The fabulous Butta Buns has once again shown her fearsome courage. First she made a towering Dagwood Sandwich, after some fiend Triple Dog Dared her to do it. Now she has posted a different cake five days in a row. After reading about the popularity of her Strawberry Coffeecake, so good one friend described it as "strawberry crack," I knew I had to make it. It seemed perfect for a little Mother's Day get together today.
This is one of those recipes that's easy to prepare and great fun to eat. How could it miss, with fresh strawberries on top of the batter creating little lakes of juice as they bake? One of the ingredients in this recipe is cinnamon, which gives the cake a sweet floral flavor, but doesn't overwhelm the berries. I used my wonderful Penzeys Vietnamese Cinnamon, which gave the batter a faint tan color. Although cinnamon is, in truth, a spice, I have deemed it an herb this week, to qualify for Weekend Herb Blogging, the marvelous event created by Kalyn at Kalyn's Kitchen. This week WHB is being hosted by Patl at Up A Creek Without A Patl. Stop by her site and enjoy all the other herby recipes from around the world.
Here you see the strawberries on top of the batter. This set me to
thinking how different fruits, such as blackberries, raspberries, or
sliced peaches, would taste? Ahh, the possibilities!
A crumbled topping is sprinkled on top of the strawberries and into
the oven it goes. In no time, it's done with beautiful berry juice
pooling on the surface of the cake.
I didn't wait for it to cool. It was quite wonderful eaten while it was warm. Thank you Butta Buns!
Strawberry Coffee Cake
Crumble Topping
1 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 stick of margarine (stick form is necessary), cold from the fridge (I'm a hopeless butter fanatic--so I used it instead.)
To make crumble topping, sift the sugar and flour together in a large
bowl. Place the margarine in the center of the bowl and sprinkle a
little of the sugar and flour mixture over it. Place all 10 fingers on
the stick and start crumbling it by making cat-kneading gestures with
your fingers so the margarine turns into little pea sized bits. If you
need a visual, refer to this little fella. Keep crumbling until the
stick is completely whittled down.
Keep the bowl of crumbles in the fridge until you’re ready for it.
Strawberry Coffee Cake
2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. milk
2 eggs
1/4 c. margarine, melted (Again, like Paula Deen, I use butter!)
3 c. strawberries, sliced
-Sift the first four ingredients together in a bowl and set aside
-Whisk the milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted margarine together in a bowl.
-Add the mix of wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients.
-Beat together with a handheld mixer until well incorporated.
Pour into a pre-greased 13×9 pan. Arrange the sliced strawberries on top of the batter. Sprinkle the crumble toppings.
Bake at 350F for 35-45 minutes.
I can't leave a long comment, I have to wipe the drool off my keyboard.
Posted by: Jenn | May 13, 2007 at 01:14 AM
This is ultimate goodness! Beautiful also!
Posted by: Tanna | May 13, 2007 at 01:23 AM
Wow, that cake looks wonderful! I've bookmarked your recipe and will test it very soon...
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Posted by: Jeena | May 13, 2007 at 04:00 AM
mmmmm....I have fresh blueberries in the fridge...I'm thinking I have to make some of this! Looks delicious!
Posted by: Glenna | May 13, 2007 at 04:33 AM
It does sound wonderful. Makes me remember how we always had strawberry shortcake for Mother's Day when I was a kid.
Posted by: Kalyn | May 13, 2007 at 05:01 AM
Oooh I don't know about herbs but this looks amazing!
Posted by: Jenny | May 13, 2007 at 05:08 AM
That looks like a great Mother's Day breakfast dish! (you know what they say, eat dessert first....)
Posted by: Lydia | May 13, 2007 at 05:21 AM
Oh my! I have to try this. You know last year I became obsessed with finding recipes for berry coffeecakes. It's gorgeous!
Posted by: Ivonne | May 13, 2007 at 07:12 AM
You did a great job, my fiendish friend! The pictures really do give it justice, I hope everybody reading our blogs makes this cake.
It's too darn good not to share!!!!
PS The pyschic vibes must have been high last night because while you were making this, I was cooking your ricotta meatball recipe. Dangerously addictive stuff!
Posted by: Butta Buns | May 13, 2007 at 08:33 AM
I'm not a HUGE coffeecake lover - they are good, don't get me wrong.. I just rarely think about making one. Until now. I will make this.. Oh yesssss I will.
It's GORGEOUS, Sher!
xoxox
Posted by: Lisa | May 13, 2007 at 09:20 AM
Oh wow - I just bought some strawberries and was thinking of how I was going to use them - I think I have decided!!
Posted by: Deborah | May 13, 2007 at 10:20 AM
ooh! I love it! I love when a recipe can be modified to suit the fruit that is in season. I can't wait to make this!
Posted by: Gigi | May 13, 2007 at 10:42 AM
This looks great, and you're right, it looks like it could easily be adapted for other fruits.
OK, it's definitely on my list of things to bake.
Posted by: Julie | May 13, 2007 at 01:22 PM
This one is a keeper! I want to try this someday, it looks absolutely fabulous!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 13, 2007 at 10:01 PM
This is gorgeous! I love strawberries. I'll bake this one for sure!
Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: astrid | May 13, 2007 at 10:18 PM
That looks devine. I have a brunch next Sunday, perhaps I shall make these.
Posted by: peabody | May 13, 2007 at 11:40 PM
I'm so glad we are about to have strawberries here! Sher , this is magnificent, I'm tagging it right now!
Posted by: Patricia Scarpin | May 14, 2007 at 08:34 AM
mmm... I love coffee cake (and strawberries) so I'm totally trying this recipe soon.
Posted by: kristi | May 14, 2007 at 10:54 AM
This looks amazing!!! I'll be adding it to my strawberry recipe round-up this week :-)
Posted by: Nicole | May 14, 2007 at 09:42 PM
I adore coffee cake plain, but with strawberries.... truly delightful. I'll take a slice with my afternoon cuppa, please.
Posted by: s'kat | May 15, 2007 at 10:31 AM
I am going to make this. I'm just not sure exactly when. But, sometime this summer especially before baby #2 is born "lol". It looks soooo good. I'm wondering if I can use the powdered sugar instead of the granula sugar. I'm more into cooking than baking so I don't know if you can do stuff like that.
Posted by: mary | May 19, 2007 at 08:38 AM
Can't believe I missed this one, but glad I found the recipe. Looks divine!
Posted by: Helen | May 22, 2007 at 11:18 AM
This looks absolutely delicious. I'm not the biggest fan of coffecake, and have never made one before. But I think I will definitely have to give this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Intisar | May 22, 2007 at 06:12 PM
I'm thinking of making it for company brunch tomorrow. It sure looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Alice | April 12, 2008 at 12:13 PM
This looks wonderful.
I have some strawberries that I need to use up.. so now I don't have to decide what to make for breakfast tomorrow.. thanks so much for sharing.!!
Posted by: Stacey Huston | October 03, 2008 at 06:39 PM
This looks so yummy, I am making it now, can't wait for it to come out of the oven. I am sure it will be delicious.
Posted by: Amanda | October 03, 2008 at 07:10 PM