Any kind of breakfast pastry or baked item has my vote. Coffee cake is one of my favorites, but making a whole cake in our house just goes to waste. I always believe if you can make it smaller, go for it. Baking coffee cake in muffin portions is a great way to grab your breakfast to go + share with others!

Filling:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Coffee Cake Topping:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp cold butter, cut into small pieces

Muffin Batter:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 1/2 cup butter, melted + cooled
• 1/2 cup milk, room temperature
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Put your oven rack on the center placement + preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper cups or spray with nonstick baking spray.

Make the filling: mix brown sugar, pecans, cocoa powder + cinnamon in a small bowl with a spoon until well combined; set aside.

 

Make coffee cake topping: In a separate bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, cinnamon + cocoa powder. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles course crumbs. Keep refrigerated until you are ready to use.

 

Make muffin batter: In a stand mixer, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon + salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, butter, milk, eggs, sugar + vanilla. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and blend with the paddle attachment until well combined.

 

Using a small cookie scoop {or spoon}, fill each muffin cup 1/4 of the way with batter; approx 1 tbsp.

 

Layer on top of that 1 tbsp of the Filling mixture + then another scoop of batter.

 

Finally, sprinkle the coffee cake topping on each muffin.

 

Place your muffins in the preheated oven for 21-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes + serve warm!

 

I hope you like them as much as I do! Enjoy!

~katie