Snickerdoodles are a regular theme on Bready or Not, and this new Snickerdoodle Crumb Cake version is something amazing.
This is a true cake, not simply a bar. It has a light, airy crumb that isn’t too moist or too dry.
Most importantly, it tastes like a Snickerdoodle. Despite what some store versions think these days, that doesn’t simply mean cinnamon and sugar, but the distinct taste of cream of tartar as well.
That cinnamon-sugar thing is important too, though. That’s why this cake has a visible layer through the middle–which looks gorgeous when pieces are cut–as well as a crust on top. To which I added a pinch of pretzel salt for contrast, because why not?
This recipe doesn’t produce a massive batch of cake, but if you are baking for a few people, know that you can safely slice up and individually wrap pieces and freeze them for later.
Bready or Not Original: Snickerdoodle Crumb Cake
Equipment
- 8x8 or 9x9 pan
- uneven spatula
Ingredients
Streusel
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter half stick, cut into pieces
Dough
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter 1 1/2 sticks, room temperature
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste
Filling
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons white sugar
Topping
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon white sugar
- pinch pretzel salt optional
Instructions
Make the streusel
- Stir together the flour, brown sugar, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or butter knife and fork to mash the butter into pea-sized pieces and crumbs. Set in fridge to chill.
Make the dough
- Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
- In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Set aside.
- In a big bowl, beat the butter and both sugars until creamy. Mix in eggs one by one followed by the vanilla extract. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
- Spread about half the dough in the pan, using an uneven spatula fully coat the bottom.
Make the layers
- Stir together the two filling ingredients. Sprinkle to entirely cover the base layer of dough.
- Dollop the rest of the batter on top, again using the uneven spatula to spread evenly to edges. Sprinkle the streusel across the top. Mix together the cinnamon-sugar topping, then sprinkle that over the crumbs.
- Bake for 33 to 37 minutes, until the middle passes the toothpick test. Cool completely. Use foil to lift cake onto a cutting board to slice into bars.
- Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Can also be sliced into bars, wrapped in plastic, and frozen for an easy treat later.
