New Jersey Crumb Coffee Cake

This recipe for New Jersey Crumb Coffee Cake makes an incredibly moist cake with a thick, buttery cinnamon crumb topping – just like you find in New Jersey bakeries.

One Incredible Coffee Crumb Cake 

You’ll love the generous topping of buttery, tender, cinnamon crumbs that crowns this moist delicious cake. Flavored with vanilla, and a subtle tang from buttermilk, this is one of my favorite cakes of all time!

Crumb Cake – A Childhood Favorite

Growing up in New Jersey, I loved cakes like Entenmann’s Crumb Coffee Cake and Crumb Buns from the local bakery.  I have a weakness for anything with a crumb topping! 

On Sunday mornings, my parents always had fresh rolls and crumb cake from the bakery.  The best was when it would still be warm!

Food can really remind you of home, but when I lived in England, crumb cake wasn’t sold there, which forced me to try to recreate this beloved favorite. 

The good news  – this Jersey Girl can bake!  This is my version of the Entenmann’s cake of my childhood.   I warn you – it’s addictive!  

How To Make Cake Crumbs

To make the cake crumbs, start with adding flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a mixing bowl. Mix well and pour in warm, melted butter. Stir to combine.

At this point, I press the mixture into balls.  This not only helps to crumble it over the cake, but it also lets me know if more butter is needed. 

If the balls don’t stay together you know to add more butter to the mixture.

How to Make Coffee Crumb Cake

In a medium mixing bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. 

Next, beat the softened butter in a large bowl with the sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and mix to combine.

Add buttermilk and vanilla, beat just until blended.   

Add flour mixture beating just until blended after each addition.

Transfer batter to prepared baking pan (The batter will be thick); spreading it evenly over the pan.

Crumble the hand-squeezed topping evenly over cake batter, covering with a thick layer of topping. Bake until the tester comes out clean and topping is a deep golden brown. Cool cake completely and dust with powdered sugar.

Serve and enjoy every last bite.

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Let's Make

New Jersey Crumb Coffee Cake

A moist, tender cake topped high with delicious chunks of cinnamon sugar goodness!

4.83 from 17 votes

Prep15 minutes

Cook45 minutes

Total1 hour

Serves: 16 slices

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Ingredients

For the topping:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups brown sugar packed
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1¼ cups butter (2½ sticks), melted - plus more if needed

For the cake:

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ tablespoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cups butter (1½ sticks) softened
• 1½ cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1¼ Cups Buttermilk
• 1½ Teaspoons Vanilla
• ½ cup powdered sugar for dusting

Cups - Metric

Instructions

For the topping:

• Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add the warm melted butter and stir to blend.
• Squeeze a handful of the topping into your hand, if it doesn't clump together, add some more melted butter until it does. Set aside.

For the cake:

• Preheat the oven to 350f/175c.  Grease 13x9 inch baking pan
• In a medium mixing bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Beat the softened butter in a large bowl until light.
• Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition.
• Add buttermilk and vanilla, beat just until blended.
• Add flour mixture in 3 additions, beating just until blended after each addition.
• Transfer cake batter to prepared baking pan (the batter will be thick); spreading it evenly over the pan.
• Hand-squeeze small handfuls of topping together and crumble clumps evenly over cake batter, covering with a thick layer of topping.
• Bake 45 minutes to an hour or until the tester comes out clean and topping is deep golden brown and a little crisp.
• Cool cake in dish on rack at least 30 minutes.  Dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares to serve.

Tips + Notes

• Make the topping first.  Leaving the batter to sit before baking may cause problems with rising, causing the topping to sink into the cake.
• Use good quality unbleached flour for the best result.  Lower quality flour may not have the stability to hold the topping.
• Don't overmix the batter once the flour is added.  Overmixing can cause a tough, dense cake.
• Be sure to cool the cake completely before dusting with the sugar.  A warm cake will melt the sugar.

• FAQs

  Can you freeze Crumb Cake? 
   
  Crumb Cake Freezes really well.  Just wrap well and freeze for up to 3 months.  Defrost at room temperature overnight.
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Nutrition Information:

Calories: 574kcal (29%)| Carbohydrates: 84g (28%)| Protein: 6g (12%)| Fat: 24g (37%)| Saturated Fat: 15g (94%)| Cholesterol: 83mg (28%)| Sodium: 523mg (23%)| Potassium: 202mg (6%)| Fiber: 2g (8%)| Sugar: 50g (56%)| Vitamin A: 767IU (15%)| Calcium: 103mg (10%)| Iron: 2mg (11%)

Author:Erren Hart

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:cake

Keyword:Coffee Cake, Crumb Cake, NJ Crumb Cake

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Update Notes: This post was originally published in July of 2014, but was republished with a video new photos, step by step instructions, and tips in November of 2019.