My Bisquick coffee cake recipe is sweet and nostalgic — just like Grandma used to make!
My grandma taught me the power in Bisquick recipes — from easy Bisquick dessert recipes to decadent cake recipes, she always had a box of the yellow stuff on hand to make quick treats. And her coffee cake recipes? Out of this world! Particularly her sour cream coffee cake, but when she was short on time, she’d reach for this recipe: a divinely spiced Bisquick coffee cake!
You, too, can have Grandma’s easy-as-pie cake for a morning treat or an afternoon boost.
Let’s bake!
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What I Love About This Recipe
I love this Bisquick coffee cake recipe because it’s a good-ol no-frills easy coffee cake recipe with standard ingredients.
I get so frustrated when I’m scrolling through Pinterest, and a recipe claims to be easy but actually requires ingredients like vanilla bean and spelt flour. I love both of those ingredients, but I don’t consider them staples in my pantry.
Bisquick, on the other hand, is a frequent flier!
- Tried and true ingredients
- Downhome flavors
- Just like Grandma’s!
- Easy to make without sacrificing taste
- Great for unexpected visitors!
How To Make Bisquick Coffee Cake Recipe
Making my (or should I say Grandma’s!) Bisquick coffee cake is easy.
Preheat your oven and prep your baking dish. Next, mix all the coffee cake ingredients. Yep, all of them! No separate bowls here. Dump and blend!
Pour into your baking dish. Mix the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the batter. Bake for 25 minutes or until just done — don’t overbake! You don’t want to risk a dry cake.
Slice and serve!
Recipe Notes
Most coffee cakes are soft and delicious breakfast cakes that aren’t overly sweet. While they usually consist of light brown sugar and cinnamon, those can be tweaked to make it your own — which we do here!
Ingredient Notes
Now, a few notes!
- Measuring Bisquick: Here’s a great tip from one of our readers named Julia: “Spoon the dry mix into a measuring cup, then level it off with a knife. Don’t dip and pack! Too much dry mix will make the end product dry as well.” Very well said, Julia! Thank you!!
- Bisquick: Unfamiliar with this classic yellow box? This is one of the first prepackaged baking mixes, courtesy of a train car’s delicious biscuits, and a traveling businessman’s desire to have them all the time. Dive in — you won’t regret it!
- Milk: Want a substitute for the whole milk? Go richer with evaporated milk or lighter with water!
- Spices: I can’t help but load my cakes with spices — I love the flavor! Add more umph with some nutmeg or ginger, both of which go deliciously with cinnamon!
Tools to Make
The tools for this cake are so simple! All you really need is:
- A hand mixer
- A baking pan (8×8 or 9×9)
- A mixing bowl
Easy, simple tools for an easy, simple cake!
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?
I love this cake a little chilled! I think the moisture in the crumb really comes through. You can keep your cake in the fridge for up to one week.
Can You Freeze This?
Yes! Make this cake ahead and pop it in the freezer for unexpected guests or a quick morning pick me up. It’ll last three months, properly stored!
To thaw, pull it out and let it sit in the fridge overnight before your morning indulgence. Crisp it up by popping it in the oven for a few minutes!
Make Ahead Tips
You absolutely can make this cake ahead of time! Simply prepare, bake, let it cool, and pop it in the fridge. Remember, it’ll last in the fridge for up to a week!
Serving Recommendations
I love nothing more than theme meals! So if I’m serving Bisquick coffee cake for dessert, you can bet I’ll have a whole spread — and if it’s breakfast time, all the better!
Layout your steaming Bisquick coffee cake next to favorites like my Bisquick breakfast casserole (a great way to serve a crowd!) or my Bisquick sausage balls (perfectly seasoned!). Is there anything better than a fun, theme-y start to the day?
Recipe Variations
Let’s see what shake-ups we can play with!
- You can convert this simple coffee cake recipe into a blueberry coffee cake just by adding a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries!
- Want something festive? Swap your milk for eggnog to get rich eggnog cake – it’s always Christmas!
- Similar to the blueberries, add a cup of apple for apple coffee cake and a dreamlike morning!
- Just like the fruit versions, add a cup of pumpkin for a deliciously autumnal pumpkin coffee cake.
- Or go with a tropical twist and add some mashed bananas! Banana coffee cake is basically like banana bread meets coffee cake, and who can resist that?
Bisquick Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Coffee Cake:
- 2 cups Bisquick
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Topping:
- 1/3 cup Bisquick
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray an 8X8 inch or 9X9 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, combine all the coffee cake ingredients. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix together all the topping ingredient with a pastry blender or 2 butter knives until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping evenly over batter.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
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More Bisquick Dessert Recipes
Want more fast, easy Bisquick recipes? Here are some that Grandma swore by!
- Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies – Two classics in one!
- Bisquick Peach Cobbler – Great for seasonal peach goodness
- Bisquick Strawberry Shortcake – Got strawberries? This dessert is a must-try
- Bisquick Blueberry Cobbler – Great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
- Bisquick Apple Cobbler – Nothing says Autumn like Apples!
Conclusion
When you’re in a rush, Bisquick has you covered — and this Bisquick coffee cake recipe will wow any crowd! Always have a box of the yellow stuff on hand. Grandma’s orders!
Who did you serve this cake to? Let me know in the comments!
What about using vanilla for the recipe?
You can, Elena. Let us know how it turns out 🙂
Can use 2% Milk ?
You sure can!
What about using 2% Milk ?
I have made this occasionally through the years but it always tended to be dry. Well, yesterday I added greek yogurt to the batter and condensed milk, doubled the topping, added sliced apples. I swirled some of the topping into the batter and had to extend the baking time but this time it came out great! Added vanilla to the batter also and the thicker streusal topping with one stick of cold butter with brown sugar made it even better!
Can you use melted butter in the topping
Hi Gayle, I’ve only made it with solid butter. <3
We love this recipe. Especially in the fall after we go apple picking..we make our own apple topping with the apples we picked that day. So 🤗…
Now I was wondering…. If there would a difference in ingredients amounts of we decide to use the Heart Smart Bisquick
Instead?
Hi Janet! I haven’t tried that Bisquick brand yet so I can’t advise. If you give this a try, let us know how it turns out for you. Happy baking!
4 slices please!
Make it 5! 😀 Glad you like it, Gemma!
Can you mix this by hand, my mixer is broke..thanks
Hi Sharon! Yes, you can mix it by hand but it’ll take you a bit longer to make the batter. Good luck!
We make this at least once a month but I double the topping. So good!
Thanks, Amanda! Glad you to hear you liked it! 😀
Ohh the memories. This was my favorite breakfast recipe. I remember making it when I was about 7 years old. Yes I was a young cook and did not know that a hot cake pan and a wall to wall carpet in the house do not mix. Dad was mad but the coffee cake kept me out of trouble. The carpet melted away as much as the Bisquick did in your mouth.
That’s such a cute story! 😀
I could not reach the counter top so the carpet was the next best thing! I made my yes Velvet Cake last night after posting. Suggest more butter for the topping and use your hand to mix. Swirl it around the top so it goes down into the batter. Delicious thru and thru.
I think they used to call it Velvet Crumb Cake….. So yummy..
Oh, I didn’t know that! <3
This is what I remember making about 40 years ago! Thanks.
You’re welcome, Sarah!
Made this using cup blueberries and no changes to recipe. Very moist and yummy. Hint for using Bisquick that most people already know; spoon the dry mix into measuring cup lightly then level off with knife. Don’t dip and pack. Too much dry mix will make end product dry as well. This reminds me of the Biquick recipe 40 years ago that I made when my family was young; polished it off in one day. So good.
Hey Julia. Blueberries in this cake sound awesome. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and great tips.<3
Made this but it came out very very dry
Hi Dan. All I can think of is perhaps your oven runs hot so the coffee cake overbaked.
This is my decades old favorite. I sometimes put chopped walnuts in topping and/or chopped fruit in batter (berries apples bits.). Whatever fruit I have on hand. So tasty and quick.
Hi Lauren!
Mmmm, Sounds great! I may have to try this myself. Thanks for sharing your tweaks!
This was my very first attempt at baking! In 1956, at 13 yrs old While babysitting, we made the Bisquick Coffee cake. What a great memory and the cake was absolutely delicious. Will make one tomorrow for old times sake!
Hi Maureen!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing.
Is this the old recipe on the Bisquick box years ago when I was a kid
I believe you are spot on. I love that it’s so easy to make but still tastes so delicious! 🙂
I have made this many times over the years, and it’s so good.
I usually double the topping and put it in the middle of the cake; 1/2 the batter, 1/2 the topping, then repeat with the remaining batter and topping. Yum!
Hey Karen! Thank you for sharing your tips. They sound delish. <2