No mixer required: This quick, easy cake comes together with just a wooden spoon and a whisk
YIELDS: one 8 inch Square
SERVES: 9
INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE STREUSEL
- 3 3/8 oz. (3/4 cup) unbleached all-purpose flour; more for the pan
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. table salt
- 2 1/4 oz. (4 1/2 Tbs.) unsalted butter, melted; more if needed
FOR THE CAKE
- 4 oz. (1/2 cup) very soft unsalted butter; more for the pan
- 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 2 drops pure almond extract
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1/4 plus 1/8 tsp. table salt
- 5 1/4 oz. (1 1/3 cups) cake flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/8 tsp. baking soda
INSTRUCTIONS:
FOR THE STREUSEL
- In a small bowl, stir the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
- The streusel should feel clumpy, not sandy, when gently squeezed between your fingertips. If it seems dry, add more melted butter.
FOR THE CAKE
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.
- Lightly butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch-square metal cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment and butter the parchment. Dust the pan with flour, tapping out any excess.
- In a small bowl, whisk the sour cream, vanilla, and almond extract.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and egg yolk with a wooden spoon until blended, about 20 seconds.
- Using a whisk, whisk in the whole egg and salt and continue to whisk until the batter is smooth and the sugar begins to dissolve, about 30 seconds.
- Whisk in the sour cream mixture.
- Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and baking soda directly onto the batter. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
- Spread the batter evenly in the pan.
- Sprinkle the streusel over the batter, squeezing it with your fingertips to form small clumps.
- Bake until puffed and golden and a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out with only moist crumbs clinging to it, 28 to 30 minutes.
- Set the pan on a rack to cool for 15 minutes.
- Run a knife between the cake and the sides of the pan. Invert the cake onto the rack and remove the parchment. Invert again onto a serving plate, so the streusel is on top. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. This cake is best served warm.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
PER SERVING
- 400 CALORIES | 4G PROTEIN | 51G CARB | 20G TOTAL FAT | 12G SAT FAT |
5G MONO FAT | 1G POLY FAT | 95MG CHOL | 210MG SODIUM | 1G FIBE




