"Coffee" Cakes and Waffles

As per request by some, here are the recipes I used for two of the coffee cakes I made for Madelyn's blessing and the waffle recipe I did for Cole's blessing. They were all taken from epicurious.com. Seriously, it is the coolest food website ever.

So this was hands down my favorite of them all. Don't be afraid of dried currants. You will never know they are there . . .

Sour Cream-Streusel Coffee Cake Bon Appétit | December 1998
Cafe Zenon, Eugene OR
Yield: Serves 8 to 10

1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped walnuts
1 1/4 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons dried currants
3 cups cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 16-ounce container sour cream

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 12-cup Bundt pan. Mix first 5 ingredients in small bowl. Set nut mixture aside. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar in large bowl until blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in vanilla. Mix dry ingredients and sour cream alternately into butter mixture in 3 additions. Beat batter on high 1 minute.
Pour 1/3 of batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of nut mixture. Spoon 1/3 of batter over. Sprinkle with remaining nut mixture. Spoon remaining batter over.
Bake cake until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool cake in pan on rack 10 minutes. Cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto rack and cool 1 hour. Transfer to platter.
Whisk powdered sugar and milk in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over coffee cake. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Wrap in foil and let stand at room temperature.)



Ok, here is the next one, and my next favorite. Don't be afraid of the pears, for they are especially delicious in this, especially especially the next day . . .

Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Pears and Pecans Bon Appétit | October 2003
This cake has a crunchy pecan-brown sugar topping and a layer of pears in the middle.
Yield: Makes 12 servings

Topping
1 1/2 cups pecans (about 6 ounces)
1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Cake
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled pears

For topping:
Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until nuts are coarsely chopped. Add butter; using on/off turns, blend until coarse crumbs form.

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add both sugars and beat until well blended. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then lemon peel and vanilla. Blend sour cream and milk in small bowl. Beat in sour cream mixture alternately with dry ingredients in 3 additions each. Spread half of cake batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle half of topping over; cover with pears. Spread remaining batter over; sprinkle with remaining topping.
Bake until top is brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan on rack. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)


And for the waffles, do not be afraid of yeasted-ness. They were really good with blueberry sauce and whipped cream, and Daniel liked them with buttermilk syrup. But I am pretty sure he liked the pumpkin chocolate chip waffles that Cheryl made better . . .

Yeasted Buckwheat Waffles Epicurious | October 1997
by Deborah Madison
Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
Broadway Books
Raising pancakes and waffles with yeast is an old American tradition that predates the invention of baking powder. The overnight proofing develops the flavor of the flours, and the yeast ensures lightness even for heavier grains. The batter keeps well, covered and refrigerated, for several days.
Try these waffles with Quince Applesauce Mushrooms
Yield: Makes 10 to 12 waffles

2 1/4 teaspoons or 1 package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups lukewarm milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup buckwheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons canola oil or butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast into 1/4 cup warm water and stir in the sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Put the warm milk and salt in a large bowl, then add the yeast mixture and whisk in the flours. Cover and refrigerate overnight if the weather is warm or leave out on the counter if it's cool. Next morning, add the sugar, oil, eggs, and soda. Cook according to your waffle iron's instructions.