Bursting Blueberry Crumb Cake!
It tastes even better than it sounds!
As in, BURSTING with blueberries.
Extra blueberries…
I dreamed of a blueberry crumble, except in cake form.
(Yes, these are the thoughts that occupy my mind at night).
I peaked out at 500g (1lb).
Thats almost double the typical amount used in most Blueberry Crumb Cakes.
And with extra blueberries comes extra streusel, that crumbly crunchy caramel top.
I guess sometimes dreams can come true!!
Extra blueberries…
Ingredients in Bursting Blueberry Crumb Cake
Heres what it’s crucial that you make this.
The lemon is used to provide wetness to make some of the flour stick to the blueberries.
You will find that not all the flour sticks to the blueberries.
Extra streusel!
Be sure to scatter it all across the blueberry layer.
We need the full 3 tablespoons of flour to ensure the blueberries dont sink.
Frozen blueberrieswill work too!
Use frozen because they bleed a lot when thawed.
The Crumb Topping
This is called a streusel in baking.
No unusual players here.
The only one worth noting is sugar.
However, if you dont have it, just substitute with regular sugar.
Lemon Cake
The Lemon Cake is adapted from the batter I use for myclassic blueberry yogurt cake.
Flour just plain / all purpose flour.
Its best to use plain flour and add baking powder rather than self raising flour.
Cakes just never rise as well.
Baking powder This is what makes the cake rise.
If yours is old, its best tocheck its still active!
So we can use less flour for the same volume of batter.
Yup, been there, done that!).
Milk Full fat is best though low fat will work fine too.
As with the sour cream, ensure its not fridge cold.
Take it out 30 minutes prior, or microwave for 10 seconds.
Melted butter Once melted, let it cool for a bit.
It can still be warm, we just dont want it to be super hot.
Lemon zest Zest the lemon before you squeeze out juice to coat the blueberries!
Its impossible to properly zest a lemon once its been squeeze of juice.
We only use the zest because it adds lovely lemon flavour.
The juice, on the other hand, mainly just adds sourness.
Vanilla extract Better flavour than imitation vanilla essence.
I personally dont use vanilla bean or vanilla bean paste in cakes because I think its wasted.
Save it for things likeCreme BruleeandFlan Patissier!
Salt Just a touch, to bring out the other flavours in the cake.
Standard baking practice these days.
How to make Streusel
Mix the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt).
This is what youre after.
Lots and lots of lumps!
2. zest lemon fiRst, then toss the blueberries
Zestthe lemon then keep it for the batter.
Tossthe blueberries in lemon juice first to wet the surface.
Then toss with the flour and sugar.
Then set aside until required.
Whisk dry Whisk the dry ingredient in a bowl (flour, baking powder and salt).
Add the melted warm-not-hot butter and sour cream, then whisk until smooth.
If you see tiny bits in the batter, it will be the zest not flour lumps!
Batter thickness This is what your batter should look like.
Pourable but not super thin like my Chocolate Cake and not super thick like a muffin batter.
Prevent screen from sleeping
ASSEMBLING AND BAKING
Pourthe batter into the cake pan and smooth the surface.
For the most even spread, start from the outer edge then work your way in.
But, dont get too hung up on this step!
Then break up into clumps and scatter!
Bakefor 65 minutes at 200C/400F (180C fan-forced), rotating halfway to ensure the streusel browns evenly.
Coolfor 10 minutes in the pan to give it a chance to stabilise.
Then unclip the sides and use a spatula to slide the cake onto a cooling rack.
Cool for a further 10 minutes before slicing to serve warm (so the ice cream melts!
), or fully cool and serve at room temperature.
Thats the normal way Crumb Cakes are served.
It is delicious and the way this cake was originally intended to be.
with the hint of fresh lemon flavour.
I am firmly planted on the warm-serving side.
Try it once, and I think you will be too!
Dozer: at the Golden Retriever Boarders house.
Shes always a little offended because Dozer gives her husband a more enthusiastic greeting than she gets.
She is a vegetarian.
Her husband is a carnivore.
Dozer is not subtle.
