Coffee Cake with Macadamia Topping
Updated Nov 10, 2025, Published on Feb 10, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
One great thing about this Coffee Cake with Macadamia Topping is that it's socially acceptable to eat with a cup of coffee for breakfast OR as a dessert! Maybe even pair it with a Brown Sugar Chai Shaken Espresso?
There are many variations on coffee cake, but this particular version is based off of my great grandmother's recipe. I made my own twist by topping with a brown sugar cinnamon crumble and chopped roasted macadamia nuts. This was a delicious combination of sweet, nutty, rich, and just a little salty.
Looking for more easy dessert recipes? Try my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip recipe next!
Coffee Cake with Macadamia Ingredients
See the full list of ingredients with exact quantities on the recipe card below.
Cake
- Butter softened (leave on the counter for around 1 hour)
- Cream Cheese softened (leave on the counter for around 3 hours)
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Milkadamia or any dairy/non-dairy milk of choice
Topping
- Flour
- Brown Sugar
- Butter cold and cubed
- Cinnamon
- Macadamia Nuts roughly chopped; I used roasted & salted
Recipe Instructions
See full list of instructions on the recipe card below.
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9" X 13" baking pan. TIP: I like using the butter wrapper to grease my baking pan before throwing it away!
- In a bowl, combine softened butter, softened cream cheese, and sugar. Beat until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
- Sift together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, and salt. Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients to the cream cheese mixture, and stir until just combined. Pour in the milk and mix again. Add the other 1/2 of the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the topping and chopped macadamia nuts over the batter.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes then cut into slices and serve.
Topping
- Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry cutter, forks, or your hands into pea-sized crumbles.
Did you try this Coffee Cake with Macadamia recipe? Leave a Review!
Grab a cup of coffee and cut yourself a big slice of this coffee cake! You will love the burst of cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutty chopped macadamias in every bite. Serve this at a party or make some for yourself! It's quick, easy, and delicious.
If you used Milkadamia like I did, you can whip up a batch of my Carrot Ginger Soup or a Brown Sugar Chai Shaken Espresso which uses the same milk.
If you try this recipe, feel free to rate/leave a review. You can also tag me on Instagram or TikTok!
Coffee Cake with Macadamia Topping
Equipment
Ingredients
Cake
- 1/4 cup Butter, softened (leave on the counter for around 1 hour)
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened (leave on the counter for around 3 hours)
- 1 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/3 cup Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/4 cup Milkadamia , or any dairy/non-dairy milk of choice
Topping
- 2/3 cup Flour
- 1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 4 tablespoon Butter, cold and cubed
- 1.5 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/3 cup Macadamia Nuts, roughly chopped; I used roasted & salted
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9" X 13" baking pan.
- In a bowl, combine softened butter, softened cream cheese, and sugar. Beat until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
- Sift together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, and salt. Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients to the cream cheese mixture, and stir until just combined. Pour in the milk and mix again. Add the other 1/2 of the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the topping and chopped macadamia nuts over the batter.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes then cut into slices and serve.
Topping
- Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry cutter, forks, or your hands into pea-sized crumbles.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
