Sweet Cherry Almond Coffee Cake with Brown Butter Streusel

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Moist almond flavored cake topped with a rich buttery crunch and juicy cherries bursting with sweetness is the perfect treat for any occasion. Sweet Cherry Almond Coffee Cake with Brown Butter Streusel will be the star of your spring brunch table.

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This homemade cherry almond coffee cake is a must try for any cherry lovers. A standout cake to accompany a cup of coffee, serve it warm for the ultimate sweet treat.

Jump to:

• Why You Should Try This Cherry Almond Coffee Cake Recipe
• Why Use Almond Flour
• Sweet Cherry Ingredients
• Brown Butter Streusel
• Coffee Cake Ingredients
• How to Make This Recipe
• FAQ's
• Recipe

Why Use Almond Flour

While almond flour will bring a nutty flavor to a recipe, there are a few other reasons to use this delicious ingredient.

Made from finely ground blanched almonds, this flour creates a denser crumb but moister texture in the cake. High in protein and gluten-free, almond flour will bring nuanced flavor to recipes. While you can't create sturdy pastries without the addition of wheat flour, this decadent coffee cake recipe benefits from the addition of almond flour.

Sweet Cherry Ingredients

• frozen or fresh cherries
• orange juice
• granulated sugar
• vanilla extract, bean, or paste

Brown Butter Streusel

• unsalted butter
• all-purpose flour
• almond flour
• granulated sugar
• cardamom
• kosher salt
• sliced almonds

Coffee Cake Ingredients

• Dry Ingredients - all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt.
• Wet Ingredients - unsalted butter, granulated sugar, almond extract, eggs, and sour cream

How to Make This Recipe

There are three components of this coffeecake recipe. It is important to start with the cherries so they cool while you are preparing the other ingredients.

Sweet Cherries

• If using frozen cherries, thaw them. If using fresh cherries, pit them.

• Add the cherries, sugar, orange juice, and vanilla to a small saucepan. Heat the cherry mixture over medium-high heat for 15 minutes. The cherry juice will become a thick syrup.
• Let it cool while you prepare the other ingredients.

Brown Butter Streusel

• Combine the dry ingredients - all-purpose flour, almond flour, granulated sugar, cardamom, kosher salt and sliced almonds in a small bowl.

• Add 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter to a small saucepan. Let the butter melt and bubble over medium heat. As the butter cooks, the milk solids will turn brown and sink to the bottom. Occasionally scrape the solids while stirring the butter.
• When the butter is dark golden brown and covered with a foam made of small bubbles, pour it into the flour mixture. Scrape the solids off the bottom into the bowl. Don't leave the butter and solids in the pan after it turns brown - it will continue to cook and burn.
• Stir everything together until all the dry ingredients are fully coated with the brown butter. Set aside while you prepare the cake.

Coffee Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Liberally butter an 8 inch cake pan on the bottom and up the sides.

• Add the unsalted butter and granulated sugar to a mixing bowl. Cream the ingredients together in the mixing bowl with a paddle attachment of an electric mixer at medium-high speed for 5 minutes.

• While the butter and sugar are being creamed together, combine the dry ingredients - all-pose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt - in a medium-sized bowl.
• Add the eggs one at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula after each addition.

• Add the almond extract.
• Add the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with 2 additions of sour cream. You will begin and end with the dry ingredients. This is a thick cake batter.

Assemble the Cake

Spoon the cake batter into the prepared pan. Spread the batter into an even layer in the pan. An offset spatula is a great tool for this purpose.

• Remove the cherries from the pan with a slotted spoon so the thick syrup is left behind.
• Add the cherries to the top of the cake.

• Scatter the streusel over the cherries. You will have plenty of streusel so be generous. You may have some left over.
• Place the cake pan on a baking sheet and put in the preheated oven.
• Start with a bake time of 50 minutes. Use a cake tester or a toothpick to test the doneness. If there are crumbs or batter on the tester, place the cake back in the oven for 10 more minutes. The cake will be golden brown and the streusel on top of the cake will be crunchy.  If the center of the cake feels a little soft, don't worry. There will be carryover cooking.
• Let the cake cool for 20 minutes on a wire rack once taken out of the oven.
• Drizzle the remaining cherry syrup over the top of the coffee cake.

Enjoy the perfect balance of sweet and nutty in a slice of Sweet Cherry Almond Coffee Cake with Brown Butter Streusel. This cake is a delicious sweet treat perfect for many occasions like holiday brunch, family breakfast, or just a quiet moment with a cup of coffee.

Indulge and enjoy a slice of this delicious coffee cake. You will love the brown butter streusel and the plump sweet cherries.

Looking for some baking inspiration for a spring brunch? Here is another pastry perfect for a sweet table - https://tenpoundcakecompany.com/brown-butter-pecan-and-toffee-scones-with-maple-glaze/

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