This decadent breakfast cake made from classic coffee cake recipe and donut balls is a indulgent and beautiful way to start any day!

Not really sure why I did this, but I can’t say I am ashamed. I mean, I know it’s wrong. Here it is January and everyone is making green smoothies and eating salmon (love both by the way) and I am making cakes with donuts on them covered in layers of sugary glaze.

 

Coffee Breakfast Cake! A layer coffee cake covered in donut balls covered in glaze!

Breakfast Donut Ball Coffee Cake

Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
cooling 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
This decadent breakfast cake made from classic coffee cake recipe and donut balls is a indulgent and beautiful way to start any day!

Ingredients

Cake

  • 3/4 c butter room temperatire
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 c granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 c sour cream or plain yogurt
  • 1 1/4 c milk
  • 3 3/4 c All-Purpose Flour

Filling

  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

Glaze

  • 2 c confectioners sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla optional
  • 1 pkg donut balls

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare two 8-inch round cake pans.
  • Prepare the filling by mixing together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Set aside.

Cake

  • In a large bowl, beat together the butter, salt, sugars, baking powder, and vanilla until well combined and smooth.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream or yogurt and milk till well combined.
  • Add the flour to the butter mixture alternately with the milk/sour cream mixture, beating gently to combine.
  • Pour/spread half the batter, roughly 1 1/3 cups, in each pan.
  • Sprinkle the filling evenly atop the batter.
  • Spread the remaining batter atop the filling. Use a table knife to gently swirl the filling into the batter, as though you were making a marble cake. Don't combine filling and batter thoroughly; just swirl the filling through the batter.
  • Bake the cake until it's a dark golden brown around the edges; medium-golden with no light patches showing on top, 50 to 55 minutes for the 8" round pans. When pressed gently in the middle, the cake should spring back. If the cake starts to get too brown, cover with aluminum foil for remaining cooking time.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 20 minutes before cutting and serving.

To assemble cake:

  • Prepare glaze. You will want the glaze to be slightly firm, much like a thick pancake batter. The thicker the glaze is the most white it will appear, the runnier it is the more translucent it will become. Vanilla is options for purely vanity reasons. Omit if you prefer a bright white glaze.
  • Place one layer of coffee cake on cake stand and cover in about 1/4 cup of glaze.
  • Place other layer of coffee cake on top of that. Cover in about 1/4 cup of glaze, letting some spill over sides.
  • Let glaze set for about 15 minutes or long enough that it is no longer wet to the tough.
  • Starting at the center, place a donut ball on the cake. Nestle it into the glaze and make sure it is stuck.
  • Start placing donut balls around center ball until you can covered the cake.
  • Take remaining glaze and add up to 1 teaspoon more of milk. It will spill over the donut balls easier if it is runny. Pour about 1/4 cup of glaze over layer of donut balls letting it spill over and down sides of cake.
  • Place another layer of donut balls on top of existing layer and add more glaze. Go as high as you are comfortable with.
  • When all done pour remaining glaze over cake (or not, it just depends on how much glaze you want!) and then refrigerate until ready to serve. The fridge helps the glaze to set quickly so that the donut balls do not slide off.
  • When read to serve, cut into cake with a sharp knife and then place piece on plate. Heat piece of cake for 15-30 seconds or until warm and gooey.

Did you make this recipe?

Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.

 

 

Donut Ball Cake! A layer coffee cake covered in donut balls covered in glaze!It just seemed to make sense in my sugar-fueled brain.

Let me explain why I think it would be ok for you too…

One slice of this breakfast cake is the equivalent of a white glaze covered long john with vanilla custard filling. And most people can tolerate one donut in the morning, so having one slice of a breakfast cake shouldn’t be as obnoxious as it probably seems.

See? See? I am just trying to keep the universe in balance here.

Coffee Breakfast Cake! A layer coffee cake covered in donut balls covered in glaze!

And truth be told… I am kinda in love with the idea.  It seems so indulgent and so fabulous… I just felt devilishly decadent having a slice for breakfast.

Why not start your day with a carefree and rebellious attitude?  A sugar coated carefree attitude that is.

I used a recipe that I adapted from King Arthur Flour.  They have such delicious quality recipes, don’t they?

Coffee Breakfast Cake! A layer coffee cake covered in donut balls covered in glaze!

Hint for Success:

Having a perfect glaze consistency can save you lots of drama. If it is thick enough to still drip but not runny, you are gold.  We want it to act as a glue to hold the donut balls in place.

It is easiest to cut into this cake while it is cold, but it is best served warm.  You can certainly make it and eat immediately, just be prepared for a donut ball avalanche. (which doesn’t sound half bad…)

I prepared the cake in 8-inch round cake pans and this produces a thick cake.  Other options are a 9-inch round, 9×13, and even a bundt.  If you choose a 9×13 you may need more donut balls.

If you want to save some preparation from your morning routine, consider making the batter the night before.  (from King Arthur’s site) They recommend preparing the batter, wrapping with plastic wrap and refrigerating.  In the morning bake as directed.  Keep a close eye as you may need to add a couple minutes to the bake time.

This would be a fun cake to customize!  Add powered sugar donut balls or a lemony glaze.  Just remember just how fun and entertaining this cake is!

Coffee Breakfast Cake! A layer coffee cake covered in donut balls covered in glaze!So there you have it… the most decadent and ridiculous and fun and fabulous cake you will ever seen served for breakfast!

Coffee Breakfast Cake! A layer coffee cake covered in donut balls covered in glaze!

It tastes pretty amazing with afternoon coffee too.  #justsayin

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Meet Amanda Rettke

Amanda Rettke is the creator of I Am Baker, and the bestselling author of Surprise Inside Cakes: Amazing Cakes for Every Occasion – With a Little Something Extra Inside.Over the course of her 15+ year blogging adventure, she has been featured in and collaborated with the Food Network, New York Times, LA Times, Country Living Magazine, People Magazine, Epicurious, Brides, Romantic Homes, life:beautiful, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Mail, Star Tribune, The Globe and Mail, DailyCandy, YumSugar, The Knot, The Kitchn, and Parade, to name a few.

Reader Comments

  1. My new year’s resolution is to enjoy life as much as possible, so cake for breakfast is practically an obligation for me 😉 Bring on the donut ball avalanche!

  2. while I do love a green smoothie, and salon too, I will take this over those ANY day of the week 🙂 sheer genius Amanda

  3. I am totally on board with cake for breakfast — even in January. It’s all about moderation, right?!

  4. Hey if you just call it coffee cake it is perfectly acceptable. Any cake can be a coffee cake, right?! I love the look of the donut holes on top. This qualifies as a naked cake for sure!

  5. Starting the New Years diet next week now because this needs to be eaten by me soon.

  6. If I drink a green smoothie whilst I’m eating s piece of this delicious cake surely that’s a ‘balanced breakfast’?!

  7. I’m so happy you’re posting sugar-fuelled desserts in January Amanda, because there’s always peeps like me that will never diet! 😆 Saying that, at almost 34… maybe next year, those desserts are starting to show! 😆

    But for now, rock on sweets! This looks phenomenal!

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