Theirs: Coffee Cake

Both Aspen and I are dessert addicts.... though we probably wouldn't admit it to your face. We are both on the go all the time and barely have time to eat throughout the day. I take 15 units at San Francisco State University, have a job, and on top of all that, I am co-producing a documentary, an awards show for my school, and the graduation for my major. It leaves very little time to plan ahead for healthy eating (or full meals at all), so when I get a moment at home to make a treat, it just feels comforting and obviously delicious. Aspen has no interest in telling me I should watch my sugar intake, so together we make a mean, sweet-loving team. 

At nighttime when we finally are home from our busy days and have a moment to relax, we switch on the TV and head straight for the sweets. It could be worse, right? We don't smoke or drink... just drown our bodies in sugar! We are constantly thinking of desserts to make at home and recently came across the classic coffee cake. It's a pretty simple recipe but be prepared to watch about a stick of butter go into it. These coffee cake squares were absolutely scrumptious but we both agreed that they are rich enough to save for special occasions. Luckily, my future-sister-in-law's bridal shower is coming up in April so I will definitely pull this recipe out again for that event!

Here's the recipe: 

Ingredients for cake

- 2 cups all-purpose flour

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 2 teaspoons baking powder

- 3/4 teaspoon salt

- 6 tablespoons melted butter

- 1 beaten egg

- 1/2 cup buttermilk

Ingredients for topping

- 1/2 cup brown sugar

- 2 teaspoons cinnamon

- 2 tablespoons chopped butter

- 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1. Stir together flour, sugar, baking power, salt, and baking soda.

2. Melt butter and pour in the dry mixture.

3. Add in the egg and buttermilk.

4. In a separate bowl, mix together all the topping ingredients (best to massage the ingredients in with your fingers).

5. Butter and lightly flour an 8 x 8 round or square pan.

6. Pour in half of the mixture into the pan.

7. Sprinkle half of the topping mixture over the cake mix already in the pan.

8. Pour the remaining cake mix, then layer again with the rest of the topping mixture.

9. Bake for 50 minutes at 350º

10. Enjoy!

It's okay to use your hands for mixing the topping ingredients!

Halfway done - add more cake then more topping for a layering effect.