Cozy Lemon Pull-Apart Coffee Cake Recipe: A Sweet Citrus Treat

Lemon pull-apart coffee cake enhances ordinary breakfast moments into extraordinary culinary adventures.

Zesty citrus notes dance through delicate, pillowy layers that practically melt on your tongue.

Soft, buttery dough promises a tantalizing texture that elevates morning routines beyond basic pastries.

Gentle folds of bright, tangy goodness create a spectacular centerpiece for relaxed weekend gatherings.

Bakers who crave something simultaneously comforting and exciting will adore this innovative twist on classic breakfast fare.

Delicate strands of golden, lemon-infused dough promise a sensory experience that delights both eyes and palate.

Each bite promises a perfect balance between sweet, tender crumb and vibrant citrus essence.

Why You’ll Want to Bake Lemon Pull-Apart Coffee Cake

• Burst with Citrusy Freshness: Lemon and orange zest infuse the coffee cake with a bright, vibrant flavor that dances on your taste buds, creating a refreshing twist on a classic breakfast treat.
• Experience Irresistible Texture Play: The pull-apart method creates a fun, interactive eating experience with soft, pillowy layers that separate easily, offering a delightful combination of tender dough and crispy edges.
• Elevate Your Baking Skills: This recipe transforms a complex-looking pastry into an achievable home-baking project, allowing even intermediate bakers to create a stunning, restaurant-worthy dessert that impresses family and friends.
• Perfect for Leisurely Mornings: The cream cheese icing and zesty filling make this coffee cake an ideal companion for lazy weekend brunches, special occasions, or when you want to treat yourself to something extraordinary.

What You Need for Lemon Pull-Apart Coffee Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Classic baking flour with perfect protein content for soft, tender dough.
• Sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps with yeast activation.
• Active Dry Yeast: Essential for bread rising and creating soft texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and controls yeast growth.

• Milk: Provides richness and helps activate yeast.
• Butter: Adds flavor and creates tender crumb.
• Water: Helps adjust dough hydration.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle depth of flavor.

• Eggs: Provide structure and richness to the dough.

• Granulated Sugar: Creates sweet base for zest mixture.
• Lemon Zest: Provides bright, citrusy flavor.
• Orange Zest: Adds complementary citrus complexity.

• Cream Cheese: Creates smooth, tangy base for icing.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Sweetens and thickens icing.
• Milk: Adjusts icing consistency.
• Lemon Juice: Adds bright, fresh citrus note.

Instructions for Making Pull-Apart Lemon Cake

Step 1: Prepare Sweet Dough Base

• Flour
• Sugar
• Yeast
• Salt
• Milk
• Butter
• Water
• Vanilla extract
• Eggs

Mix dry ingredients in stand mixer bowl. Warm milk and butter until melted. Cool mixture to 120-130°F. Add vanilla. Pour liquid into dry ingredients and mix with spatula. Blend in eggs one at a time. Knead until smooth and slightly sticky.

Step 2: Let Dough Rise

Place dough in greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let sit in warm spot for 45-60 minutes until doubled in size.

Step 3: Create Zesty Filling

• Sugar
• Lemon zest
• Orange zest

Mix ingredients in small bowl. Set aside.

Step 4: Roll and Layer Dough

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9×5-inch loaf pan. Roll dough into 20×12-inch rectangle. Brush with melted butter. Cut into 5 strips. Layer strips with zest-sugar mixture between each layer.

Step 5: Stack and Slice

Cut stacked layers into 6 equal sections. Place cut sections in prepared loaf pan with cut sides facing up. Allow to rise for 30-50 minutes.

Step 6: Bake Golden Cake

Bake for 30-35 minutes until top turns golden brown. Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes.

Step 7: Whip Up Creamy Icing

• Cream cheese
• Confectioners' sugar
• Milk
• Lemon juice

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Step 8: Finish and Serve

Drizzle icing over warm cake. Pull apart layers or slice into 1-inch pieces. Enjoy your delicious creation!

Useful Tips for Pull-Apart Dough Success

• Activate Yeast Perfectly: Ensure milk temperature is precisely between 120-130°F to wake up the yeast without killing it, guaranteeing a soft, fluffy texture.
• Knead with Gentle Touch: Handle dough delicately to prevent overworking, which can make the cake tough and dense.
• Check Dough Rise Carefully: Look for dough to double in size, using a finger test by pressing gently- if indent remains, it's ready to shape.
• Layer Strategically: Stack dough strips evenly and gently to create beautiful, pull-apart layers that separate smoothly when baked.
• Control Icing Consistency: Add milk gradually to cream cheese mixture, ensuring a drizzle-friendly texture that coats the cake without becoming too runny.

Store and Reheat This Cake the Right Way

• Refrigerate: Wrap the coffee cake tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
• Room Temperature: Keep covered at room temperature for 1-2 days, ensuring it stays away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Reheat: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or place in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes until slightly warm and soft.

What Tastes Good with Lemon Coffee Cake

• Brew the Perfect Coffee Companion: Pair this lemon pull-apart coffee cake with a smooth, medium-roast Colombian coffee that highlights the cake's bright citrus notes without overpowering its delicate sweetness.
• Elevate with Sparkling Refreshment: Complement the tangy lemon flavors with a crisp prosecco or sparkling white wine, which cuts through the richness of the cream cheese icing and provides a zesty, effervescent contrast.
• Balance with Creamy Counterpoint: Serve alongside a dollop of fresh vanilla bean whipped cream or a scoop of lemon sorbet to enhance the cake's citrusy profile and add a cool, smooth texture that balances the warm, soft cake layers.
• Morning Breakfast Sidekick: Enjoy this cake with a light, tangy Greek yogurt topped with fresh berries, creating a balanced breakfast that offers a mix of sweet, tart, and creamy flavors to start your day.

Lemon Pull-Apart Cake Variations You’ll Love

• Tropical Citrus Remix: Replace lemon zest with a combination of lime and grapefruit zest for a vibrant, tangy flavor profile that transports you to sunny beaches.
• Lavender Honey Infusion: Swap lemon with dried lavender buds and drizzle honey into the sugar mixture, creating a fragrant and sophisticated pastry experience.
• Berry Burst Edition: Fold fresh blueberries or raspberries between dough layers before stacking, adding bursts of juicy sweetness throughout the coffee cake.
• Spiced Autumn Transformation: Mix cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger into the sugar mixture, then top with chopped toasted pecans for a warm, comforting variation that celebrates fall flavors.

Lemon Pull-Apart Coffee Cake Recipe

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4.9 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Heavenly lemon pull-apart coffee cake delivers zesty sunshine on a plate with delicate, flaky layers kissed by citrus. Tangy glazed pastry promises pure morning bliss you’ll savor down to the last irresistible crumb.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 ¾ cups (approx. 344 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs (room temperature)
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar (for filling)
• 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast

Dairy and Liquids:

• ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) whole milk
• 4 tablespoons (56 grams) unsalted butter
• 2 ounces (56 grams) unsalted butter (melted, for filling)
• 3 ounces (85 grams) cream cheese (softened)
• 1 tablespoon whole milk (for icing)

Flavoring and Additional Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) water
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
• ⅓ cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

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Instructions

1. Craft the enriched dough foundation by blending flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a stand mixer bowl, creating a dry ingredient matrix.
2. Gently warm milk and butter in a saucepan until completely melted, then incorporate water and vanilla extract, allowing the mixture to cool to the precise yeast-activating temperature.
3. Pour the liquid blend into the dry ingredients, stirring with a spatula until uniformly moistened, then attach the mixer’s paddle attachment to integrate eggs systematically.
4. Gradually introduce additional flour, mixing until the dough transforms into a smooth, soft, and slightly tacky consistency, requiring minimal kneading on a floured surface.
5. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow it to rise in a warm environment until its volume doubles, signaling fermentation completion.
6. Prepare the citrus-infused sugar mixture by combining granulated sugar with vibrant lemon and orange zests, creating an aromatic flavor enhancer.
7. Preheat the oven and butter a loaf pan, preparing the workspace for precise dough manipulation.
8. Roll the risen dough into a rectangular canvas, then meticulously brush with melted butter to ensure even flavor distribution.
9. Strategically slice the buttered dough into precise strips, layering them with the zesty sugar mixture to create a multi-dimensional flavor profile.
10. Carefully stack and segment the layered strips, arranging them vertically in the prepared pan to maintain the intricate architectural design.
11. Allow the assembled cake to undergo a final proofing stage, letting the layers become delightfully puffy and anticipating the baking transformation.
12. Bake until the surface achieves a golden-brown complexion, signaling caramelization and flavor development.
13. Craft a luxurious cream cheese glaze by blending cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, milk, and lemon juice until achieving a silky, pourable consistency.
14. Once slightly cooled, generously drape the cake with the tangy cream cheese icing, allowing it to cascade naturally along the cake’s contours.
15. Invite guests to experience the cake by gently pulling apart the layers, revealing the intricate, zest-infused interior and celebrating the culinary artistry.

Notes

• Prep this zesty treat ahead of time by making the dough the night before and letting it slowly rise in the refrigerator for deeper flavor development.
• Use fresh, high-quality lemons for the zest to ensure maximum citrusy brightness and aromatic intensity in the filling.
• Ensure your milk mixture is precisely between 120-130°F to activate the yeast perfectly without killing its rising potential.
• Stack and cut the dough strips carefully to create those beautiful, pull-apart layers that make this coffee cake uniquely textured and visually appealing.
• Allow sufficient rising time in a warm, draft-free spot to help the dough reach its full potential and create a light, airy texture.
• Store leftover cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, gently reheating individual pieces for the best taste and texture.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes (plus rising)
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg