Fast-forward 30 or so years and imagine my confusion reading recipes for coffee cake and wondering where the heck that smoldering caffeine hit was? Yes, yes I know- hindsight now makes me see how short-sighted and literal I was. Lateral thinking was called for. A simple mistake in my defense I’ll plead. Almost as simple as the recipe for this cake here. Soured cream gives a moist crumb hiding a streak (and topping!) of oaty, cinnamon goodness and finished with a drizzle of smokey maple sweetness. This really perfect accompaniment to your caffeine rush no matter what the tine of day. 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 sticks salted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup soured cream
• 2 1/2 cups All Purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Streusel topping

• 1/2 cup All Purpose flour
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small chunks
• 3/4 cup walnuts, lightly toasted
• 3/4 cup rolled oats

Drizzle

• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons smoked maple syrup (if you can’t get smoked maple syrup, traditional maple syrup will do just fine)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 350° F. Grease and flour a 10” tube (angel food) pan
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer (with paddle attachment) cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This may take up to 10mins.
3. While the butter and sugar cream together, make the streusel. In a bowl combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and butter pieces. Rub the mixture together with your fingertips until a pea-sized sand texture is achieved and a crumble is formed. Mix in the toasted walnuts and set aside until needed later
4. To the creamed butter/sugar add the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before moving onto the next
5. When all the eggs have been mixed in, add the vanilla and soured cream and mix until just incorprated
6. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Whisk well the break down any lumps
7. On low speed add the flour mixture to your wet mixture gradually, I usually do it 1/4 cup at a time, waiting for each to be fully incorporated before adding the next
8. Continue adding the flour until it is all used and just combined into the mixture. Lightly fold using a spatula to make sure the batter is completely mixed
9. Spoon half the batter into the prepared pan and spread/level with a knife spatula. Sprinkle on 1 cup of the streusel mixture evenly.
10. Spoon the remainder of the batter on top and spread evenly. Finish with a final layer of the remaining streusel mixture on top
11. Bake in preheated even for 50- 60mins, until a cake tester comes out clean
12. Let cool on a wire rack for 30mins. After this carefully remove the cake from the baking tin, streusel-side up, and set aside to cool further
13. While the cake cools, in a jug combine the icing sugar and maple syrup. Stir until a smooth pourable is achieved. If the mixture is still a bit stiff add a few drops of milk to make it runny. Drizzle the glaze over to top of the cake to your desired amount  and leave to fully cool before slicing and serving
14.  This coffee cake will keep at it’s best in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Avoid storing the cake in the refrigerator as this will dry it out.