Transforming a simple cake mix into a gourmet dessert is one of my favorite kitchen hacks, and this Raspberry Coffee Cake recipe truly embodies that magic. With just a white cake mix as its foundation, this recipe delivers an effortlessly elegant and incredibly delicious coffee cake that’s perfect for any occasion. Prepare yourself for an amazing aroma to fill your home as this delightful treat bakes!

Easy Raspberry Coffee Cake Recipe: Your Ultimate Guide to a Deliciously Simple Treat

There’s something truly special about the aroma of a fresh-baked coffee cake filling your home. It evokes a sense of comfort, warmth, and anticipation. This Raspberry Coffee Cake is no exception. From the moment it enters the oven, a sweet and tangy fragrance permeates every corner, making it incredibly challenging to wait for it to cool down before indulging in a bite. The delightful combination of juicy, tart raspberries nestled within a rich, moist coffee cake is a match made in culinary heaven. It perfectly balances the sweetness of the cake with a burst of fruity freshness, creating a luscious treat that’s ideal for breakfast, brunch, or a delightful afternoon snack.

Beyond its incredible taste and enticing aroma, this recipe stands out for its simplicity. We leverage the convenience of a white cake mix, elevating it with a few extra ingredients to create a coffee cake that tastes completely homemade without all the fuss. If you’re a fan of easy yet impressive desserts, this raspberry coffee cake is about to become a new staple in your baking repertoire. It’s a testament to how simple shortcuts can lead to extraordinary results, making gourmet baking accessible to everyone.

Why This Raspberry Coffee Cake Will Become Your New Favorite

This isn’t just another coffee cake recipe; it’s a testament to simple elegance and incredible flavor. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:

• Effortless Preparation: Starting with a white cake mix dramatically cuts down on prep time, making this recipe perfect for busy mornings or last-minute gatherings. You get all the deliciousness with less effort!
• Irresistible Flavor Harmony: The tender, moist cake base perfectly complements the vibrant, slightly tart raspberries. Each bite offers a delightful contrast of textures and tastes, creating a balanced and utterly satisfying experience.
• Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether you’re hosting a leisurely Sunday brunch, need a quick breakfast option, or want a delightful dessert to share with friends, this coffee cake fits seamlessly into any scenario. It’s versatile and always a crowd-pleaser.
• Aromas That Delight: The moment this cake starts baking, your kitchen will be filled with the sweet, buttery scent of vanilla and the fresh perfume of raspberries, creating an inviting atmosphere that’s hard to resist.
• Customizable Comfort: While fantastic as is, this recipe is also a great canvas for personalization. You can easily adjust the fruit, add nuts to the streusel, or drizzle with a simple glaze to make it uniquely yours.

Essential Ingredients for a Perfect Coffee Cake

The beauty of this recipe lies in its carefully selected components that combine to create a symphony of flavors and textures. We’ll be making two main parts: a rich, buttery streusel topping and a moist, flavorful cake base.

For the Irresistible Streusel Topping:

The streusel is what truly makes a coffee cake. It adds a delightful crunch and a hint of spice that elevates the entire dish.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our crumbly topping.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, molasses-rich sweetness and helps the streusel achieve that perfect chewy-crisp texture.
• Butter (softened): Binds the ingredients together and infuses the streusel with rich, buttery flavor. Softened butter is key for easy mixing and proper crumb formation.
• Ground Cinnamon: A touch of warm spice that perfectly complements the fruit and cake, giving it that classic coffee cake feel.

For the Moist and Flavorful Cake Base:

Using a white cake mix as the foundation for this coffee cake allows for incredible ease without sacrificing flavor or texture. We enhance it with ingredients that ensure a tender crumb and rich taste.

• White Cake Mix: The star ingredient that simplifies the process significantly. It provides a consistent base flavor and texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds an extra layer of sweetness, ensuring the cake is perfectly balanced with the tart raspberries.
• Cream Cheese (softened): This is our secret weapon! Softened cream cheese adds incredible moisture, richness, and a subtle tang that elevates the cake from ordinary to extraordinary. It contributes to a wonderfully dense yet tender crumb.
• Eggs: Act as a binder, adding structure and moisture, and contributing to the cake’s rich texture.
• Vegetable Oil: Helps keep the cake incredibly moist and tender, ensuring it doesn’t dry out.
• Water: The liquid component that brings the batter together to the perfect consistency.
• Raspberries: The star fruit! Fresh or frozen, they provide bursts of tartness and a beautiful color that cuts through the sweetness of the cake, creating a refreshing contrast.

Step-by-Step Raspberry Coffee Cake Baking Instructions

Creating this delicious raspberry coffee cake is surprisingly straightforward. Follow these steps for a perfectly baked treat:

1. Prepare Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for even baking from the start. While the oven heats, lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
2. Craft the Streusel: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, softened butter, and ground cinnamon. Use your fingertips or a fork to mix these ingredients until a coarse, crumbly mixture forms. Set this streusel aside for later.
3. Mix the Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, granulated sugar, softened cream cheese, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Using an electric mixer on low speed, beat the ingredients until they are thoroughly blended and the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix; just combine until no dry streaks remain.

4. First Layer of Batter: Carefully spread half of the prepared cake batter evenly into the bottom of your greased 9×13 pan. Use a spatula to ensure it covers the entire base.

5. Add the Raspberries: Scatter approximately two cups of raspberries evenly over the batter layer in the pan. Don’t worry if they sink a little; they’ll create delicious pockets of fruit.

6. Second Layer of Batter: Gently spread the remaining cake batter over the raspberries. Take care not to disturb the raspberries too much, aiming for an even layer across the top.

7. Sprinkle the Streusel: Evenly sprinkle the reserved streusel mixture over the top layer of batter. This will create a golden, crumbly crust.
8. Bake to Perfection: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, and the streusel topping is golden brown.
9. Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the coffee cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This allows the cake to set properly. It can be served warm for a comforting treat or enjoyed cool, making it perfect for preparing ahead of time.

Expert Tips for the Best Raspberry Coffee Cake

Achieving a bakery-worthy coffee cake at home is easier than you think with these expert tips:

• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: For the cake batter, ensuring your eggs, cream cheese, and even the cake mix (if stored in a cool pantry) are at room temperature helps them blend more smoothly and creates a more uniform batter and a tenderer cake.
• Don’t Overmix the Batter: Once you add the wet ingredients to the dry cake mix, mix just until combined and smooth. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tough, dry cake.
• Raspberry Choice: You can use fresh or frozen raspberries. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw them beforehand. Just toss them in a tablespoon of flour before adding them to the batter; this can help prevent them from sinking too much.
• Grease Your Pan Thoroughly: A well-greased 9×13 inch pan ensures your coffee cake comes out cleanly and beautifully. You can use butter and flour, baking spray, or line with parchment paper.
• Evenly Distribute Streusel: When sprinkling the streusel, try to distribute it as evenly as possible over the batter. This ensures every slice gets a delightful crumbly topping.
• Cooling is Crucial: Resist the urge to cut into the hot cake immediately. Allowing it to cool for at least 30 minutes lets the cake set, preventing it from crumbling and allowing the flavors to meld.
• Serving Suggestions: This coffee cake is fantastic on its own. For an extra touch, consider dusting with powdered sugar, adding a dollop of whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if serving as a dessert.
• Storage: Store any leftover coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, see our FAQ about freezing.

Delicious Variations to Explore

While this Raspberry Coffee Cake is perfect as is, it’s also wonderfully adaptable! Here are a few ideas to customize your next batch:

• Berry Swap: Don’t limit yourself to raspberries! Try blueberries, blackberries, or a mixed berry blend for different flavor profiles.
• Citrus Zest: Add the zest of one lemon or orange to the cake batter for a brighter, more aromatic twist that pairs beautifully with berries.
• Nutty Streusel: Incorporate chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds into your streusel topping for an added layer of crunch and flavor.
• Almond Flavor: A hint of almond extract in the cake batter can complement the raspberry flavor wonderfully. Start with ¼ to ½ teaspoon.
• Simple Glaze: For an extra touch of sweetness and visual appeal, whisk together powdered sugar with a little milk or lemon juice until you reach a drizzly consistency, then drizzle over the cooled cake.
• Chocolate Chips: For a more decadent treat, sprinkle a handful of white chocolate chips or mini semi-sweet chocolate chips along with the raspberries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use fresh raspberries instead of frozen?

Absolutely! Fresh raspberries work wonderfully and will provide a slightly firmer texture. If using fresh, make sure they are thoroughly rinsed and gently patted dry.

What if I don’t have a white cake mix? Can I use another flavor?

While a white cake mix provides a neutral base that lets the raspberry and cream cheese flavors shine, you could experiment with a yellow cake mix or even a vanilla cake mix for a similar result. The flavor profile might change slightly, but it will still be delicious!

How should I store leftover coffee cake?

Store any leftover coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is particularly warm or humid, or if you prefer a longer shelf life, you can refrigerate it for up to 5 days. Just bring it to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Can I freeze this Raspberry Coffee Cake?

Yes, coffee cake freezes beautifully! Once completely cooled, wrap individual slices or the entire cake tightly in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature or gently warm before serving.

What makes a cake a “coffee cake”?

Traditionally, coffee cake is a moist, sweet cake intended to be eaten with coffee or tea, often for breakfast or brunch. It usually features a streusel topping or a simple glaze, rather than heavy frosting, and may contain fruit or nuts. The name refers to its accompaniment, not an ingredient.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

Having the right tools can make your baking experience even smoother:

• 9×13 Inch Baking Pan: Essential for baking this coffee cake. A sturdy metal pan ensures even heat distribution.
• Electric Mixer (Hand or Stand Mixer): A hand mixer or a KitchenAid Stand Mixer makes quick work of mixing the cake batter to a smooth, lump-free consistency.
• Mixing Bowls: You’ll need at least two: one for the streusel and one for the cake batter.
• Spatula: For spreading the batter evenly in the pan.
• Heat Resistant Potholders: A kitchen essential for safety. We highly recommend heat-resistant silicone potholders, especially after a scary incident with a cloth one catching fire. Safety first in the kitchen!

Raspberry Coffee Cake Recipe Card

Raspberry Coffee Cake Recipe

This Raspberry Coffee Cake Recipe is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or any time of the day.

Average Rating: 4.20 out of 5 stars (from 5 votes)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Servings: 12

Author: Tammilee Tips

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Streusel:

• ⅔ cup All Purpose Flour
• ½ cup Brown Sugar (packed)
• ⅓ cup Butter (softened)
• ½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

Cake:

• 1 white cake mix
• ⅓ cup White Sugar
• 8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
• 3 Eggs
• ½ cup Vegetable Oil
• ¼ cup Water
• 3 cups raspberries (fresh or frozen)

Instructions

Streusel:

1. Combine flour, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Mix until crumbly, then set aside.

Coffee Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
2. Combine cake mix, sugar, cream cheese, eggs, oil, and water. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended and smooth.
3. Spread half of the batter evenly in the greased 9×13 pan.
4. Scatter raspberries over the batter layer.
5. Spread the remaining batter gently over the berries.
6. Sprinkle the prepared streusel evenly over the top of the batter.
7. Bake for 40 – 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Allow to cool for 30 minutes in the pan before serving warm or cool.

Kitchen Tools

• 9×13 Inch Baking Pan
• Electric Mixer (Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer)
• Mixing Bowls
• Spatula
• Heat Resistant Potholders

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Raspberry Coffee Cake Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 461
Calories from Fat 207

% Daily Value*

Fat 23g35%

Saturated Fat 15g94%

Cholesterol 75mg25%

Sodium 423mg18%

Potassium 132mg4%

Carbohydrates 59g20%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 34g38%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 480IU10%

Vitamin C 7.8mg9%

Calcium 138mg14%

Iron 1.7mg9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

More Delicious Cake Mix Recipes to Explore

If you love the simplicity and delicious results of baking with cake mixes, you’re in for a treat! Here are some other fantastic recipes that utilize this convenient shortcut to create amazing desserts and baked goods:

• Cake Mix Banana Bread: A delightful twist on a classic, making banana bread even easier to prepare.
• Lemon Cake Mix Cookies: Bright, zesty, and perfectly soft cookies that come together in a flash.
• Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies: Indulge in rich red velvet flavor in a chewy, festive cookie.
• Lemon Bars with Cake Mix: Tangy and sweet lemon bars with a buttery crust, simplified with a cake mix.
• Crockpot Cobbler with Cake Mix: A warm, comforting dessert that cooks itself in your slow cooker.

Don’t miss our comprehensive post featuring 40+ amazing cake mix recipes for even more inspiration!

Explore More of Our Favorite Recipes

Beyond our collection of easy cake mix creations, we have a diverse range of recipes to inspire your next meal or treat. Whether you’re looking to recreate restaurant favorites or explore new dessert options, we’ve got you covered:

• Copycat Recipes: Master your favorite restaurant dishes from the comfort of your kitchen.
• Irresistible Dessert Recipes: From cakes to cookies and everything in between, satisfy your sweet tooth with our delightful dessert collection.
• Convenient CrockPot Recipes: Effortless meals that cook themselves, perfect for busy weeknights.

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This recipe was originally inspired by the fantastic ideas found in Complete Cake Mix Magic: 300 Easy Desserts Good as Homemade, and has been adapted for even greater ease and flavor. While this article was first shared on June 18, 2013, it was thoroughly updated in December 2020 to bring you the best possible version of this delightful recipe.