New York Style Crumb Cake

They’re not kidding when they say “crumb cake”! Because if you’re not careful the crumbs ARE all over! The cake is pretty dense for a coffee cake, but has to be to hold up all those crumbs! It really is delicious though. Another great recipe from Cooks Illustrated.

New York Style Crumb Cake

Crumb Topping
1/3 c. granulated sugar (2 2/3 ounces)
1/3 c. dark brown sugar (2 2/3 ounces)
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. table salt
8 Tbsp 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 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. table salt
6 Tbsp unsalted butter (3/4 stick), cut into 6 pieces, softened but still cool
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3cup buttermilk
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

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. Following photos below, 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.