During my formative years in culinary school, I had a pivotal moment with coffee cake. While everyone around me was chasing trendy, complex pastries, my instructor pulled me aside and shared this recipe, saying, “Sometimes the most comforting bakes are the ones that feel like home.” These buttermilk squares have accompanied me through every phase of my career – from culinary school to professional kitchens, and now to my home baking classes where they consistently earn the title of “most requested recipe” from students who initially seek flashier desserts but ultimately fall for their comforting simplicity.
Buttermilk Cinnamon Crumb Cake Squares
Moist buttermilk cake squares featuring cinnamon-sugar ribbons and crunchy streusel topping provide comfort in every bite.
Prepare Your Equipment
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides for easy removal.
Make the Streusel Topping
In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon for the streusel. Add cold butter cubes and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized butter pieces. Refrigerate while preparing the cake batter.
Prepare Cinnamon Filling
In a small bowl, mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon for the filling. Set aside.
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine Wet Ingredients
In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla until well combined.
Make the Batter
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula just until combined. Be careful not to overmix - the batter should be thick and a few small lumps are fine.
Assemble the Cake
Spread half the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar filling evenly over the batter. Top with remaining batter, spreading carefully to cover the filling (it's okay if not perfectly even).
Add Streusel and Bake
Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The top should be golden brown and slightly firm to the touch.
Cool and Cut
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes. Using the parchment overhang, lift the cake out of the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into 16 squares for serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Amazing Crumb Cake Recipe
Learn how to make this delicious buttermilk cinnamon crumb cake with the perfect balance of moist cake and crisp, buttery streusel topping.
This recipe brilliantly resolves the coffee cake conundrum of achieving consistent texture throughout. By using a square pan instead of a tube pan, every portion gets the perfect ratio of tender cake to crunchy streusel. The buttermilk creates an exceptionally moist crumb that stays fresh for days without drying out – making it ideal for advance preparation before house guests arrive. While most coffee cakes require a stand mixer, this batter comes together by hand with simple folding techniques, resulting in fewer dishes and a pleasantly light texture from minimal gluten development.
Each square delivers a textural symphony with three distinct layers – the base is supremely moist and tender from tangy buttermilk, the middle features ribbons of warm cinnamon-sugar melting into the crumb, and the top boasts a crisp, buttery streusel that shatters pleasantly with each bite. The aroma of cinnamon and brown sugar creates an atmosphere of immediate comfort, filling your kitchen with the quintessential scent of home baking. The subtle buttermilk tang balances the sweetness perfectly, creating a sophisticated flavor profile that elevates this humble treat.
Though perfect on its own, this versatile cake welcomes seasonal adaptations. Add diced apples or berries to the batter in summer, or incorporate pumpkin spice into the streusel during fall. For an elegant brunch presentation, dust with powdered sugar just before serving, and offer alongside fresh berries and whipped cream. Better yet, prepare this recipe when someone needs comfort – whether celebrating good news or consoling through hard times, nothing communicates care quite like homemade coffee cake squares fresh from your kitchen. One bite convinces even the most dedicated pastry sophisticates that sometimes, simple is simply best.
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