This crescent roll coffee cake is the easiest coffee cake recipe you’ll ever make! With its moist, buttery layers of crescent rolls and a fluffy cream cheese middle, it’s a surefire way to make your mornings a little bit sweeter.
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What makes this coffee cake unique is that it’s quick, easy, and semi-homemade. You’ll use crescent rolls for the crust and a homemade cream cheese filling. The result is a delicious coffee cake that’s a hit with everyone.
Love recipes with crescent rolls? Then you’ll definitely want to try my mountain dew apple dumplings, turkey pot pie with crescent rolls, and homemade hamburger pie. They’re all family favorites that are easy to make and oh-so-delicious!
Yes, again this is a precious recipe discovered in my grandma’s recipe box. She called it crescent roll coffee cake. I remember this recipe and enjoyed it as a child. I also knew it was a keeper because my grandma had her handwritten notes on it so I knew she made it often.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Incredibly Delicious: This recipe has been a hit in my family for years. The combination of flaky crescent rolls, sweet cream cheese, and a hint of almond flavor is simply irresistible.
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is a snap to put together. Just a few simple ingredients, a little bit of assembly, and you’ve got a beautiful coffee cake that looks like it took hours to make.
- Weekend Breakfast: Looking for the perfect breakfast for a lazy weekend morning? This coffee cake is it. It’s easy to make and absolutely delicious, making it the perfect way to start your day.
- Budget-Friendly: This recipe is not only delicious but also easy on the wallet. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a beautiful and tasty coffee cake that looks like it came from a bakery.
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Key Ingredients
- Cream Cheese: This ingredient will add a rich and creamy texture to the coffee cake, making it absolutely decadently delicious.
- Granulated Sugar: We’ll use this to sweeten the cream cheese filling and also to sprinkle on top of the crescent rolls for a bit of crunch.
- Vanilla Extract: Adding a bit of this will enhance the overall flavor of the cream cheese filling, giving it a more rounded and aromatic flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon: This will add a warm and comforting flavor to the coffee cake, perfect for a cozy morning breakfast or a tasty dessert.
- Pecans: Chopped pecans will add a nice crunch and a nutty flavor to the coffee cake, making each bite more interesting and delicious.
- Egg (Separated): We’ll use the egg white to brush on top of the coffee cake before baking, giving it a beautiful golden color. The yolk will be mixed with the cream cheese filling to give it a bit more richness and help it set up in the oven.
- Crescent Rolls: The star of this recipe, these will provide a buttery and flaky base for the coffee cake. I recommend using a name brand as off-brands can have a different flavor.
Equipment
- 9×13-inch Baking Dish – You’ll need this to bake the coffee cake. Ensure to lightly grease it to prevent the cake from sticking.
- Mixers – You’ll use mixers to beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg yolk for the second layer of the cake.
How to Make Crescent Roll Coffee Cake
Preparation
Start by greasing your 9×13 baking dish with butter. This will prevent the cake from sticking to the dish. Then, preheat your oven to 350˚ F. This is the temperature at which you’ll bake your coffee cake.
Step 1 – First Layer
Take one tube of crescent rolls and roll it out. Press it into the bottom of the baking dish, making sure to pinch all the edges to remove the pre-cut perforations. Separate an egg, setting the yolk aside. Brush the crescent dough with half of the egg white.
Step 2 – Second Layer
In a mixing bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and the egg yolk until it’s light and fluffy. This will be your second layer, which you’ll spread over the prepared crescent roll layer.
Step 3 – Third Layer
Take the remaining tube of crescent rolls and roll it out. Pinch together all the perforations and place it on top of the cream cheese layer. Brush this layer with the remaining egg white.
Step 4 – Top Layer
Combine sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Sprinkle this mixture over the third layer. This will give your coffee cake a sweet, crunchy top.
Step 5 – Bake
Put your coffee cake in the preheated oven and bake it for 25-30 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let it cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Expert Tip
To really get that fluffy texture in your crescent roll coffee cake, make sure to set the cream cheese out for 20 minutes at room temperature to get it really soft so that it incorporates best with the other filling ingredients. Keep whipping it until it is very fluffy!
Recipe Variations
- Different Nuts: The recipe calls for pecans, but feel free to use your favorite nuts or whatever you have on hand. Walnuts or almonds would be a great substitute.
- Add a Drizzle: While the coffee cake is delicious on its own, you can add a sweet touch by drizzling a simple powdered sugar and milk glaze over the top.
- Fruit Filling: For a fun twist, spread a thin layer of your favorite fruit preserves over the cream cheese layer before adding the top layer of crescent rolls. This will add a fruity, sweet flavor to your coffee cake.
What to Serve With
- This Crescent Roll Coffee Cake is a delicious treat for breakfast or brunch. Serve it with a hot cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk for a classic morning combination.
- If you’re hosting a weekend brunch, this coffee cake is a must-have. Pair it with some fresh fruit, yogurt, and a side of bacon or sausage for a well-rounded meal that your guests will love.
- Looking for a sweet afternoon pick-me-up? This coffee cake is the perfect solution. Enjoy it with a cup of tea or coffee for a delicious treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Recipe FAQs
This coffee cake stands out because it uses crescent roll dough as the base. The dough is soft and buttery, which adds a lovely texture to the coffee cake. Plus, the crescent rolls make this recipe quick and easy to put together.
You can use any type of nuts you prefer. This recipe calls for chopped pecans, but feel free to substitute with walnuts, almonds, or even a nut mix.
Yes, you can use low-fat cream cheese, but it may affect the overall creaminess and richness of the coffee cake.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: You can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: If you want to store the coffee cake for longer, it freezes well. Once it has cooled completely, wrap it in plastic wrap and then in foil. It can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply let it thaw at room temperature.
- Reheating: You can also reheat individual slices in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds.
More Coffee Cake Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This crescent roll coffee cake recipe yields a delicious coffee cake that can serve 12 people.
- How to Scale: If you’re planning to serve a larger crowd, you can easily double the recipe and follow the instructions as directed. Just make sure to use a larger baking dish to accommodate the increased quantity.
Crescent Roll Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 2 (8 count) crescent roll tubes
- 1 egg separated
- 16 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1 1/2 Cups granulated sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 Cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.
- Roll out one tube of crescent rolls and press into the bottom of the baking dish. Pinch all the edges to remove the perforations. Separate the egg white from the yolk and set the yolk aside. Brush the crescent dough with 1/2 of the egg white.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar, vanilla, and egg yolk until light and fluffy. Spread over the prepared crescent roll layer.
- Roll out the remaining tube of crescent rolls and pinch together all the perforations. Place on top of the cream cheese layer. Brush with the remaining egg white.
- Stir together 1/2 Cup of sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Sprinkle over the third layer.
- Bake in a preheated 350˚ F oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.
