Gilmore Girls Coffee Cake (Print Version)

Soft, tender cookies featuring cinnamon-brown sugar streusel and a sweet vanilla glaze for cozy treats.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
03 - 1 cup packed brown sugar
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

→ Streusel Topping

11 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
13 - 1/3 to 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
15 - Pinch of salt

→ Vanilla Glaze

16 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
17 - 1 tablespoon milk
18 - Splash of vanilla extract

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, vegetable oil, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, ground cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
06 - In another bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, flour starting with 1/3 cup, ground cinnamon, and salt. Mix until crumbly texture forms.
07 - Scoop dough onto prepared baking sheets using approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons per cookie, spacing them apart. Gently press an indent into the center of each cookie.
08 - Fill each indent generously with streusel mixture.
09 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
10 - Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The streusel stays crunchy while the cookie underneath stays impossibly soft—it's the textural contrast that makes them addictive.
  • They come together in under 45 minutes from start to finish, making them perfect for unexpected coffee dates or quiet afternoons.
  • The vanilla glaze adds just enough sweetness without overwhelming the warm spice notes, so each bite feels balanced and sophisticated.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the cookies completely before glazing—warm cookies will melt the icing into a puddle instead of a pretty drizzle.
  • If your streusel is too wet and won't hold together, add more flour a tablespoon at a time; if it's too dry and crumbly, it'll fall off the cookies.
  • The oil in this recipe is non-negotiable if you want that signature soft texture; butter alone makes them cake-like instead of tender.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly, creating a better crumb structure—pull everything out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking.
  • Don't waste time with a hand mixer if you have a stand mixer; the cookie dough is thick and rewarding to let the machine do the work.
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