In celebration of National Coffee Cake Day on April 7th, here are some fun ways to make this sugary holiday even sweeter:
Make coffee cake from scratch
The best way to celebrate Coffee Cake Day is by indulging in this sweet and light dessert with your favorite coffee brew. When you take a bite of home-baked goodness, coffee cake made from scratch is sheer heaven. The luscious layers of satisfying crunchiness and buttery, vanilla-flavored sweetness will remind you why it’s a must-have cake for pairing with coffee.
The ingredients for classic coffee cake are similar to vanilla cake, but what makes it slightly different is the sugar and cinnamon crumble on top, which can be even crunchier with chopped walnuts added to the mixture. It can also be sprinkled in layers throughout the cake.
For best results, we recommend baking coffee cake in a Bundt pan, which will allow it to bake more evenly. Cupcake tins are another option for this recipe, which gives you the convenience of individually portioned cakes.
Enjoy a slice of Nemo’s coffee cake
If you don’t have time for baking, Nemo’s traditional coffee cake has a homemade taste that pairs perfectly with a medium roast coffee. Using quality ingredients and a family recipe handed down through the generations, Nemo’s coffee cake is moist, fluffy, and utterly divine. Try a slice with a hot cup of coffee and you’ll understand why coffee cake has its own special day on the calendar. Like all of Nemo’s treats, their coffee cake is individually portioned and conveniently packaged, making it the perfect on-the-go treat. For more coffee and dessert ideas, check out our DIY coffee drink article, which includes a full list of Nemo’s treats and the best coffee pairings.
Learn some fun facts about coffee cake
Coffee cake wasn’t invented by anyone in particular but actually evolved from classic vanilla cake, which dates back to biblical times. The first versions of coffee cake were baked by the Danish in the 17the century. Around the same time in Europe, it became an everyday ritual to enjoy sweet cakes, yeasty bread, and pastries with coffee or tea.
With versatile flavors that go with everything, coffee cake can be made with many different combinations, from the original recipe flavored with cinnamon and vanilla to blueberry coffee cake and cinnamon walnut coffee cake for a crunchy finish. In the 1950s, bakers started making coffee cake in a Bundt pan, which allowed the batter to get thoroughly baked in the center. The result is a slightly crunchy and sweet crust and a moist, fluffy texture on the inside.
Have a coffee cake baking contest
Going beyond a single bake of this classic coffee pairing, make the holiday even more epic when you challenge your fellow baking friends and enthusiasts to a coffee cake bake-off. Following the format of The Great British Baking Show on Netflix, everyone must bake their own unique version of coffee cake. For this coffee cake challenge, the winner will receive the coveted title of ‘Star Baker,’ plus an award of your choosing. Whether or not you win the contest, there will be lots of different coffee cakes to try, so make sure you’ve got plenty of coffee brewing. With an abundance of coffee cake and coffee, it’s a win-win all around.
Learn the origins and production of vanilla extract
An essential ingredient in coffee cake and countless other desserts, vanilla extract is made from the vanilla bean, which is grown all over the world. The top countries in vanilla production are Madagascar, Indonesia, China, and Mexico. The beans grow on the vanilla orchid, a vine-like plant with beautiful blooms and a heavenly aroma. The second most expensive spice after saffron, one vanilla pod contains thousands of tiny black seeds, which add a potent vanilla flavor to a long list of desserts. A cheaper option is vanilla extract, which is made from combining the pod with water and alcohol.
In honor of this sweet, sugar-filled holiday, enjoy coffee cake and a cup of java, a classic pairing for your daily coffee break.
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