Just Baking

Every grocery store, coffee shop, bakery, diner, and convenience mart in New Jersey and New York sell crumb cake.  Ask any East Coaster about crumb cake and they will begin to swoon and drool.  Being a native Midwestern transplanted on the East Coast, I created my version of the beloved baked good.

Caramel Apple Crumb Cake is was my adaptation of New York style crumb cake.  From my research, I discovered the more crumb the better.  About an inch of crumb and a little less of the cake is ideal.

I searched the internet and my cookbook collection to develop my take on the crumb cake.  Added were a layer of apples sauteed in brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.  I was delighted with the piece I had before bed last night and again this morning with my cup of coffee.  No comparison to the store bought cake.  I’ll be making this recipe from now on.

Caramel Apple Crumb Cake

 
For caramel apples:

4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
4 Fugi apples, peeled and sliced thin
For crumb topping:

1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 1/3 cups cake flour
2 sticks butter, melted
For cake:

2/3 cup half and half
1 tablespoon vinegar
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 sticks butter, cut in chunks
2 extra large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 °F.  Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Heat a large saute pan to medium high.  Add the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Stir to melt.  Add the apples and stir to coat.  Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Apples should be slightly soft. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the crumb topping ingredients and stir to combine.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, add vinegar to half and half and set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda.  With mixer on low, add the butter chunks, one at a time.  Mix for about 2 - 3 minutes until mixture resembles a coarse crumble.  Add eggs, vanilla, and half and half mixture.  Beat on medium high speed for about 1 - 2 minutes until smooth. 

Spread cake batter into prepared baking dish.  Top with sauteed apples.  Break up the crumb topping with a spoon.  The pieces should be about the size of marbles.  Sprinkle on top of apples.  Bake for 50 - 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Dust with powdered sugar. 

EAT! and EAT! some more.