9.11.2012

C's to the Fifth Degree

.  I tried to come up with a creative title for this post.  But this was all I came up with.  So humor me.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Coffee Cake.

5 C's, get it??

Anyway, this post is my first ode to the Fall season.  I know it may be a bit early but the sooner we get to Fall baking, the better for everyone.  Trust me.


When it comes to Fall, I think of pumpkins, apples, pies, and spices.  Spices.  Like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice.  You get the gist.  So this perfectly classic, cinnamon-bursting coffee cake is a great start to the most wonderful season there is.

If you've never had coffee cake, this is the coffee cake for you start out with.  Or if you're just a sucker for plain delicious, then this is right up your alley, too.  The cake itself is dense, yet moist, due to the addition of sour cream.  And that is topped with ribbon of sweet, cinnamon cream cheese and a generously thick layer of crunchy, cinnamoney streusel.  Simplistic, yes, but jam packed with the essence of Fall.  Well, to me at least...

I mean really, isn't this coffee cake just lovely?  Your guests will think so, too.


On a side note, I'd like to give a quick update on my knee.  I know, we're back to that again.  But I actually have some semi good news.  The orthopedist told me I have what they call runners knee.  Fortunately it's nothing major and over time, it can be 'fixed.'  The frustrating part about the whole thing for me was that [in the short version] my knee problem is probably due to the new shoes I bought a few months back.  Basically, the [not-so-cheap] shoes I was persuaded to buy [shame on me!] have arch support, which the orthopedist told me I actually didn't need.  Even though I have flat fleet, the arch support is adding pressure to a ligament [can't remember the name of it for the life of me...] on the outside of my knee and that's causing me all of this dang pain.

So you can bet that I'll be going back to my old style of shoes, Nike Free's, and hopefully back out on the pavement in no time.  Fall only lasts so long, so staying inside to work out has been a complete bummer.  Looks like I'm going shoe shopping!

Now bake some coffee cake  .


My Notes:
  • I'm a streusel girl, so next time around I would think about doubling the streusel in this recipe.  There's definitely quite a bit already, in addition to that wonderful cream cheese layer,  but I'm simply a sucker for that crunchiness.

From Bake or Break

Ingredients:
Crumb topping:
1/4 c. unsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces
1/3 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 c. chopped pecans
Pinch of salt

Cream Cheese Swirl:
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 c. chopped pecans

Cake:
3 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. unsalted butter, softened
1 c. sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/4 c. sour cream

Directions:
  1. For crumb topping, combine butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, and salt in a small bowl.  Mix with a fork until mixture resembles crumbs; set aside.
  2. For cream cheese swirl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar in a small bowl until fluffy.  Mix in vanilla extract and cinnamon.  Stir in pecans.  Set aside.
  3. Heat oven to 350°F and grease 13x9-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.  For cake, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.  Set aside.
  4. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined after each addition.  Mix in vanilla extract.  Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.  Stir in sour cream and mix until just combined.
  5. Transfer batter to prepared pan.  Top batter with spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture and using an up and down motion with a knife, swirl mixture into batter.  Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over top.
  6. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Yield: 16 large servings

post signature

16 comments:

  1. This looks spectacular!!! I am just like you and love fall and all the spices that come with it! I have deemed this week the first week of fall...I want the season to last as long as it can! I've pinned this post and will hopefully be making this very soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oo great, let me know if you try this out!! Happy Fall baking :)

      Delete
  2. This recipe looks so good!!

    I think this is my first time of visiting your blog, please stop by and visit my blog and say hello as well and become a follower (if you are not one already) at: http://jessicaslilcorner.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. what a wonderful recipe! I am a streusel girl, as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It literally makes everything better, huh?!

      Delete
  4. Girl, just stop. Stop it seriously.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yum to the E! This looks so delicious & moist. I am a huge cinnamon fan! You have such wonderful recipes on your blog :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha love your comment and thanks so much for stopping by to check out LSM, I truly appreciate it! Hope you found some things you like :)

      Delete
  6. Hi! I am getting ready to make your Brown Butter Banana Brownies and in reading the post, I see you live in Omaha. Me, too! As it turns out I have several of your recipes on my Pinterest board to bake sometime soon! Always fun to meet another blogger from Omaha! Thanks for sharing wonderful recipes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, it's so crazy to me how absolutely huge but small at the same time the blogging world is. I absolutely love meeting other NE bloggers but they seem to be few and far between?! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  7. I'm a streusel girl too! This looks absolutely divine and I love that it has cream cheese...yum! Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. That really is the perfect ode to fall!

    I would love it if you would share this with my readers at Mealtime Monday!

    Kaylee
    www.couponingncooking.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. MMmmmm this looks delightful. Glad you figured out the problem...pesky shoes!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jess,
    This looks amazing! Coffee cake is my favorite and I do love cream cheese :) I can’t wait to try the recipe. Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you share next week! Have a wonderful weekend
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is VERY fall and VERY delicious looking! We'd love for you to link this up at our party! http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/2012/09/riverton-housewives-round-up-33.html

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward
    to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I've shared your web site in my social networks!
    Look at my page ; cheap bridal shoes

    ReplyDelete