December 16, 2014

Gingerbread Crumb Cake

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This delicious gingerbread crumb cake is a must make for the holidays! With a spicy gingerbread base and a thick layer of crumbs, it’s fantastic served with a cup of coffee for dessert or as a special breakfast treat. Vegetarian.

A sliced up Gingerbread Crumb Cake on parchment paper.

Note: This recipe is NOT dairy free. It was published before Cook Nourish Bliss transitioned to dairy free recipes and remains popular with long time readers. You can try using substitutions to make it dairy free, however I have not tested this myself and can’t say how it will turn out.

Crumbs crumbs and more crumbs! Made even better by a layer of spicy, delicious gingerbread.

Made even three times better if served with a cup of good coffee. Yes yes and yes.

Friends, meet my latest baking obsession. This crumb cake. I’m a die-hard crumb cake lover to begin with and well, this christmas version just takes this love of mine to an entirely different level.

So let’s back it up a bit first.

I’ve been on a huge gingerbread kick this year. Which is kind of surprising considering gingerbread usually is not my favorite. I don’t know what’s happened, but this holiday season? It’s my jam.

So clearly it needed to be combined with crumbly goodness.

A sliced up Gingerbread Coffee Cake with one piece on a white plate.

A piece of Gingerbread Crumb Cake on a white plate with a fork.

About This Gingerbread Crumb Cake

Now, I am of the belief that when you make crumb cake there must be a lot (a lot!) of crumbs. And the ratio of crumb to cake needs to be pretty even.

I don’t do wussy crumb cake with just a little bit of the good stuff. Well, technically I still eat it but more crumbs = a better crumb cake.

I’m still trying to figure out how to get even more crumbs involved, but for now this version suffices just fine. More than fine actually.

Especially when doused with a hearty sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar on top. Gah, so good.

{True story – a bakery from where I grew up used to make a version that was about 85% crumb and just a tinyyyy sliver of cake. It’s my life mission to figure out how to make it at home. One day, one day this will happen.}

A piece of Gingerbread Coffee Cake on a white plate with a bite taken out with a fork.

Additional Holiday Baking Recipes You Might Enjoy:

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Gingerbread Crumb Cake | cookiemonstercooking.com

Gingerbread Crumb Cake

Yield: 1 (8x8 inch square) cake
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

This delicious gingerbread crumb cake is a must make for the holidays! With a spicy gingerbread base and a thick layer of crumbs, it’s fantastic served with a cup of coffee for dessert or as a special breakfast treat. Vegetarian. 

Ingredients

For the topping:

  • 1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup raw pecans, chopped
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • pinch of ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the cake:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • pinch of cloves
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ⅓ cup unsulfured molasses
  • ½ cup buttermilk

For garnish:

  • confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

For the topping:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line an 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper (cut a big enough piece so that the paper hangs over the edges of the pan on two sides). Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, pecans, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, ginger and cinnamon, making sure to break up any clumps. Add in the melted butter and mix until combined and evenly moistened. Set aside.

For the cake:

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the melted butter and brown sugar. Mix on medium until combined. Add in the egg and beat until combined. Add in the molasses and buttermilk and beat on low until combined.
  3. With the mixer on low, slowly add in the flour mixture. Beat until combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread evenly.
  4. Using your fingers, drop the crumb topping in clumps evenly over the top of the batter (don’t press it down into the mixture, just sprinkle on top).
  5. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean.
  6. Set the pan on a wire rack. Let the cake cool completely, then use the parchment overhang to lift out of the pan. Dust the top of the cake generously with confectioners’ sugar.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 220Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 151mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 2g

Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.

© Ashley / Cook Nourish Bliss
Cuisine: American / Category: Dessert
Breakfast, Cakes & Cupcakes, Christmas, Dessert, Recipes (ALL), Seasonal, Soy Free, Vegetarian
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