Old fashioned cherry coffee cake with fresh cherries, or you can use frozen sweet cherries! Cinnamon cherry coffee cake with crumb topping is the best brunch treat! And if you like this recipe for a cherry coffee cake, you’ll love my Cherry Crumb Pie, my Peach Cherry Galette, and my Amarena Cherry Chocolate Sauce!
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Old Fashioned Cherry Coffee Cake Recipe
I love coffee cakes -- my blueberry cream cheese coffee cake is one of my favorite recipes that I've shared! And this cinnamon cherry coffee cake is right up there too! It's got that same moist sour cream cake and crumb topping, but with a homemade cherry pie filling baked right into the cake! Plus sliced almonds on top to complement the cherry flavor perfectly! So if you love cherries and crumble topping the way I do, this is the cake for you!
What is the difference between cake and coffee cake?
A coffee cake is a single layer cake that is baked in either a round or square pan and topped with a streusel or crumb topping. Coffee cake is not topped with a frosting or glaze, but some coffee cakes have an icing drizzle on top of their crumb toppings, like my Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake!
Cinnamon Cherry Coffee Cake Filling
We'll be making the homemade cherry filling for this cherry coffee cake with fresh cherries, or frozen cherries! And if you've had my cherry crumb pie, it's the same cherry filling recipe! I love making my own cherry pie filling because I can use sweet cherries, which are so abundant in markets during the summer, or frozen sweet cherries, which are so easy to bake with and even easier to find!
If you want to save time, you can make this recipe with canned cherry pie filling, but I definitely recommend making your own! It only takes a saucepan and a few minutes, and it makes such a huge difference!
Ingredients
To make the quick cherry filling for this old fashioned cherry coffee cake, you'll need:
- sweet cherries - you can use fresh Bing, Rainier, or other sweet cherries for this recipe. You may need a cherry pitter if you use fresh cherries. I typically like to save time and use frozen dark sweet cherries, which you can find in the frozen section of most supermarkets.
- sugar - we'll add a bit of sugar to enhance our sweet cherries! Not too much though, so that the overall sweetness is balanced.
- lemon juice - adds a nice tartness to balance out the sweetness of the cherries.
- cornstarch - we'll use cornstarch to thicken up the filling and give it the perfect consistency.
- almond extract - a touch of almond extract balances our cherry pie filling perfectly!
- ground cinnamon - this is optional, but I love the warmth of a bit of spice in this cherry filling.
- water - if you use fresh cherries, you may need to add a splash of water to help dissolve the sugar and cornstarch.
And for the base cake layer, you'll need:
- brown sugar & granulated sugar - this blend of brown sugar and white sugar provides the perfect warm sweetness that our cake layer needs.
- unsalted butter - softened to room temperature -- it should be soft, but still cool to the touch.
- eggs - your eggs should also be room temperature.
- pure vanilla extract - be sure to use a high-quality pure vanilla extract. Or better yet, check out my post on how to make vanilla extract at home with just 2 ingredients!
- almond extract - the nuttiness of almond extract complements the vanilla extract so well!
- vegetable oil - just a bit of canola oil (or the vegetable oil of your choice) makes this cherry coffee cake so moist and delicious!
- sour cream - I love how sour cream makes this cake so tender and moist! Make sure your sour cream is also room temperature.
- all-purpose flour - be sure to use a kitchen scale to measure by weight, or use the spoon-and-level method to measure by volume.
- baking powder & baking soda - to make sure that we get a nice lift to this cherry coffee cake.
- salt - brings out all these delicious flavors!
Finally, we'll make an easy crumb topping to make this recipe for a cherry coffee cake incredible! So here's what you'll need:
- brown sugar and granulated sugar - adds a nice sweetness!
- all-purpose flour - flour helps to create the structure of this crumb topping for our cake!
- salt - a bit of salt helps to balance out the sugar in our crumb topping.
- unsalted butter - your butter for the crumble topping should be cold and cut into cubes.
- sliced almonds - I love the almonds in this topping! They get all toasty while your cake is baking, and add a delicious nutty crunch!
- powdered sugar - this is optional, but I like a dusting of powdered sugar for a finishing touch!
Equipment
I made this coffee cake in a 9-inch springform pan -- here's the one I use! You can also use a 9-inch square baking pan -- just make sure that you use one with deep sides. Or you can also use a 10-inch springform pan, but the baking time will be a bit shorter. Here are some other tools I recommend:
Tips and F.A.Q.
For eggs, just submerge them in a bowl of lukewarm water for about 15 minutes.
For sour cream, just place it in a microwave-safe mug and heat for 5 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Keep going until your buttermilk is room temperature.
And for butter, heat your butter, wrapped, on a microwave-safe plate for 20 seconds, rotating each every 4 seconds.
Contrary to what the name might suggest, coffee cake generally doesn't contain any coffee or coffee flavor. It gets its name because it's meant to be enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea. And that's why this cake is so perfect for a summertime brunch or a morning snack!
Yes you can! Although I do prefer the flavor of the homemade version, and it's SO easy to make yourself especially with frozen cherries! But this recipe for a cherry coffee cake is still delicious and even easier with canned cherry pie filling! You can even swap out the cherry filling for blueberry, apple, or strawberry pie filling for a fun coffee cake variation!
Your cherry coffee cake could end up dry if you over-measure your flour -- be sure to measure it by weight with a kitchen scale or use the spoon-and-level method. Another reason for dry cake could be that it's been baked for too long.
Usually, no -- typical coffee cake is has butter, vanilla, and cinnamon flavors, as well as any fruit toppings or fillings.
If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a star review rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
More Cake Recipes You'll Love
- Marble Loaf Cake
- Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Honey-Lemon Glaze
- Rosemary Olive Oil Cake with Orange
- Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake
- Vegan Coconut Cake
📖 Recipe
Equipment you may need
Ingredients
Cherry Filling
- 3 cups (414 g) dark sweet cherries - fresh or frozen, pitted
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon (30 ml) fresh lemon juice - from about ½ medium lemon
- 3 tablespoon (44 ml) cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon (2 ml) almond extract
- ⅛ teaspoon (1 ml) ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup (59 g) water - if using fresh cherries
Almond Streusel Topping
- ⅔ cup (147 g) light brown sugar - packed
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) salt
- ½ cup (114 g) unsalted butter - cold; cut into cubes
- ½ cup (118 g) sliced almonds
Sour Cream Cake
- baking spray
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (114 g) unsalted butter - room temperature
- 3 large eggs - room temperature
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon (2 ml) almond extract
- 3 tablespoon (44 ml) vegetable oil - I used canola
- ¾ cup (173 g) sour cream - room temperature
- 2 cup (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (2 ml) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (2 ml) salt
- powdered sugar - optional
Instructions
- To make cherry filling, combine all filling ingredients in a medium saucepan and heat over medium-high heat.3 cups dark sweet cherries, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 3 tablespoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon almond extract, ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ cup water
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
- To make the crumb topping, combine cold butter, sugars, flour, and salt in a bowl.⅔ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 cup all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ cup unsalted butter
- Blend with a fork, pastry cutter, or your hands until the mixture resembles large crumbs. Mix in sliced almonds. Set aside in refrigerator to chill.½ cup sliced almonds
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan or 9×9 square baking pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper. If using a square pan, leave an overhang to allow for easy removal of the cake.baking spray
- In a stand mixer or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream butter and sugars until fluffy.¼ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup light brown sugar, ½ cup unsalted butter
- Mix in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla and almond extracts.3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Mix in vegetable oil, followed by sour cream.3 tablespoon vegetable oil, ¾ cup sour cream
- Sift in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and fold in until just combined.2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Scrape ⅓ of batter into prepared pan and set aside.
- Spread cooled cherry filling evenly onto the center of the batter in the pan, leaving an inch border around the edges.
- Top with remaining cake batter and spread to evenly cover cherry filling. Sprinkle crumb topping on top.
- Bake cake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick entered into the center of the cake comes out clean and crumbs on top are golden brown. Allow to cool in pan for about 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If desired, dust powdered sugar over cooled cake before serving.powdered sugar
Video
Notes
For sour cream, just place it in a microwave-safe mug and heat for 5 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Keep going until your sour cream is room temperature.
And for butter, heat your butter, wrapped, on a microwave-safe plate for 20 seconds, rotating each every 4 seconds.
Nutrition
PIN this cherry coffee cake recipe for later!
Last Updated on September 20, 2022 by Chenée Lewis
Jill G.
Made this yesterday. It was delicious! Will definitely be making again. Thanks for the recipe!
Chenée Lewis
Wonderful! So glad you liked it!
Jess
This was very good - moist, flavorful, and pretty with that stripe in a tall slice. It was also well recieved for those same reasons at a work thing it was made for. And appreciated by a couple folks whom noted it's not a common for cherries to be used in a coffee cake ... so nice change up from apple, plain, blueberry or a banana bread being provided. I used fresh cherries, but had pitted/chopped and frozen them the week before as they were running out of time.
Chenée Lewis
Thank you so much! I agree that cherries are a pretty unique filling for coffee cake so it's awesome that your coworkers appreciated it!
Beth
Such a moist crumb to this delicious cherry cake. Perfect with a cup of coffee.
Chenée Lewis
I'm so glad you liked it! 🙂
Ned
You had me in coffee cake and kept me with cherry! SO YUMMY! Thank you so much!
Chenée Lewis
Thank you!!
Dana
Cherry makes *everything* better, and coffee cake is no exception. This was amazing!
Chenée Lewis
It sure does! So glad you like it!
Katherine
I love the cherry/cinnamon/almond flavors in this moist coffee cake!
Chenée Lewis
So happy to hear that you like it!
Kushigalu
This coffee cake looks amazingly delicious. Thanks for the great recipe.
Tiff
This didn’t work at all. I made the recipe exactly as written so I’m judging it based on that. Way too much crumb for one thing, I paused when I was pouring it on top but I decided to trust the recipe and use it all. Do not do this lol the inside didn’t fully cook through, even though I used a slightly larger springform than was recommended, and I left it in much longer than recommended. It’s still goop in the center. And the outside is very dry. It’s a 0 star for me, not recommended.
Chenée Lewis
Sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy it!
Jenny
Hi! How long will the cherry filling keep in the fridge? If I make it today, let's say, until when will I be able to use it as a filling?
Chenée Lewis
I'd say up to 2 days in the fridge 😊
Lily
Absolutely loved this recipe! Made it as a birthday breakfast treat. The cherry flavor is excellent, but you could fill this with any filling and it would be delicious. The base cake is so buttery and perfect!! There is A LOT of crumb topping, which is wonderful, but may make about 2/3 of it next time, love that it tastes like shortbread and gives a nice crunch. Will definitely make again and again.
Chenée Lewis
So glad you like it! Good point about the crumb topping haha -- I just like a lot of it 😀
Robyne
Wow! The crumb topping was, literally, the icing on the cake (so to speak!) It gave the cake an added crunch, perfect counterpoint to the moist cake and to-die-for cherry filling. I'm going to make this again with blueberries. Then again with apples!
Chenée Lewis
So glad you liked it! 🙂
Kim Kowalski
Exceptional recipe! The cake is a perfect texture. The crumb is gloriously crunchy and the cherry filling is so delicious. Exactly what I was looking for.
🤩 wow!!!
Chenée Lewis
So glad you liked it! Thanks!
Britney Brown
You completely elevated the traditional coffee cake by adding cherries. This made this coffee cake SO good, we couldn't get enough!
Chenée Lewis
Thank you so much!
Jazz
I'm so glad I was able to make this before cherry season ends. So easy to create and utterly delicious!
Chenée Lewis
Thank you so much! Cherry season is the best!
Jen Sim
Cherry and coffee cake! What a wonderful combination. I’ve never had anything like it before but is definitely up there with my favourites now. I can’t wait to make it again.
Chenée Lewis
Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you liked it!
Lilly
I love the cherry pie filling in the middle! It tastes this coffee cake to a new level!
Chenée Lewis
It's such a delicious burst of fruit! So glad you like the cake!
Crystal
Never thought to add fruit to coffee cake and this was an amazing addition! I used cherry pie filling, but will make the filling from scratch in the future
Chenée Lewis
Definitely try it out! The homemade filling is really good but I like this cake both ways!
Robin
Even though it's a favorite, I hadn't had coffee cake in years. With the unique addition of scrumptious cherries, I am going to be making this cake well into the holiday season.
Chenée Lewis
So glad you liked it! Thank you!
Marta
The chew and crumb on this cake was amazing. The cherry filling was perfect.
Chenée Lewis
Wonderful! I'm glad you liked it!