New York - Style Crumb Cake

That’s right; you’ve guessed it…another America’s Test Kitchen recipe! They can do no wrong in my book…especially when I yield results like these with their recipes! This recipe makes the most tender cake I have ever tasted. This was absolutely amazing and it rates leaps and bounds above any store-bought crumb cake out there. This is seriously the best breakfast treat I have ever made. (Note: This is so good, it can easily be served at other meals besides breakfast.)

New York-Style Crumb Cake

Cook’s Note: Don't be tempted to substitute all-purpose flour for the cake flour, as doing so will make a dry, tough cake. If you can't find buttermilk, you can substitute an equal amount of plain, low-fat yogurt. When topping the cake, take care to not push the crumbs into the batter. This recipe can be easily doubled and baked in a 13 by 9-inch baking dish. If doubling, increase the baking time to about 45 minutes. Cooled leftovers can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Ingredients:

Crumb Topping

1/3 C granulated sugar (2 2/3 ounces)

1/3 C dark brown sugar (2 2/3 ounces)

3/4 t ground cinnamon

1/8 t table salt

8 T unsalted butter (1 stick), melted and still warm

1 3/4 C cake flour (7 ounces)

Cake

1 1/4 C cake flour (5 ounces)

1/2 C granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces)

1/4 t baking soda

1/4 t table salt

6 T unsalted butter (3/4 stick), cut into 6 pieces, softened but still cool

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 t vanilla extract

1/3 C buttermilk

 

Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Instructions:

FOR THE TOPPING: Whisk sugars, cinnamon, salt, and butter in medium bowl to combine. Add flour and stir with rubber spatula or wooden spoon until mixture resembles thick, cohesive dough; set aside to cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.

FOR THE CAKE: Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Cut 16-inch length parchment paper or aluminum foil and fold lengthwise to 7-inch width. Spray 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and fit parchment into dish, pushing it into corners and up sides; allow excess to overhang edges of dish.

In bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt on low speed to combine. With mixer running at low speed, add butter one piece at a time; continue beating until mixture resembles moist crumbs, with no visible butter chunks remaining, 1 to 2 minutes. Add egg, yolk, vanilla, and buttermilk; beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute, scraping once if necessary.

Transfer batter to baking pan; using rubber spatula, spread batter into even layer. Break apart crumb topping into large pea-sized pieces and spread in even layer over batter, beginning with edges and then working toward center. Bake until crumbs are golden and wooden skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on wire rack at least 30 minutes. Remove cake from pan by lifting parchment overhang. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

Serves 8-10

Source: America’s Test Kitchen