Cherry Crumb Cake

Holey moley! It's been over 2 months since I have posted a recipe on here. I do apologize for those of you who follow it! I have been baking, I just didn't get around to photographing and uploading my creations, most of which have been cakes and cupcakes. There were 4 sets of Birthday cupcakes, 2 Birthday cakes and a wedding cake... am I forgetting something? I keep meaning to post my chocolate cake/cupcake recipe on here. I get so many requests for it. Watch this space! (Note to self: post devils food cake recipe next!)


While the Northern part of the world is heading in to my favourite time of the year, fall, we here in Australia seem to have skipped spring and gone straight to summer! With that in mind, fresh fruit is on the agenda . Heat or no heat, I will continue to use my oven to bake... I know... CRAZY, but that's what air conditioners are for! I had a craving for cherries, but after visiting 3 different places trying to find them and discovering they aren't quite in season yet, I had to settle for a jar of cherries. It turned out pretty darn tasty, but I will for sure be trying it again with fresh cherries when they are in season. Maybe even a strawberry and peach version!


ENJOY!

Cherry Crumb Cake

For the crumble

• 1/2 cup ground almond meal
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 Tbs melted butter

For the cake

• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup ground almond meal
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 8 Tbs butter, room temp
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 Tbs almond extract
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups cherries

1. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C.) Line a 9 inch square baking pan with parchment/baking paper.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, almond meal, baking soda and salt. In another larger bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, then add vanilla and almond extract. Mix well.
3. In alternating steps, add flour mixture and buttermilk to the sugar/butter mixture, starting and ending with flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Make sure you do not over mix, mix until just combined.
4. Spread the batter into the bottom of the lined baking pan. sprinkle the cherries evenly over the batter and gently press in to the batter with your palm. Set aside.
5. To make crumble, mix melted butter, flour, almond meal, sugar and salt together to create large crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over cherries.
6. Bake for 50 mins or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Cool on a cooling rack before removing from pan and cutting in to 9-12 squares.