Indulgent Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake with Brown Butter Glaze

Welcome to the ultimate autumn indulgence: the **Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake with Brown Butter Glaze**. This isn’t just any coffee cake; it’s a sublime creation where the rich, earthy flavors of pumpkin meet the crunchy delight of pecans, all harmoniously blended with aromatic pumpkin spice and cinnamon streusel. To crown this masterpiece, a luscious browned butter glaze adds a nutty, caramelized finish that will leave you craving more. Perfect for a cozy morning, a festive holiday brunch, or an elegant fall dessert, this recipe promises to be a showstopper that captures the very essence of the season.

If you’re a fan of pumpkin desserts, you’ll adore this recipe. But don’t stop there! Explore other delightful pumpkin treats like the Best 10 Pumpkin Poke Cakes, our soft and chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies, the wholesome Best Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins, and the impressive Pumpkin Bundt Cake.

Why This Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake Will Become Your Fall Favorite

Imagine waking up to the intoxicating aroma of warm spices wafting from your kitchen. That’s the magic of this Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake. It’s more than just a recipe; it’s an experience, a slice of pure autumn heaven. Every forkful offers an exquisite balance of textures and flavors – a wonderfully moist pumpkin-infused cake base, a delightful crunch from the cinnamon-spiced pecan streusel, and a silky, nutty brown butter glaze that ties it all together.

This cake is incredibly moist, thanks to the perfect ratio of pumpkin puree and Greek yogurt, ensuring a tender crumb that melts in your mouth. The pumpkin flavor is pronounced yet perfectly balanced, complemented by a symphony of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. And let’s not forget the pecans! Toasted to perfection, they add a rich, buttery depth and a satisfying crunch that makes each bite irresistible. Whether you’re enjoying it with your morning coffee, serving it as a dessert at your Thanksgiving feast, or simply indulging in an afternoon treat, this coffee cake delivers comfort and joy in every piece.

The aroma alone while baking is enough to drive you delightfully crazy. As the cake bakes, your home will be filled with the most comforting scents of pumpkin pie spice and toasted nuts, creating an inviting atmosphere that truly signals the arrival of fall. Once it comes out of the oven, cooled just enough to handle, you won’t want to wait. So, get that coffee brewing, because a slice of this warm, spiced goodness is calling your name!

Essential Ingredients for Your Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake

Crafting the perfect Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake starts with selecting quality ingredients that bring out the best in every layer. Here’s what you’ll need, thoughtfully categorized for ease of preparation. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the cake’s signature flavor and texture, from the crunchy streusel to the moist cake and the decadent glaze.

For the Irresistible Crumble Topping

• **Cold Unsalted Butter:** Cut into small cubes, this ensures a perfectly crumbly texture that doesn’t melt too quickly.
• **Brown Sugar:** Adds a deep, molasses-like sweetness and helps create that classic caramelization in the streusel.
• **All-Purpose Flour:** The base for our crumble, providing structure and holding everything together.
• **Pumpkin Pie Spice:** A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, delivering that quintessential fall flavor.
• **Cinnamon:** Enhances the warm spice profile, complementing the pumpkin beautifully.
• **Pecans:** Roughly chopped, these add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor that pairs wonderfully with pumpkin.

For the Moist Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake

• **All-Purpose Flour:** The foundation of our cake batter, providing the necessary structure.
• **Pumpkin Pie Spice:** Again, a generous amount to infuse the cake with rich autumn flavors. You can adjust to your preference (2 or 3 teaspoons).
• **Salt:** A pinch balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
• **Baking Powder & Baking Soda:** The leavening agents that give our cake its light and airy texture.
• **Unsalted Butter:** Softened to room temperature, crucial for proper creaming with sugars.
• **Granulated Sugar:** Provides sweetness and contributes to the cake’s tender crumb.
• **Brown Sugar:** Adds moisture and a hint of caramel depth to the cake itself.
• **Large Eggs:** Bind the ingredients and add richness and structure to the cake.
• **Pumpkin Puree:** The star ingredient! Make sure it’s 100% pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. It adds natural sweetness, moisture, and that iconic pumpkin flavor.
• **Greek Yogurt:** A secret ingredient for ultimate moisture and a subtle tang that brightens the cake’s flavor profile.

For the Decadent Browned Butter Glaze

• **Butter:** Melted and browned, this transforms into a rich, nutty glaze that elevates the entire cake. Use unsalted butter for better control over the final flavor.
• **Confectioners Sugar:** Provides the base for the glaze, creating a smooth, pourable consistency.
• **Vanilla Extract:** Enhances the sweetness and adds a classic warm note.
• **Almond Milk or Heavy Cream:** Used to achieve the perfect pouring consistency for your glaze. Heavy cream will result in a richer glaze.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Best Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake

Follow these detailed instructions to bake a Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake that will impress everyone. Paying attention to each step will ensure a perfectly moist cake, a crisp streusel, and a delectable brown butter glaze.

1. **Prepare Your Pan:** Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly spray an 8 or 9-inch square cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. For easier removal, you can also line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides, and then spray the parchment paper as well. Set the prepared pan aside.

Crafting the Perfect Crumble Topping

The streusel topping adds a delightful texture and burst of flavor to our coffee cake.

1. In a medium bowl, combine the cold unsalted butter cubes, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, work the ingredients together until the mixture is crumbly and resembles coarse meal. Stir in the roughly chopped pecans. Set aside.

Baking the Irresistible Pumpkin Coffee Cake

Now for the heart of our dessert – the moist and flavorful pumpkin cake.

1. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Ensure these are well combined to distribute the leavening evenly. Set this dry mixture aside.
2. **Cream Wet Ingredients:** In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for about 2 minutes. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. **Add Eggs and Pumpkin Mixture:** Add the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated. Next, add the pumpkin puree and Greek yogurt to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined; do not overmix.
4. **Combine Wet and Dry:** Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until everything is just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cake.
5. **Layering the Cake:** Spread half of the cake batter evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan.
6. **Add Streusel Layer:** Sprinkle half of the prepared crumble topping evenly over the first layer of batter.
7. **Top with Remaining Batter and Streusel:** Carefully pour the remaining cake batter over the streusel layer, gently spreading it to cover the crumble. Then, generously sprinkle the remaining crumble topping and any extra chopped pecans over the top.
8. **Bake:** Place the baking dish into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the cake with aluminum foil.
9. **Cooling:** Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before adding the glaze. If you want the glaze to drip down the sides beautifully, gently loosen the cake from the pan edges or use the parchment paper overhang to lift it onto the cooling rack. Otherwise, you can leave it in the pan and drizzle the glaze on top.

Creating the Irresistible Browned Butter Glaze

This glaze adds a nutty, rich finish that truly sets this coffee cake apart.

1. **Brown the Butter:** In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Continue cooking, whisking frequently, until the butter turns a golden brown color and has a nutty aroma, and small browned bits appear at the bottom of the pan (this typically takes 5-7 minutes). Watch it closely, as it can go from browned to burnt quickly.
2. **Prepare the Glaze:** Remove the browned butter from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Pour the browned butter into a small mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of confectioners sugar, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of almond milk or heavy cream. Whisk vigorously until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add more milk or cream, a teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a pourable, drizzling consistency. If it’s too thin, whisk in a bit more confectioners sugar. You may not need all the confectioners sugar listed, or you might need more, depending on your desired consistency and how much glaze you prefer.
3. **Glaze the Cake:** Drizzle the warm browned butter glaze generously over the slightly cooled pumpkin pecan coffee cake. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before slicing and serving. You can always serve extra glaze on the side for those who love an extra drizzle!

Expert Tips for the Perfect Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake

Achieving baking perfection often comes down to a few key details. Here are some pro tips to ensure your Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake turns out exceptionally delicious every time:

• **Room Temperature Ingredients:** Ensure your butter and eggs for the cake batter are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together more effectively, creating a smoother batter and a more tender cake.
• **Don’t Overmix:** Overmixing the cake batter can develop the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in a tough cake. Mix until just combined, stopping as soon soon as no dry streaks of flour are visible.
• **Quality Pumpkin Puree:** Always use 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which contains added spices and sugar that will alter the flavor balance of the cake.
• **Perfectly Browned Butter:** When browning butter for the glaze, stay by the stove and whisk constantly. The butter will melt, then foam, and eventually, the milk solids at the bottom will turn golden brown and smell nutty. Remove it from the heat as soon as you see these brown bits and smell the nutty aroma to prevent burning.
• **Adjust Spice Levels:** The recipe suggests 2-3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice. Feel free to adjust this to your personal preference. If you love a bolder spice flavor, go for 3 teaspoons; for a more subtle hint, use 2.
• **Toasting Pecans (Optional but Recommended):** For an even deeper, nuttier flavor in your streusel, lightly toast the chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes until fragrant, before adding them to the crumble mixture. Let them cool completely before use.
• **Parchment Paper is Your Friend:** Using parchment paper to line your pan (with an overhang) makes removing the cake incredibly easy, especially if you plan to transfer it to a serving platter or want a clean drip for your glaze.
• **Cooling Before Glazing:** While a slightly warm cake is fine for glazing, avoid glazing a hot cake. The glaze will simply melt and soak in, rather than forming a beautiful layer on top. Allow it to cool for at least 15-20 minutes.

Storing and Enjoying Your Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake

Proper storage is key to keeping your coffee cake fresh and delicious for as long as possible. This Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake is so good, you’ll want to savor every crumb!

• **Room Temperature:** You can store this pumpkin coffee cake at room temperature for up to 3 days. Make sure it’s kept in an airtight container, well wrapped in plastic wrap, or covered tightly with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. The moisture content of this cake helps it stay fresh.
• **Refrigeration:** To extend its freshness, especially if your kitchen is warm, place the coffee cake in the refrigerator. Stored in an airtight container, it will stay fresh and tasty for up to 2 weeks. Allow individual slices to come to room temperature or gently warm them before serving for the best experience.
• **Freezing for Later:** This coffee cake freezes beautifully! Once completely cooled, wrap the entire cake or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then an additional layer of aluminum foil. Place in a freezer-safe bag or container. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature or warm slightly before serving.
• **Reheating:** To enjoy a warm slice, place it in the microwave for 15-30 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5-10 minutes. This will revive the warm spices and make the cake incredibly tender, almost like it’s fresh from the oven.

Our Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake recipe offers an easy and delightful way to infuse a little sweet and spice into your breakfast or dessert traditions. It’s a truly delicious treat that can be prepared in advance, making it perfect for sharing with family and friends during the busy holiday season. With its rich combination of flavors, satisfying textures, and comforting autumnal spices, it’s a unique and heartfelt way to share joy.

This coffee cake is particularly suited for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, offering a delightful alternative or addition to your festive spread. So don’t wait – try making this incredible Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake today and share the warmth! We encourage you to share your creations on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!

Discover More Coffee Cake Delights

If you’ve fallen in love with the comforting charm of coffee cakes, you’re in for a treat! Here are some other fantastic recipes to explore:

• Caramel Glazed Apple Crumble Coffee Cake
• 4 Amazing Apple Coffee Cakes
• “Bisquick” Chocolate Cinnamon Greek Yogurt Banana Coffee Cake
• Sour Cherry Cobbler Coffee Cake
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
• How to Make Perfect Brown Butter (A great guide for the glaze!)
• Peach Streusel Coffee Cake
• Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins