(SRC) Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake

Happy Monday!  It's always nice to start off the week on a happy note.  It sets the mood for the rest of the week I believe.  Setting the mood for the week on a delicious note is not a bad idea either.  And I've got just the treat for you - Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake.  A delicious cake layered not once but twice with a surprise sweetness and then topped off with an almond crumble. There is a cinnamon sugar layer and then a layer of precious raspberries in this coffee cake making it extra special. 

Speaking of extra special, the blog I discovered this recipe on is more than extra special - it's SUPER DUPER extra special!! I found this recipe on Inquiring Chef - my assignment for the Secret Recipe Club this month.  What an absolute gem Jess is from Inquiring Chef!  Jess lives in Bangkok, Thailand (YES, Bangkok, Thailand) with her hubby and twin baby girls.  She whips up gorgeous, gorgeous dishes and sweets that make your heart pitter patter and your mouth drool.  She writes her posts with simplicity yet with details that bring you right into her world.  And best of all she allows you to follow the growth of her beautiful, beautiful girls Molly and Clara.  In fact she updates their pictures and developmental progress every month.  I am on the edge of my seat for their 1 year old update coming up at the end of this month.  Please make sure you check out Inquiring Chef not only for Jess' cutie pie girls but also for all her fantastic recipes.  Jess' blog is not to be missed. 

 The next time you are looking for delicate yet delicious cake to serve for brunch, a snack or simply as a dessert please don't hesitate to whip up this very cake.  It can be made in a 9" spring form pan (as both Jess and I did) or you can use a 9x13 pan.  Either size pan would be just fine.  And for the raspberry layer, fresh or frozen berries can be used.  I actually used a combo of both as I didn't have enough fresh to fully cover the batter as I wanted to do and it came out just fine.  I would also like to point out that this cake is really not overly sweet as often cakes can be.  Only 3/4 of a cup of granulated sugar is used in the batter.  The almond topping also call for sugar which gives a perfect pairing with the "not too sweet" cake.

With a lovely cake recipe in hand and the promise of Spring to arrive soon I wish you all a fantastic and fabulous week ahead of you! May it be a happy, successful and easy week each and every one of you. :-)

Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake 
   (recipe from the lovely food blog, Inquiring Chef)

Topping Ingredients - 
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon (my addition) 
1/2 cup silvered or sliced almonds
6 TBSP cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4" cubes

Cake Ingredients - 
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 TBSP cornmeal
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp kosher salt 
3/4 cup granulated sugar + 3 TBSP sugar, divided 
6 TBSP unsalted butter, at room temperature 
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups raspberries, fresh or frozen 
1 TBSP cinnamon 

Directions - 

Make topping mixture by whisking together the flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon until well combined.  Add in cold butter cubes and mix into dry ingredients with your fingers or pastry cutter.  Butter should be incorporated into the dry ingredients until large crumbs form.  Refrigerate topping mixture until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9" spring form pan and set aside.  Make the cake batter by using a medium bowl to combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Set dry ingredients aside.  Beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar in a large mixing bowl.  Add in eggs one at a time - beat well with each addition. Add in vanilla extract too. 

 Add in dry ingredients to the wet mixture in 3 separate additions - alternating with the buttermilk - starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Once all has been mixed well together pour 1/2 of batter into prepared pan. 

Combine 1 TBSP cinnamon and 3 TBSP sugar in a small bowl.  Sprinkle evenly over 1/2 of cake batter layer.  Spoon remaining batter over cinnamon & sugar layer.  Carefully spread with the back of a spoon or an off set knife if need be.  Sprinkle raspberries over this layer and then the topping mixture.  Bake for 55-60 minutes or until cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  

Cool cake, slice and enjoy! 

Jess has stated that this cake is great as a "make ahead" cake as it only gets better each day.  Store in an air-tight container at room temp for best results. 

 Happy Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake Baking!

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