For night-owls or early birds: Mix up Derinda’s Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake the night before and bake it the next morning. Or, whip it up after you drink your morning coffee and bake immediately. Delicious either way!
The following people may be affected beneficially by this recipe:
- Picky eaters
- Harried cooks
- Beginner cooks
- Night owls (You can make it the night before)
- People who like sweets with their morning coffee
- Sentimental members of my family who have eaten breakfast at my sister’s house
This family recipe comes from my niece, Derinda. She describes it as “the coffeecake Mom always made on Saturday when I was a kid. Now my kids LOVE it. I like it because I can prepare it at night, put it in the fridge, and cook it in the morning. It is adapted from the Bisquick box recipe.” Thanks Derinda for sharing.
Note the original recipe includes no nuts, chocolate or unusual spices or flavorings making it perfect for kids or people with allergies. I added pecans (1/4 cup) and chopped semi-sweet chocolate (1-2 ounces) to the cake pictured below and it was delicious! I can only imagine what it would taste like with almonds, chopped candy bars, butterscotch chips, etc.
If you want your cake to have deep valleys full of cinnamon-sugar-buttery-goodness like you see in the first picture, make the topping like Derinda does. Melt the butter and stir with a spoon. Drop it over the dough.
If you prefer a more even topping, do it like her mother, Kay. Cut cold butter into sugar-Bisquick mixture with a fork or rub it together with your fingers then sprinkle evenly over the dough.
Note to my friends who think I never use a mix: Sometimes there is not enough daylight or energy for baking from scratch no matter how much you want to. Thank goodness for baking mixes in those times. Besides, it’s the way this family tradition has always been made
Derinda's Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake

Ingredients
- 1-1/3 cup Bisquick
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons melted butter
- 1/2 cup cold milk
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup Bisquick
- 1/4 cup softened or cold butter (See Third Step)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 8 or 9-inch round layer pan. (Square will also work.)
- Stir together Bisquick and sugar in medium bowl. In separate bowl, melt butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. (I use a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup). Add milk and egg to butter and whisk well. Combine liquids with Bisquick and stir just until mixed. Spread in prepared pan. Don't worry if there doesn't seem to be enough batter. The topping adds a lot.
- Mix sugar. cinnamon and Bisquick with softened butter and distribute evenly over the top of batter in the pan. OR mix sugar, cinnamon and Bisquick together with a fork. Cut butter into dry ingredients with a fork or your fingers and sprinkle over batter in the pan.
- Bake until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean. 13-14 minutes if using 9-inch pan; 20-21 minutes if using 8-inch pan.
- Serve warm.
Notes
May be mixed the night before, covered and refrigerated before baking in the morning. Add a few extra minutes to baking time.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8 servingsServing Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving:Calories: 383 Total Fat: 29g Saturated Fat: 17g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 89mg Sodium: 529mg Carbohydrates: 29g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 15g Protein: 4g
Angelmeds
What an amazing mouth watering recipe. I just love eating cakes. I got another recipe for my cake list; I am definitely going to try this.
Cheryl
This looks wonderful! I have one quick question, please. I only have a new wave oven, which the baking temperature only goes to 350°. Is it at all possible I can make this at that temperature, cooking with a silicone cake pan? I sure hope so. The maximum heat precludes me from many recipes. I really hope so.
Paula
It’s worth a try.
Tramadol
Looks very tasty. I will try to make it
Katd
Oh.My.Gosh! This looks so yummy and sounds so easy. Got.to.try.it!
Hugs,
Kat
Raymeds
Amazing!! Thanks for sharing the recipe..
The pics are superb, makes me feel hungry..
Yummy delicious cake…my favorite..
Thanks
Jeannette
this looks amazing. my picky-as-all-get-out fiance miiiiight even eat this!! i don’t have bisquick but i have pancake mix… i wonder if that’ll work just as well.
Katrina
Love coffee cake and that does look delicious. So many possibilities.
CookingOnADime
Awesome pictures and a very yummy looking cake!
SamRx
When i saw that recipe than it make me hungry! I like that Coffee Cake. Thanks for share that recipe.
Tyler Hastings
Making me hungry! I will have to get Ann to make this sometime.
articlesbook
I love coffee cake. Especially Starbucks. its really moist and sweet. You had done nice work to provide Recipe for Coffee Cake…………Thanks a lot
Nikki
Coffee cake is delicious!
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
LimeCake
i love a good coffee cake. this looks delicious!
sis
Thanks for the memories! All the kids in the neighborhood loved this coffee cake.
By the way, when they came out with the individual packets of Bisquick, we adapted the original recipe, so one packet just fits this recipe.
As always, great job with your pictures.
Betty @ scrambld hen fruit
I love things I can make the night before to bake in the morning. This looks so good. No picky eaters here, so I’d add everything!
Jaime
i never knew about the difference in the toppings, interesting! i’ve always cut the butter in.
re: dorie’s cooking class…. you could always cancel the Ft Worth class and sign up for the Dallas one 🙂 there is no penalty this far out. there are a few other bloggers who will be at the Dallas one too! plus it is even more special because Oct 24th is her birthday!! 🙂
Paula
Great idea, Jaime
TheKitchenWitch
Very nice! We have nut-averse, picky children who would love this recipe.
Der
You do an amazing job with your pictures!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t believe I never even thought of chocolate chips or candy bar pieces!….Guess what my kids get to try Saturday morning:+)