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My Copycat Entenmann’s Coffee Cake recipe is a classic New York dense vanilla cake laden with divine brown sugar and cinnamon streusel.
With Great Appreciation, This Recipe Recreated from the original by One of My Favorite Fellow Jersey Girls, Erren Hart of Erren’s Kitchen!
The New York crumb cake famous since its invention in 1898 is known to millions as the perfect complement to a cup of coffee. This family favorite has generations of fans.
At our local bakery the smell of cinnamon sugar permeated the air. It was noisy with ladies shouting out their orders and maddened bakery attendants stuffing big white boxes that would be tied off with that familiar red and white bakery twine. I recreate this treat from childhood whenever I want thanks to Erren’s method.
Delicate cinnamon crumbs rest atop a base of moist, dense vanilla cake, the only elements making it even more perfect being a piping hot morning coffee and the crossword. Copycat Entenmann’s crumb cakes are the gauge by which recipes for New York-style crumb cake is measured. Who doesn’t love a copycat recipe??
Ingredients That Go into This Recipe
There are no mistaking the obvious pantry staples required to assemble this cake, but I have made some notes behind ‘why’ these ingredients are required.
- Dark brown sugar – the molasses in brown sugar helps to create a moist and tender crumb topping.
- Ground cinnamon – the key flavor in the dish, cinnamon is warm and sweet, pairing perfectly with the buttery, crumbly topping.
- Kosher salt – helps to balance out the richness of the butter and the buttermilk.
- Unsalted butter – salted butter can vary in salt content, so using unsalted butter gives you control over the flavor of the cake.
- All-purpose flour – has a moderate protein content, which gives it the ability to hold both air and moisture, ideal for crumb cake, as it helps to create a tender and moist cake base.
- Baking powder – the leavening agent that helps the cake to rise.
- Baking soda – an additional leavening agent, it reacts with the acid in the buttermilk to produce carbon dioxide gas, which causes the cake to rise.
- Granulated sugar – a sweetener that helps to balance out the flavors of the cake and the crumb topping.
- Eggs – help to bind the ingredients together, add moisture, and create a light and fluffy texture.
- Buttermilk – adds a tangy flavor, tenderizes the cake, and helps to create a light and airy crumb topping.
- Vanilla extract – adds a rich, sweet flavor that complements the other ingredients while acting as a natural preservative, which helps to keep the cake fresh for longer.
optional
- Powdered sugar for serving – a touch of sweetness and a tempting visual garnish atop the cake – highly recommended!
Substitutions and Variations
- Butter – You can substitute shortening for butter in the crumb cake batter. Shortening will give the cake a slightly different texture, but it will still be moist and flavorful.
- Sugar – You can substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar in the crumb cake batter. Brown sugar will give the cake a richer flavor and a slightly chewier texture.
- Spices – You can add other spices to the crumb cake batter, such as nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom.
- Topping – You can add other ingredients to the crumb topping, such as oats, nuts, or dried fruit.
What Other Flour Can I Use Aside from All-Purpose Flour?
Substitute whole wheat flour in lieu of all-purpose flour in the crumb cake batter. Whole wheat flour will give the cake a slightly denser texture and a slightly nuttier flavor.
Coffee Cake vs Crumb?
Coffee cake and crumb cake are both pastries that go well with coffee. But crumb cake has a higher percentage of crumb topping, which is made with butter and cinnamon.
This makes crumb cake even more delicious and satisfying than coffee cake. So, if you’re looking for a truly decadent pastry to enjoy with your morning coffee, reach for a crumb cake.
Non-negotiable Equipment Needed
There is no compromising on the need for a 13 x 9-inch cake pan …as in you have to have one. Anything smaller will result in cake batter overflowing the bake. Ask me how I know this…
Additional helpful, but not required kitchen equipment:
- heavy-duty stand mixer
- food processor
If you have neither, fear not. Neither did William Entenmann but he still managed to invent this cake that we’re still talking about 100 years later!
Step by Step Instructions
A question that arises when baking this cake which pops up every once in a while: sinking crumbs. When scattering the crumb topping, spread placement of the largest clumps first, then begin at the outside edge of the pan and work your way to the center scattering the remaining crumbs.
How To Serve Coffee Cake
As the name implies, serve New York style with a HOT cuppa joe! But seriously, serve slightly warm or serve completely cooled, it’s your choice.
Storage Instructions and Freezing
- Slice then wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap. Place wrapped cakes under a glass cake dome, in an airtight container with tight-fitting lid, or in a large plastic zipper bag. Properly stored cakes will keep up to 5 days at room temperature.
- To freeze, wrap dually first with aluminum foil then slip inside a freezer safe plastic zipper bag, freezing up to 3 months. To thaw, defrost overnight in the refrigerator.