Buttermilk Coffee Cake or the old school Cowboy Coffee Cake

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Food Librarian - Buttermilk or Cowboy Coffee Cake

When I went to DC to visit my friends Racheal and Lee, I baked a bit and picked up some buttermilk for a cake. Unfortunately, Lee took a swig of the buttermilk thinking it was regular milk.

I'm just sorry I missed the look on his face.

Food Librarian - Buttermilk or Cowboy Coffee Cake
Light and easy to make coffee cake with walnut & cinnamon crumb topping

This morning I found myself heading to a presentation at another library and, in a blatant attempt to literally butter up my audience, I was looking for something to bring. And I had buttermilk in the fridge.

I was feeling old school and picked up the Better Homes and Garden New Cook Book (11th edition, 1996). You know, the red plaid cover!!

They call this the Buttermilk Coffee Cake. The note says, "Back by popular demand, this breakfast treat was known as Cowboy Coffee Cake in previous editions of this cookbook."

Food Librarian - Buttermilk or Cowboy Coffee Cake Food Librarian - Buttermilk or Cowboy Coffee Cake
Cut in butter with a pastry cutter until small crumbs:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 cup butter, margarine, or shortening (I used butter)

Food Librarian - Buttermilk or Cowboy Coffee Cake
Put aside 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture and combine with 1/2 cup nuts. I used walnuts. Love the "Walnut Baking Pieces" from Trader Joe's...no need to cut or trim. The nuts aren't optional...you really need them to add crunch and texture.

Stir into the remaining crumb mixture:
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

In a separate bowl, combine these two ingredients and then add (all at once) to the flour mixture:
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/3 cups buttermilk or sour milk

Food Librarian - Buttermilk or Cowboy Coffee Cake
Since the crumb mixture contained cold butter, I wasn't sure how to "mix well". It didn't say to make it smooth so I mixed it (by hand) well enough to combine everything and left these little bits of butter. See them? Well, it turned out fine.

Pour into a greased 13 x 9 pan (I always line it with parchment paper). Sprinkle the topping over the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

Food Librarian - Buttermilk or Cowboy Coffee Cake
Cowboy Coffee Cake or Buttermilk Coffee Cake
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32 comments:

Donna-FFW said... [Reply to comment]

I am going to trythis coffee cake. A girlcan never have too many in her arsenal. Sounds fabulous and classics are sometimes bext!!

oneordinaryday said... [Reply to comment]

Ick - your poor friend! LOL
The coffee cake looks so moist and delicious. I'm sure your crowd was very eager to listen to you as they nibbled on your cake.

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

This looks positively divine. I am going to bookmark this page and hope to try it out soon.

Bethie said... [Reply to comment]

Looks wonderful. I love coffee cake with my tea. :)

Megan said... [Reply to comment]

mmmm - nothing like a good coffee cake!

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

So, did the coffee cake succeed in buttering up your audience?? :) It looks awesome!

Jennifer Galatioto said... [Reply to comment]

That looks really delicious. I like the name Cowboy Coffee Cake the best. Have you ever tried to make your own buttermilk? I hear its really easy, just add vinegar? I always buys buttermilk for baking then don't know what to do with the leftovers...

Kerstin said... [Reply to comment]

Love that crumb topping! Buttermilk is the best in coffee cake, looks delicious.

Creative Classroom Core said... [Reply to comment]

This looks so light and delicious! Everyone should have a good recipe for Coffee cake. Your looks heavenly!
Thanks for sharing :)

eatme_delicious said... [Reply to comment]

Yumm great way to butter people up! Looks delicious.

Katrina said... [Reply to comment]

That looks so good! I just pulled a strawberry coffee cake out of the oven, but this cinnamony/nutty thing looks better to me! ;)

Natalie said... [Reply to comment]

amazing. i need to make these!

Audrie said... [Reply to comment]

I'd never made or had coffee cakes till I moved to the States and now I'm completely sold! Looks delish and pretty straightforward... yum!

Nancy/n.o.e said... [Reply to comment]

I'm trying to imagine cowboys sitting around eating? making? this cake! I agree about the walnut baking pieces from TJ's - use them for everything. And the pre-toasted pecan ones are also fab. Bookmarking this cake.

Cathy said... [Reply to comment]

This looks incredible. I think I might love coffee cake above all else. Hope your friend is recovered from the buttermilk mishap!

Melissa @ For the Love of Health said... [Reply to comment]

oh my goodness! I would like one like some please :-)

Happy Friday!

2.46% said... [Reply to comment]

This reminds me of when Michael made me a latte and accidentally used buttermilk! It was so gross. But your coffeecake looks delish!

Audrey said... [Reply to comment]

Ok, yum. Just yum. I love coffee cakes. And I'm going to look for those walnut pieces at TJs. (My mom and her friends used to drink glasses of buttermilk after school ... ewww.)

Monica H said... [Reply to comment]

What a lovely little treat. I need a glass of milk!

Irene said... [Reply to comment]

Hahaha! Is it weird that I buy low-fat buttermilk to drink instead of milk??? I always used to drink it as a kid and I just love the taste. Really nice coffee cake!

How To Eat A Cupcake said... [Reply to comment]

Ooohhh gross @ the swigging buttermilk thing!! Yikes!

This looks delish. I love BH&G!

Snooky doodle said... [Reply to comment]

oh this cake looks so good. yummy!

Susan said... [Reply to comment]

I'm so glad to see this! This recipe is in my old 1941 edition of the BHG red plaid book (I collect them, it wasn't a wedding gift!) About 6 months ago, I was in the same pinch for something quick and used the recipe named "Coffee Cake" from the same book. It had the best cake of any I've ever tasted, so good that I've been going back through that old book and trying out other recipes. They have all been wonderful. What did I expect, right? They are all tested recipes so how could they fail! Now, thanks to you FL, I'll try the Cowboy Coffeecake.

Pamela said... [Reply to comment]

I've been on a bit of a coffee cake kick lately. This one looks very good. Hmmmm...and I just bought some buttermilk, too.

Di said... [Reply to comment]

I love coffeecake, and this one looks fantastic. I don't buy a lot of buttermilk because I have a hard time using it up. This looks like a good solution!

PheMom said... [Reply to comment]

I love coffee cake and bet this one was great! It really looks great and I am sure your audience was thrilled to get a treat!

Deeba PAB said... [Reply to comment]

He ain't gonna swig milk in a hurry again...LOL! Love this coffee cake.Bookmarked. My kids make me bake the Cinnamon Choc Bundt Cake so often, I think they need a change. Walnuts in anything is good for me, though I don't have the luxury of chopped bits in a bag! but for this, I'll happily chop some.

Ingrid_3Bs said... [Reply to comment]

MMMMMM, I like butter bits! Good call on this one.
~ingrid

Krafty Christy said... [Reply to comment]

That looks yummy! BTW, thanks for leaving me a comment on my blog!

Lori said... [Reply to comment]

This sounds and looks delicious. I have that BH and G book. I use it often.

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

My cowboy's face still grimaces when he remembers taking that big swig! We miss you, FL!!! xoxoxo Racheal, Lee, Baby Boy, Jake, Elwood and Sammy

Mermaid Sews said... [Reply to comment]

Seriously, do you make something fabulous like every day? You are amazing.

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