Vanilla Crumb Cake
Vanilla Crumb Cake is a moist, buttery dessert topped with a generous layer of sweet, cinnamon-spiced crumb topping. Often served with coffee or tea, it combines a soft vanilla-flavored base with a crunchy streusel top. This classic cake is simple to make and perfect for breakfast or casual gatherings.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Whisk
- Spatula
- 9-inch round cake pan (or 8x8 square pan)
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
For the Crumb Topping:
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
For the Cake
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter cold and cut into chunks
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk or regular milk as a substitute
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or an 8×8 square pan.
Prepare the Crumb Topping:
- In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and, using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Mix the Dry Ingredients for the Cake:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream the Butter and Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cold butter and granulated sugar together with a hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the Eggs and Vanilla:
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
Incorporate the Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk:
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
Pour the Batter into the Pan:
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly using a spatula.
Add the Crumb Topping:
- Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the cake batter. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Cool and Serve:
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!