8/30/08

peanut butter & jelly crumb cake

PB & J Crumb Cake 6

It's back to school for a lot of my neighbors, clients, friends, and even hubby is back to school this coming week. Another year of grad school; let's just throw another $15K to the ever-growing pile of debt shall we? Seems like we'll be paying student loans for the rest of our lives: mine and his. And now we're buying our first home...are we crazy? No, we're just like every other person on this planet living and breathing debt.
PB & J Crumb Cake 4

PB & J Crumb Cake 7
To me the beginning of back to school means peanut butter and jelly. I can't remember the last time I had crumb cake, but I wanted to experiment and make a PB & J crumb cake for the longest time. It came out pretty good. It's really rich, a lot of that has to do with the thick peanut buttery crumb topping. I would love to hear from you on what meals remind you of Fall and what are you excited to bake/cook/experiment with this coming Fall season?
PB & J Crumb Cake 3

peanut butter & jelly crumb cake
print recipe

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
1 cup crunchy peanut butter, room temp. (not natural)

for jam drizzle:
1 jar of strawberry or raspberry jam/jelly (I used raspberry: seedless)
Confectioners’ sugar for decoration (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease and flour an 8x8 square baking pan.
In a large bowl mix the flour, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Using a mixer (or by hand), beat in the softened butter until mixture resembles wet sand. No large lumps. If using a mixer, do not over beat. Remove between ¾ - 1 cup of the mixture to a medium bowl and set aside. (I did about a cup since I wanted a lot of crumb topping and thin cake; just like a crumb cake).
With the remaining mixture add in the buttermilk and egg, mix well. Then pour into the greased pan, spreading evenly. There is not a lot of batter; it does rise when baking so don’t worry. Take the remaining flour mixture that was set aside and add the cup of peanut butter to it.  Mix until you have a nice, almost dry crumbly mix.
Then drop or crumble large chunks of this onto the cake. Do not press the crumbs into the batter; just let them sit on top.
Bake for about 30 -35 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. While cake bakes make the jelly reduction. Take a small jar of strawberry or raspberry jam/jelly, and let gently melt in saucepan over low heat. Do not boil. To make the reduction slightly thicker add a bit of cornstarch (a TB or so). But you shouldn’t need to do this as after it’s melted it does thicken a bit.
When slightly cooled drizzle cake with the melted jam. Then dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

29 comments:

  1. Back to school for me, this coming Tuesday - eek!! I'm excited, but nervous. I wish I had some of that PBJ crumb cake to savor! :0)

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  2. OMG i want some of this now!! yummmy

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  3. For me the fall is all about chestnuts! Your crumb cake looks delicious and with such apropriate flavours for "back-to-school", just like the sandwiches kids take for lunch!

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  4. I am with you, I love fall! I am a little sick of the 100 degree heat so I could use a little fall weather. I bet my kids would love this in their lunch than the usual pb&j sandwiches.

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  5. Fall??? Whats that? We dont have fall here in Tampa! Sucks! I dont get to open my windows until around December!
    Apple pie had fall written all over it for me!
    Will your excuse me...I have a call on the BIMBO line!LOL LOL
    Gald you liked the video! I had to do multiple takes because I was laughing so hard..Now you know your a dork when you are the only one home and you are cracking up!!Yep thats me!!!

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  6. I lived in Maryland for five years when I was young and we had the most beautiful falls! I totally miss them being in southern California when fall is usually the hottest time of the year! Hopefully it won't be too hot this fall and I can bake more, but I am also looking forward to lots and lots of butternut squash :)

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  7. I would do anything to leave Califonia and live in New England, at least for the fall!

    This crumb cake is an awesome way to start getting ready for the season.

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  8. Hi Dawn,
    I am so glad I found your blog! You and I think a lot alike, we LOVE food! This PB and J crumb cake is sooooo going on my list to make! Have a great weekend!

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  9. My son, a big pb&j fan, would love these! Great blog!

    Thanks so much for the kind words on my blog.

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  10. I love PB&J! I would love a piece of this now...with a glass of milk!

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  11. you knew it was coming...

    it's peanut butter jelly time! :)

    fantastic bars. and may i say, i never want to go to school again. ever. :)

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  12. These really look terrific... and I can't wait to start making lots of recipes (sweet and savory) with pumpkin again...

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  13. My son would be the happiest boy in the world if I made these. I better get baking!

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  14. Dawn:
    This looks so good. I've got to make it, just have to. I'm so jealous that you live in Cape Cod. We love Nantucket and used to go once a year before we moved West. There is nothing in the world like Fall in New England. I would just love to eat your crumb cake and then head outside to do some leaf peeping. I know it's too early now, but in about six weeks....

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  15. Dawn, this is exactly how I make crumb cake too, isn't it the best? It totally slays people. I swear, we are seperated geniuses :)

    Fall is my fav because of the smells and baking too. Cinnamon, cloves, spices... but no one here put the ultimate down... PUMPKIN PIE :) Who doesn't love that?

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  16. Not only peanut butter and jelly but also crumbs! ...mmm...

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  17. Great creativity! I love cooking making soups so whenb the weather gets cooler, I am ready to get out the soup pot. And fall reminds me of football season...lots of good munchies!

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  18. PB & J! How can this be bad. YUM!

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  19. I like peanut butter. I like jelly. Most importantly I like crumb cake. Hmmm...I likey!!!

    Fall is also my favorite season. Apple picking, the start of braising, warmer clothes, and sleeping with the windows wide open.

    Looks amazing!

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  20. Dawn:
    Thanks so much for asking about Gramps. Holding steady for now! Fingers crossed.

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  21. I love fall and these bars look perfect!! I like making pumpkin and apple recipes...and watching football of course!

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  22. I'm totally with you on fall! I love cooking/baking with pumpkin and I can't wait to pick apples and then make some sort of pie or cake! I have a great recipe somewhere for Apple Pumpkin Bread and I make it every Thanksgiving.

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  23. What reminds me of fall? Well for one, the leaves are already changing up here! School buses, pumpkins and fresh apples at roadside stands, and cool mornings.

    I think my kids would love this crumb cake--maybe I'll be a nice mom and make it for them. ;)

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  24. Superb crumb cake. Its a pity i cant dig into the screen and grab a bite :)

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  25. YUM, Dawn! You and Adam are on the same wavelength! LOL!

    I miss fall in New England something TERRIBLE! That is why we go every October. I am so looking forward to that trip in a few weeks! YAY!

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  26. Oooh, this looks deadly. Naturally I love this combo and crumb cake is a great childhood memory for me. My mom used to buy the Entemann's crumb cake and I would usually eat about half of it for breakfast. Terrible breakfast really, but so delicious! This looks even better.

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  27. Squash. I love fall squash.

    But there's always been a special place in my heart (and stomach)for peanut butter and jelly.
    Your crumb cake looks delicious, and I must make it!

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