Cranberry Coffee Cake with Almond Crunch

• servings: 12 servings
• total time: 2 hours

Ingredients

1 cup (120g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

6 tablespoons (75g) granulated sugar

2 tablespoons (14g) confectioners' sugar sifted if lumpy

1/4 teaspoon table salt

6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter cut into 1/2" cubes; at room temperature

2 teaspoons King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract

1/4 cup (36g) whole almonds roughly chopped

2 cups plus 1 tablespoon (248g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour divided

3/4 cup (149g) granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon table salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter cut into 1/2" cubes; at room temperature

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup (227g) sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup (49g) cranberries fresh or frozen; roughly chopped

2 tablespoons (13g) cranberries fresh or frozen; roughly chopped

2 tablespoons (28g) water hot

3/4 cup (85g) confectioners' sugar sifted if lumpy

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare an 8" square pan with a parchment sling or reusable silicone liner, then lightly grease the sides of the pan. Alternatively, line a 9" cake pan with a round piece of parchment or round reusable liner and lightly grease the sides.   , To make the crumbs: Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, and salt. Add the butter and vanilla; toss to combine. Using a bowl scraper, a fork, or your fingers, work in the butter until crumbs form and no dry spots remain. The crumbs should be irregular, ranging in size from a pea to walnut.   , Add the almonds and toss until incorporated. Set aside. , To make the cake: In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine 2 cups (240g) of the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add the butter and mix at low speed using an electric hand mixer or the flat beater attachment of a stand mixer until the mixture looks sandy, about 1 to 2 minutes. (This mixing method is called reverse creaming, also known as the paste method.)   , Beat in the eggs and extracts, then mix until no dry spots of flour remain. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl and beater attachment as needed; the mixture will be thick.  , Add the yogurt or sour cream all at once before starting to mix. Stir until the batter is smooth. Stop to scrape the bowl and then mix again at medium-low speed for 30 seconds to 1 minute; this final mix is key to ensuring the best texture, so don’t skip it. , Combine the cranberries with the remaining 1 tablespoon (8g) flour and toss to combine. Add the floured-coated cranberries (and any residual flour) to the batter and mix until incorporated. , To assemble and bake the cranberry coffee cake: Transfer the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly all the way to the edges. (A small offset spatula is a helpful tool here.)   , Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the top of the batter. Gently press to adhere. , Bake the cranberry coffee cake for 52 to 56 minutes, until it's set in the middle and the crumbs are golden brown. (Check for doneness after 52 minutes and add additional time only as needed to avoid overbaking.) The coffee cake is done when a toothpick or paring knife inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it.  , Remove the cranberry coffee cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 20 minutes. While the coffee cake is cooling, prepare the glaze. , To make the glaze: Finely dice the cranberries and place them in a small bowl. Pour the hot water over the diced cranberries, then cover for 10 minutes.  , Strain the cranberries through a fine-mesh strainer, reserving the cranberry liquid. Press firmly to release the most vibrant and flavorful liquid; discard the diced cranberries.  , In a separate small bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar, almond extract, and 2 teaspoons of the cranberry liquid. Add additional cranberry liquid (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) as needed until the glaze is the consistency of molasses.   , Gently lift the cranberry coffee cake from the pan using the overhanging edges of the parchment as handles. (If you used a silicone liner or parchment round, run a nylon spreader or dull knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake and then gently tip it out.) Place the cake, still on the parchment if a sling was used, on a wire rack to cool slightly. , Drizzle the glaze over the cranberry coffee cake, or finish by dusting it with non-melting sugar or confectioners’ sugar. Cut into slices and serve slightly warm or at room temperature., Storage information: Store leftover cranberry coffee cake, well wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.