Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Milk Chocolate-Walnut Coffee Cake


Lou Pappas is one of those authors who only makes good stuff. She's so consistently good that I never doubt a recipe. And not only that, when I glance at the latest Williams-Sonoma brand cookbook, I know to flip open the cover and see who wrote the recipes for the book. The recipes are often by Lou Pappas, which makes it very difficult not to buy the book!


This Milk Chocolate-Walnut Coffee Cake is simple to make and has classic, uncontroversial flavors in it. I made it for a presentation I was giving to staff at work. It was a great way to kick off the meeting. I just hope I didn't set a precedent that every time I lead a meeting or give a presentation, baked goods are expected. If you're listening, coworkers, the answer is NO!


Milk Chocolate-Walnut Coffee Cake
Recipe by Lou Seibert Pappas in Coffee Cakes: Simple, Sweet, and Savory

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 3 tablespoons
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup buttermilk or low-fat plain yogurt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
6 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped, or milk chocolate wafers
1 cup (4 ounces) chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars (reserve the 3 tablespoons granulated sugar) together with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer and beat in the eggs and vanilla until smooth. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and stir to blend. Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk or yogurt in 2 increments and beat until the batter is smooth.

Stir together the 3 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon. Spread half the batter in the prepared pan and sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar and half the chopped chocolate or wafers. Spread the remaining batter evenly over the top and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar and chocolate and the nuts.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan. Serve the cake warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges.

Makes one 9-inch cake; serves 12.


Step-by-Step in Pictures

Cream the butter and sugars...

Add eggs and vanilla...

Combine dry ingredients and add to the batter alternately with the buttermilk or yogurt...

Your batter will be thick and smooth...

Combine sugar and cinnamon...

Grease and flour the springform pan...

Spread half the batter into the bottom of the pan...

Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar over the batter...

Sprinkle half the chocolate over the cinnamon sugar...

Spread the remaining batter on top...

Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar on top, then the remaining chocolate chips and the nuts...

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes...

Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove the sides...

Notice the streaks of cinnamon sugar in the cross-section...

Yum!

7 comments:

Mom said...

Your coworkers are very lucky!Those pictures are amazing! I am so much in the mood for that cake right now. It would go perfectly with my tea I'm drinking. Lou Pappas is one of my all-time favorite cookbook authors and so I know this must taste as incredible as it looks!

Tzviah said...

I want that! Now I have to go buy yogurt. Thanks a lot.

Marni said...

Mom - Oh do they know it! I bring things to work and they're gobbled up so fast that some coworkers complain of not getting a taste! Thanks for introducing me to Lou Pappas, by the way!!

Tzviah - Go buy yogurt. Or Saco buttermilk powder. You're welcome!

Ellen said...

Looks yummy, Marni! Do you have a job for me?

Mrs K said...

Marni,This cake is baking in the oven right now, the kitchen smells like heaven :) I have to pull it out in aminute or 2.It looks identical to the cake in the picture. I found you on food&thriftfinds by Elizabeth.I am so glad to have come across your blog and oh yes- Thanks also for making introducing me to Lou Pappas:) I will write again after I have had a piece of this divine looking cake:)

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Hi Marni found u here - http://foodandthriftfinds.blogspot.com/2010/11/sun-dried-tomatoes-in-herbed-olive-oil.html

Am i happy m, yeah i sure am and always find the best stuff on Elisabeths blog!!
This cake is jus the way i would love it , so delicious!!
Milk chocolate and walnuts , i loveeee!!!

Marni said...

Ellen - You can be the unofficial taste tester? Hehehe.

Mrs K. - I'm so excited you made this cake! Let me know how it turned out! Since it's a Lou Pappas recipe, I have total confidence it turned out delicious. You lucky girl! :-P

Sugar Plum Fairy - Wow! You and Mrs K both found me on Elisabeth's blog. Very neat. I hope you do try this recipe...you are going to love it! Happy New Year!

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