Are you craving a comforting, delicious dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make? Look no further! This chocolate crumb cake recipe is the perfect blend of moist, chocolatey cake and a crunchy, buttery topping. It's a fantastic recipe for homemade cooking, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, this easy recipe will become a new favorite in your repertoire of quick dinner ideas and healthy meals (in moderation, of course!).
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
For the Crumble Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
Instructions:
Get Started: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. This simple preparation ensures your cake releases easily once baked.
Make the Cake Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Don't overmix! Slowly pour in the boiling water and stir until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin – that's perfectly fine.
Prepare the Crumble Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, nuts (if using), and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Assemble and Bake: Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached (it shouldn't be completely clean, as this is a moist cake).
Cool and Serve: Let the cake cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving. This allows the cake to set properly and prevents it from crumbling.
Tips for the Best Chocolate Crumb Cake:
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing can lead to a tough cake. Mix until just combined.
- Use cold butter for the crumble: Cold butter creates a flakier crumble topping.
- Let the cake cool completely: This prevents the cake from falling apart when you cut it.
- Get creative with the topping: Add chocolate chips, different nuts, or dried fruit to the crumble for added flavor and texture.
Variations:
- Add chocolate chips: Fold in ½ cup of chocolate chips to the cake batter for extra chocolatey goodness.
- Use different nuts: Substitute pecans, almonds, or even macadamia nuts for the walnuts.
- Make it a coffee cake: Add 1 teaspoon of instant coffee granules to the cake batter for a mocha-flavored twist. This is a delicious variation for coffee lovers!
Nutritional Information (per serving, approximate):
- Calories: Approximately 350
- Fat: Approximately 18g
- Saturated Fat: Approximately 10g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 45g
- Sugar: Approximately 25g
- Protein: Approximately 4g
Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients used.
This delicious chocolate crumb cake is a perfect addition to your collection of best recipes. It's a simple yet impressive dessert that's sure to impress your family and friends. Enjoy!