Blueberry Crumb Cake

By michaelmeiner

Ingredients

• TOPPING
• 5 Tablespoons butter -- at room temperature
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• CAKE
• 1 pint (2 cups) blueberries
• 2 cups plus 2 t. flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2/3 cup sugar
• Grated zest of 1/2 lemon or 1/4 orange
• 6 Tablespoons butter -- at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs -- at room temperature
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Details

Servings 1

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8 inch square pan.

For the crumbs: put all ingredients except the nuts in a food processor and pulse until the mixture forms clumps and curds and holds together when pressed. Scrape the topping in a bowl and stir in nuts. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface and refrigerate until needed (up to 3 days).

For the cake: Toss blueberries with 2 teaspoons of flour just to coat the berries. Set aside. Whisk together the remaining 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Working in the bowl of a mixer, rub together the sugar and zest with your fingertips until the sugar is moist and aromatic. Add the butter and, with the paddle attachment, beat at medium speed until light, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for about 1 minute after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Don't be concerned if the batter looks curdled - it will soon smooth out. Reduce the mixer to low and add the flour mixture and the buttermilk alternately; the flour in 3 parts and the buttermilk in 2 parts (begin and ends with the dry ingredients). You will have a thick, creamy batter. With a rubber spatula, gently stir in the berries.

Scrape the batter into pan and smooth the top gently. Break the crumb topping with your fingertips into small pieces. Scatter the crumbs over the batter, pressing them down slightly.

Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until crumbs are golden and a tester comes out clean.