Ella Walter
Coffee cakes are typically mild in flavour, but a strong brew can be created for coffee lovers. The cake is usually baked in a loaf pan, with some recipes recommending an 8½ x 4¼-inch pan, and others a 9 x 5-inch pan. The pan can be lined with parchment paper or greased with butter. The oven should be preheated to 325°F/160°C, or 350°F according to some sources. The batter is made by combining dry ingredients with wet ingredients, with some recipes including additional ingredients such as cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. The batter is then spooned into the prepared loaf pan and baked for 45-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out dry. The cake can be enjoyed as a morning snack or afternoon treat, pairing well with a hot beverage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ease of making | Easy to make, suitable for beginners |
| Flavor | Mild to strong coffee flavor, cinnamon, vanilla |
| Texture | Moist, tender crumb |
| Toppings | Crumb, streusel, maple icing |
| Baking temperature | 325°F/160°C or 350°F |
| Baking time | 45-60 minutes |
| Baking pan | Loaf pan, preferably non-stick, 8½ x 4¼-inch or 9 x 5-inch |
| Storage | Can be frozen for up to 2-3 months |
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What You'll Learn
Oven temperature and preparation
The oven temperature you should aim for depends on the recipe you are following. Some recipes suggest preheating the oven to 325°F/160°C, while others recommend 350°F.
Before placing your coffee cake in the oven, you should prepare your loaf pan. You can do this by greasing the pan with butter or lining it with parchment paper. Some recipes suggest spraying the pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
The next step is to prepare the batter. This involves creaming together butter and sugar until fluffy, and then adding eggs, one at a time. You can then add vanilla extract and sour cream, mixing until well combined. In a separate bowl, you should combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. You can then add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
Some recipes suggest adding milk to thin out the batter. You can also add a cinnamon crumb mixture, layering half in the centre of the cake and sprinkling the rest on top.
Once your batter is prepared, you can spoon it into your prepared loaf pan. Use the back of a spoon to gently spread the batter to the corners of the pan.
Finally, you can place your coffee cake in the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until a skewer or toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
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Dry ingredients
The dry ingredients in a coffee cake loaf typically include flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Some recipes also call for cocoa powder, while others suggest using self-rising flour, which contains baking powder and salt.
When making a coffee cake loaf, it is important to use the right type and amount of flour. All-purpose flour is a good choice for this cake, as it works well and is readily available. If you only have self-rising flour, you can use it, but you will need to reduce the amount of baking powder in the recipe. Remember to fluff your flour and measure it accurately to avoid a gummy batter.
For a coffee cake with a strong coffee flavour, you can use a combination of flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt as the dry ingredients. This type of coffee cake is perfect for coffee breaks or morning snacks.
If you're looking to add a crumb topping to your coffee cake loaf, you'll need additional dry ingredients. Combine flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and softened butter to create a crumbly mixture. Using your fingers, scrunch the mixture to form different-sized crumbs. This topping will add a thick, moist layer to your coffee cake.
Lastly, when preparing your loaf pan, you can use flour to create a non-stick surface. Butter and flour your pan before adding the batter to ensure your coffee cake doesn't stick.
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Wet ingredients
The wet ingredients for a coffee cake loaf are typically butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Some recipes also include buttermilk, milk, coffee, and sour cream.
To prepare the wet ingredients, start by creaming the butter and sugar together until they are light in colour, well combined, and fluffy. This can be done using a hand mixer, a stand mixer, or by hand. Once the butter and sugar are creamed, you can add the eggs. It is recommended to add the eggs one at a time and mix until the batter is light and fluffy.
After the eggs are incorporated, you can add the remaining wet ingredients. This may include vanilla extract, sour cream, or buttermilk. Mix everything together until well combined and smooth. If using buttermilk, note that the batter will be thicker than a regular cake batter. If it becomes too thick, you can add a small amount of buttermilk or milk to thin it out.
If you are making a coffee-flavoured cake, you will also want to combine milk and coffee in a separate bowl before adding it to the batter. This will ensure that the coffee is evenly distributed throughout the batter.
It is important to use room temperature ingredients when making the batter. This allows the cake to bake more evenly and rise properly, resulting in a lighter texture. Take the ingredients out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before starting to allow them to come to room temperature.
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Combining the mixtures
Firstly, prepare your dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, measure out and sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Ensure you use a sifting or whisking motion to combine these ingredients thoroughly. Set this bowl aside.
Next, focus on the wet ingredients. In a separate, smaller bowl, combine the milk and coffee. You can use a mixer with a paddle attachment or a whisk for this step. If you're adding any extracts, such as vanilla, incorporate them here.
Now, it's time to bring the wet and dry ingredients together. Start by adding the butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl. You can use a hand mixer, a stand mixer, or mix by hand. Beat the butter and sugar together until they are fluffy and well combined. This step is crucial for achieving the right consistency and creating air pockets in the batter.
Once your butter and sugar are creamed, you can add the eggs. It is best to add them one at a time, mixing well after each addition. This ensures the eggs are fully incorporated and prevents the mixture from curdling.
After the eggs, you can add the remaining wet ingredients to the bowl, including the milk and coffee mixture. Mix everything until well combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as it can affect the texture of your cake.
Finally, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. You can use a pastry cutter or a fork to combine the two mixtures gently. Add the dry ingredients in increments, alternating with the wet mixture, starting and ending with the dry. This process ensures a smooth and well-incorporated batter. Remember not to overmix; stop once everything is combined.
Your coffee cake batter is now ready to be poured into your prepared loaf pan!
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Baking and cooling
When you're ready to bake, scrape the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Depending on the recipe you're following, you may want to add a crumb topping before placing the pan in the oven. Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until a skewer or toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out dry. The cake should be a medium golden brown.
If you're making a coffee cake with a cinnamon swirl, pour a third of the batter into your loaf pan, sprinkle with a third of the brown sugar mixture, and repeat to create three layers of batter and three layers of cinnamon sugar. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool for 5 minutes in the loaf pan, then transfer it to a wire rack to finish cooling. You can also leave the cake to cool completely in the pan before running a knife around the edges and removing it.
The coffee flavour of your cake will intensify as it sits, so you might prefer to eat it the next day. The cake can be baked and covered tightly at room temperature overnight, and it can be frozen for up to 3 months.
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Frequently asked questions
Coffee cakes are usually mildly flavoured cakes that go well with a cup of coffee. They are easy to make and perfect for a quick snack.
The ingredients you need are: butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. You can also add nuts, oats, or other toppings.
You can use a metal, glass, or ceramic pan. If you use a metal pan, the cake may bake faster, while a ceramic pan may take longer. An 8½ x 4¼-inch loaf pan is a good size, and you can grease it with butter or line it with parchment paper.
Preheat your oven to 325°F/160°C or 350°F, depending on the recipe. Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another. Cream the butter and sugar, then add eggs, vanilla extract, and milk. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool before serving.
