The Perfect Coffee Cake

I tried this recipe with a severe cinnamon bread craving in action. I have to say this surpassed my every expectation! It had a nice, firm crust with a perfectly moist interior. This is one of those cakes that's worth picking up the crumbs for the very last nibble. My kids I ate the whole thing ourselves (NO, not in the same night!). I highly recommend this recipe to anyone and everyone. Even if you don't have a green thumb in baking I don't see this one turning out to be a disaster....ever! It really is so simple and easy to make and I am sure you will enjoy this recipe as much as we did. So here you are, mmmmm!

The Perfect Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3.4 tsp salt
3 C plus 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
3/4 C chopped pecans
1/3 C packed brown sugar
1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 C granulated sugar
3/4 C butter or margarine (1 1/2 sticks), softened
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 container (16 oz) sour cream
1 C confectioners' sugar (for glaze)
4-6 tsp milk (for glaze)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 12-cup fluted baking pan; dust with flour.

On waxed paper, combine baking powder, baking soda, salt & 3 C flour. In small bowl, combine pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon & remaining flour.

In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat granulated sugar, butter & 2 tsp vanilla extract until creamy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Alternately beat in flour mixture & sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat just until blended, occasionally scraping the bowl.

Evenly spread 2 C batter in prepared pan; sprinkle with half the nut mixture. Top with 2 C batter; sprinkle with remaining nut mixture. Spread with remaining batter.

Bake cake for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. With small spatula, loosen cake from pan; invert onto rack to cool completely.

Prepare glaze *optional*: In small bowl, stir confectioners' sugar, milk & 1/2 tsp vanilla extract until smooth. When cake is completely cool, transfer to a plate. Use spoon to drizzle decoratively over cake. Let glaze set
And lastly, Enjoy it with coffee, plain or anything that you want.