New York Style Crumb Cake

New York Style Crumb Cake from America’s Test Kitchen

Don’t be tempted to substitute all-purpose flour for the cake flour, as doing so will make a dry, tough cake.  If you can’t find buttermilk, you can substitute and equal amount of plain, low-fat yogurt.  When topping the cake, take care not to push the crumbs into the batter.  This recipe can be easily doubled and baked in a 13 by 9-inch baking dish.  If doubling, increase the baking time to about 45 minutes.  Cooled leftovers can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Serves 8 to 10

Crumb Topping

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar (2 2/3 ounces)
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar (2 2/3 ounces)
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), melted and still warm
• 1 3/4 cups cake flour (7 ounces)

Cake

• 1 1/4 cups cake flour (5 ounces)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick), cut into 6 pieces, softened but still cool
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

1. For the topping:  Whisk sugars, cinnamon, salt, and butter in a medium bowl to combine.  Add flour and stir with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until the mixture resembles thick, cohesive dough; set aside to cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.
2. For the cake:  Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 325deg F.  Cut 16-inch length parchment paper or aluminum foil and fold lengthwise to 7-inch width.  Spray 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and fit parchment to dish, pushing it into corners and up sides; allow excess to overhang the edges of the dish.
3. In a bowl of a standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt on low speed to combine.  With mixer running at low speed, add butter one piece at a time; continue beating until mixture resembles moist crumbs, with no visible butter chunks remaining, 1 to 2 minutes.  Add egg yolk, vanilla, and buttermilk; beat on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute, scraping once if necessary.
4. Transfer batter to baking pan; using rubber spatula, spread batter into even layer.  Following photos (found on the ATK website), break apart the crumb topping into large pea-sized pieces and spread in even layer over the batter, beginning with the edges and then working toward center.  Bake until crumbs are golden and wooden skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.  Cool on wire rack at least 30 minutes.  Remove cake from pan by lifting parchment overhang.  Dust with confectioner’s sugar just before serving.

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