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    Home » Desserts » Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

    Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

    June 24, 2021 , Updated September 19, 2022 Maria 20 Comments

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    A slice of blueberry on a white plate.

    This easy-to-make Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe is great with a dollop of whipped ricotta cheese. The lemon zest gives this blueberry cake a refreshing flavor making it ideal for serving at brunch, tea time, or as an after-dinner treat. 

    A slice of blueberry cake on a white plate.
    Jump to:
    • Introduction
    • How to make coffee cake
    • Tips
    • FAQ
    • How to serve?
    • Variations
    • Recipe inspiration
    • Recipe

    Introduction

    Blueberry lovers are always on the lookout for new recipes that use their favorite fruit.

    Like me, if you are one of them, you love to use fresh blueberries in fruit salads. You most likely already have a healthy blueberry muffin recipe and a recipe for blueberry scones that you make regularly. 

    Today I am sharing a blueberry coffee cake recipe that will quickly become another favorite in your household. Not only is it easy to prepare, but you will love the delicious combination of juicy blueberries, lemon zest and almond extract. There is also no need for any special kitchen equipment or fancy ingredients to make this treat.

    With just a handful of ingredients, a bowl, and a whisk, you can create this blueberry sour cream cake that mimics the taste of the classic recipe.

    The idea of the coffee cake comes from Europe. It is commonly associated with German and Dutch settlers to the eastern part of the United States. By definition, it is “a sweet rich bread often with added fruit, nuts, and spices that is sometimes glazed after baking.” [source]

    This version uses blueberries and a lightly sweetened cinnamon walnut combination to become a delicious jammy nutty center. The addition of sour cream creates just the right amount of richness.

    Let me show you how easily this cake comes together. 

    A piece of bluberry coffee cake on a white plate.

    How to make coffee cake

    Preheat the oven to 350℉ (175°C). Set the oven rack to the middle position.

    Grease and flour (or use non-stick cooking spray) a 9 x 9-inch square pan. Set aside.

    Walnuts, ground cinnamon and brown sugar in individual bowls.

    Prepare the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup of brown sugar with ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and ¼ cup of chopped walnuts. Set aside for now. 

    In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together 2½ cups of all-purpose flour (350 grams), 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Set aside.

    In a large bowl, whisk together 1 scant cup of brown sugar with the ⅔ cup of vegetable oil.

    Liquid ingredients for a coffee cake being whisked together.

    Add one lightly beaten egg, 1 cup of sour cream, ½ teaspoon of almond extract and 1 teaspoon of grated lemon zest, preferably organic. Whisk to combine properly together.

    Add one lightly beaten egg, 1 cup of sour cream, ½ teaspoon of almond extract and 1 teaspoon of grated lemon zest, preferably organic. Whisk to combine properly together.

    The dry ingredients are combined with the wet ingredients

    Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine them with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Do not overmix.

    Spoon about half the batter into the prepared pan and spread with an offset spatula. 

    The streusel topping sprinkled over evenly over the cake batter.

    Sprinkle half of the streusel topping evenly over the batter, followed by 1 cup of the blueberries. Press the blueberries gently into the batter. 

    Spread the remaining cake batter evenly over the layer of blueberries. Once again, sprinkle the remaining sugar-cinnamon walnut mixture evenly over the top of the batter, followed by the blueberries. Press the blueberries gently into the batter. 

    Take a look at the quick video tutorial to see how easy this is. 

    Bake in a preheated oven for 60 minutes until golden and the cake tester comes out clean.

    Place on a wire rack where it can cool down for about 15 minutes.

    After this short period, carefully remove the cake from the pan and place it on the wire rack, where it will continue to cool down. 

    Serve cake at room temperature with a dollop of sweet ricotta and a sprinkling of powdered sugar (optional).  

    Tips

    • Sift the dry ingredients together to better distribute all the individual ingredients throughout the dry mixture. As a result, this process also aerates the flour mixture making the final product lighter in texture.
    • Do not overmix the batter as this will result in a tough cake.  
    • The sour cream creates an extra moist cake crumb. 
    • Use room temperature ingredients. This creates a smoother batter that results in a cake with a uniform texture. Take out your ingredients one hour before beginning.

    FAQ

    Can I use frozen blueberries?

    Yes, there is no need to thaw. To prevent them from bleeding, run them under cold water and then use paper towels to blot them dry. Tossing them in 1 tablespoon of flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the cake. 

    Can I freeze this cake? 

    Yes, this blueberry cake recipe freezes wonderfully for up to 3 months. Once the cake has completely cooled down to room temperature, double wrap with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil, then, please place it in a large freezer-safe plastic air-tight container to avoid crushing it in the freezer. 

    How to serve?

    You can serve this blueberry coffee cake as is or with a scoop of ice cream for dessert. As a healthy alternative, consider this sweet ricotta cream instead. It offers a light and velvety texture that tastes great as a topping for baked goods or just a bowl full of berries.

    Variations

    • You can replace the blueberries with strawberries. 
    • Incorporate the blueberries into the batter rather than creating a layer. Tossing them in 1 tablespoon of flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.
    • Replace the almond extract with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. 

    Recipe inspiration

    I recently cleaned out my fridge and realized I had sour cream that was about to expire. 

    I had a couple of options. One was to replace the buttermilk with sour cream and use my frozen rhubarb to make a variation of this delicious rhubarb cake. 

    Another option was to make a sour cream variation with my pint of blueberries that were beginning to look a little sad.

    As you can see, I opted for choice number two with a few modifications. 

    If you have ever baked coffeecake before, you know that one of the main attractions is a rough crumb topping made with generous amounts of sugar, butter, flour, and cinnamon. This is called streusel, and coffee cakes are sometimes called streusel cakes.

    I created a healthier streusel topping for this blueberry coffee cake by combining walnuts, a small amount of brown sugar, and cinnamon. 

    Unfortunately, I tried to reduce the total brown sugar in the original rhubarb cake recipe to ¾ of a cup, but the texture was too dense. I found that lightly packing the brown sugar and using a scant cup provided the perfect texture. 

    Enjoy!

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    If you haven’t already joined, here is the link where you can sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter. This way, you won’t miss any of my new recipes and it’s absolutely free! 

    Ciao for now,

    Maria

    ★★★★★ If you have made this sour cream blueberry coffee cake, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    A slice of blueberry cake on a white plate.

    Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

    Serve this easy-to-make Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe with a dollop of ricotta cheese for brunch, teatime or an after-dinner treat.
    4.89 from 9 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 262kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Streusel Topping:

    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ground
    • ¼ cup walnuts chopped

    Cake Batter:

    • 2½ cups flour 350 grams, all-purpose
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 cup brown sugar lightly packed, scant cup
    • ⅔ cup vegetable oil or sunflower oil
    • 1 egg lightly beaten, room temperature
    • 1 cup sour cream room temperature
    • ½ teaspoon almond extract
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest from organic lemon
    • 2 cups blueberries fresh or frozen

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350℉ (175°C). Set the oven rack to the middle position.
    • Grease and flour (or use non-stick spray) a 9 x 9-inch square pan. Set aside.

    Streusel Topping:

    • In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar with the ground cinnamon and chopped walnuts. Set aside for now. 

    Cake Batter:

    • In a medium mixing bowl, sift or whisk together flour, baking powder and soda. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar with the oil.
    • To this, add a lightly beaten egg, sour cream, almond extract and lemon zest. Whisk to combine properly together.
    • Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine with a wooden or rubber spoon. Do not over mix.
    • Spoon about half the batter into the prepared pan.
    • Sprinkle half of the streusel topping evenly over the batter followed by 1 cup of the blueberries. Press the blueberries gently into the batter. 
    • Spread the rest of the batter evenly over the blueberries. Once again, sprinkle the remaining sugar-cinnamon walnut mixture evenly over the top of the batter followed by the blueberries. Press the blueberries gently into the batter. 
      Take a look at the quick video tutorial to see how easy this is. 
    • Bake in a preheated oven for 60 minutes until golden and the cake tester comes out clean.
    • Place on a wire rack where it can cool down for about 15 minutes.
    • After this short period, carefully remove the cake from the pan and place it on the wire rack where it will continue to cool down. 
    • Serve cake at room temperature with a dollop of sweet ricotta and a sprinkling of powdered sugar (optional).  
    Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon’t miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

    Video

    Notes

    • Sift the dry ingredients together to better distribute all the individual ingredients throughout the dry mixture. As a result, this process also aerates the flour mixture making the final product lighter in texture.
    • Do not overmix the batter as this will result in a tough cake.  
    • The sour cream creates an extra moist cake crumb. 
    • Use room temperature ingredients. This creates a smoother batter that results in a cake with a uniform texture. Take out your ingredients one hour before beginning.
    Can I use frozen blueberries? Yes, there is no need to thaw. To prevent them from bleeding, run them under cold water and then use paper towels to blot them dry. Tossing them in 1 tablespoon of flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the cake. 
    Can I freeze this cake? Yes, this blueberry cake recipe freezes wonderfully for up to 3 months. Once the cake has completely cooled down to room temperature, double wrap with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil, then, please place it in a large freezer-safe plastic air-tight container to avoid crushing it in the freezer. 
    How to serve? You can serve this blueberry coffee cake as is or with a scoop of ice cream for dessert. As a healthy alternative, consider this sweet ricotta cream instead. It offers a light and velvety texture that tastes great as a topping for baked goods or just a bowl full of berries.
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch, Desserts

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Teresa

      July 23, 2022 at 5:37 pm

      5 stars
      Maria, Thank you very much for this recipe, as always, it is lovely and delicious!!

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 13, 2022 at 1:18 pm

        My pleasure Teresa! Thanks so much for your support!

        Reply
        • Carlee

          April 22, 2023 at 1:14 pm

          5 stars
          I made these in muffin tins for individual cakes. I doubled the crumb ingredients and baked for 18 minutes. Delightful!

        • Maria

          April 24, 2023 at 9:11 am

          I love this idea Carlee! Thanks so much for sharing!

    2. Joan

      July 15, 2022 at 7:16 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious. Easy to follow directions, cake light and moist.,will definitely be making this again

      Reply
      • Maria

        July 16, 2022 at 9:51 pm

        How wonderful Joan! Thanks so much for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Kay

      July 09, 2022 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      Hubby doesn’t normally care for blueberries, but…,he devoured this coffeecake! Just made a second one. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Maria

        July 09, 2022 at 4:17 pm

        How wonderful Kay! Thanks so much for sharing!

        Reply
    4. Kay

      June 06, 2022 at 4:33 pm

      Could we use Greek nonfat yogurt in place of sour cream??

      Reply
      • Maria

        June 10, 2022 at 9:40 pm

        Thanks for your interest Kay. Although I have not tried it, I think you should get great results. Enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Pat

      May 04, 2022 at 12:47 pm

      4 stars
      To cut some calories I used a combo of fat free sour cream and yogurt and also golden monk fruit sweetener instead of brown sugar and topped with sifted Swerve confectioner. It turned out amazing!

      Reply
    6. Winona

      January 08, 2022 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      Lovely cake. Nice and light, not too sweet, would go really well with tea I think. I did find the batter a little difficult to spread because it’s very sticky and thick, but that’s OK 🙂 a definite hit!

      Reply
    7. Susan

      January 05, 2022 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      I love using blueberries and raspberries together so I went with a cup of each. I didn’t have a lemon so I switch out with lemon extract (2 tsp). I love that the recipe calls for brown sugar and not a lot of it. I love this cake and will be making it over and over again!!! I’m going to check out other recipes as Maria is a dietitian and hopefully I’ll find some low cholesterol ones. Susan

      Reply
      • Maria

        January 07, 2022 at 8:08 pm

        Thanks so much for sharing Susan!

        Reply
    8. Theresa

      November 13, 2021 at 11:13 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! Will definitely make again

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 14, 2021 at 9:25 am

        How wonderful Theresa! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    9. val

      July 03, 2021 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great cake! I just love it! Thanks Maria!

      Reply
      • Maria

        July 03, 2021 at 11:32 am

        So thrilled to read you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing Val.

        Reply
    10. Diane Pugliese

      June 26, 2021 at 5:56 pm

      Can I use apples instead of blueberries???? and if so, how much apple???
      should it be sliced or diced???? Love your recipes.

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 13, 2021 at 8:42 am

        Hi Diane, I’m actually testing this recipe with apples this month. I would grate them for the inside and place sliced apples on top. Thanks for stopping by.

        Reply

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