This Spanish Coffee Cake is the perfect slightly sweet cake with a nutty streusel crumb topping.
I have always loved coffee cake. There is just something about the light texture of the cake that makes me feel like it’s a decadent treat. When you add a sweet crumb streusel to the top of a coffee cake then I am one happy girl!
What is Spanish Coffee Cake?
This Spanish Coffee Cake is a delicious soft cinnamon cake topped with a sweet walnut streusel. The cinnamon and cayenne pepper added to the cake is what makes it labelled as a Spanish coffee cake.
The flavors of this cake will really tantalize your taste buds when you mix the sweet sweet with a slight spice from the cayenne pepper.
Is there a substitute for buttermilk?
Yes! If you do not have buttermilk on hand you can make your own buttermilk. To make your own you will need one cup of milk, plus one teaspoon of vinegar. If you do not have vinegar on hand, you could also use one teaspoon of lemon juice. You will want to allow your milk and vinegar or lemon juice to sit for at least ten minutes to give it time to sour the milk. Buttermilk is essentially soured milk.
If you purchase buttermilk for this Spanish Coffee Cake recipe and want some other ways to use it up. I suggest making buttermilk biscuits, or cornbread. I love buttermilk cornbread. You could also use buttermilk in pancakes. For excess buttermilk you can freeze it in ice cube trays and then pop the frozen buttermilk out of the tray and freeze in a freezer bag until you need it for a recipe,
Why do I need cayenne pepper for this Spanish Coffee Cake?
Cayenne pepper adds a small hint of spice to this recipe. It helps to give this Spanish Coffee cake it’s spanish flavor. Don’t worry though, the spice is not overpowering. If you do not like spice or spicy foods you can reduce or even leave out the cayenne to suit your taste buds. Personally I am not a huge fan of spice or spicy foods. However, this recipe is perfect in my opinion, not overly spicy but has some great flavor.
Can I bake this Spanish Coffee Cake in my oven instead?
If you do not have an Instant Pot, you can bake this Spanish Coffee Cake in the oven. I think it turns out a little softer and more moist in the instant Pot but the oven will work just as well. If you want to bake this cake in your oven I recommend that you bake at 325 degrees for at least 40 minutes. You will most likely need to bake it for a longer time however start checking your cake with a toothpick after 40 minutes.
You may also enjoy these other recipes:
Spanish Coffee Cake
Equipment
- Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
- Spring form pan
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. Cayenne
- ¾ cup canola oil
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- 1 cup buttermilk or substitute 1 cup milk plus 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 large egg room temp
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Instructions
- Spray your springform pan with a non-stick baking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cayenne, and cinnamon.
- Add the oil, mix to combine.
- Take 1/4 flour mixture in place in a separate bowl.
- Add walnuts to that bowl.
- Using your hands mix to combine. This makes the strudel nut mixxture.
- Set to the side.
- Add the baking powder and baking soda to the larger flour mixture, stir to combine.
- Now add the buttermilk and egg to the larger flour mixture and mix to combine.
- Pour your batter into the springform pan.
- Top with the streusel nut mixture.
- Cover your pan with foil.
- Make a foil sling by rolling up a piece of foil like a bandanna.
- Place the trivet inside your Instant Pot.
- Add 2 cups of water to your Instant Pot.
- Place your foil sling inside the Instant pot.
- Place your springform pan on top of the sling.
- Close your lid and the steam valve.
- Press manual for 35 minutes.
- Allow to naturally release the steam.
- Place on a cooling rack until cooled.
- Garnish with caramel drizzle, whip Cream and mint.
Notes
Nutrition
