This adorable candy cane-shaped coffee cake will be the star of your holiday breakfast or brunch table, getting your family in a festive mood from the moment they open their eyes. This jolly morning treat may look like it is difficult to make, but really, it’s quite easy to make. The combination of textures and flavors in this sweet bread work as well together as a room full of elves.

Triangles of crescent roll dough form a candy cane shaped flaky pastry, without the work of having to make your own dough. Sweetened cream cheese is the base to hold the ruby-red filling; quickly made with just fresh raspberries and raspberry preserves. It plays peek-a-boo between the tender Danish strips. And a simple two-ingredient glaze adds just the right amount of sweetness and sass for a candy cane Santa will gleefully approve of.

Is coffee cake made with coffee? Typically, no—but its sweet flavor pairs well with a cup of joe. Early coffee cakes have their roots in European countries. In Germany, sweet yeast breads, called “kaffee kuchen” were eaten, alongside a steaming cup of hot coffee. When European immigrants arrived in America, their coffee cake recipes began to evolve into elaborate pastries, with each baker adding their one-of-a-kind twist to their ancestral recipes.

Is it possible that having a coffee cake in the shape of a candy cane makes it even more delicious? It might as we eat with our eyes as much as we do with our mouths. Perfect for the magical holiday season, this captivating recipe certainly wins not only for its looks, but also, it’s amazing flavor.

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