Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This easy coffee cake recipe features an excellent texture with a pleasing vanilla and cinnamon flavor. Always a crowd-pleaser, it can be made the night before a holiday to save time in the morning.

Cook time: 1 hour 40 minutes (plus cooling)

Yield: 20 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2-3/4 cups sugar, divided
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and 2 cups sugar until light fluffy. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition.
2. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with sour cream, beating just enough after each addition to keep batter smooth.
3. Spoon a third of batter into a greased 10-in. tube pan. Combine cinnamon, nuts and remaining sugar; sprinkle a third over batter in pan. Repeat layers 2 more times.
4. Bake at 350°F for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.