New York Style Crumb Cake and a New Baking Group

Don't dare call this coffee cake.  This is way beyond a coffee cake.  This is New York Style Crumb Cake.  Apparently New Yorkers take their crumb very seriously, the crumb to cake ratio is about 40/60.  The cake is sturdy, yet moist as it uses sour cream.  The crumb is pretty outrageous with "boulder" like chunks of delicious brown sugar deliciousness.  The crumb has a nice texture and crunch, contrasting perfectly with the soft cake.  To maximize the sweet goodness of this cake, heat your piece for about 20 seconds in the microwave.  DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.  Really.  It takes this cake to a whole other level. 

This fabulous cake marks the very first posting of the new baking group, Club: Baked.  Thank you Karen of Karen's Cookies Cakes & More for not only picking this great recipe to kick off the group, but for founding Club: Baked.  Karen guided a group of bakers through the Sweet Melissa Baking Book with Sweet Melissa Sundays and that group is posting our last recipe on August 21st.  The perfect time to start a new group, and several other SMS bakers quickly hopped on board. 

Club: Baked will take us on baking journey through the book Baked Explorations by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito.  The book features classic American recipes with a twist.  I am super excited to make many of the recipes...like Strawberry Jello Salad, Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie, Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars, Aunt Sassy Cake, Buckeyes (chocolate covered peanut butter balls--can you tell I like peanut butter?) and Farmstand Donuts which will be the group's second post, scheduled for July 15th. 

If any of the recipes above or these recipes sound good to you,  and or you just want to expand your baking skills, come join us and bake along with Club: Baked!  Every 1st and 15th of the month a baker from the group selects a recipe to make from the book.  Everyone who bakes along for that recipe posts their results on the scheduled date.  It's a great way to get outside your baking comfort zone and learn new things.  I can't tell you how much I have learned participating in Sweet Melissa Sundays for the past year and a half . I really thought I knew how to bake when I joined the group and I quickly realized I had a lot more to learn!  It's fun and your friends, family and co-workers will love you if you choose to share your tasty creations with them (or hate you because you are expanding their waistlines).  To join the fun, head over the the Club: Baked site and get in touch with Karen.

In the meantime I highly recommend the New York Style Crumb Cake.  It would be perfect for a brunch or special breakfast.  Or as a snack.  Or for dessert.  It's delicious!

To get the recipe stop by Karen's Cookies Cakes & More. Check out how other bakers did with their NY Style Crumb Cake here.