Coffee Coffee Cake

I LOVE to bake. I especially love to bake with my boys. This morning, Little D and I whipped up a coffee cake, with the other 2 Ds slept. I wanted to make one that actually had coffee in it. Here's the recipe I used. I will definitely be making this one again. It's right up there with my sour cream coffee cake recipe. The ingredients that make up this cake might not be the healthiest...adding caramel to the top is also not healthy...BUT - baking something from scratch, with or without the help of a little one, IS healthy. It's healthy for the mind and soul. The smells, the tatses, the warm-feelings of accomplishment are good for us. So throw away your calorie counter one Sunday morning, roll up your sleeves and get baking! Enjoy!

Coffee Coffee Cake

• FILLING
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cups), soft
• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 1/3 cups AP flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cups buttermilk
• 3/4 cups strong brewed coffee, COLD
• 2 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generouslly butter bundt pan. In a small bowl, mix togther ingredients for the filling. Set aside.
2. Using a hand or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, one at at time, and continue to mix until creamy.
3. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and soda, and salt. In a 2-cup pyrex dish, mix together buttermilk, coffee and vanilla.
4. Add half of the dry mixture and half of the wet mixture to the creamed butter. Mix until combined, then add the remaining wet and dry ingredients, until everything is thoroughly combined.
5. Spoon half of the batter into the bundt pan and try to level out. Pour filling on top, distributing evenly over pan. Add the remaining batter, and again try to smooth level.
6. Bake in preheated oven for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
7. Let cool slightly, then serve with some drizzled caramel and a big cup of coffee. ENJOY!