Cakes were first created by ancient Egyptians. It evolved from sweet bread recipes. From there different kinds of cake and recipes spread to Europe and eventually around the world. 

Coffee was introduced to Europeans in the 16th century. There is disagreement as to exactly which century coffee cakes were first made. They were first made in Europe in the 16th or 17th century by confectioners and bakers as the perfect complement to a cup of coffee. It originated in Dresden, Germany. Early coffee cakes were also made near this same time in Denmark. There are varying recipes.

The European coffee cake is a coffee-flavored sponge cake. It consists of two circular layers of cake. After baking it in a bundt pan, the cake is cut in half horizontally to form two circles. The bottom layer is placed on a serving plate. A thick layer of coffee-flavored butter icing is spread on the first layer. Then, you add the second layer of sponge cake on top. Finally, you drizzle streusel on top of the cake. In the United States, a coffee cake is simpler. It has no coffee flavoring in it. It is a heavier, sweet cake topped with a crumbly mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and butter or margarine. In the U.S., it is baked in either a bundt pan or a square 9″ X 9″ pan, depending on how you want to cut and present it.

In both Europe and the United States, some recipes have slightly different base ingredients. And, often fruit or nuts are added.