Easy Cherry Coffee Cake with Vanilla Glaze
Craving a sweet treat that’s bursting with juicy fruit and fluffy goodness? Look no further than this Easy Cherry Coffee Cake with Vanilla Glaze! It’s the perfect way to brighten any morning, brunch, or afternoon snack attack.
Imagine it: tender cake studded with plump, sweet cherries, all baked to golden perfection. Then picture a luscious vanilla glaze drizzled on top, like a sweet waterfall cascading down a mountain of deliciousness. That’s this coffee cake. Pure. Flavor. Explosion.
This recipe is not just about taste, though (although, let’s be honest, that’s already reason enough to bake it!). It’s also about simplicity. We’re talking minimum fuss, maximum results. No fancy ingredients, no complicated techniques, just a bowl, a whisk, and some love for cherries.
Questions I often get about this recipe:
Q: Can I use frozen cherries?
A: Absolutely! Just thaw them first and drain any excess juice. You might need to bake for a few extra minutes as the frozen water can affect the cooking time.
Q: I don’t have sour cream. Is there a substitute?
A: No problem! Combine 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes. It will have a similar tangy texture.
Q: Can I make this gluten-free?
A: While I haven’t tested it personally, you may be able to substitute a gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. Watch the baking time closely as it might bake differently.
Q: My coffee cake turned out a bit dry. What went wrong?
A: It could be a few things. Did you measure the flour accurately? Over-mixing the batter can also lead to dryness. You could try adding a splash of milk or buttermilk next time for extra moisture.
Q: The glaze isn’t drizzling smoothly. Help!
If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk or vanilla extract until it reaches the desired consistency. You can also heat it slightly in the microwave to make it pourable.
What you need to make this wonderful cake!
Yield: 10-12 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 50-60 minutes
Ingredients:
For the cake batter:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1 (15-ounce) can pitted sweet cherries, drained
For the vanilla glaze:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to make it:
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch loaf pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. 4. Alternately add dry ingredients and sour cream to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Gently fold in drained cherries.
Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Scatter additional cherries over the top, if desired.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cake cools, prepare the glaze. In a bowl, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
Once the cake is cool, drizzle the glaze over the top.
Tips:
For a streusel topping, combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, and 1/4 cup cold butter in a bowl using a pastry cutter or your fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle over the batter before baking.
If you don’t have sour cream, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
You can also use frozen cherries in this recipe, just be sure to thaw them first and drain any excess juice.
Printable recipe:
Easy Cherry Coffee Cake with Vanilla Glaze
- Cherry Bliss: This coffee cake bursts with juicy fruit and melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
For the cake batter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 (15-ounce) can pitted sweet cherries, drained
For the vanilla glaze:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch loaf pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. 4. Alternately add dry ingredients and sour cream to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in drained cherries.
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Scatter additional cherries over the top, if desired.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cake cools, prepare the glaze. In a bowl, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
- Once the cake is cool, drizzle the glaze over the top.
Notes
- For a streusel topping, combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, and 1/4 cup cold butter in a bowl using a pastry cutter or your fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle over the batter before baking.
- If you don't have sour cream, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- You can also use frozen cherries in this recipe, just be sure to thaw them first and drain any excess juice.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please share it on your social media! I would love for more people to try this delicious and easy-to-make recipe. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you! Shhh… Join our secret foodie group on Facebook
More recipes from us:
Make Glazed Iowa Ham Balls The Best Farm Food Ever
Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls
Coconut Cherry Magic Bars
