Love eggnog? This Christmas Coffee Cake is like a warm holiday hug! Soft, spiced Eggnog Coffee Cake with buttery streusel and eggnog glaze—it’s perfect for Christmas brunch or a cozy morning treat. Prep it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning! Keep reading for tips, tricks, and my secret tweaks to make it extra moist and tender.
Is eggnog your jam? Got leftover eggnog? I’m right there with you—I love eggnog! Whether I’m drinking it straight up, frothing it into a latte or baking it into something delicious, it’s a holiday must have in my kitchen. But even if you’re not the biggest eggnog fan and you’re just here looking for a way to use up that carton in your fridge, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered.
This Eggnog Coffee Cake is my go-to recipe every holiday season and it’s always a winner. The eggnog flavor is subtle in the soft, tender cake thanks to a few of my tricks: a little extra eggnog, creamy Greek yogurt (or sour cream, cause we all need options!), and, of course, not overbaking it. These are the secrets that make all the difference giving the cake that melt in your mouth texture that keeps everyone coming back for seconds (and thirds).
Why You Will Love this recipe
- Minutes to whip up! Plus you can prepare the batter the night before, making it the perfect Christmas morning coffee cake!
- Use up that leftover eggnog and surprise your family with this delicious and moist cake.
Eggnog Coffee Cake Ingredients
- Butter: Use real cream butter, my mantra is “it’s not real butter if it is soft out of the fridge.”
- Sugar: White or all natural cane sugar here, I always bake with cane sugar.
- Eggs: I always use large, room temperature eggs in my baking.
- Eggnog: I prefer full-fat eggnog, but lower-fat versions will work fine, as well as plant-based eggnog such as Silk Soy Nog.
- Greek Yogurt: You can also replace this with sour cream, regardless what I’m using I use full-fat, but less percentages may be used.
- Leavening: We will use baking powder, baking soda, and a little salt in this recipe, reducing the amounts for high altitude recipes.
- Flour: Use a good unbleached, all-purpose flour, I like this organic flour.
- Vanilla Extract: Use vanilla extract, bourbon vanilla extract or rum extract.
- Nutmeg: Try fresh grated nutmeg (love this Microplane)
- Streusel Topping Ingredients: You will make a quick streusel topping with a little butter, flour, brown sugar cinnamon and nutmeg.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
Recommended Equipment
- Baking Pan | Determine which kind of pan you want to use; both work great! 9×13 or a 10-cup or larger bundt pan, this Nordicware Anniversary Pan is my newest favorite.
- Baking Spray | For my bundt pans, I have found that a baking spray with flour works the best for the cleanest release, but recently found this one and want to try it since it’s non-gmo and gluten-free for my gluten-free baking needs.
- Hand or Stand Mixer | This cake is easily made using either type of mixer, I have an older version of this Cuisinart Hand Mixer.
- Good Batter Bowl, sturdy spatula and measuring cups.
Christmas Coffee Cake Instructions
Decide which type of pan you will use. I tested this in a 9×13 inch pan and a 10 cup bundt pan and it worked fabulous! Be sure to spray your pan well with a flour based baking spray, or butter it well, then dust with a little flour.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175° C) (375° F (190° C) for high altitude).
Step 1 | Make up the Brown Sugar Streusel Topping
In a small mixing bowl or baggie, using your hands or a fork, combine brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg (and nuts if using) until mixture is combined and sticks together when squeezed. Set aside.
Step 2 | Making Eggnog Coffee Cake
In a large batter bowl or stand mixer cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy and well combined.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low for 1 minute after each addition. Scrape sides of bowl.
Whisk together eggnog, Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
Measure out the eggnog in a 2 cup measuring cup (remember you only need one cup though), you will have room to mix in the Greek yogurt and vanilla, saving a dish!
In a 4 cup or larger bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg until combined.
Alternately add a ½ cup at a time of the flour mixture and the eggnog mixture, beating well after each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then mix on medium speed for 1 minute.
Spread the mixture evenly into prepared pan, then top with streusel topping*.
Bundt Pan Prep | Two Ways
- Streusel on Top | Fill the bundt pan with all of the batter, then sprinkle streusel topping on top, pressing gently into the batter.
- Streusel Center | Spread a little more than ½ the batter into the prepared bundt pan, then sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the batter, spreading the remaining batter on top.
Step 3 | Baking the Eggnog Cake Recipe
Bake on center rack of oven.
- 9×13 inch pan | bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs is fine).
- Bundt Pan | bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove from oven, cool 10 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack to cool further.
Step 4 | Making Eggnog Glaze
Allow the coffee cake to cool for 10-20 minutes, then make the easy eggnog glaze to go on top.
In a small bowl stir together eggnog and powdered sugar along with ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg; add eggnog a little at a time, until desired consistency. Drizzle on top of cake. I suggest doubling the glaze if drizzling over a bundt cake as you have more “real estate” to cover so to speak.
Overnight Coffee Cake Instructions
If making the night before, assemble the cake through the streusel topping and store covered in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature while preheating the oven. Bake as directed.
*Streusel topping may be put on the night before, or the morning of, I have not found that it makes much difference.
Christmas Coffee Cake High Altitude Adjustments
This recipe is pretty forgiving when it comes to high altitude, but I have a few adjustments for you.
- Increase unbleached all-purpose flour by ¼ cup.
- Reduce granulated sugar to ¾ cup
- Reduce baking powder to 1 teaspoon
- Batter should be thick, but if too dry then add a little extra whole milk, eggnog, do not overmix. I used an extra tablespoon.
- Increase baking temperature to 375°F and start checking for doneness at 30 minutes (9×13 and 45 for Bundt), covering if needed if browning too quickly.
Variations & Substitutions
- No eggnog? No worries, you can substitute 1:1 with milk, buttermilk or cream in baking recipes, but add a little extra nutmeg and vanilla. substitute eggnog in cake mix
- For a dairy free, lactose free version, substitute eggnog with a plant based eggnog and replace butter with your favorite plant based butter, or coconut oil.
- Love nuts? I love nuts on my eggnog coffee cake, but my son has a tree-nut allergy, so I leave them off; stir in ½ cup of chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds to the streusel topping for this Christmas coffee cake.
- Gluten-Free Eggnog Coffee Cake | I have had great luck swapping out the regular flour with my favorite Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour, let me know if you try it!
- Make it a Cranberry Eggnog Coffee Cake | Add up to 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries folding into the batter at the very end, before the streusel.
Fresh Tips
- Do not over bake this cake, it’s light, with a heavy, tender crumb, a bit like this Cranberry Christmas Cake that is so good, almost pound cake like!
- The batter is thick, not really pourable, but should be spreadable!
- Split the batter and you have a BOGO, well a MTEO (make two, eat one) but that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Split batter into two 8×8 square pans or even two 8” round cake pans, like this Copycat Starbucks Coffee Cake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Oops, maybe your son drained the eggnog at midnight (true story). Substitute 1:1 for milk, buttermilk and/or cream in baking recipes, adding ¼ teaspoon extra nutmeg and vanilla.
I was once in a heated debate over this very question. Why is it called coffee cake when it doesn’t contain any coffee? Apparently there is a big difference between what Americans call coffee cake and what the British call coffee cake.
In America, we call any cake for breakfast a coffee cake, even if it does have coffee in it. American coffee cakes typically have a streusel or crumb topping and are delicious served with coffee during breakfast hours.
In Great Britain however; coffee cake only denotes a cake with coffee in the cake! So if that is what you are looking for, here are my favorite “coffee in the cake cakes”. Popular Tiramisu, Mini French Silk Pies, Guinness Chocolate Cake, Espresso Brownie Bites and Milk Stout Fudge Brownies.
Yes! Eggnog makes a delicious coffee creamer, or if preferred warm a little in a pan and then froth with a frother and pour into a strong cup of coffee, top with whipped cream and fresh grated nutmeg.
Yes, if you are baking a cake, you can use eggnog as the substitute for any liquid called for in a cake mix. Makes it richer, festive and oh so flavorful!
How to Store Eggnog Coffee Cake
Store the leftover coffee cake (completely cooled) covered on the counter for up to 4 days, refrigerate up to 7 days and if desired, freeze (best to hold off on the glaze until you thaw) up to 3 months in airtight wrapping. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results.
Why Use Fresh Grated Nutmeg?
I’m glad you asked. This is one spice that I adore using fresh grated nutmeg, the flavor, taste explodes on your taste buds using fresh grated nutmeg. A nutmeg grater is super handy as it will collect the nutmeg for you, but I just use this microplane grater, since I use this for other nuts and spices too.
It’s inexpensive and so easy and pretty to use as a garnish on coffee cakes, scones, coffee drinks and I love it on white sauce pastas like Alfredo’s or it’s especially delicious on this Panera Copycat Autumn Squash Soup.
More breakfast cakes and sweets you will love
What to serve with Eggnog Coffee Cake
- Breakfast Sliders, a delicious and easy make-ahead egg sandwich recipe!
- Mock Eggs Benedict a quick, easy and killer breakfast!
- Homemade Chai Latte so yummy and warming.
- Easy Chile Relleno Casserole, is one of my most popular recipes — for good reason!
- Biscuits and Gravy Casserole | Breakfast Casserole – to die for!
Our favorite eggnog recipes
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Equipment
Ingredients
Eggnog Coffee Cake
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar High Altitude (H.A.) ¾ cup
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup Eggnog H.A, Add extra tablespoon or two
- 1 cup Greek yogurt plain; or sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract bourbon vanilla or rum extract
- 2 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour add ¼ cup for H.A.
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder reduce to 1 teaspoon for H.A.
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Streusel Topping
- ½ cup brown sugar light or dark brown
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons butter room temp
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup chopped pecans optional
Eggnog Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon eggnog
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- I have tested this in a 9×13 inch pan and a 10 cup bundt pan and it worked fabulous! Be sure to spray your pan well with a flour based baking spray, or butter it well, then dust with a little flour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (375 degrees for high altitude).
- Make up the Brown Sugar Streusel ToppingIn a small mixing bowl or baggie, using your hands or a fork, combine brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg (and nuts if using) until mixture is combined and sticks together when squeezed. Set aside.
- Making Eggnog Coffee CakeIn a large batter bowl or stand mixer cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy and well combined.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low for 1 minute after each addition. Scrape sides of bowl.
- Whisk together eggnog, Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
- Measure out the eggnog in a 2 cup measuring cup (remember you only need one cup though), you will have room to mix in the Greek yogurt and vanilla, saving a dish!
- In a 4 cup or larger bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg until combined.
- Alternately add a ½ cup at a time of the flour mixture and the eggnog mixture, beating well after each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then mix on medium speed for 1 minute.
- Spread the mixture evenly into prepared pan, then top with streusel topping*.
- Bundt Pan Prep | Two WaysStreusel on TopFill the bundt pan with all of the batter, then sprinkle streusel topping on top, pressing gently into the batter.
- Streusel CenterSpread a little more than ½ the batter into the prepared bundt pan, then sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the batter, spreading the remaining batter on top.
- Step 3 | Baking the Eggnog Cake Recipe Bake on center rack of oven. For 9×13 pan bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs is fine). Bundt Pan | Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from oven, cool 10 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack to cool further.
- Overnight InstructionsIf making the night before, assemble the cake through the streusel topping and store covered in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature while preheating the oven. Bake as directed. *Streusel topping may be put on the night before, or the morning of, I have not found that it makes much difference.
- Allow the coffee cake to cool for 10-20 minutes, then make the easy eggnog glaze to go on top. In a small bowl stir together eggnog and powdered sugar along with ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg; add eggnog a little at a time, until desired consistency. Drizzle on top of cake. I suggest doubling the glaze if drizzling over a bundt cake as you have more “real estate” to cover so to speak.
Notes
High Altitude Eggnog Coffee Cake
This recipe is pretty forgiving when it comes to high altitude, but I have a few adjustments for you.- Increase unbleached all-purpose flour by ¼ cup.
- Reduce granulated sugar to ¾ cup
- Reduce baking powder to 1 teaspoon
- Batter should be thick, but if too dry then add a little extra whole milk, eggnog, do not overmix. I used an extra tablespoon.
- Increase baking temperature to 375F degrees and start checking for doneness at 35 minutes (9×13 and 45 for Bundt), covering if needed if browning too quickly.
Variations & Substitutions
- No eggnog? No worries, you can substitute 1:1 with milk, buttermilk or cream in baking recipes, but add a little extra nutmeg and vanilla.
- For a dairy free, lactose free version, substitute eggnog with a plant based eggnog and replace butter with your favorite plant based butter, or coconut oil.
- Love nuts? I love nuts on my eggnog coffee cake, but my son has a tree-nut allergy, so I leave them off; stir in ½ cup of chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds to the streusel topping for this Christmas coffee cake.
- Gluten-Free Eggnog Coffee Cake | I have had great luck swapping out the regular flour with my favorite Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour, let me know if you try it!
Tips
- Do not overbake this cake, it’s light, with a heavy, tender crumb, a bit like this Cranberry Christmas Cake that is so good, almost pound cake like!
- Split the batter and you have a BOGO, well a MTEO (make two, eat one) but that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Split batter into two 8×8 square pans or even two 8” round cake pans, like this Copycat Starbucks Coffee Cake.
Nutrition
Dewitte Baisch
I am an eggnog fanatic!
Yay!!! Me too! Making it again right now actually!!!
Kathy Colomb
Hi ! Haven’t yet made this super coffeecake but will for Christmas. My question, as I’ll be using a bunt pan can I put some of the streusel mixture first in the pan, then one half of the batter, more streusel and then the rest of the batter . I want the streusel on the top of the cake. Thank you for the recipe, can’t wait to eat it ! ????????
I haven’t tried it with it at the very top, only at the bottom and I’m the middle, just make sure you spray your Bundt pan really well! I hope you love it, let me know how it goes!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
The bundt pan makes such a pretty cake! I’m loving how soft this crumb looks! And cake for breakfast is always a win in my book too. 😉
Thank you my friend! Truly, who doesn’t love to eat cake for breakfast.
Kathleen Sunderland
Well I just spent my valuable time lovingly making this recipe in my Bundt pan. All looked good. Took it out of the oven, set my timer for 20 minutes, came back to take it out of the pan and it was collapsed in on itself. I followed the recipe to the letter and am a seasoned baker. So disappointed.
So sorry to hear that Kathleen, never like hearing when a recipe doesn’t turn out for a reader. Sounds like you might not have baked it long enough, that is the typical problem with bundt cakes especially. They can be tricky at times, seem like they are done and they really aren’t – I like using a wooden skewer and it should come out clean, with only a few crumbs once it’s baked. Make sure that your oven is correctly heating to the baking temperature by using an oven thermometer. Or your baking soda and/or baking powder could be old that can also cause a cake to deflate, though I suspect it was underbaking. It happens to the best of us. But so sorry you were disappointed.