Monday, April 6, 2009

Apple/Ricotta Coffee Cake

I found this recipe on the wonderful food blog, Seriously Good: Recipes to satisfy the belly, mind, and soul. http://seriouslygood.kdweeks.com/
The title of the blog describes this coffee cake exactly; it's seriously good. It's full of apples, cinnamon, nuts, oats, and ricotta, cheese which gives the cake it's moistness. The coffee cake is also gorgeous, and thankfully, quite easy to make. This would be wonderful for breakfast or brunch if you have guests over. Baking it makes the house smell delicious.

Cake
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup ricotta cheese

Streusel/Filling
2 apples, peeled, cored, and diced
lemon juice
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter-cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons shortening-cut into small pieces
1/2 cup pecan pieces

Heat oven to 350F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter and dust with flour.

Streusel/Filling
Peel and dice apples (about 1/2-inch dice). Toss with lemon juice and set aside.

Place remaining streusel ingredients (except pecans) in a food processor. Add buter and shortening. Pulse about 10 times, then process for 5 to 10 seconds until there are no visible lumps of fat.

Cake
Mix together 1 3/4 cups flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

Using a mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter for about 30 seconds, then beat in granulated sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and ricotta cheese to batter. Mix on low speed after each addition until combined. Note: the batter will be rather thick and stiff.

Spread 1/2 of the batter into the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the filling mixture and then the diced apples. Carefully spoon remaining batter over apples. Sprinkle with remaining topping and nuts.

Bake 45-50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool at least one hour on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

3 comments:

  1. Wow, these postings are made in the middle of the night, don't you sleep? :) Oven is fixed, computer must be up and running and the recipes continue. Welcome back we missed you.

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  2. Your coffee cake sounds delicious! YUM.

    ReplyDelete