Strawberry and Grape Coffee Cake with Almond Crumb Topping
The addition of almond meal as well as sliced almonds gives takes this coffee cake to the next sophisticated level. You can find almond meal at most well-stocked grocery stores or make your own by just grinding almonds in a food processor or blender until it becomes powder. Just don’t process too long or the almonds will turn into almond butter. I used ThomCord grapes for this recipe, as they have a jammy grape jelly flavor because of the Concord heritage but you can use whatever seedless grape you have on hand, though I recommend Red Flame or black seedless if you can find them. Green seedless grapes tend to be a little one-note sweet for this recipe.
2tablespoonsTurbinado sugarsometimes called Sugar in the Raw
1/4cupalmond slices35 g
1teaspooncinnamon
1/4teaspoonkosher salt
4tablespoonsunsalted buttermelted
Cake Batter
3cupsall-purpose flour420 g
1/2cupalmond meal50 g
2 1/2teaspoonbaking powder
1/4teaspoonbaking soda
3/4teaspoonkosher salt
1/2cupunsalted butterroom temperature
1 1/2cupswhite granulated sugar300 g
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1/2teaspoonalmond extract
1/2teaspooncinnamon
2large eggs
1 1/4cupbuttermilk
8ouncesstrawberrieshulled and halved (or quartered if large)
1cupsliced in half ThomCord grapes150 g (see headnote above about grape varietal substitution)
Instructions
Make the crumb topping by placing the flour, both sugars, almond slices, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Drizzle the melted butter over the ingredients and toss with a fork until clumps start to form. Place in the refrigerator to cool while you make the cake batter.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan with cooking oil, then line baking baking pan with parchment paper.
Make the cake batter by placing the flour, almond meal, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Stir vigorously with a balloon whisk until ingredients are evenly distributed.
Place the butter, sugar, both extracts, and cinnamon in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Cream the butter, sugar and other ingredients together until well blended and the butter clings to the side of the bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, waiting until the first egg is incorporated before adding the second egg.
Mix in 1/3 of the dry ingredients, then 1/2 of the buttermilk, waiting until the dry ingredients are absorbed before adding the buttermilk. Repeat this process until all the ingredients are added, ending on the dry ingredients.
Add most of the strawberries and grapes (reserving about 1/4 cup of each fruit for the top) to the cake batter. Gently mix in by hand with a spatula or wooden spoon. Carefully spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan, then spread evenly on the bottom with a butter knife. Press the reserve fruit into the top of the cake. Then remove crumb topping from the refrigerator and sprinkle it on top of the cake, making sure to break up any really big chunks (though you want to leave some smaller chunks, it’s a crumb topping!).
Bake in the oven 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.