How do you make coffee cake?

How to Make Coffee Cake: A Simple Guide

Coffee cake is a delicious and comforting treat that can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Here's a straightforward recipe to get you started:

Ingredients:

* For the cake:

* 2 cups all-purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon baking powder

* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

* 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

* 2 large eggs

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* 1 cup buttermilk

* 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

* For the streusel topping:

* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

* 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and diced

Instructions:

1. Prepare the cake batter:

* Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.

* In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

* In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.

* In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and chopped nuts (if using).

* Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, do not overmix.

2. Make the streusel topping:

* In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

* Cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Assemble and bake:

* Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over the batter.

* Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

4. Cool and serve:

* Let the coffee cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.

* Serve warm or at room temperature, with a dusting of powdered sugar or a dollop of whipped cream.

Tips and Variations:

* You can substitute 1 cup of heavy cream for the buttermilk.

* To add extra flavor, use coffee-flavored extract instead of vanilla extract.

* For a more intense coffee flavor, add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee granules to the batter.

* Add other mix-ins like chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped fruit.

* Experiment with different streusel toppings, such as a cinnamon sugar topping or a brown sugar pecan topping.

Enjoy your delicious homemade coffee cake!