Gilmore Girls Coffee Cake (Print version)

Tender cookies with cinnamon streusel and vanilla glaze, inspired by classic coffee cake flavors.

# Required ingredients:

→ 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

→ Vanilla Glaze

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

# How to make it:

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, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, ground cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
05 - In another bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, flour (starting with 1/3 cup and adding more as needed), ground cinnamon, and salt. Mix until crumbly texture forms.
06 - Scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets using approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons per cookie, spacing them adequately. Gently press an indent into the center of each cookie and fill generously with streusel mixture.
07 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
08 - Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over completely cooled cookies.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're soft and cake-like with a surprising crunch from the cinnamon streusel that makes every bite feel intentional and luxurious.
  • The whole process takes less than an hour from start to finish, making them perfect for those moments when you want homemade without the all-day commitment.
  • One cookie pairs so beautifully with morning coffee that you'll wonder why this combination didn't exist in your life sooner.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the cookies completely before glazing, or the icing will melt into the streusel and lose that beautiful visual definition.
  • The vegetable oil is essential here—it keeps the cookies impossibly tender compared to using butter alone, so resist the urge to substitute.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients mix together more smoothly and create a more uniform dough than cold ingredients, so plan ahead slightly by taking butter and egg out of the fridge about 20 minutes before baking.
  • The indent in the center shouldn't be too deep—imagine a gentle thumbprint rather than a crater, so the streusel has something to anchor to and doesn't slide off during baking.
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