Ingredients
Ingredient amounts are adjusted. Steps, cooking times, equipment, and the Shopping List use the original recipe for 4 servings.
Check off ingredients as you prep.
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 2 tbsp Salted Perfection Espresso Italiano Finishing Salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Allergen check: Milk, Egg, Wheat recognized in these ingredients. Check package labels and substitutions.
Step by step
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish. I remember my uncle used to do this in a cast-iron skillet when we were cooking over a campfire, but your kitchen oven works just fine for that homey feel.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and brown sugar. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the Salted Perfection Espresso Italiano Finishing Salt—those coffee notes are going to wake up the molasses in the sugar beautifully.
- Work the cold, cubed butter into the flour mixture with your fingers or a pastry cutter until it looks like coarse, wet sand. Scoop out about a half-cup of these crumbs and set them aside; that's the 'dust' for the trail later.
- To the remaining flour mixture in the bowl, stir in your baking powder, baking soda, and ground cinnamon.
- In a separate jug, whisk the egg, buttermilk, and vanilla extract together, then gently fold them into the dry ingredients. Don't overwork the batter; we want a light, tender crumb.
- Pour the batter into your prepared dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle those reserved crumbs all over the top like a blanket of sweet soil.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. While it's still warm and the kitchen smells like a dream, sprinkle the remaining Salted Perfection Espresso Italiano Finishing Salt over the top to really make those flavors pop. DUNZO!
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A little more about this recipe
Timing
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield & storage
Original yield
Storage
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. It actually gets a little fudgier on day two.
From Tony’s kitchen
This isn't your delicate, lace-doily coffee cake. This is the kind of hearty start that fueled the folks moving across the plains. It’s got a deep, molasses-rich crumb and a rugged espresso-spiced topping that reminds me of early mornings by a campfire when the air was crisp and the coffee was strong enough to peel paint. It’s warm, it’s nostalgic, and it’s built to keep you going through a long day's work.
Nutrition • per serving
Ingredient notes
Ingredients & allergen check
Major-allergen signals: Milk, Egg, Wheat
- All-purpose flour
- light brown sugar, packed
- unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- Salted Perfection Espresso Italiano Finishing Salt
- baking powder
- baking soda
- ground cinnamon
- buttermilk
- egg
- vanilla extract
Check every package label. Brands, substitutions, shared equipment, and cross-contact can change allergen exposure.
