Grandma Alice’s Coffee Cake

My Grandma is one of the best bakers that I know. Sure, there’s been some kitchen mishaps, such as pies bubbling over and catching the oven on fire, or the legendary “earthquake cake,” which occurred when we iced a layered cake before it was all the way cooled and it proceeded to crumble apart. Overall though, I have fond memories of learning to bake beside my grandma.

Ingredients

So when I discovered that the milk in my fridge was going sour, I of course thought of her coffee cake recipe, in which she often used soured milk in place of buttermilk. The resulting dessert is moist and delicious. This treat was a staple whenever we came to visit or for special occasions like Christmas morning.

Consistency of crumble topping saved out

Begin by mixing the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, butter, and pecans. Mix this until crumbly. You’ll need to save out ¾ cup of this mixture, as it will be crumbled on top.

Add to the mixture the eggs, milk, and soda. Once mixed you’ll begin to notice lots of air bubbles, which help to keep the cake fluffy. If you don't happen to have buttermilk or soured milk on hand, you can make soured milk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of regular milk and allowing it to stand for five minutes.

Pour the mixture into greased pans. I used two square pans, but a single 9x13 size pan would work. 

Sprinkle the crumble mixture on top. Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Personally, I think that this cake is best enjoyed with a fresh cup of coffee. Yum!

Grandma Alice's Coffee Cake

• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 c. white sugar
• 1/2 c. butter or margarine
• 2 c. flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 c. nuts (optional- I find I prefer pecans)
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. buttermilk or soured milk
• 1 tsp. soda

1. Combine the first 6 ingredients until crumbly. Take out 3/4 cup for topping.
2. To the rest, add eggs, buttermilk and soda. Beat thoroughly. Pour into a 9x13-inch pan or two 9x9-inch pans (greased) and sprinkle with topping.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

The link to this recipe is shared on the blog Under The Table and Dreaming, as are some other great ideas, so check them out if you get a chance!