Name: Vanilla Chocolate Crumb Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: ⅓ cup sugar; ⅓ cup brown sugar (lightly packed); 1 pinch salt; ¼ cup cocoa; ½ cup butter melted (cooled to warm); 1½ cups cake/pastry flour*; 1¼ cups cake/pastry flour*; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; 1 pinch salt**; 6 tablespoons butter** (softened); ½ cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg (room temperature); 1 large egg yolk (room temperature); 3 tablespoons greek yogurt (room temperature); 2 tablespoons milk (room temperature); 1 teaspoon vanilla

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Vanilla Chocolate Crumb Cake, an easy Crumb Cake made with Greek yogurt and the perfect crunchy topping. It’s a great Dessert, Snack Cake, or why not serve it as a Breakfast Cake? This vanilla chocolate cake is perfect any time of day.

This amazing Vanilla Chocolate Crumb Cake is a family favourite and a simple cake recipe that is easy to make. Even my daughter who is the Nutella queen loves it even though it doesn’t have Nutella in it! Although she does say, her favourite will always be the Italian Nutella Crumb Cake.

I got the idea for this recipe from Cooks Illustrated but it was a muffin recipe with a plain vanilla crumb topping. I decided to change it up a bit by adding a cocoa topping, I used Greek yogurt ,and I made it into a cake instead. In my opinion, can’t get much better than a yummy Crumb Cake.

I have made this cake so many times. Needless to say, it is one of those dunkers for the Italian in his morning café latte and my perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of coffee or tea.

You really do need a higher pan just to hold all that yummy crumb topping so I use a springform pan. It also makes it easy to release the cake from the pan when you’re ready to serve it.

As my youngest daughter says, the chocolate crumb topping is the best part. Vanilla Chocolate Crumb Cake actually becomes a two-layer cake – vanilla cake on the bottom and buttery chocolate crumbs on top.

Crumb Topping Ingredients

Sugar
Brown sugar
Salt
Cocoa powder
Melted butter
Cake flour

Cake Ingredients

Cake flour – homemade or store bought
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt
Softened butter
Granulated sugar
Large egg – room temperature
Large egg yolk – room temperture
Greek yogurt – room temperature
Milk – room temperature (I use 2% or whole milk)
Vanilla extract

How to Make Cake Flour

For every cup of all purpose flour, remove two tablespoons and replace with two tablespoons of corn starch. Be sure to sift the flour and cornstarch together a couple of times, this way it is sure to be properly combined and lump free. Cake flour in cakes will give you a very tender texture and fine crumb, it will also help the cake to rise.

Why use room temperature ingredients?

With cakes and other baking, it’s always better to use room temperature ingredients. So, take any cold ingredients out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time or sooner if it’s cool in your kitchen. Room temperature ingredients blend easier, creating a silky batter or dough, which will help to create a light tender baked good.

How to Make the Cake

Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

Whisking the dry ingredients in a silver bowl.

To make the crumb topping, whisk both kinds of sugars, salt, and cocoa powder in a mixing bowl. Stir in the melted butter. Add the flour and stir with a fork until the mixture forms clumps. Set the topping aside while you make the cake.

mixing the chocolate topping in a glass bowl.

In a separate medium bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Add in the sugar and beat it into the butter until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Beat in the egg and extra egg yolk and then add the yogurt, milk, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients in three batches mixing between each until just combined.

Making the vanilla cake batter in the mixing bowl and in the cake pan.

Spread the batter in a prepared 8″ springform pan and sprinkle the crumb topping over the top of the vanilla batter.

Bake the cake at 350°F for about one hour. Allow it to cool to room temperature before slicing and serving it.

Tips for the Best Crumb Cake

Use room temperature ingredients for this recipe. This makes it easy to mix the batter without overmixing it. Overmixing will make your cake dry and dense.

Leftover cake should be covered with plastic wrap and stored at room temperature. It will keep for three to four days.

You can also freeze this cake. Once it’s completely cooled, Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in a freezer container. It will keep for three months.

I hope this vanilla chocolate crumb cake recipe becomes your new family-favourite recipe. It’s the best anytime cake. Enjoy!

A slice of vanilla chocolate cake on a black plate.

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