Crumb Cake

September has had such a fabulous beginning! A beautiful mountainous region of New Hampshire was the setting for our niece Jane’s wedding, to the love of her life, Adam. Considering we live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, however, it was a but of a journey, but one well worth it. We stopped about halfway on our trek in New York to visit Jim’s cousin John and his wife Mary. Meeting them for the first time was absolutely wonderful! I’m very fortunate to be a part of this loving family! A fabulous breakfast was prepared before we began the second leg of our venture north. John made scrumptious blueberry pancakes served along a delicious Crumb Cake with an abundance of tasty crumb topping. Little did I know that this was just the first spark of my desire to make this at home.

Later that afternoon, we arrived at Camp Ogontz, the venue for the wedding. Being brought up on the coastal area of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the breathtaking scenery and mountains galore left me awestruck. My ears popped several times as we elevated to higher grounds. Everything was gloriously beautiful! The pictures below are only a few I took. This view from the deck of the dining hall was quite serene. The other is the view prior to the guests arriving for the wedding.

The wedding guests were treated to a continental breakfast and brunch during their weekend celebration which included a Crumb Cake made on site at their bakery. (Our cabin was neighboring the bakery. Fate? Maybe.) Just one bite reminded me of what the Tastykake version used to taste like when I was a kid, only this one was warm out of the oven and melted in your mouth! Now the flame was lit; it’s no longer a spark, and exactly a week after our return home, I have created one I absolutely love! Below is the one served at the brunch.

My Quest:

I had researched many recipes.  After trying one with all purpose flour, which was floury in taste with sandy crumbs,  I attempted a version using cake flour. This one, a revised recipe from America’s Test Kitchen with a few personal tweaks, was voted a winner in this house! I’ll take you through my process to create this masterpiece.

For the crumb topping, I whisked the sugars, spices and salt together. The melted butter was blended in next. At this point, it will appear rather wet. Sprinkle the cake flour over this and start to mix it thoroughly with a rubber spatula until no streaks of flour can be seen. Allow it to sit at room temperature. It will become stiff which better able you to create the crumbs needed for the topping.

Next, let’s address the cake situation. The reverse creaming method was utilized. In this process, the dry ingredients and sugar are mixed together first. The fats, in this case the softened butter, are blended in 1 tablespoon at a time, eventually forming large “crumbs”. The remainder of the wet ingredients are blended in until light and fluffy, about 1 minute at medium high speed. I know you’re not suppose to taste uncooked batter with raw eggs, but this batter was quite flavorful.

When it comes to what type of pan to use, I’d recommend a light color aluminum pan as shown because of their uniform heat conduction; a glass pan  would increase the cooking time.  Line the 8″ x 8″ pan with two alternating strips of parchment paper. There was a slight overhang which will be needed to lift it out of the pan, once cooled. A baker’s spray was also used to ensure the cake’s quick release from the pan. This may not have been needed, but I didn’t want to take a chance.

Spread the batter evenly using a spatula.

Crumble the “clump”  between your forefingers creating pea-sized crumbs. Drop the crumbs around the edges first and work your way towards the middle. Fill in remaining crumbs evenly over the top.

Place in a 325 degree preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out dry. Cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes before lifting it out of the pan.

For the final touch, dust with powdered sugar. Slice this New York-style Crumb Cake and serve with coffee or fresh fruit! This will definitely become a family favorite!