Yeasted Coffee Cake

I've been big on breakfasts lately. Anything warm that I can make the night before and re-heat in the morning is getting me through some chilly mornings. And while my coffee cake muffins have been receiving rave views (I even heard you can use vanilla yogurt with great results!), I wanted a bite of traditional coffee cake. The yeasted kind. Wait, wait! Don't go. I need you so. I know you and yeast don't get along. I also know that since it's winter, you're even less likely to have success. But I'm going to walk you through it. I tied on my little white apron and took photos of the whole process. Just consider my extreme dedication to capturing the whole process as a sign of how badly I want you to enjoy a proper yeasted coffee cake at least once.

I partnered up with Fleischmann's Yeast to bring you this photo series. They gave me a few tips with my yeast game, too. Normally, I bloom yeast in water, which means that I make sure the yeast is alive by letting it soak in warm water with a pinch of sugar for 5 minutes. If the mixture looks foamy, the yeast are alive and doing their thing. Fleishmann's assured me that I could add their product straight to the flour, no need to proof. I was dubious, but I liked the idea of saving a step (and another dish to wash!).

So, into my bowl went my flour, sugar and salt.

Next, I streamed in my instant fast-acting yeast. I also crossed my fingers behind my back for good measure.

Here's where my game changed even more. I normally use warm water between 110-115 degrees. Fleishmann's told me that since the yeast is already in the flour mixture, the appropriate temperature for my water was now 130-degrees. I complied.

Then, I streamed in melted butter, egg, and vanilla. All essentials for great-tasting coffee cake. I spread the dough into a 9x5" loaf pan. If for some reason up to this point, you didn't catch that my blog is titled 'dessert for two,' I just want to point it out. Again. This recipe makes two servings. After baking it in a loaf pan, you cut it down the middle and enjoy it. Though, you should note that I substituted butter for the oil called for in the original recipe. Butter = better.

It's completely okay if the dough doesn't spread all the way to the edges of the pan. Once it rises, it will. Park it in a warm place. If your house is on the cool side (below 80), go ahead and turn on the oven to 200-degrees for 5 minutes. Turn it off, and place the dough in for it's 45 minutes rise time. Yes, it's kinda cheating, but it also produces perfect results.

Spread the cinnamon streusel all over the risen dough. Then, pop it in the oven to bake for 30 minutes. When it's done, the house will smell lovely, and the coffee cake will look like this:

Slice it in two, drizzle it with a vanilla glaze, and enjoy!

Yield: 2

Yeasted Coffee Cake

Print

A small yeasted coffee cake made in a bread loaf pan.

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons Fleischmann's® RapidRise Yeast
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large egg yolk
• ½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract

For the streusel topping:

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Ground Saigon Cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Optional drizzle:

• ⅓ cup powdered sugar
• splash of milk
• ¼ teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, add the flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
2. In a microwave-safe dish, combine the water and butter. Heat to 130-degrees. Ensure the exact temperature with a thermometer.
3. To the water-butter, stir in the egg yolk and vanilla. Immediately pour this mixture over the flour mixture in the bowl. (Don't let it set or the hot water will cook the egg yolk).
4. Stir the dough together and then spread it in a greased 9x5" loaf pan. It's okay if it doesn't touch the edges of the pan.
5. Cover the dough, and let it rise in a warm place. Use a pre-heated (but turned off) oven if necessary. Let the dough rise until it doubles in size, about 45 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 350.
7. Make the streusel: combine all of the streusel ingredients, working the butter into the dough with your fingertips. Spread it over the dough.
8. Bake the coffee cake for 30 minutes, testing with a toothpick for moist crumbs before removing it from the oven.
9. While the cake cools slightly, whisk together the drizzle ingredients. Pour over the cake and serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 398Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 161mgCarbohydrates: 60gFiber: 2gSugar: 30gProtein: 7g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram