Gold Sugar Makes the Cake

You've heard the expression that something "takes the cake?" Well today I'm talking about things that MAKE the cake!

Today, I'm putting the spotlight on gold sugar.  I know, such a simple thing, but what a difference it made to my humble box mix coffee cake.  I really like Pillsbury Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread & Muffin Mix and I make delicious coffee cakes all the time using 2 boxes of the mix (follow the directions on the box, adding oil, water and eggs) and a bake in a standard Bundt cake pan.

I like using Baking Spray with Flour and the cake will unmold easily if you allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before unmolding it onto a platter.

To make my glaze, whisk together powdered sugar and maple syrup, then drizzle generously over cake.  The crowning touch is tons of gold sugar. Doesn't it look beautiful? Presentation is everything. 

Cute Coffeecake

"Never underestimate the power of cute." - Anne Reeves

If you are going to take the time to make a coffeecake, shouldn't it look this good?  I turned a box mix of coffeecake into this, simply by baking the batter in a pretty pan.  My only improvement was adding dried cherries and pecan halves to the streusel layer.  The pan is a French silicone "Sunflower" mold by Flexipan.

By drizzling on a simple powered sugar/hot water glaze (a tablespoon of hot water to a cup of powdered sugar), my quick and easy coffeecake starts to look even more professional.  A hot pink glass cake stand doesn't hurt either.  Never underestimate the power of cute.

Cherry-Studded Coffeecake

One of our groomsmen (my husband's friend from college) has a layover in Detroit (he's flying in from his home/job in Kazakhstan) and we are scooping him up for a few days to visit and show him Michigan. 

Even though our guest room at home in the suburbs is ready, we've decided that he would really enjoy the "Americana" of a weekend at the cottage.

I hope he gets some sleep on the plane because, so far, we have decided that he should have a chance to:

• swim in Lake Michigan
• go for a boat ride
• eat a nice fish dinner at The Bluebird in Leland
• watch the sun set
• have a beach fire
• eat cherry pie

Our region of northern Michigan is called "Cherry Country."  We are on the 45th parallel (which is known around the globe for producing the best stone fruit) so "something cherry" is a must. 

In fact, I am making a simple coffee cake tomorrow studded with dried cherries to eat on Saturday morning.  Nothing beats going out on the deck with a hunk of coffee cake and a enamelware mug of coffee.  It's camp for grown ups! 

Simply take 2 boxes of Pillsbury Cinnamon Swirl quick bread mix and follow the instructions on the box (note the "when using 2 boxes" instructions) to bake a Bundt-size coffeecake.  When you add the cinnamon layer in the center, include a cup of dried cherries.  It is easy and delicious!

Blueberry Pecan Coffeecake for Book club

What did I bring to bookclub this week? The most delicious blueberry pecan coffeecake. The best part? I use Pillsbury Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread and simply add whole fresh blueberries and whole roasted pecans. Follow the directions on the box and when you sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mix, include blueberries and pecans - yum! I bake this in a small silicone angel food cake pan and find that it needs about 50 min at 350. Try it! Easy and delicious.