Blue Ribbon Group Cherry Almond Coffee Cake
2021 Minnesota State Fair Winner - Best Coffee Cake
Wow, this Cherry Almond Coffee Cake is both super delicious and a breeze to make. It has earned accolades multiple times, including Best Coffee Cake at the 2021 Minnesota State Fair.
When I made this for a recent brunch, it was a huge hit. I have to admit, I sometimes forget how absolutely wonderful coffee cakes are; until I taste one. And paired with a hot cuppa java? Brings me utter joy.
Recipe credit for this award-winning Cherry Almond Coffee Cake goes to Roxanne Goodwin. In addition to winning with it at the 2021 Minnesota State Fair (after which we updated this post), Roxanne previously won Best Overall Quick Bread with it at the 2015 Minnesota State Fair. This is quite a feat since quick breads are such a popular type of baked goods, especially classic coffee cakes. She won a red ribbon in 2018 with it as well.
Show & Tell Time
When Roxanne won, we invited her to showcase her recipe to fairgoers live at the fair and on television with a local news appearance and demo. Here’s a shot from the event with Roxanne in the center, between her daughter Bella and long-time state fair judge Mary Bartz.
The Process
To recreate this award-winning cherry almond coffee cake, start by prepping your pans. Smear the bottom and sides of the pan with butter. Shortening works also of course. For the batter itself, bring your butter to room temperature. You’ll combine it with vanilla and almond extracts, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sour cream. I’m not sure why sour cream and Greek yoghurt works so well in baked goods, but I just go with it. The texture is always dense but so tender.
The process is classic. Mix your wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine. You mix in dried cherries before baking this Cherry Almond Coffee Cake. Other dried berries would work as well. My preference, however, is dried cherries or dried cranberries. The streusel on top is classic also, made with brown sugar, butter, almonds, and flour. The cakes are done when cake tested is inserted and comes out clean. Tops of cakes should be golden brown.
Toss & Turn & Toast
Roxanne’s tip to roast the almonds on foil in the oven works slick. When I don’t want to heat the oven, I use the stovetop instead. I put them in a nonstick pan over low heat. I toss (flip) and turn them to bring out their nuttiness and toast the batch evenly. I usually do a big batch to also mix into salads.
The great thing about this recipe is it bakes two 9-inch round cakes, so you have one to enjoy fresh-baked and another to give away, or not =) You could also freeze one to enjoy later, and not have to share. We won’t judge. And if you’re wanting more quick bread recipes, be sure not to miss this other coffee cake and one of our favorite banana breads
-Cyndi
Cherry Almond Coffee Cake
Streusel:
1/2 cup brown sugar-packed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter-melted
1/2 cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted*
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Batter:
3/4 cup unsalted butter-softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
4 large eggs-room temperature
2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sour cream-room temperature
1 cup dried cherries-chopped
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare two 9” round cake pans. Spread thin layer of shortening on bottom and sides of pans. Add parchment liner on bottom and spread with another thin layer of shortening. Dust with flour and tap out any excess flour. Set aside. Make streusel. In a small bowl, add brown sugar, melted butter, almonds, and flour. Mix to combine; set aside. In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add butter, sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time; beating well after each addition. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Begin adding flour mixture to wet ingredients, alternating with sour cream. Begin and end with the flour, mixing just until combined. Do not overbeat. Dust cherries with flour. Gently fold cherries into batter. Divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Sprinkle streusel mix on top of both. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cakes are done when cake tested is inserted and comes out clean. Tops of cakes should be golden brown. Let cakes cool on wire racks for ten minutes. Remove from pans and continue cooling until ready to serve. Makes two 9” coffee cakes.
*If you need to toast your almonds: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on piece of foil and roast in oven for 3-5 minutes. Watch closely so the nuts do not burn. Remove and cool.
