Hello Friend, Its another Tasty Tuesday and I have such a nice easy treat for you today! 

It is Simply Delicious Coffee Cake! And that defines it to a tee! It tastes and looks amazing, but it is really easy to make!

I got the recipe probably 30 years ago when I worked at Ford Motor Company in Owner Relations for one of the kindest bosses ever, Harry Napple. His beautiful wife Cathy who is an excellent cook, (as well as photographer), she shared with me some fantastic recipes. This is one of those recipes, and she graciously said yes, that I could share it on the blog! Thank you, Cathy! We’ve enjoyed this treat many times over the years!

I also would like to take this moment to thank my photographer Maribeth Schmidt for her always stunningly beautiful photographs of the recipes! Honestly, she is such a dear friend and I love her to pieces! And she is truly gifted and passionate about photography! If you are interested in learning more or for an inquiry, you can contact Maribeth through her site at Maribeth Schmidt Photography.

And now, lets begin!

Ingredients:

Batter:

• 1 Yellow Cake Mix
• 1 cup of water
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Crumb Mix

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2-3/4 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup melted margarine

Glaze Mix:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1-2 Tbsp water

Preheat oven to 325° and use cooking spray on a 9×13 pan.

Put the ingredients for the batter above (cake mix, 1 cup water, 3 eggs, 1/4 cup oil) and place in bowl. Using mixer or spoon, blend for 1 minute and then beat for 3 minutes.

Pour half of the batter into your 9 x 13 (already sprayed with cooking spray).

I just kind of eyeball it. It feels like a super thin layer because you’re use to a whole cake mix in there. Then I even it out with a rubber spatula.

 

Prepare your Crumb Mix:

Put the brown sugar, graham cracker crumbs, chopped nuts and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix with spoon. Add in the melted margarine.

Toss the crumbs mixing in the butter, and sprinkle half of the crumbs over the batter you have in the pan.

Now pour remaining batter slowly over the top of this crumb layer. I drizzle it trying to make sure I cover the entire surface- it will once again be a thin layer of batter.

Now sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the top of this batter layer.

Once that final crumb layer is complete, its ready to go into your oven. Bake at 325° for about 45 min. It will smell heavenly!

Test it with a toothpick to see if its done. Insert a clean toothpick all the way in the center.

Pull the toothpick out, and if there is no batter clinging to it, your cake is done!

Ok, lets let it cool a minute.

Now we prepare that delicious glaze! In a small bowl, add your powdered sugar, your vanilla, and start with 1 Tablespoon of water. It will feel pretty thick and pasty. If it thins up, then you are set to go. If not, add water one tablespoon at a time and mixing to see if its thin enough to pour.

Does that look yummy or what? I can’t take it! Lets cut a piece! I’ve got the coffee on!

Once again, I am drooling all over my desktop!

Here’s the sky view!

Look how pretty those layers came out! And it wasn’t that hard!

Oh goodness gracious, where are my manners? Let me serve it up!

I purchased these plates several years ago at Cost Plus World Market, and just bought several patterns, one in each pattern, because I thought they were fun!

The sugary sweetness in this recipe is so much like the sweetness of relationship with friends and family! Even if that number is just one! Some of us like to keep our circle small, some medium and some like a massive pool of friends and family. Some seasons of our lives allow for more of that than others. Some seasons are easier to visit with friends than others. But it is so sweet to have someone we can think of with fond memories, and maybe make a call or send a note to, and maybe even have a coffee date with! And if you have them over for coffee, why not make a Simply Delicious Coffee Cake to share with your sweet friend?

I’ve so enjoyed our time together with these recipes, and I enjoy your comments and hearing from you too!

I will be back Friday for another Fashion Friday!

Have a great week!

Love Always,

Amy

“Good friends are like stars… you don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.” ~Christy Evans