Thursday, June 4, 2009

Cherry Crumb Cake

I mentioned finding the cinnamon raisin breakfast ring in The Modern Baker book, and after finding that, I got distracted by several other recipes. There are some quick breads I want to try, a raisin coffee cake that looks amazing, and the bakery crumb buns made me stop and look too. Then, I came upon the blueberry crumb cake page. I had already decided to make the breakfast ring, but now this crumb cake looked quite enticing. The logical solution, I realized, was to make both. While the breakfast ring was to be taken to a brunch party and shared, the crumb cake would stay at home for us to devour all by ourselves. As I read through the recipe and the side notes, I noticed a suggestion about using fresh cherries instead of blueberries and that sounded like a very good idea. I brought home some gorgeous, juicy cherries and set about removing the pits. Pitting cherries is a mundane kitchen task that I actually enjoy. It’s almost like popping bubbles on bubble wrap. It’s fun.

The crumb topping was made by combining flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and melted butter. That crumbly mixture was spread over the pitted cherries and set aside. Then, in a stand mixer, softened butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla were mixed. Flour and baking powder were combined and added to mixer in three additions alternating with a combination of egg yolks and milk. This resulting batter was spread in a baking pan and topped with the cherries and crumb topping. It couldn’t have been simpler to prepare. The baking time was about 40 minutes, and it emerged from the oven looking as tempting as the photo in the book.

I’m sure blueberries would also be great in this cake, and plums were another suggested fruit option. However, the fresh cherries were divine, and the crumb topping was in perfect proportion to the tender, buttery cake. I may need to hide this book from myself to prevent a nonstop, baking-marathon frenzy from consuming my every waking hour, but so far I’ve been extremely pleased with each recipe I’ve tried.


40 comments:

  1. Just one more fabulous thing to do with cherries. I love the way you get the camera so close you feel like you could just lean right in, and well, eat it (the cake not the camera...)! GREG

    ReplyDelete
  2. That looks delicious! Awesome cutting on the squares with the cherries.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh! I must have some of this! cherries + crumb cake = 2 of my favorite things!

    ReplyDelete
  4. just bought some ranier's at CM. good, but expensive! this looks delicious. what should i do with mine?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cherries are not a fave, so we could totally see substituting blueberries in there. Still yummy. The pictures look great.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a gorgeous cherry crumb cake! Your picture of it is so perfect! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yahoo! - cherries are back in season - my favorite things in the world are all the stone fruits! I love your picture with the cherries peaking out under the crumbly topping. I wish it wasn't so late so I could bake to have alongside my morning coffee tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Another fan of Nick's book! You've done a beautiful crumb cake, which I think I'm going to have to snatch while cherries are so abundant! Thanks so much!

    (the other ) katrina

    ReplyDelete
  9. You did such a great job, Lisa. The pictures are so beautiful and do a great job in showing off the buttery crumbs and the moist, tender cake.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mmm... I love crumb cakes!!! That looks really good. I have yet to try and make a crumb cake. Hope turns out as good as yours.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Haha that's funny, I do like popping bubble wraps! I might have to get myself a copy of that book b/c this looks delish!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a proper cake for the season Lisa. Looks absolutely scrumptious.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My husband is drooling, crumb cake is his favorite.
    I want to try the raisin coffee cake! You are a baking fool lately!

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh my goodness, I am behind. Never good with your blog, as I get very inspired by what you produce. The cherry coffee cake, looks amazing. We've gotten some incredible cherries from our CSA, but the problem is we eat them like candy so there is not enough to bake with.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely-the cherry's look absolutely divine!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Simply gorgeous. I got a cherry pitter recently so cherry desserts are now a possibility for me.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love cherries but don't know how to bake.Can I have some?

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm bookmarking this!! I just bought a WHOLE box of cherries from costco! YES!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds really easy and delicious and must definitely make this before the cherry season is over.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm going to make this recipe this morning. I've got some cherries in the fridge calling my name. It looks terrific.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Am I missing something? Can't find the actual recipe on your site?

    ReplyDelete
  22. The cherries are a great idea :)
    I'm always looking for new berries to use in crumb cakes, and the contenders are pretty few here in India. I can't believe I never thought of using cherries :O
    Thanks for the inspiration :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Linda: Sorry! I don't actually re-print recipes from books. If I use a recipe that also has an online source, I link to it. Otherwise, if it's from a book, I link to the book.

    ReplyDelete
  24. "The logical solution, I realized, was to make both."

    Agreed this is very logical; the total utility is directly proportionate to the sum of utility of making each individually :)

    I LOVE cherry pie, I DESPISE pitting cherries. Not sure how you could enjoy that one. Not to mention that every - single - time I do, I end up looking like I just came out of a surgical room.

    ReplyDelete
  25. i'm on a real cherry kick right now--too bad they cost an arm and a leg at the store. this is an undeniably appealing cake, lisa. it's pretty on top of being assuredly delicious. and i drool. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Perfect! that cake looks mighty delicious, mmhhh!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  27. That looks amazing. I never attempt to make something like that because I think it looks too hard. I like the cherries too instead of the blueberries.

    Thanks for posting the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow! I love it,cherries topped with crumbles are perfect for me

    ReplyDelete
  29. love cherries. great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  30. The cheeries are also in season here, but have not thought of making a dessert with them. I bought some bio cheeries from the farm but cannot finish them easily, I would think about making a dessert with them next time.

    ReplyDelete
  31. You make me want to buy up all the cherries at my farmers market tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  32. The cherries popping through the crumb topping is a lovely sight! This looks very delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Nothing could be simpler,tastier or more warming then cherries crumb.:Delicious!

    Thanks for sharing your recipe:)

    And you can visit me if I can visit you:)

    Welcome~~~
    http://foodcreate.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Lisa, I think you are involved in a conspiracy to make me fat by posting delicious looking and sounding baked goods like this.

    ReplyDelete
  35. It looks perfect!! I want a slice with some coffee please!

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a stunner. I never get to make anything with cherries. all are gone the moment we get back home from the groceries:-) beautiful..

    ReplyDelete
  37. It looks delicious. I love cherries and in crumb cake...what a treat.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wow, gorgeous! I love fresh cherries and they look amazing in your coffee cake!

    ReplyDelete
  39. That crumb cake looks perfect! I may have to dig out my cherry pitter.

    ReplyDelete
  40. love the idea of using cherry lisa.. ye cake look wonderful.. Simply delicious and comforting!

    ReplyDelete

Blogging tips