The Ultimate Crumb Cake Recipe: A Sweet Indulgence & ‘Sugar Rush’ Cookbook Review
Prepare yourself for a culinary revelation! This isn’t just any crumb cake recipe; it’s the ultimate guide to creating a truly exceptional dessert experience. Imagine a cake so moist and tender it practically melts in your mouth, perfectly complemented by a generous, thick layer of buttery, sweet, and perfectly spiced crumb topping. This recipe delivers exactly that, promising to be the one you’ll turn to again and again. It’s truly the best crumb cake recipe you’ll ever encounter, guaranteed to become a cherished favorite in your baking repertoire, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an anytime treat.
Discovering the ‘Sugar Rush’ Cookbook: A Baker’s Dream
Like many passionate home bakers, my cookbook collection is constantly expanding, fueled by an insatiable desire to explore new flavors and techniques. My shelves groan under the weight of books covering everything from intricate baking masterpieces to practical healthy cooking guides, and even those that attempt to cover every culinary whim. Yet, as life accelerates and schedules become more demanding, I often find myself gravitating towards recipes that promise incredible results without requiring a full day in the kitchen. The search for delectable, yet manageable, baking projects has become a personal quest.
It was with this mindset that I first encountered Sugar Rush. Written by the acclaimed pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini – whose judging on Top Chef: Just Desserts I may have admired a little too much – the title alone suggested a treasure trove of intricate, professional-level desserts. My initial thought was one of delightful trepidation: could this be a book I’d truly utilize, or would its complexity relegate it to an aspirational but untouched shelf? While I adore the idea of crafting elaborate confections, the reality of my busy life often dictates simpler pleasures. I feared this book, coming from a professional pastry background, might be filled with overly complicated, “frou-frou” recipes that were beautiful to admire but daunting to attempt for the average home cook.
However, my decision to delve deeper into Sugar Rush proved to be a wonderfully delightful surprise. Far from being an intimidating tome, it quickly became evident that this book was crafted with the home baker firmly in mind. It strikes a remarkable balance, offering insights from a world-class pastry chef in a format that is accessible and inspiring for all skill levels. I am absolutely smitten, and I believe any baking enthusiast will be too, especially with its focus on delicious and achievable desserts like this crumb cake.
A Deep Dive Inside ‘Sugar Rush’: Johnny Iuzzini’s Approach to Home Baking
What truly sets ‘Sugar Rush’ apart is its comprehensive yet approachable nature. The book is brimming with creative recipes, but more importantly, it provides invaluable instruction that demystifies complex techniques. Several recipes feature step-by-step photos, acting as a visual guide that builds confidence and removes the intimidation factor often associated with professional baking. This thoughtful inclusion transforms potentially challenging recipes into achievable projects, making you feel like you have a pastry chef right there in your kitchen, guiding your hands through every step of the process. If baking is your passion, and you’re eager to learn and grow your skills, you will unequivocally adore this book.
Let’s break down some of the key features that make ‘Sugar Rush’ an essential addition to any baker’s library:
- Abundant and Beautiful Photography: The book is a feast for the eyes and a testament to the beauty of pastry. Throughout its pages, you’ll discover large, stunning photographs for nearly every recipe. This visual inspiration is crucial, not only for showcasing the final product in all its glory but also for guiding you through the process with many recipes offering helpful step-by-step images. This ensures clarity and reduces guesswork, making even more elaborate creations feel within reach.
- Versatile Difficulty Levels: ‘Sugar Rush’ boasts an impressive range, from exceptionally easy recipes perfect for a spontaneous weeknight treat (like the phenomenal crumb cake featured here) to more advanced challenges such as delicate macarons that allow for skill development. This diversity is a major selling point. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a simple, comforting bake or an experienced baker seeking to hone new skills, you’ll find something to love. It allows for effortless baking on a relaxed Sunday evening or provides an exciting project when you’re eager to dedicate more time to practicing new techniques, making it suitable for every mood and occasion.
- Accessible Ingredients: As a baking-focused cookbook, ‘Sugar Rush’ primarily utilizes ingredients that are staples in any well-stocked pantry. Expect to find everyday items like all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, and large eggs. I found no exotic or hard-to-find ingredients, ensuring that most recipes can be prepared without a special trip to a gourmet store, making it incredibly practical and budget-friendly for daily use. This commitment to accessibility means you can start baking almost immediately with what you already have on hand.
Beyond the crumb cake, here are just a few of the other tempting creations from ‘Sugar Rush’ that I am eager to try and explore in my kitchen:
- Toasted Almond-Cinnamon Panna Cotta
- White Chocolate Mousse
- Sticky Caramel Date Cake
- Banana Cupcakes
- Gooey Chocolate-Caramel Tart
- Double-Lemon Tarts
This cookbook is a genuine gem, offering a perfect blend of professional expertise and home kitchen practicality. It’s a fantastic investment for anyone who loves to bake and learn. You can purchase it on Amazon or find more information here.
Why This Crumb Cake Recipe Stands Out from the Rest
You might wonder, with a baking book full of such incredible, intricate desserts, why I chose a simple crumb cake for my first deep dive. The answer is simple: this is no ordinary crumb cake. This is, without exaggeration, the only crumb cake recipe you will ever need. It has utterly captivated me, transforming my perception of what a simple coffee cake can be. Seriously, I am head over heels in love with this recipe, and I have no doubt you will be too!
Initially, I had planned to tackle the macaron recipe for this review. While those delicate French confections were a triumph – indeed, the best macaron recipe I’ve ever worked with (and I promise to share that custom flavor creation after the new year!) – I realized that for a true cookbook review, it’s best to stick as closely to the original recipe as possible to accurately judge its merit. So, after a quick pivot, I found myself scanning ‘Sugar Rush’ once more, searching for a recipe that would truly shine. My eyes kept returning to the Crumb Cake, and I’m incredibly grateful they did, because this cake is nothing short of amazing. It offers a perfect blend of comfort and indulgence, making it an ideal choice for any time of day.
As a lifelong devotee of a good crumb topping, I’m often disappointed by recipes that skimp on this crucial element. This recipe, however, understands the assignment perfectly, delivering what feels like nearly equal proportions of moist cake to glorious crumb. That’s precisely what a crumb cake should be – a delightful balance where neither component overpowers the other! The method for creating this spectacular crumb topping was also a revelation – it’s a technique I hadn’t encountered before, but one I’ve now adopted as my go-to. It involves rolling the mixture between your fingertips to form varied, irregular balls, ensuring a topping that is delightfully craggy, perfectly sweet, richly spiced with cinnamon, and melts in your mouth with every bite. The combination of a tender, buttery cake base and this outrageously good crumb makes for an unforgettable dessert that will impress everyone.
Crumb Cake Baking Tips for Perfection
- Room Temperature Ingredients are Key: Always ensure your butter, eggs, milk, and sour cream are at room temperature. This crucial step helps them emulsify properly, creating a smoother, more uniform batter and ultimately leading to a more tender and moist cake with a superior texture.
- Avoid Overmixing the Batter: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, which can result in a tough, chewy cake. Mix the cake batter only until the ingredients are just combined. A few small lumps of flour are perfectly normal and preferred over an overmixed batter.
- Achieve the Perfect Crumb Texture: The unique method in this recipe involves rolling the crumb mixture between your fingertips to form small, irregular balls. Do not skip this step! It’s what creates those delightful, varied textures in the topping, ensuring a satisfying crunch and melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
- Monitor Your Baking Time Carefully: Ovens can vary significantly, so the baking time is a guideline. Start checking for doneness at around 25 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out with moist crumbs attached, not wet batter. If the crumb topping starts to brown too quickly before the cake is done, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
- Cool Completely for Best Results: While it’s incredibly tempting to dive into a warm crumb cake, allow it to cool completely on a wire rack before dusting with powdered sugar and slicing. This ensures the cake sets properly, becomes firmer, and is much easier to handle and slice cleanly. It also allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
This book? A resounding 5 stars from me. If you have even a passing love for baking, ‘Sugar Rush’ is the cookbook you absolutely need on your shelf. And this crumb cake recipe alone makes it worth the purchase, offering a taste of pure baking bliss that you’ll revisit countless times.
Recipe: The Best Crumb Cake
Crumb Cake Recipe | Sugar Rush Review
This Crumb Cake Recipe features a moist and tender cake base crowned with an exceptionally thick and flavorful crumb topping. It truly is the BEST crumb cake recipe you’ll find!
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for the pan (250g)
- 5 1/2 tablespoons (1/3 cup) unsalted butter (75g)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup sour cream, at room temperature (60g)
- 2/3 cup milk, at room temperature (160g)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (15g)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder (12g)
- Pinch of kosher salt
For the Topping:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (280g)
- 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar (290g)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (6g)
- 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted (226g)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Place the rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Spray a 9×13-inch glass baking pan with cooking spray, then dust with flour. Tap out any excess flour.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the large egg and sour cream, mixing until just combined and smooth.
- In a separate small bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine the milk and vanilla extract. In another medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of all-purpose flour and the baking powder. Stir in the pinch of kosher salt.
- With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the wet ingredients (milk mixture) and the dry ingredients (flour mixture) to the butter-sugar mixture. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, ensuring to scrape down the sides of the bowl several times during mixing to ensure everything is well incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.
- Evenly spread the prepared cake batter into your floured 9×13-inch baking dish.
- To make the topping: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, packed light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until thoroughly combined. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the entire mixture is moistened and crumbly. Use your fingertips to gently roll sections of the mixture into small, irregular balls. Scatter this delightful crumb topping generously over the entire surface of the cake batter in the pan as you form it.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the center of the cake feels firm to the touch and springs back lightly when pressed. If the cake is not fully baked after 30 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 325ºF (160ºC) and continue to bake in 5-minute increments until done.
- Remove the cake from the oven. While still warm, lightly dust the top with powdered sugar. Allow the crumb cake to cool completely on a wire rack. Once fully cooled, dust generously with more powdered sugar for an elegant finish, then slice and serve. Enjoy this perfect coffee cake!
Recipe Notes:
Stay Connected for More Delicious Recipes!
If you’ve enjoyed this recipe and review, be sure to follow Taste and Tell for an endless supply of culinary inspiration, tips, and incredible ideas! Join our community across various platforms:
Facebook **
Pinterest **
Twitter **
Instagram **
Google+
Or elevate your experience by subscribing to our newsletter to get the latest recipes delivered straight to your inbox. You can also follow us on Feedly or Bloglovin’ for easy access to new posts.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review, but all opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item from Amazon through the provided link, Taste and Tell may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Taste and Tell through your purchases, which help keep delicious content coming!