1-First Step: Prepare Your Ingredients and Equipment Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing an 8×8 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray. Measure out all the ingredients as listed to make the process smoother. This mise en place helps avoid any last-minute rushes and ensures everything is at the right temperature.

2-Second Step: Make the Cinnamon Crumb Mixture In a medium bowl, combine 2/3 cup packed brown sugar, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, and 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Add 6 tablespoons of cold, cubed unsalted butter and use a fork or your fingers to mix until it forms coarse crumbs. Set this aside so it’s ready for layering later, which takes about 5 minutes.

3-Third Step: Mix the Cake Batter In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. In another bowl, beat 1/2 cup room-temperature unsalted butter and 3/4 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add 2 large eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract.

4-Fourth Step: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients Alternately add the dry ingredients mixture to the butter mix with 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream and 2 tablespoons milk. Start with half the dry mix, then add the sour cream, followed by the rest of the dry ingredients and milk. Mix on low speed until just combined, which should take about 1 minute to keep the batter airy.

5-Fifth Step: Assemble the Cake Pour half of the batter into your prepared pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the cinnamon crumb mixture over the top, then add the remaining batter and smooth it out. This layering creates that signature coffee cake texture, and it only takes a couple of minutes to do.

6-Sixth Step: Bake the Cake Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Keep an eye on it after 30 minutes to avoid over-browning. Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before adding any icing.

7-Final Step: Add the Vanilla Icing and Serve If you want to top it off, whisk together 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake and let it set for 5 minutes. Slice and serve warm, perhaps with a cup of coffee for more inspiration on simple recipes, see our potato leek soup that pairs well for a full meal.