Growing up in the New York metropolitan area, we often had crumb buns on Sunday morning. These crumb buns had a distinctive taste and plenty of crumbs – the best part. When I moved away from the area, I realized the rest of the US did not know what a really good crumb bun was all about. At least not in my view. So for many years, I kept trying different recipes until I came up with the right proportions and the right ingredients to make what I remember as the best tasting crumb bun. I am sharing my recipe with you.

New York Style Crumb Cake

TOPPING

8 tablespoons softened butter
1 1/4 cups unbleached self-rising flour
1 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus extra for for sprinkling on the finished cake
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

CAKE

6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs
2 1/2 cups unbleached self-rising flour
1 cup buttermilk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9″ x 13″ pan.

To make the topping:

Mix all of the topping ingredients until medium crumbs form. I use my hands. Set aside.

To make the cake:

In an electric mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl between additions.

Add the flour alternately with the buttermilk, mixing gently to combine and scraping the bowl after each addition.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan.

Squeeze the topping together in small clumps and sprinkle the crumbs on top of the cake batter.

Cover the entire top of the cake.

Bake for about 40-45 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove the cake from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.

When the cake is completely cool, dust it with confectioners’ sugar. To serve cut into squares.


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