Soft, buttery, and full of sugary crumbs, this crumb cake has everything you want in a simple, traditional cake. The crumbs take up half the cake with their buttery brown sugar base.
Crumb cake is one of those desserts that is good any time of the day. It is excellent with a cup of coffee for breakfast or as a classic dessert. It is always a favorite, no matter what time of day you serve it.
Classic Crumb Cake Recipe
There is no lack of crumbs when it comes to this crumb cake. The crumbs take up half the cake in what I would call a perfect ratio. They are a traditional crumb topping made from a combination of brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. They bind together with flour and melted butter to form that signature crumby texture.
Now, while the cake is mostly about the crumbs, it is important to have a sturdy base to keep them on. That is where the cake base comes into play. The cake is a rich butter cake. It stays tender and moist thanks to the addition of sour cream and whole milk. It has a subtle flavor, but that is just what you want to pair with the brown sugar crumbs.
Still craving crumbs? Try my signature fruit crumble bars, apple pie cookies, and peach cobbler cookies.
Why I Love This Crumb Cake Recipe
- Simple - The recipe doesn't skew much from the classic crumb cake, and for good reason.
- Crumbs - If you haven't picked it up by now, the crumbs are my favorite part of this cake.
- Crowd Favorite - If you need a dessert that everyone will like, go with this crumb cake. It's a favorite in the best way possible.
Ingredients Needed For Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake
See below for all the details on what you'll need to make the full recipe.
- Sour Cream - Gives the cake a rich, moist texture.
- Brown Sugar - Adds a subtle, sweet flavor to both the cake and the crumbs.
- Whole Milk - Keeps the cake very rich.
- Cinnamon - Adds a nice spice to the crumb toppings.
- Melted butter - The rich melted butter binds the crumb ingredients.
Directions For How To Make Crumb Cake
- Prepare.
Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare an 8x8 pan with parchment or grease. Set to the side.
- Make the crumb topping.
In a medium-sized bowl, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour over the melted butter, followed by the flour. Use a fork to combine the mixture until crumbs start to form.
- Mix the dry ingredients.
Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set to the side.
- Combine the wet ingredients.
Use a handheld mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment to cream the butter with sugars until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla and continue to beat until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add in the dry ingredients.
Mix in the dry ingredients, followed by the whole milk. The batter will be very thick.
- Assemble the cake.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and top with the crumb topping. Use a spatula to spread out the crumb topping evenly.
- Bake the cake.
Bake the cake for 45-55 minutes. It's a dense cake, so it might take longer. Remove the cake when a toothpick comes out clean, and let it cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
Make Ahead and Storage
The crumb cake can be made 1-2 days ahead of time but will taste best fresh. If made ahead of time, cover it in foil or store it in an airtight container. Any extra cake can be stored in an airtight container for 4-5 days. Extra cake can also be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months. The cake can also be made, cooled, and stored whole for 2-3 months in the freezer.
Tips and Variations
- Fruit Forward - Fresh fruit is always a welcome addition to crumb cake. Mix in berries, cherries, or even apples for a seasonal twist.
- Oven Temperature - This is a dense cake, so it might take a while to bake. All ovens are different, so keep an eye on it so it won't overbake.
- Crumb Overload - If you'd rather have more cake than crumbs, half the crumb recipe when assembling the cake.
FAQs
The difference between the two cakes is all in the toppings. Crumb cake has a thick layer of crumbs, while coffee cake can be made without the topping and may have more cinnamon in the base.
The crumb topping consists of brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, melted butter, and flour.
A streusel topping is usually made with flour, sugar, and butter, while a crumb topping includes brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. The crumb topping is normally sweeter because of the addition of more sugar.
Crumb Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare an 8x8 pan with parchment or grease. Set to the side.
- Make the crumb topping. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour over the melted butter, followed by the flour. Use a fork to mix it together to assemble the crumbs.
- Make the cake. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set to the side.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in a bowl with a stand mixer, cream the butter with the sugars, until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Mix in the dry ingreidents, followed by the whole milk. The mixture will be very thick.
- Add the cake mixture to the prepared pan and add the crumb topping on top. Use a rubber spatula to evenly distribute the crumb mixture.
- Bake the crumb cake in the oven for 45-55 minutes. When a toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. Let the cake cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 30 minutes.
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