Lemon Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
This lemon cream cheese coffee cake is so tender and flavorful, and perfect for breakfast, dessert, or entertaining!

Why hello there, friends! Long time, no see. 🙂 It has been way too long since I shared a recipe here! Life has been super busy lately, but I thought it would be fun to post today in honor of National Coffee Cake Day. This lemon cream cheese coffee cake is easy to make, super delicious, and has an amazing lemon flavor thanks to the addition of some delicious fresh lemon curd. It’s the perfect dessert to serve company, or to enjoy for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
The cake layer is tender and moist, with a nice mellow vanilla flavor, then it’s topped by a sweetened cream cheese layer, tangy lemon curd, and buttery streusel. It all bakes together into a fantastic layered cake that looks beautiful and tastes amazing! I should warn you, since there has been confusion in the past, that this cake does not actually contain coffee. I’ve always thought of coffee cake as something that is to be served alongside coffee (or in my case, hot chocolate), but I suppose there is much confusion on the subject, based on the number of negative comments I’ve received. If you’re looking for a cake that contains coffee, feel free to look elsewhere! This lemon cream cheese coffee cake is pretty delicious without it. 🙂

Lemon Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Print Recipe
Ingredients
for the cake:
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter cold
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
for the filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup lemon curd make your own using this recipe
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray an 8 or 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray and set aside. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the flour and sugar. Grate the cold butter into the flour and sugar, and mix until the butter pieces are no larger than pea-sized. Measure 3/4 cup of the mixture, and set aside. Add the baking soda, baking powder and salt and mix well. In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, egg and vanilla extract until combined. Pour the sour cream mixture into the flour mixture, and mix until just combined.
- To make the cream cheese filling, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add in the sugar and egg and beat until combined. Spread the cake batter evenly in the prepared pan. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cake batter, being careful to leave a margin of 1/2 – 1 inch of cake batter uncovered around the edges. Spread the lemon curd on top of the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup crumbs over the lemon curd. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until light golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes before removing.

For more tasty coffee cake recipes, be sure to check out these fabulous posts from my Celebrating Food blogging friends below:
Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Coffee Cake from Ashlee Marie
Coconut Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake from Creations by Kara
Lemon Rhubarb Coffee Cake from Crumb
Coffee Cake Muffins from Pretty Providence
Sour Cream Coffee Cake from Savory Experiments
Easy Carrot Coffee Cake from An Italian in my Kitchen
Peach Coffee Cake from Real Mom Kitchen
Vegan Coffee Cake Muffins from Namely Marly
Slow Cooker Coffee Cake from 365 Days of Slow Cooking
Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins from My Mommy Style
Mason Jar Pecan Streusel Coffee Cake from Premeditated Leftovers
Grandma’s Cinnamon Coffee Cake from Simply Stacie
Apple Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping from Supergolden Bakes
and even more delicious coffee cake recipes from around the web:
Fresh Raspberry Coffee Cake from The Baker Upstairs
Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake from The Baker Upstairs
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Coffee Cake from Somewhat Simple
Peach Streusel Coffee Cake from Somewhat Simple
Mixed Berry Coffee Cake from One Little Project
Lemon Raspberry Coffee Cake from Lemon Tree Dwelling
Coffee Cake Muffins from Damn Delicious
Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake from OMG Chocolate Desserts
Blueberry Coffee Cake from Glorious Treats
Apple Crisp Coffee Cake from Spicy Southern Kitchen
2 Minute Coffee Cake in a Mug from Heather Likes Food
Cherry Coffee Cake with Crumb Topping from Bunny’s Warm Oven
Cream Cheese Banana Bread Coffee Cake from Carlsbad Cravings
Happy National Coffee Cake Day!
I am drooling looking at your photos. I'm crazy about anything lemon, so I will definitely have to give this a try!
This sounds really delicious. Lemon curd is great stuff and it's a great match with the cream cheese and coffee cake. Thanks very much for the recipe.
OMG yummy! I love anything lemon flavoured.
You win the prize for the most unique coffee cake recipe! I love this and would have never thought of it myself, but it's a great idea and can't wait to try it! 🍋❤️
I’m the oven now. Little disappointed we’re not told to make the lemon curd ahead of time to cool and thicken. Hope this comes out well I’ll let you all know.