Christmas Coffee Cake

Christmas Coffee Cake with walnut cinnamon swirl

Christmas Coffee Cake is a rich, old-fashioned sour cream coffee cake with a sweet walnut-cinnamon sugar swirl layered throughout. It’s moist, tender, and perfect for holiday mornings, brunch, or dessert.

Serve it warm or at room temperature — optionally dusted with powdered sugar.

🎄 Festive Christmas Coffee Cake

A rich, incredibly moist sour cream cake featuring a fragrant cinnamon, sugar, and crushed walnut ribbon swirled right through the center and over the top.

⏱️ Bake Time: ~1 hour 🍽️ Yield: 12–15 Servings 🍳 Pan: Tube Pan (Chiffon or Angel Food)

Ingredients

The Cake Batter:

  • 2 sticks margarine (very soft) or butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ pint (1 cup) sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

The Cinnamon-Walnut Swirl:

  • ½ cup walnuts (crushed)
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Baking Instructions

🌡️ Oven Temp: 350°F

  1. Cream Base: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a tube pan thoroughly. In a large bowl, beat the very soft margarine or butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue to beat well.
  2. Build the Wet Mix: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Blend in the vanilla extract and sour cream until smooth.
  3. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Combine 1 cup of the flour with ½ teaspoon of baking powder and stir it into the batter until well mixed. Repeat the process with the remaining 1 cup of flour and ½ teaspoon of baking powder.
  4. Prepare the Swirl: In a separate small bowl, toss together the crushed walnuts, 4 tablespoons of sugar, and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.
  5. Layer and Bake: Spoon half of your cake batter into the prepared tube pan. Evenly sprinkle half of the walnut-cinnamon mixture over it. Layer the remaining batter over the top, and finish by dusting the rest of the walnut-cinnamon mixture over the surface.
  6. Cool & Serve: Bake for about 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let the cake cool completely inside the pan before slicing.

Christmas Coffee Cake FAQ

Do I have to use margarine?

The original recipe calls for margarine, but butter can be substituted for a richer flavor. Make sure it is very soft for easy mixing.

What pan should I use?

A tube pan (chiffon cake pan or angel food pan) works best for even baking and a nice shape.

How do I know when it’s done?

The cake is done when the top is golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

How should I store this coffee cake?

Store covered at room temperature for up to 4 days, or wrap slices tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.

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