Name: Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon allspice; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves; 1 cup pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling; 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted; 1/2 cup Greek yogurt; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cold; 1/3 cup light brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

There’s something so comforting about the warm spices and tender crumb of this Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe. It’s a perfect treat to cozy up with on a crisp morning or whenever you want a little fall magic in your day.

Two thick square slices of crumb cake are stacked on a white plate, placed on a white marbled surface. Each slice shows two layers: a dense, moist bottom layer with a rich orange-brown color and a lighter, textured crumbly top layer that is slightly uneven and golden brown. Crumbs are scattered around the plate, adding to the rustic look. In the background, there is a blurred glimpse of a baking pan and a leafy green view outside a window. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made this pumpkin coffee cake more times than I can count because it hits all the right notes—moist, flavorful, and topped with the best cinnamon streusel. It’s the kind of cake that feels like a warm hug in dessert form.

Perfect Fall Flavor: The blend of cozy spices with pumpkin puree creates a fragrant, delicious bite every time.
Moist & Tender Texture: Thanks to Greek yogurt and melted butter, this coffee cake stays soft without being greasy.
Easy Streusel Topping: A crumbly, buttery streusel adds just the right crunch and sweetness on top.
Simple to Make: No fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients—just straightforward, reliable steps.

The image shows a close-up of a single square piece of coffee cake being lifted out of a metal baking pan. The cake has two main layers: the bottom layer is a smooth, dense, light brown base, while the top layer is a thicker, more crumbly, golden-brown streusel topping with a rough texture. The crumb topping looks slightly crunchy and coarse, contrasting with the moist and spongy bottom part. The background is softly blurred, showing a white marbled surface beneath the pan. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this recipe plays a part in giving the Pumpkin Coffee Cake its unique charm. From the warm spices to the Greek yogurt that keeps it extra moist, here’s why these components work so well together—and some tips for picking the best quality ones.

Flat lay of rich orange pumpkin puree, warm golden light brown sugar, creamy white Greek yogurt, soft cubes of pale butter, a heap of fine all-purpose flour, vibrant ground cinnamon, deep brown nutmeg, and earthy ground ginger, all beautifully arranged on a white marble surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

All-purpose flour: Provides structure without being too heavy, perfect for tender cakes.
Baking soda & baking powder: Work together to give the cake a light, airy rise.
Salt: Enhances all the spices and balances sweetness.
Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves: This blend delivers that unmistakable fall flavor; fresh spices always make a bigger difference.
Pumpkin puree: Adds moisture and that classic pumpkin taste without overpowering the cake.
Light brown sugar: Adds a deeper molasses note and keeps the cake tender.
Granulated sugar: Balances the sweetness and contributes to that lovely crumb.
Butter (melted): Brings richness and helps the cake stay moist for days.
Greek yogurt: My secret weapon for moisture and slight tang that brightens the flavor without making it heavy.
For the streusel topping ingredients: Flour, cold butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon combine to create a crisp, crumbly topping that’s the perfect textural contrast.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This recipe is super forgiving, which means you can tweak it to suit your tastes or dietary needs without losing the magic. I love switching up the spices or adding nuts for texture, but feel free to put your own spin on it.

Variation: Adding chopped walnuts or pecans to the streusel topping gives a wonderful crunch that I can’t resist—try it and see if it doesn’t become your go-to too!
Dairy-Free Option: Substitute coconut yogurt and vegan butter to make it friendly for sensitive tummies without sacrificing flavor.
Less Sweet: If you prefer less sugar, you can reduce the granulated sugar in the batter by a couple tablespoons—it still turns out great.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing a 9x9-inch pan well with butter or nonstick spray. I like using butter here because it adds a little flavor to the edges that no spray can beat. Set the pan aside while you mix your ingredients.

Step 2: Combine Your Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all your dry ingredients—the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and all those lovely spices. Whisking them first ensures an even distribution so every bite is perfectly spiced.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, both sugars, melted butter, and Greek yogurt until smooth. The melted butter should be warm, but not hot, or it might cook the yogurt or eggs if you add any.

Step 4: Bring it Together

Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and gently fold until just combined. Don’t overmix here—you want to keep the batter light for a tender crumb.

Step 5: Prepare and Add the Streusel Topping

For the streusel, stir together flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Then, cube the cold butter and cut it into the mixture using a pastry blender or your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs—this step is where you get that perfect crumbly topping.

Step 6: Bake It Up

Pour the batter into your prepared pan, evenly sprinkle the streusel over the top, and bake for 30-35 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean with just a few moist crumbs clinging.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cake cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing—this helps the flavors settle. It’s delicious warm with a cup of coffee or at room temperature for an easy grab-and-go snack.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few little tricks to ensure this Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe turns out perfectly every time. These tips are what helped me when I first tried to bake it and still guide me now for perfect results.

Keep Butter Cold for Streusel: Cold butter means the topping bakes into crunchy, delightful crumbs rather than melting into the cake.
Don’t Overmix Batter: I remind myself this every single time—overmixing can make the cake dense and tough.
Check Your Oven Temperature: An oven thermometer helped me avoid overbaking and drying out the cake.
Use Fresh Spices: Since spices are such a star in this recipe, fresh cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves really elevate the flavor.

How to Serve Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe

Pumpkin Coffee Cake - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of warm maple glaze. If I’m feeling extra festive, a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream turns it into an indulgent dessert.

Side Dishes

This cake pairs wonderfully with a hot mug of chai tea or coffee. If serving for brunch, I love offering fresh fruit or a savory quiche on the side to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

One of my favorite presentations is serving the cake in rustic slices on a wooden board, surrounded by mini pumpkins and cinnamon sticks for a festive touch at fall gatherings—it’s both pretty and inviting.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover cake tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It stays fresh for about 2 days, though I have to confess, it rarely lasts that long in my house.

Freezing

This cake freezes beautifully—just wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. They thaw quickly and still taste just like freshly baked.

Reheating

For best results, I warm slices in the microwave for about 15 seconds or pop them in a toaster oven. This brings back that fresh-baked warmth and revives the crumb and streusel topping nicely.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use canned pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?

It’s best to use pure pumpkin puree because canned pumpkin pie filling contains added sugars and spices, which can throw off the balance of flavor and sweetness in the cake. Pure pumpkin puree lets you control the spices yourself.

How do I know when the pumpkin coffee cake is done baking?

The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs attached. Don’t wait for the toothpick to come out completely clean, or the cake might dry out.

Can this pumpkin coffee cake be made dairy-free?

Absolutely! Swap the Greek yogurt with a non-dairy alternative like coconut yogurt and use a vegan butter substitute in place of regular butter. The texture might be slightly different but still delicious.

What’s the best way to store leftover pumpkin coffee cake?

Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freezes slices individually wrapped and thaw before serving.

Final Thoughts

This Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe is truly a little slice of cozy heaven that I love making on chilly mornings or when guests come over. It’s easy enough for weeknights but special enough to impress. Trust me, once you try it, it’ll become a favorite in your kitchen too—just like it did in mine.