The number seven represents wholeness, perfection, totality, and completion. Here too, I use the number seven not as an actual number but to show that there are many easy coffee cakes in this one recipe. How many? Well, however many your fantasy allows you to do.

Baking cakes or making yummy desserts has never been my strength. I will bake bread and homemade buns all the time, but please bring your own dessert if you come for a visit. But, as you know, the reality is that everyone has to make cakes at least sometimes, and I am no exception.

One day in my desperate search for something easy enough to make for a cake I came across this Easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake, and I have made it ever since, in many different ways.

And now I’m sharing my secret with the world. This is about the only recipe I make for a cake and I call it the easy seven-in-one coffee cake.

I like to use freshly ground whole grain spelt, or at least organic all-purpose flour and organic sugar to make it more wholesome. Our Fidibus grain mill makes fine flour, great even for cakes and cookies.

I usually double the recipe, since it freezes so well.

Make it vegan:

This simple recipe works just as great without any animal products. Instead of regular milk, use plant milk. My favorite plant milk for backing is oat milk. Instead of the butter use vegan butter or taste neutral oil. Instead of an egg use a tablespoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.

Note to the backing powder: The original recipe asks for 3 tsp, that’s a lot, to be honest, but works great. Since the vegan version uses lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, I have used half the amount of baking powder with the same results.

The plant-based version of this cake needs a bit longer to bake, I find. Add another 10 minutes and see if that works for you.

Recipes:

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup milk
4 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg

1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon for topping.

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Mix all ingredients together; you do not have to mix the dry first, but you can. Pour the batter into an 8 x 8-inch pan, I like to line the pan with parchment paper so it does not stick. Top with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes

Easy, eh? But wait, there is more. You can make a great variety out of it, double or triple the recipe, and your family will not even notice that all they have been served for the last 3 months was the same simple cake.

Here are some ideas (the little changes I make are italic):

Apple Coffee Cake

1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup milk
4 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg

1 cup chopped apples

1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon for topping.

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Mix all ingredients (except fruit) together, you do not have to mix the dry first, but you can. Add the chopped apples and mix them into the batter. Pour the batter into an 8 x 8-inch pan. Top with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes

Cherries Coffee Cake

1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup milk
4 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg

1 cup pitted cherries

1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp. butter for the topping.

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Mix all ingredients (except fruit) together, you do not have to mix the dry first, but you can. Add the cherries and mix them into the batter. Pour the batter into an 8 x 8-inch pan, I like to line the pan with parchment paper so it does not stick. Top with crumbles of soft butter and sugar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes

Rhubarb Coffee Cake (my favorite)

1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup milk
4 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg

1 cup chopped rhubarb

1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp. butter for the topping.

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Mix all ingredients (except rhubarb) together, yes you do not have to mix the dry first, but you can. Mix rhubarb into the batter. Pour the batter into an 8 x 8-inch pan, I like to line the pan with parchment paper so it does not stick. Top with crumbles of soft butter and sugar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes

Apricot Coffee Cake

1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup milk
4 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg

Apricot halves enough to top the cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Mix all ingredients together, you do not have to mix the dry first, but you can. Pour the batter into an 8 x 8-inch pan, I like to line the pan with parchment paper so it does not stick. Top with apricot halves.

Bake for 20-25 minutes

Serve with whipped cream.

Double Apricot Coffee Cake

2 cups all-purpose or whole white flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup milk (also great with orange juice)
6 tbsp. butter, melted
2 egg

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Mix all ingredients together, you do not have to mix the dry first, but you can. Pour the batter into two 8 x 8-inch pans, I like to line the pans with parchment paper so it does not stick.

Bake for 20-25 minutes

Spread one with a good layer of apricot jam, and place the second on top

Spread with 2 tablespoons butter and sprinkle sugar on top.

Broil for just a minute – don’t let it burn!!!

Peach Coffee Cake

1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup milk (or substitute with the juice from the canned peaches, adjust the sugar)
4 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg

Peach pieces enough to top the cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Bake for 20-25 minutes

Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk just before serving.

You get the idea. Mix in any fruit or berries you want, go nuts with the recipe (or even better, use nuts ;)). Top with sugar, butter, crumbles, nuts, or fruit. Serve plain, with whipped cream, ice cream, or sweetened condensed milk. Mix and match the way your family likes it.

It is always a hit! Yum!

Please share what combination you like best.