Overnight Eggnog Coffee Cake: The Ultimate Holiday Morning Delight
Imagine waking up on Christmas morning to the enticing aroma of freshly baked goods, without having to lift a finger in the kitchen. Our Overnight Eggnog Coffee Cake makes this dream a delicious reality. This festive treat is designed for convenience, allowing you to prepare the entire cake the night before, then simply pop it into the oven on Christmas morning. It’s the perfect solution for a stress-free holiday breakfast, letting you savor precious moments with loved ones.
After a mere 33 to 38 minutes of baking, your home will be filled with the comforting scents of the season. This warm, moist coffee cake is generously flavored with rich eggnog, warming cinnamon, and aromatic nutmeg. To elevate its sweetness and festive appeal, a simple, two-ingredient eggnog glaze is drizzled on top, adding that perfect finishing touch.
Why Overnight Prep is a Holiday Game-Changer
Holiday mornings are precious. No one wants to spend those cherished hours bustling in the kitchen, missing out on family traditions or the joy of gift-opening. This Overnight Eggnog Coffee Cake is your secret weapon for a relaxed and memorable holiday start. The beauty of this recipe lies in its complete make-ahead potential.
The night before, you’ll embark on a simple process. First, combine all the streusel ingredients – a delightful crumbly topping that adds texture and extra spice. Then, prepare the rich, eggnog-infused batter. Once both components are ready, transfer the smooth batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan, ensuring an even layer. Generously sprinkle the prepared streusel over the top of the batter. Finally, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and saves you invaluable time the next day.
The next morning, simply remove the cake from the refrigerator, preheat your oven, and bake. While it bakes, you’re free to enjoy your coffee, watch loved ones open presents, or simply soak in the festive atmosphere. It’s truly a gift to yourself during the busy holiday season!
Pro Tip: While designed for overnight refrigeration, you can certainly bake this coffee cake immediately if you’re short on time. Just remember to reduce the baking time slightly, typically checking for doneness after about 28 minutes, as the batter will be at room temperature and cook faster.
The Simple Magic of a 2-Ingredient Eggnog Glaze
Once your Eggnog Coffee Cake emerges from the oven, golden brown and fragrant, the final flourish is incredibly simple yet adds so much. Our easy two-ingredient glaze transforms a delicious cake into an extraordinary holiday centerpiece. To prepare it, simply place one cup of powdered sugar into a small bowl. Gradually whisk in two to three tablespoons of eggnog.
The key here is achieving the perfect consistency. You want the glaze thin enough that it’s easy to drizzle elegantly over the warm cake, creating beautiful cascades of white. However, it should also be thick enough to hold its shape somewhat on the surface, without completely sinking into the cake. Adjust the amount of eggnog one spoonful at a time until you reach your desired drizzly consistency. This sweet, creamy topping perfectly complements the spiced cake, adding an extra layer of eggnog flavor that ties the whole dish together.
A Symphony of Eggnog and Holiday Spice Flavor
This coffee cake isn’t shy about its eggnog identity! A full cup of eggnog is incorporated directly into the batter, ensuring that every bite is bursting with its distinctive creamy, spiced flavor. But we don’t stop there. To further enhance and deepen the traditional eggnog taste, we add a teaspoon of rum extract. This extract delivers that classic boozy undertone without the alcohol, intensifying the festive notes.
Beyond the eggnog, the streusel topping plays a crucial role in the flavor profile. It’s generously seasoned with ground cinnamon and nutmeg, two quintessential holiday spices that beautifully complement the richness of the eggnog. The combination creates a warm, inviting aroma and a taste that truly embodies the spirit of the season.
Ingredient Spotlight: If rum extract isn’t readily available, don’t fret! You can easily substitute it with an equal amount of vanilla extract. While the flavor profile will shift slightly, vanilla is a universal enhancer and will still contribute a lovely depth to your cake. For an extra punch of holiday spice, consider adding a pinch of ground cloves or allspice to the streusel.
Tips for Baking and Serving Your Eggnog Coffee Cake
Achieving the perfect bake is key to a truly delightful coffee cake. When preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, ensure it reaches the correct temperature before placing the cake inside. Evenly greasing your 9×13-inch baking dish prevents sticking and ensures a clean release of your beautiful cake. For best results, use butter that is softened (not melted) for both the streusel and the cake batter, as this allows for better incorporation and a tender crumb.
You’ll know your coffee cake is done when a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs attached. Avoid overbaking, as this can lead to a dry cake. Once baked, let the cake cool slightly before drizzling with the eggnog glaze. This allows the glaze to set beautifully without entirely melting into the cake, creating that lovely visual appeal and a distinct layer of sweetness.
This Overnight Eggnog Coffee Cake is fantastic served warm, straight from the oven. Pair it with a steaming mug of coffee, hot chocolate, or even a glass of chilled eggnog for the ultimate festive experience. It’s also wonderful for a holiday brunch or as a sweet treat throughout the day.
Storing and Reheating Your Eggnog Coffee Cake
Should you be lucky enough to have leftovers (which is rare with this delicious cake!), proper storage will keep it fresh and moist. Once completely cooled, store the coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If refrigerating, consider covering it loosely with plastic wrap before placing it in the airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
To enjoy that “fresh from the oven” taste again, individual slices can be gently warmed in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or a larger portion can be reheated in a preheated oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10-15 minutes, until warm through. This brings back the soft texture and wonderful aroma, making it feel like it was just baked.
More Irresistible Coffee Cake Recipes We Love
If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and deliciousness of this eggnog-flavored treat, you’ll be thrilled to discover other fantastic coffee cake recipes perfect for any occasion. Explore these delightful options to expand your baking repertoire:
- Cinnamon Caramel Applesauce Coffee Cake: A comforting, spiced cake with the sweetness of applesauce and a decadent caramel swirl.
- Crescent Roll Coffee Cake: An incredibly easy, semi-homemade option that’s quick to assemble and always a crowd-pleaser.
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake: A luscious combination of tart raspberries and creamy cream cheese, perfect for a special brunch.
- Vintage Coffee Cake: A classic recipe that brings back nostalgic flavors and simple, wholesome goodness.
- Apple Crisp Coffee Cake: Merging two beloved desserts, this cake features tender apples and a crunchy crisp topping.
Overnight Eggnog Coffee Cake
Cook: 33 mins
Servings: 9
Overnight Eggnog Coffee Cake makes a delicious holiday breakfast. The whole thing can be prepped the night before and then popped in the oven Christmas morning.
Ingredients
Streusel
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Coffee Cake
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon rum extract
- 1 cup eggnog
- 8 ounces sour cream
Eggnog Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons eggnog
Instructions
- Combine all streusel ingredients in a small bowl. Mix with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Use an electric mixer to beat butter and granulated sugar until light and creamy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then beat in the rum extract.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the eggnog, followed by the sour cream.
- Add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients and beat on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Transfer the batter to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the prepared streusel evenly on top.
- Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Note: If baking immediately, reduce baking time slightly and check for doneness after about 28 minutes.
- On baking day, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Remove the plastic wrap from the dish and bake for 33 to 38 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the cake cools slightly, prepare the glaze. Whisk together powdered sugar and eggnog in a small bowl until smooth and of drizzling consistency.
- Drizzle the eggnog glaze generously over the warm coffee cake before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this delicious Overnight Eggnog Coffee Cake? We’d love to see your creations!
Leave a comment below and tag us @spicysouthernkitchen on social media!
Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker