Favorite Coffee Cake

"When the girl returned, some hours later, she carried a tray, with a cup of fragrant tea steaming on it; and a plate piled up with very hot buttered toast, cut thick, very brown on both sides, with the butter running through the holes in it in great golden drops, like honey from the honeycomb. The smell of that buttered toast simply talked to Toad, and with no uncertain voice; talked of warm kitchens, of breakfasts on bright frosty mornings, of cosy parlour firesides on winter evenings, when one's ramble was over and slippered feet were propped on the fender, of the purring of contented cats, and the twitter of sleepy canaries."

~ Kenneth Grahame, 'The Wind in the Willows'


I just love that passage! One of my favorite breakfasts or late-night snacks is hot buttered toast. It's such a comfort food for me, and I love the aroma as it warms in the toaster. A special treat is when I add a little sugar and cinnamon. But, of course, no one needs a recipe for toast :) So, I thought I'd share another breakfast treat ~ Favorite Coffee Cake. I used to make this years and years ago when I was working at a magazine, and I'd often take some in as a treat. It was always so good at "coffee break time".


FAVORITE COFFEE CAKE
(Yield: 8 or 9 servings)

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspsoon salt
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup soft shortening
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
Topping (recipe below)

~ Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease round layer pan 9 x 1-1/2 inches or square pan, 8 x 8 x 2 inches.

~ In large mixing bowl, blend all ingredients except topping thoroughly with fork. Beat vigorously 30 seconds. Pour into greased pan and sprinkle with topping.

~ Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm.

TOPPING

1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons firm butter or margarine

~ Mix dry ingredients together and cut in the butter until crumbly.

NOTE:

To make a streusel-filled coffee cake, follow the above recipe except spread half the batter in the greased pan and omit the topping recipe. Instead, mix 1/2 cup brown sugar packed, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts and 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted. Sprinkle half this mixture over the batter and repeat with remaining batter and mixture.