Simple yet indulgent, this New York-Style Crumb Cake features a thick, satisfying layer of cinnamon-brown sugar topping that perfectly complements the light and tender vanilla cake beneath it.
When I was a kid, I used to eat brown sugar by the spoonful.
We never had candy or soda in the house because my dad was a dentist, but I don’t think that’s the reason. It’s not like I was eating granulated sugar.
Brown sugar — with its soft, sandy texture and delicate molasses flavor — was all I wanted.
I still have a thing for this ambrosial sweetener, but fortunately I’ve moved beyond the need to eat it straight from the container.
Just barely, though.
This New York-Style Crumb Cake provides the perfect vehicle for luxuriating in brown sugar’s enticing sweetness.
A generous layer of cinnamon-spiced brown sugar topping fills each bite with pure indulgence. This dense, flavorful crumb pairs perfectly with the tender, dreamy vanilla cake base.
Despite my best efforts, I can’t help myself with this crumb cake. I try to stop eating it, but I just can’t.
The captivating blend of flavors and textures draws me in every time, calling, “Just one more piece.” I always listen.
I actually stopped making crumb cake a few years ago because this addictive recipe was dangerously enormous.
The original recipe produces a 12 by 17-inch cake that I would devour by myself if I could. The topping alone calls for an entire pound of butter.
Yeah, I don’t really need to consume that.
When my daughter asked me to make crumb cake the other day, I decided to show some restraint by scaling the recipe down into a smaller size.
This new version still produces a crumb cake big enough for a crowd, which means, even now, I manage to eat more than I should.
I even tried cutting the cake up in small diamonds rather than generous wedges to curb my excess, but it didn’t help.
This crumb cake’s genius stems from its combination of two simple, yet flawless elements: delicious vanilla cake and cinnamon-brown sugar topping.
Together, these seemingly unassuming components create an extraordinary whole that’s irresistible. You have to eat it to believe it.
Consider yourself warned. Once you take a bite of this crumb cake, it’s impossible to stop eating.
You might want to invite some friends to help you share it.
New York-Style Crumb Cake
Ingredients
- Topping
- 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- Cake
- 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- 2/3 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325º F. Lightly grease an 11 or 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
- For the topping, whisk together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in melted butter and mix until combined and crumbly.
- To prepare the cake, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine the egg, milk, oil, and vanilla, whisking until well blended.
- Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Spread the batter over the bottom of the prepared tart pan in a thin, even layer.
- Starting from the outside edge and working toward the center, sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the batter. This will help maintain an even cake layer with topping that reaches all the way to the edge. Gently press the topping into the batter.
- Bake until the cake rises and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 to 45 minutes,
- Remove from the oven and cool slightly before unmolding the cake from the pan. Slice in diamonds or wedges. Serve warm.
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There is something so yummy about brown sugar, softened butter and some vanilla all mixed together!
I agree! Enjoy!