The number seven represents wholeness, perfection, totality, 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, if you come for a visit, bring your own dessert. But, as you know, reality is that everyone should know how to make those yummy cakes 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 a fine flour, great even for cakes and cookies.
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 a 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 into the batter. Pour the batter into a 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 cup sugar (if you use sour cherries)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cream
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg
1 cup pitted cherries
1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp. butter 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 cherries and mix into the batter. Pour the batter into a 8 x 8-inch pan, I like to line the pan with parchment paper so it does not stick. Top with crumbles of melted butter and sugar.
Bake for 20-25 minutes
Rhubarb Coffee Cake
1 cup all purpose or whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cream
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg
1 cup chopped rhubarb
1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp. butter for 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 a 8 x 8-inch pan, I like to line the pan with parchment paper so it does not stick. Top with crumbles of melted 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 a 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 cup all purpose or whole white flour
6 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, 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
Mix all ingredients together, you do not have to mix the dry first, but you can. Pour the batter into a 8 x 8-inch pan, I like to line the pan with parchment paper so it does not stick. Top with peach pieces.
Bake for 20-25 minutes
Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk just before serving.
You get the idea. Instead of milk you can use apple sauce, cream, or any fruit juice. 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.
Thanks for sharing knowledge and wisdom!
Your welcome. My hope is that it is helpful for someone, thanks for stopping by.