Saturday Brunch: Scrumptious Cardamom-Spiced Crumb Cake

Mmm, it’s a cold fresh day outside. What better way to start it than with a tasty cardamom-spiced crumb cake?

This moist cake is topped with a generous layer of cardamom-spiced pecan crumbs and a warm vanilla glaze…

Serves 15

Preparation and Cooking Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Ingredients

Crumb Topping

2 cups of pecans

2 sticks of unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup of light brown sugar

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 2/3 cups of all-purpose flour

Cake

3 cups of all-purpose flour

1 and 1/4 cup of sugar

1 and 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 teaspoons of salt

2 large eggs

1 cup of whole milk

1 and 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract

Glaze

1/2 cup of confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons of whole milk

1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Position a rack in the center of the oven.

Butter a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan.

Make the crumb topping:

Spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 8 minutes, until browned. Let cool, then coarsely chop the nuts.

In a medium bowl, stir the melted butter with both sugars, the cardamom and salt. Add the flour and stir until clumpy. Stir in the chopped nuts.

Make the cake:

In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the sugar, baking powder, and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk, melted butter, and vanilla.

Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface.

Scatter the crumbs in large clumps over the cake; the crumb layer will be quite deep.

Bake for about 55 minutes, until the crumbs are golden and firm and a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

If the crumbs brown before the cake is done, cover the cake loosely with foil. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Make the glaze:

In a bowl, whisk all of the glaze ingredients together. Drizzle the glaze over the cake; let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Result: Yummy!