Streusel coffee cake is a versatile sweet cake with a crumb topping that can be modified with various ingredients such as spices, fruit, and vegetables. The streusel topping should be added just before baking to ensure it settles on top of the batter. Adding a layer of fruit below the streusel can add an extra layer of flavor.
Streusel coffee cake is a type of sweet cake with a crumb topping. Both cake ingredients and crumbly streusel can vary widely depending on the recipe, personal taste, and available ingredients. Most coffee streusel cake recipes are very simple and can be whipped up in less than an hour, including baking time.
A basic coffee cake recipe can easily be modified to create a streusel coffee cake. Common ingredients in a simple coffee cake include all-purpose flour, white sugar, butter, and a leavening agent such as baking powder. Building on these primary ingredients, a coffee cake can therefore go in almost any direction. It can be spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves or marbled with a ribbon of caramel or chocolate. Coffee cakes can also include fresh fruit and some vegetables, such as blueberries, bananas, squash or zucchini.
The streusel component of the pie is usually quite simple to come up with. To make a good crumbly topping, combine flour and oatmeal with butter and brown sugar, mixing until small to medium-sized crumbs form. To add extra flavor, consider mixing in chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds. Spices, such as aniseed and allspice, can add a kick to the flavor and blend well with many coffee cake recipes.
The key to a superior coffee streusel cake is adding the crumbly topping just before baking. If the streusel is added to the cake too early, it could sink into the batter. Once the cake is baking, the streusel won’t be able to stick to the drying batter and will simply fall off. Adding the topping just before baking ensures that it will settle on top of the batter, forming an even top of the cake. If the topping isn’t browning to your liking, move the pie to the top level of the oven or place it on a wire rack for a minute. When using a rack, be sure to check the cake regularly, as burning can occur very quickly.
To add a whimsical layer to coffee streusel cake, consider adding a layer of fruit just below the streusel. Unripe apples, nectarines or firm peaches can make a wonderful fruit layer that will taste even more delicious when topped with crunchy streusel. When adding a layer of fruit, be sure to make enough streusel to spread evenly and thoroughly over the top of the fruit, as it will help keep the fruit from drying out in the oven.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
