This cake mix coffee cake is an easy breakfast solution or dessert perfect for any occasion. Made with just a few ingredients, this cake tastes great, especially when served warm with ice cream, yum!
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Making a coffee cake with yellow cake mix is a fun and fast solution because there's no more rummaging through the pantry looking for flour, baking soda, etc. Everything you need is in one box, and you can easily recreate the results consistently. We LOVE Recipes with Boxed Cake Mixes!
To get fluffy, flavorful, and moist results, we make our coffee cake with yellow cake mix and vanilla pudding so that every bite is as good as the last. The cinnamon swirl throughout the bundt cake gives every slice that special appearance and warmth of spices.
You're going to love this Cake Mix Coffee Cake, but for a seasonal twist, make sure to check out my Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's simple and easy. Just mix some basic ingredients together and bake. This recipe is perfect for those wanting great taste with minimal effort. For another cake that's easy and delicious, try our Chocolate Pistachio Bundt Cake.
- It's great for breakfast and dessert. Serve this coffee cake up in the morning for an easy meal, or save it for dessert with a scoop of ice cream. Either way, it won't last long!
- Perfect for any occasion. This Cake Mix Coffee Cake is just as great on an early holiday morning like Christmas Breakfast Ideas, as it is on the weekends. Serve it up whenever you want, or save it for those special days and make it a tradition.
🛒 Ingredients
Boxed yellow cake mix- This will be the base of the recipe and already includes the flour, sugar, and leavening agents needed- which makes everything that much easier.
Instant vanilla pudding- Use a box of pudding mix (just the dry stuff) to help keep this cake flavorful and moist. (We also use pudding mix in other cakes, like Tres Leches Layered Cake, Easter Confetti Cake, and Southern Banana Pudding Cake).
Vegetable oil- You can use vegetable oil, canola oil, or even melted butter. It will help to add the necessary fats to the cake and keep it moist.
Cinnamon- For a nice and warm spiced flavor, as you'd expect from a coffee cake.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Cake Mix. Yellow, white, or spice cake mix all work. Spice cake adds a fall twist.
Pudding Mix. Use instant pudding only. Vanilla is classic, but cheesecake or french vanilla make great swaps.
Oil. Swap vegetable oil with canola or melted butter for a richer flavor.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Choose Store Brands. Store brand cake mix, pudding, and oil taste and perform just as well as name brands for less.
Buy During Sales. Grab boxed mixes and pudding around holiday sales and stock up for future baking days.
Stretch the Servings. Serve with powdered sugar, canned fruit, or a quick icing drizzle instead of ice cream to make it go further.
Skip Specialty Sprays. Grease your bundt pan with basic butter or oil and flour to avoid extra purchases.
🥄 Instructions for Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Spray the inside of your bundt cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and then dust with flour. This will help to prevent the cake from possibly sticking. Set aside.
Step 3: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and cinnamon to combine. Set aside.
Step 4: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cake mix pudding mix, Vegetable oil, and water until combined.
Step 5: Add in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Step 6: Pour in half of the batter.
Step 7: Sprinkle the sugar mixture into the bundt pan over the cake batter, and then use a fork or butter knife to swirl it around.
Step 8: Top with the remaining cake mix batter.
Step 9: Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.
Slice and serve warm.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Cake Mix Choice. Any brand works great, Duncan Hines, Betty Crocker, or store brand. Choose your favorite; the flavor stays consistent.
- Use Instant Pudding Only. Make sure the pudding is instant, not cook-and-serve. The instant mix keeps the cake moist and fluffy.
- Grease the Bundt Pan Properly. Coat with cooking spray or butter and dust with flour. Tap out excess for a clean release. For chocolate cakes, dust with cocoa to avoid white streaks.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage. Store Cake Mix Coffee Cake covered at room temp up to 3 days or in the fridge up to 5 days.
Reheating. Warm slices in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds for that "fresh baked" texture.
Make Ahead. Bake a day early, cool completely, and wrap tightly. Flavors are even better the next day.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve with fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, yogurt parfaits, or hot coffee and tea. Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream pairs perfectly for dessert.
- Strawberry Blueberry ParfaitRecipe $2.97 / Serving $1.49
- Strawberry Blueberry Fruit SaladRecipe $3.35 / Serving $0.84
- Strawberry Banana Orange SmoothieRecipe $1.67 / Serving $0.84
- Breakfast Banana SplitRecipe $1.78 / Serving $0.89
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, this cake mix recipe is dairy free as written. Make sure to grab a box of dairy free cake mix, like Duncan Heins (they're usually the safer bet) and double check the ingredients list on the box just to be sure.
This coffee cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 or 4 days. You can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Yes, this cake can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw again before serving. I like to pop a slice in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make it warm again before eating. Yum!
The difference between coffee cake and regular cake lies in the topping. Both cakes share similar ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and baking powder. Yet, while regular cakes have frosting, coffee cakes feature a delicious crumble or streusel topping instead.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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🐝 If you tried this Cake Mix Coffee Cake, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, for dusting the pan - ($0.01)
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix - ($1.00)
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix - ($0.98)
- ¾ cup vegetable oil - ($0.52)
- ¾ cup water - ($0.00)
- 4 large eggs - ($0.60)
Cinnamon Sugar Swirl
- ¼ cup brown sugar - ($0.11)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon - ($0.24)
Instructions
- Prep pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray, then dust evenly with the flour. Set aside.
- Mix swirl. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Mix batter. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cake mix, dry pudding mix, vegetable oil, and water until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Layer and swirl. Pour half of the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the batter, then gently swirl with a knife or skewer. Top with the remaining batter.
- Bake. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool and serve. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Pan prep. Thorough greasing and flouring helps prevent sticking, especially in detailed bundt pans.
- Pudding mix. Use dry instant pudding only. Do not prepare it before adding.
- Storage. Store covered at room temperature for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutritional Information
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