If you "like" my page on Facebook, then you might remember last weekend when I posted about my perfect weekend morning. I was cozy on the couch with a freshly brewed cup of coffee in my hand and the smell of cinnamon crumb cake filled the apartment as it baked. OK, first I have to tell you how exciting the coffee part is. I finally broke down and bought a Keurig and I can not believe it took me this long. Yes I know, to some people it might seem silly, but Jesse doesn't drink coffee and I usually only want one or two cups. So for me it's perfect. And I bought the Kcup that I can fill with my own coffee when the samples run out. As you can probably tell, I'm more excited than I should be about coffee. :)
Now we can talk crumb cake. Or do you call it coffee cake? I searched both names to find a recipe that matched the vision in my head, and then I finally came across the perfect one, called a New York Style Coffee Cake. It was probably the inch and a half thick crumb on top that drew me in (and made me decide that Crumb Cake was a more fitting name). Man, I am so glad I came across this recipe. It was so so so good. The cake was moist and tender and the crumb topping was sweet, buttery, cinnamony, and just crunchy enough. By the way, do you like how I just add a "y" to words if I can't figure out a better way of describing something? :)
Cinnamon Crumb Cake
(Adapted from Fake Ginger)
Ingredients
Crumb Topping
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
3/4 cup butter, cubed
Cake
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups plain yogurt *
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*I've been on a huge greek yogurt kick, so that's what I used.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a glass/ceramic 9x13 dish with butter.
Mix together all of the dry crumb topping ingredients (flour through cinnamon). Drop cubes of butter into the mix. Start by using a pastry cutter, or two knives, to cut in the butter. When the butter is evenly distributed, use hands to squeeze it together then break it into crumbs. Do this until it seems well combined and you are making crumbs that are mostly about the size of peanuts. Set aside. **
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle, cream the butter. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Then add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides bowl before each addition and beating until fully incorporated. Add the yogurt and vanilla and beat until combined. Finally, add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, beating just until combined without lumps.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Smooth out the batter with a spatula. Scoop up the crumb topping with your fist and drop clumps of it onto the the batter until all of the crumb topping is used. It will seem like a LOT of crumb topping.
Bake for 45-65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the middle of the cake seems solid.***
Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes before serving. If you like, mix together some milk and confectioners sugar and make a glaze.
**The original recipe called for melting the butter and stirring together, then drying out the mixture. I was already mixing my crumb topping when I realized this, but the way I did it worked out really well. I also decreased the amount of flour and butter.
***I know this seems like a wide spread for baking time, but the recipe called for 45-55 minutes and mine took an hour and 5 minutes. My oven can be weird. Check yours at 45 and just keep in mind that it can take up to an hour. If the edges seem to be getting overdone reduce the oven temperature to 325.
