The perfect cake for breakfast, brunch, or as an accompaniment to coffee (with the girls, of course), this coffee cake is a nod to traditional coffee cake with the flavor turned up just so.
Course
Desserts
Prep Time20minutes
Cook Time55minutes
Total Time1hour15minutes
Servings1cake
Ingredients
For the Topping/Filling
1/3cupspacked light brown sugar
2tbspsugar
1cupwalnuts or pecans
1 1/2tspground cinnamon
1/2cupcake flour
4tbspcold unsalted buttercut into pieces
1/2tspvanilla bean
For the Cake
4large egg yolks
1cupsour cream
1 1/2tspvanilla
2cupscake flour
1cupsugar
1/2tspbaking powder
1/2tspbaking soda
1/4tspKosher salt
12tbspunsalted butterroom temperature
1applepeeled, cored and sliced into ¼” thick wedges and tossed with 2 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9” springform pan with parchment paper – grease and flour the sides and bottom (I chose to use a bundt pan, which I just greased and floured, without setting down parchment paper).
For the Topping/Filling
In a food processor combine both sugars, walnuts and cinnamon. Pulse till nuts are coarsely chopped. Remove ¼ cup and put aside (for the filling). Add the flour, butter and vanilla and pulse briefly till mixture is crumbly. Set aside (this will be the topping).
For the Cake
In a medium bowl lightly whisk the yolks, ¼ c. of the sour cream and vanilla and set aside. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixer bowl and beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Add the butter and remaining ¾ c. of sour cream. Mix on low speed till dry ingredients are moistened, and increase speed to medium – beat for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides. Add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition. Scrape down the sides.
Pour 2/3 of the batter into your prepared pan, using a small angled spatula to smooth the surface. Sprinkle with the reserved filling and top with the sliced apples. Use a spoon to dollop the remaining batter over the top and gently smooth. Sprinkle with the reserved topping.
Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or till a cake tester comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides of the pan with your small metal spatula and remove. Cool completely before wrapping.
Recipe Notes
The apple filling really brought this cake together and was moist, tasty and more-ish. I would recommend using two apples.
This cake can be cooked in the suggested springform pan, a bundt pan or even in small, individual servings by using a muffin tray.
I toasted some of the topping under my oven’s grill to give it a bit of extra flavor.