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Home » Recipes » Chocolate Coffee Cake with Sour Cream

Chocolate Coffee Cake with Sour Cream

May 8, 2020 Updated: May 9, 2020 By Julie Menghini 33 Comments

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A two photo collage for Pinterest. The top photo shows A side angle of a slice of Chocolate Coffee Cake on a white plate showing a layer of chocolate running through it and topped with streusel then drizzled with more chocolate. A pretty spring blue napkin sits below the plate. The second photo is a close-up level shot of the cake and the cake sits behind it with a cup of coffee to the side. The bottom photo is a closeup of the cake with drizzled chocolate running down the side. The title banner runs between the two photos.

Chocolate Coffee Cake with Sour Cream is an easy moist cinnamon streusel-topped cake recipe that’s layered and drizzled with rich dark chocolate.

Top down view of a chocolate coffee cake topped with cinnamon streusel and drizzled with dark chocolate sitting on a glass plate over a white table cloth. A pretty turquoise napkin and two white plates with a fork sit to one side and a cup of coffee sits on the other.

Chocolate Coffee Cake with Sour Cream has to be one of the best things that’s come from my kitchen in a while. It looks elegant but is easy to make.

Did you know that coffee cake doesn’t always have coffee in it? It’s meant to be served with coffee. I wanted to put that out there for you non-coffee people.

The thing I love about Chocolate Coffee Cake is that it’s legal to eat it for breakfast.

Side view of a cinnamon streusel coffee cake sitting on a glass plate drizzled with dark chocolate running down the sides. A layer of chocolate chips run through the middle of the cake.

Who wouldn’t want a moist Sour Cream Coffee Cake loaded with a layer of chocolate and then topped with a cinnamon streusel and then drizzled with more rich dark chocolate? Turn on the oven is all I can say.

Well, let me tell you a little bit about how this Chocolate Coffee Cake came about.

Today I’m celebrating our annual Freaky Friday Spring Edition!

Photo of spring vegetables including asparagus, eggplant, green peppers, and broccoli.

The Freaky Friday blog hop, organized by Michaela who runs An Affair From the Heart, is a group of bloggers that are secretly assigned each others’ blogs from which we choose a recipe appropriate for the theme. It’s so much fun and there are so many quality recipes.

The theme for this event is “something that fits the SPRING Season“.

I’d love to share this chocolate coffee cake recipe over a cup of coffee with a friend on a sunny spring morning, but honestly, it’s great all year long.

If you like reading our posts and seeing our recipes, let’s connect on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram!

The secret blog that I was assigned was Nicole’s blog “Or Whatever You Do“.

Nicole is one of those people that comes off super chill while handling 100 things at once.

I met Nicole last summer at a conference we attended. She’s so smart, juggles a large family, and we have our love of wine and chocolate in common.

If you google “Traeger recipes“, Nicole’s blog is the first one that comes up after Traeger! She’s definitely the queen of Traeger recipes.

Even though I don’t have a Traeger grill I knew that I wouldn’t have a problem finding a recipe to make. The girl does it all.

Some of the contenders were her:

  • Mocha Mousse – talk about creamy! This will be in my house soon.
  • Toasted Coconut Cake – this is the stuff I dream about!
  • Snicker’s Cake – I’m going to have to hide this one from John just so I can have my share!
A side angle of a slice of Chocolate Coffee Cake with a bite taken out on a white plate with a fork sitting beside it showing a layer of chocolate running through it and topped with streusel then drizzled with more chocolate. A pretty spring blue napkin sits below the plate and the cake sits behind it with a cup of coffee to the side.

How long does Sour Cream Coffee Cake last?

John and I actually ate this entire Chocolate Coffee Cake. I know it lasts at least 4 days but can’t vouch for any longer because if your Sour Cream Coffee Cake lasts that long, there’s something wrong!

How to Store Coffee Cake

We kept our coffee cake stored at room temperature under a cake cover. We didn’t refrigerate it even though you could.

This Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe would freeze well too. Regardless of how you store it, keep it as air-tight as you can so it doesn’t dry out.

Top angle view of a chocolate coffee cake topped with cinnamon streusel and drizzled with dark chocolate sitting on a glass plate over a white table cloth. A pretty turquoise napkin and s white plate with a fork sit to one side and a cup of coffee and creamer pitcher sits on the other.

Chocolate Coffee Cake Variations

I used a 9-inch springform pan which turned out a beautiful coffee cake. It also made a showstopper deep sided cake when I drizzled on that dark chocolate.

Nicole used a higher sided cake pan but you could also use a bundt pan or even a 9×13″ pan.

The recipe calls for milk chocolate chips. I used up what I had and didn’t have any for the top so substituted dark chocolate chips for the drizzle.

The streusel is a simple mix of cinnamon and brown sugar. No butter cutting or blending which makes this Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe quick and easy. You could add grated nuts such as almonds or pecans to the topping.

Don’t forget to pin this delicious recipe to your favorite board!

A side angle of a slice of Chocolate Coffee Cake on a white plate showing a layer of chocolate running through it and topped with streusel then drizzled with more chocolate. A pretty spring blue napkin sits below the plate and the cake sits behind it with a cup of coffee to the side. The title runs across the top of the photo.

How to make chocolate coffee cake

For the best outcome, you want your ingredients to be room temperature. This assures that your ingredients will not clump together and makes for smoother blending.

  1. Preheat your oven and apply grease or a non-stick cooking spray to your pan.
  2. Using an electric mixer, combine softened butter and sugars. Mix until the batter is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, blending between each addition. Mix in the vanilla.
  3. In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Whisk to combine.
  4. Alternately, add the flour mix and the sour cream to the butter mixture blending between each addition.
  5. Add half of the batter to the prepared pan and then sprinkle 1-1/2 cups of chocolate chips over the top. Spread the rest of the batter over the top of the chocolate chips.
  6. In a small bowl, add the cinnamon and brown sugar together and whisk to combine. Sprinkle it over the top of the cake.
  7. Bake until done, and let the cake cool on a wire cooling rack.
  8. Melt remaining chocolate chips and drizzle over the cake with a fork or piping bag.
    • If you use a piping bag, allow the chocolate to cool to touch first to prevent melting the bag or burning your hands.

The only thing that I did differently than Nicole is to add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter and to use the dark chocolate chips in my drizzle as explained above.

If you like bakery for breakfast like we do, check out these recipes

  • Peanut Butter Coffee Cake
  • Orange Streusel Coffee Cake
  • Basic Muffin recipe
  • Cherry Bread
  • Rhubarb Oatmeal Muffins

In my humble opinion, this Chocolate Coffee Cake is perfect as is. I want to thank Nicole for such an amazing recipe! You’ve just got to check out her blog, Or Whatever You Do!

Side view of a Chocolate Coffee Cake with Sour Cream sitting on a glass cake plate. A piece has been removed showing the layer of dark chocolate that runs through it. The cake is topped with a cinnamon streusel and drizzled with more chocolate.

Recipes you’ve made popular!

  • Overnight Sourdough Bread
  • Fruit Cocktail Salad
  • Pear Pie Filling
  • Chocolate Trifle
  • Italian Bread Recipe
  • Swedish Apple Pie

I would love it if you enjoy this recipe that you will leave me a comment and rate the recipe with 5 stars!  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can’t be more excited to see the more Freaky Friday Recipes!

Take a look at all of our 2020 Freaky Friday Spring Edition Recipes:

  1. An Affair from the Heart – Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
  2. Aunt Bee’s Recipes – Homemade Loaded Queso
  3. Bowl Me Over – Crispy Smashed Potatoes
  4. Hostess at Heart – Chocolate Coffee Cake
  5. House of Nash Eats – Asian Lettuce Wraps
  6. Lemoine Family Kitchen – Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas
  7. Life, Love & Good Food – Italian Grilled Burgers
  8. Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish – Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprout Linguine 
  9. Or Whatever You Do – Air Fryer Shrimp
  10. Take Two Tapas –  Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
  11. The Foodie Affair – Strawberry Bread
  12. The Speckled Palate – Chicken Pesto Pasta
  13. West Via Midwest – Loaded Baked Potato Skins – Air Fryer Recipes
A side angle of a slice of Chocolate Coffee Cake on a white plate showing a layer of chocolate running through it and topped with streusel then drizzled with more chocolate. A pretty spring blue napkin sits below the plate and the cake sits behind it with a cup of coffee to the side.
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5 from 15 votes

Chocolate Coffee Cake with Sour Cream

Chocolate Coffee Cake with Sour Cream is an easy moist cinnamon streusel topped cake recipe that's layered and drizzled with rich dark chocolate.
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
Servings 12
Author Julie Menghini

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

Coffee Cake

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar I use dark but light is fine
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract pure or imitation
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1½ cups sour cream
  • 1-1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Topping

  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Drizzle

  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips dark (bittersweet) or milk chocolate

Instructions

Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350° and grease or spray the pan.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the softened butter and sugars. Mix until lightened in color and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time mixing after each addition. Add vanilla and mix.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. whisk together.
  • Alternately add the flour mixture and the sour cream to the sugar mixture. Mix until completely mixed.
  • Add 1/2 of the batter to the prepared pan. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of chocolate chips over the batter. Top the chocolate chips with the remaining batter.

Topping

  • Whisk the cinnamon and brown sugar together and sprinkle it over the top of the batter.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a cake tester comes out with moist crumbs.

Drizzle

  • Allow the cake to cool slightly on a wire rack. Remove the cake from the pan and put it on a cake plate.
  • Melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 second intervals or use a double boiler.
  • Drizzle over the cake with a fork or piping bag.

Video

Notes

Recipe originator Nicole Johnson of Or Whatever You Do
If you use a piping bag, allow the chocolate to cool to touch first to prevent melting the bag or burning your hands.
The cake can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature. This Chocolate Coffee Cake also freezes well for up to 3 months in air-tight packaging.

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 208mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 489IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 2mg
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
Tried this recipe? That’s awesome!Mention @hostessatheart or tag #hostessatheart!

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Comments

  1. Paige says

    July 6, 2020 at 11:51 am

    I LOVE coffee cake and you never see one that has chocolate in it! I have this on my list to make this weekend!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      July 7, 2020 at 8:18 am

      We do too! Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Vrishen Kumar says

    June 8, 2020 at 12:07 am

    nice cakes Very Helpful Article but I have a question that how much calories in this cake?

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      June 8, 2020 at 10:45 am

      Hi Vrishen! There are 391 calories per serving in this cake. The nutritional information can be found at the bottom of the recipe card. Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply
  3. Mike says

    May 26, 2020 at 11:12 am

    We have made this several times. A great addition to a cup of coffee in the morning

    Reply
  4. Erin Parker says

    May 19, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    CHOCOLATE coffee cake? I’m here for it! My husband and our daughters made this for me on Mother’s Day, and can I just say it was the BEST surprise? Because it truly was!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 20, 2020 at 8:00 am

      I’d love that as a surprise too Erin! Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Amy Nash says

    May 12, 2020 at 8:47 am

    I’m not big on coffee cake for breakfast, but for an afternoon snack it’s one of my favorite treats! I’m in love with the chocolate glaze on top!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 12, 2020 at 5:15 pm

      Thank you, Amy! I’m an any time of day girl.

      Reply
  6. Jennifer Stewart says

    May 11, 2020 at 7:43 am

    What a great way to start a gathering or end a meeting! But frankly I will eat this as breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 11, 2020 at 2:21 pm

      I’m with you, Jennifer! Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Brandi Burgess says

    May 10, 2020 at 3:52 pm

    This is the best coffee cake ever!!!!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 11, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      Thank you, Brandi!

      Reply
  8. Deb Clark says

    May 9, 2020 at 10:18 pm

    My goodness, this cake is spectacular – just the right amount of chocolate. This and a cup of coffee equals pure bliss!!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 11, 2020 at 2:16 pm

      We loved it, Deb! Thank you!

      Reply
  9. Sandra Shaffer says

    May 9, 2020 at 1:28 pm

    Adding sour cream really is a great way to keep baked goods nice and tender. I love everything chocolate! This is a keeper.

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 11, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      I agree, Sandra! Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Michele says

    May 8, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    I truly love the chocolate pattern on the top of this cake….. Ive got all the ingredients to make it in the morning when its a little cooler! It sounds so dang good!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 11, 2020 at 2:11 pm

      Thank you, Michele!

      Reply
  11. Barbara Grossberg says

    May 8, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    This looks fabulous, but what size pan do you use?

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 11, 2020 at 2:10 pm

      I used a 9″ springform pan. You can use a round cake pan, a bundt pan or a 9×13 even though that would make a thinner cake.

      Reply
  12. Sheila says

    May 8, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    I’m a professed chocoholic and coffee fanatic, so this is right up my alley! Looks absolutely scrumptious!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 11, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      Thank you Sheila!

      Reply
  13. Michaela Kenkel says

    May 8, 2020 at 12:06 pm

    As soon as we can get together again, I will take you up on the coffee and this cake, my friend!! Miss our coffee mornings!! This looks fantastic, as does every recipe you make!!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 11, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      Thank you, Michaela! I miss our coffee mornings too! We’re going to have to start sourdough mornings too!

      Reply
  14. Lisa Hitzeman says

    May 8, 2020 at 11:04 am

    When my kids were little, they would never eat coffee cake when it was offered to them. It took me a while, but I finally figured out they thought the cake had coffee int it, lol. They now would devour this delicious looking coffee cake, as would I. It sounds amazing!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 8, 2020 at 11:27 am

      It’s amazing Lisa! I was a coffee lover as a kid because we got to dip cookies in it.

      Reply
  15. Nicole Johnson says

    May 8, 2020 at 10:00 am

    I’m so glad you liked this! I haven’t made this for far too long, so thanks for reminding me why I liked it! Yours looks delicious, and I can’t wait until we can hang out again sometime!!

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 8, 2020 at 11:26 am

      It’s amazing Nicole! I can’t wait to hang out too! I’ll bring the coffee cake!

      Reply
  16. Angela says

    May 8, 2020 at 9:30 am

    Oh my friend, this looks and sounds delicious!! I am going to check to see if I have everything. I’d love to be enjoying this for breakfast this weekend.

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 8, 2020 at 11:25 am

      It’s so easy and delicious Angela! I know you’ll like it.

      Reply
  17. John says

    May 8, 2020 at 9:07 am

    Excellent as is, however, a little butter on it when warm is outstanding! I won’t say who ate most of this cake but was not necessarily the Hostess

    Reply
    • Julie Menghini says

      May 8, 2020 at 11:25 am

      Time to make another one!

      Reply

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