Gilmore Girls Coffee Cake (Printable Version)

Soft tender treats with cinnamon streusel and vanilla glaze, perfect for warm comforting moments.

# Components:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
03 - 1 cup packed brown sugar
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

→ Streusel Topping

11 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
13 - 1/3 to 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
15 - Pinch of salt

→ Icing

16 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
17 - 1 tablespoon milk
18 - Splash of vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, vegetable oil, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, ground cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
05 - In another bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, flour (start with 1/3 cup and add more if needed for crumbly texture), ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix until crumbly.
06 - Scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets using approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons per cookie, leaving space between each. Gently press an indent into the center of each cookie.
07 - Fill each indent generously with the streusel mixture.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
09 - Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're soft enough to eat with your teeth but sturdy enough to survive the commute in a lunch box, which is honestly rarer than it sounds.
  • The streusel topping gives you that satisfying crunch-and-chew moment that makes ordinary cookies feel special.
  • They stay fresh for days, so you can bake them Sunday and actually have time to enjoy them instead of stress-eating them all at once.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients aren't optional—cold butter and eggs won't incorporate properly, and your dough will be grainy instead of smooth.
  • Don't let these overbake; the moment the edges turn golden, they're done. They continue cooking on the hot sheet, and overcooked ones taste dry even with the glaze.
03 -
  • If you don't have a cookie scoop, use a 1.5-tablespoon measuring spoon to ensure even-sized cookies that bake uniformly.
  • The icing should be thin enough to drizzle but not so thin it slides off immediately—if it's too runny, add a bit more powdered sugar; if it's too thick, add milk drop by drop.
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