Sour Cream Coffee Cake w/ Toasted Pecan Filling

coffee_cake
Why is Coffee Cake called Coffee Cake? Is there some sort of rule punishable by law if you don’t eat it with a cup of Joe? Well lock me up in cell block D. For some reasons unknown to me, I do not like drinking my coffee with sweet things. No, you will never see me dunking a doughnut into my coffee. You will never see a foo-foo shortbread anywhere near my cup!

If I am eating ANYTHING sweet, my choice of poison is a big ass tall glass of milk(skim milk please). Osteoporosis is not anywhere in the near future for me. I drink about a gallon of milk by myself a week. Can you imagine if I drank anything other than skim? I would be 742 pounds. This is some seriously good Coffee Cake..found it on RecipeZaar.

coffee_cake(Do you see a face in my swirl?? Think Mr. Bill)

And I leave you with a photo of me. My sister-in-law sent it to be. It was taken at my Halloween party. I honestly have no explanation of what I was doing, but I am pretty sure it included alcohol(the crossed eyes might give that away)!

SOUR CREAM COFFEE CAKE with TOASTED PECAN FILLING
Printable Recipe

Streusel Topping
2 ounces unsalted butter
3 ounces all-purpose flour
1/4 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon table salt

Filling
1 cup toasted pecans
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cocoa powder

Cake
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
10 ounces unsalted butter, slightly softened
11 1/2 ounces superfine sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
16 ounces sour cream

Directions

1) Position rack in center of oven and heat oven to 350 degrees (325 if using dark, nonstick pan). Generously butter 10″(the cheapy,aluminum type) tube pan with a removable bottom.

2) Topping: In a 2 quart saucepan, heat butter over medium heat until almost melted. Remove from heat and cool to tepid. In a medium bowl, combine flour, pecans, granulated sugar and light brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt and stir with a fork. Add the flour mixture to the butter and stir until evenly moistened and crumbly.

3) Filling: In a food processor, pulse the pecans, sugars, cinnamon, and cocoa 4-6 times to combine and chop the pecans.

4) Cake: In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1-2 minutes. Add the sugar slowly, beating until combined. Scrape the bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, blending each one completely before adding the next. Scrape the bowl down and add the vanilla.

5) On low speed, alternate adding the dry ingredients and the sour cream, adding the flour in four parts and the sour cream in three, beginning and ending with the flour and scraping the bowl as needed.

6) Spoon 2 generous cups of the batter into prepared pan. Smooth with the back of a soup spoon, spreading the batter to the side of the pan first and then to the center. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of the filling evenly over the batter. Cover the filling with about 2 cups of the batter, dropping dollups around the pan and smoothing with the spoon to sides of the pan and then to the center. Don’t lift the spoon while smoothing or you will disturb the filling. Sprinkle another 1/2 cup of filling over the batter and cover with 2 more cups of batter. Layer on the remaining filling and then the remaining batter for four layers of batter and three layers of filling.

7) Insert a table knife 1″ from the side of the pan straight into the batter going almost to the bottom. Run the knife around the pan two times, without lifting the knife blade, and spacing the circles about 1″ apart. This distributes the filling but still keeps it clearly defined. Smooth the top of the batter with the back of the soup spoon.

8) Take a handful of the streusel and squeeze firmly to form a large mass. Break up the mass into smaller clumps, distributing the streusel evenly over the batter. Repeat with the remaining streusel. Press the streusel lightly into the surface of the batter.

9) Bake until the top of the cake is golden brown, the sides are beginning to pull away from the pan, and a wooden skewer inserted in to the center of the cake comes out clean, 70-75 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for at least an hour before removing from pan.

10) Gently lift up the center tube while carefully pushing the bottom upward with your opposite hand. If the cake doesn’t release easily, run a thin knife between the cake and the tube and between the cake and the outer wall of the pan. Once the cake is out, run the knife under the bottom, too.

11) Fold a 12″ square of aluminum foil into quarters. Measure 1 1/4″ from the inside tip of the foil and cut a arc to make a hole for the tube when you unfold the foil. Unfold and place over the cake, pressing gently onto the top of the cake and molding the foil around its sides to hold in all the streusel.

12) Invert the cake onto a plate and remove the center tube. Invert the cake onto a rack, remove the foil, and cool right side up.

13) Can be frozen up to 3 months.

Comments

  1. Art and Appetite says:

    Leslie, this is terrrrrriffic! It reminds me of my favorite sour cream donut. Ahhhhh soooo goood… oooh ahhh ooohh

  2. I'd like a nice tall glass of Diet Water with my coffee cake, please.

    Btw, I do see Mr. Bill's face in the cake. I suggest you put his delicious mug on Ebay.

  3. Can I come party with ya next time?

    The cake looks absolutely perfect. I love all that streusel.

  4. Mommy's Kitchen says:

    Love coffee cake and yours is so pretty. Cant wait to try this recipe. The picture of you captures you true personality so bubbly. I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.

  5. Scrumptious treat and fun photo of you! 🙂

  6. I should have come earlier for this:DD

  7. Ciao Chow Linda says:

    Your cake turned out perfect. Last time I made one of these, it sank in the middle. Don't know what I did wrong, but I'll follow your recipe next time.

  8. cookies and cups says:

    haha, the pic is priceless!
    That is crazy that you drink that much milk…you must be eatin' a lot of sweets 🙂

  9. BentoForKidlet says:

    I certainly hope there is no such law! I am not a coffee drinker at all. bring on the milk here 😀

    The coffee cake looks delicious! I will have to try this one!

  10. that's one hot chick! oooooya!
    nice cake too. LOL I'm not one to eat sweet stuff with my coffee either, just boring toast or I do make an exception with my morning glory muffins.

  11. i sorta see a face there, but more importantly, i see a swirl of sweet goodness! what a perfectly crumbly coffee cake, appropriate for any beverage. 🙂

  12. Delighted you shared a coffee cake recipe!
    It's nice to have something yummy like this to whip up for breakfast when you have guest!
    Or…when you don't!
    I'm with you…nothing like a good cold glass of milk with something sweet!
    Enjoyed your blog!

  13. what a great shot of that cake! And girl get our drink on anytime you want! I have a few pics that are like that, a bit blurrier, since the photographer had his share as well…

    I do not drink coffee but once in a blue moon, so I understand your feelings…I won't even drink chocolate milk with sweets…

  14. Love the photo and love the cake. I have been craving coffee cake lately and this would fit the bill nicely!

  15. I'm with ya sista on the BIG icy cold glass of milk with sweets thing! 🙂

    If I bring my own glass of milk may I have a slice of your er, coffee cake?
    ~ingrid

  16. TheFitnessFreak says:

    Oh, I am SO making this! I, like you do not eat sweets with my coffee. Come to think of it, I don't drink coffee anymore, sniff, sniff : (

    My husband and boys will like this for sure!

    Love the picture : )

    Nicole

  17. pigpigscorner says:

    Nice swirls!

  18. Oh man, coffee cake is one of my favorite things. That one looks spectacular!

    Hm, yeah, it does look like alcohol might be involved in that. 😉

  19. that is some good looking coffee cake, delicious, i love all the swirls!

    cute pic!

  20. OMG, YUM….YUM….YUMMMMMMMMMM. I am drooling. But sorry….I gotta have my sweet with my strong coffee. I think they compliment each other. I prefer my skim milk with da chocolate chip cookies….

  21. Oh wow. This cake looks heavenly! Love the swirl =D.

  22. Leslie M. says:

    That looks so good Les!!! That picture is hysterical! YOU are a riot! YEAH your shy! hahahah.. ooopsie, I fell off my chair!
    Can you make SOMETHING that turns out burnt, awful terrible and post it ONCE so us normal folk feel good about ourselves! hahaha
    nah.. its ok… YOUR the best!!! 🙂
    Hugs,
    The other Les
    Leslie
    LeslieVeg@msn.com
    http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/

  23. I'm totally with you – give me a big glass of skim milk with anything sweet! Cute picture from Halloween 🙂

  24. Wow.This looks so incredible. i am a huge coffeecake fan! This looks awesome. Can't wait to give it a try!!!

  25. Beautiful swirl in that coffee cake…yummilicious!

  26. The coffee cake looks delectable, and the Halloween pic is a keeper!

  27. Oh wow, that is one terrific looking coffee cake. I love coffee cake…such a great dessert or perfect with an afternoon (or morning or evening or anytime) cup of coffee!!!!!

  28. Chef Fresco says:

    Sour cream coffee cake?! Sounds and looks delicious! Even the inside swirls look perfect!

  29. LOL, very cute pic – I wish I was at that Halloween party 🙂

    I'm with you on milk. I love it with sweets too. Love your coffee cake!

  30. Love, love, love this coffeecake recipe! I like milk with mine. Your photos are divine!

  31. OMGaaaawd.

  32. Great cake! Fab picture of you too – even with the crossed eyes.

  33. haha, I do see the face! And I always drink milk with my sweets! Though I do prefer 1%. 🙂 And your cake looks fabulous!
    -kaunis

  34. Clumbsy Cookie says:

    A cake with a face inside is always a winner in my book! I'm more a tea person when I'm eating sweets… not that I need anything to drink… and happy just eating 😉

  35. RecipeGirl says:

    That's some serious swirl. Love it!

  36. I can only say one word for this coffee cake "WOW"!! love love it!! I'm sure dad in law could eat half of this cake 🙂 he loves coffee

    ps, you are sooo cute in your photo 🙂

  37. Erika from The Pastry Chef At Home says:

    You just made me crave coffee cake soooo badly! Cute profile pic!

  38. Cousin Pamela says:

    Hey, I'm not sure I could make this myself…but call me next time you make it, I would LOVE to eat it!

  39. Libby Murphy says:

    Oh this recipe has it all – the sour cream, topping and plenty of spice and nuts. I love your site and so glad to have stumbled on it.
    Happy Twirls

  40. This is one heck of a good looking cake! The thought of a big slice of this right now with some ice cold milk is making my mouth water! Bookmarking now!