be able to use more oil, but that could make the cake too heavy.
I’ve made this several times and it’s a big hit! Thank you!
You are welcome, Annie! I’m thrilled you love the cake! Thanks for your wonderful review!
can you use vegan butter in place of the oil?
That should work well, yes.
I completely missed the oil…didn’t even see it until I saw your comment and it worked wonderfully.
I made this gluten free with Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Gluten-Free Baking Flour in the red bag. It came out delicious! My husband says it’s some of the best coffee cake he’s ever had! I added walnuts to the top for extra texture. I will definitely make again!
This is the easiest, most delicious streusel recipe. Can’t wait to wake up and have this for breakfast, thanks Nora!!😋 ☺
Hi Patricia. Sounds like a delicious breakfast to me! I am absolutely thrilled that you love it! Thank you for your stellar review! Enjoy that breakfast!
This looks amazing, I can’t wait to try it! Do you know if it would freeze well?
Thank you!
Yes, this cake freezes well! Thank you, and happy cooking!
Really lovely, light cake! Made it for a spring brunch party and everyone loved it. I have a sweet tooth, but the cinnamon sugar seemed way too much so I ended up sprinkling only 1/4 the quantity mentioned in the recipe and the cake still maintained the sweetness. Vegan butter drizzle is a great idea. Loved the crust!
Thanks for your feedback, Prerana. I’m so glad you loved the cake!
Ha! It’s Saturday morning and I was looking for a vegan coffee cake recipe, I am going to add some coconut flake, your recipes are always awesome!
Thank you so much for your kind words and great review! Enjoy the coffee cake on this lovely Saturday morning!
Hi Nora!! I’m wondering if I can sub the applesauce for something? I only have sweetened cinnamon applesauce!
Honestly that should be fine to use! You could substitute vegan yogurt if you have it.