Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
This blueberry sour cream coffee cake has it all. A deliciously moist and plush cake is baked with bursting blueberries along with a hint of lemon zest. Then everything is topped with a sweet brown sugar crumble and light lemon icing drizzle! It’s also so easy to make but is an absolute crowd pleaser.
What makes this the best blueberry coffee cake?
This blueberry coffee cake honestly tastes like a combination of an incredible blueberry muffin and a funnel cake.
The cake itself is so rich and moist with loads of blueberries, just like a blueberry muffin, but the crumble topping and hint of almond extract creates a funnel cake-like flavor that is insanely good!
Here is how it’s done:
- Sour Cream Cake Batter – The batter itself is mixed with extra sour cream. It creates an incredibly moist cake that isn’t too heavy, too oily, or too sweet.
- Fresh Blueberries – Blueberries are tossed with lemon zest and both mixed into the batter as well as scattered on top. This ensures the perfect amount of tender blueberries in every bite.
- Brown Sugar Crumble – A hefty layer of crumble is added to the top of the cake. It’s sweet, buttery, and lightly flavored with a hint of cinnamon.
- Lemon Icing – To top everything off, a light drizzle of lemon icing is added on top. It helps bring out the zest in the blueberries while also accentuating that fresh blueberry flavor.
Tips for baking blueberry sour cream coffee cake
I’ve placed this blueberry coffee cake recipe under my “quick and easy” recipe category because it’s so simple to make! But here are a few tips to make sure it turns out just right:
- Flour – I say this in every post, and for good reason. It’s the number one reason why most recipes fail. If there’s too much flour, this cake will turn dry. If possible, measure the flour with a food scale. Otherwise, to ensure the exact amount, gently spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a flat edge. If scooped directly into the flour container, the flour becomes packed down into the cup which could leave you with 1/4 cup or more of added flour.
- Butter & Sugar – When mixing the two together, first make sure the butter is softened to room temperature. Then, mix the two until they turn light and fluffy. This will require about 2 minutes of mixing on medium-high speed. This will add little air pockets in the butter which will help the baking powder really lift this cake as it bakes.
- Mixing – Once the dry ingredients are added, gently mix the batter. If the cake batter is over worked, the cake can turn out dry and possibly sink the center.
- Room Temp Ingredients – Use a room temperature egg as well as room temperature sour cream. This will ensure a smooth batter and an evenly baked cake.
- Crumble – When all mixed, the crumble should be evenly moistened with varying sizes of clumps. If it feels too dry, mix in 1 additional tablespoon of melted butter. If it feels too wet, mix in 1-2 additional tablespoons of flour.
- Baking – The cake should rise evenly from edge to center. To test for doneness, poke a toothpick in the center of the cake. It’s ready when it comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Although if you choose to bake with frozen berries, I also suggest testing using the wobble test. Nudge the pan (still inside the oven) and watch the center. If it has a tight jiggle, it’s done. If it has a loose wobble, bake for another 5 minutes.
Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake FAQs
Yes, but it does require some adjustments. Use 1 1/2 cups of frozen (not thawed) blueberries and toss with the lemon zest and cornstarch as instructed. Unlike with fresh blueberries, none of the frozen berries are mixed in to the batter. Instead, the cake batter is spread in the pan and all 1 1/2 cups of frozen berries are sprinkled on top.
I haven’t tested this in any other pan besides a 9″ springform, but I do think it could work in a 8″ or 9″ square baking dish.
I don’t suggest this, as the sour cream plays a major role in both the texture and flavor of this cake.
I haven’t tested this, but I do think this recipe could work well with a cup for cup gluten free baking flour.
I also have not tested this, but if I were to try to replace the egg I would use 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce in its place.
Store the cake in an air tight container and it can keep at room temperature for a couple days or in the refrigerator for about a week.
For more blueberry dessert recipes, check out my:
- BEST Blueberry Muffins
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins
- Blueberry Cream Cheese Cobbler
- Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
- Blueberry Babka
Make sure to tag me @butternutbakery on Instagram and leave a review below if you make this blueberry coffee cake. To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card, the buttons above or below this post, or on any of the photos above. Happy baking!
Watch how to make this blueberry sour cream coffee cake:
Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 slices
Description
This blueberry sour cream coffee cake is so moist and loaded with fresh blueberries! The sour cream makes this cake so lush, while the brown sugar crumble topping adds a delicious layer of sweetness. It can also be made with fresh or frozen blueberries.
Ingredients
Brown Sugar Crumble
- 1 cup (132g) all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (105g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- 1 1/2 cups (195g) all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temp
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Scant 1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 3/4 cup (185g) sour cream, room temp
Blueberries
- 2 cups (270g) fresh blueberries (see notes for frozen instructions)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Lemon Icing (optional)
- 1/2 cup (55g) powdered sugar
- 1/2 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
Brown Sugar Crumble
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients.
- Pour in the melted butter and mix to combine. It should be evenly moistened with a mix of large and small clumps.
- Place in the refrigerator while we make the batter.
Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease and line the bottom of a 9″ springform pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Then mix in the egg and extracts, followed by the sour cream.
- Before mixing in the dry ingredients, first prep the blueberries.
- Place the clean blueberries in a bowl and toss with the zest. Then toss with the cornstarch.
- Now back to the batter. Mix in the dry ingredients and just before it’s all combined, add in half of the blueberries.
- Switch to a rubber spatula and mix in the berries by hand, careful not to break them. The batter will also be VERY thick.
- Spread the batter in the bottom of the prepared pan and top with an even layer of the remaining blueberries.
- Top with a layer of the chilled crumble and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the cake to cool for about 1 hour at room temperature.
- For the icing, whisk together all of the ingredients and drizzle over the cooled cake.
- Now slice and enjoy!
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
FROZEN BLUEBERRIES – Use 1 1/2 cups of frozen (not thawed) blueberries and toss with the zest and cornstarch. Do not mix the blueberries into the batter. Instead, spread the batter in the pan and top with an even layer of the blueberries followed by the crumble. If the frozen blueberries are mixed in to the batter, they can alter how the cake bakes and can also turn the batter blue.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cooling Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
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Meet Jenna
I’m the creator, baker, and photographer behind Butternut Bakery. Here I share desserts for every diet because I believe everyone should have a chance to indulge!
Wow!!! Absolutely wonderful in every way and exactly as you described it. Moist, dense and full of berries. Sweet but not overly so. I didn’t have a lemon on hand for zest but I put about a tsp of lemon concentrate in with the sour cream. It gave it that hint of lemon flavor and really boosted the blueberries. Crumble topping also perfect. Not too crunchy. I baked mine in my counter top oven. My temp adjustment was to 345 degrees on the middle shelf for 20 minutes then I covered the already nicely brown topping with foil and I put it on the lower rack for 20 minutes more. Toothpick came out clean. We couldn’t wait longer than 30 minutes before we cut into it. Slightly warm and soooo good. It doesn’t need the glaze for us. It’s perfect as is. I may glaze a bit after it has cooled completely just to try it. I’m sure it would be beautiful on it. Wonderful recipe! So glad I found your site.
This is an excellent cake and pretty easy to make. So moist and flavorful and that crumb topping adds a really nice crunch. I baked it for the full 50 minutes and did not regret it.
This is an amazing recipe!! As a 64 year old Gma that bakes/makes something everyday – that’s saying something! I did use frozen blueberries & also baked it in an 8×8 baking turn.. baked 60 minutes. Great flavor & great texture.. & moist!
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Yet another scrumptious recipe. It surpasses any bakery coffee cake. Thank you for sharing this recipe and all your helpful tips.
I made this wonderful coffee cake and followed the recipe except I added 1/2 tsp. butter emulsion (as I do with all my baked goods) and some drops of Lorann blueberry oil. It is definitely my new go-to recipe for blueberry coffee cake. So moist with a great crumble. Thanks so much
So good! I subbed egg with a flax egg and used frozen wild blueberries and it came out deliciously. Thanks for sharing!
The most amazing delicious coffee cake! So moist but dense, delicious!
Made this today and it came out perfect! Great tip about tossing frozen blueberries in corn starch and not incorporating into the mix – this made all the difference. I can’t wait to make this one again!
Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake.-
Oh my Goodness! We loved this recipe. It was restaurant worthy !
The best recipe! I made it in a square pan since my springform pan was broken. Turned out perfect!!!