Monday, March 23, 2009

TWD: Blueberry Crumb Cake

Many thanks for the sympathetic comments about my Poison Oak and all the compliments about Ms. Ears last week. I am happy to report that we are feeling much better. Mr. Penpen’s skin has gone from Stay-Puft Marshmallow to Frosted Flake, which is a huge improvement and means we’re at the very end of this plague (his case much was worse than mine). We took Ms. Ears to parks both days this weekend, and, thankfully, she occupied herself digging holes with her friend Bruce and running with other dogs, rather than rolling in poisonous brambles.



Now on to the food! This week’s Tuesdays With Dorie recipe was Blueberry Crumb Cake. A while ago I watched an episode of “America’s Test Kitchen” entitled Old-Fashioned Breakfast Cakes that featured a confection called Blueberry Boy Bait. The recipe was originally the 2nd runner up in a 1954 Pillsbury bake-off; submitted by a teenager and named for its power to lure boys. The recipe in Baking is markedly different, but I think the fantastically buttery, sugary topping could definitely get you a man. I know Mr. Penpen certainly enjoyed it.



I thought this was a lovely recipe – very straightforward and easy to put together, and I like that it can be either breakfast or dessert. I actually baked an extra quarter recipe’s worth, since I wanted to bake it in my 9 ½ inch ring pan and I was afraid there would not be enough batter in the original recipe. I was wrong: the cake was very tall. I did make a small mistake with the blueberries. I was using frozen berries, and I took them out and mixed them with flour sooner than I should have, which led to blue batter since the berries had defrosted a bit. It was one of those situations where I knew I shouldn’t have done it, hastily went ahead and did it, then immediately regretted it. Luckily, the end result didn’t look as unappetizing as the batter.





I gave this recipe an 8 for Deliciousness and a 3 for Effort, giving it an EDR of 2.66. Much appreciation to Sihan of Befuddlement for choosing this tasty cake for this week’s recipe. You can find the recipe for the cake on Sihan’s site and check out what the other bakers thought of it via the TWD site.




P.S. I learned my lesson last time I made a cake with a crumbly topping and this one is being stored on top of the refrigerator, out of reach from even the wiliest dog paws.

16 comments:

chocolatechic said...

Looks wonderful.

I used frozen blueberries too.

Jessica said...

I love how you used your ring pan for this cake. It looks fantastic and the blueberries are just perfectly distributed.

Pamela said...

I really like the look of the cake from the tube pan! Nice job. Glad everyone is on the mend.

Anonymous said...

The pan was a great idea. Your cake looks beautiful!

Amanda said...

Great idea using the tube pan! Yours looks so good! We loved this cake :)

Flourchild said...

Awww such sweet dogs..they are so pretty.
Your bundt cake pan is great. I love the way your cake turned out.

Megan said...

Cute pups - and at least you learned not to leave cake where they can reach it!

I saw that recipe for Blueberry Boy Bait, and was wondering how it was. Did you make it?

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Isn't it great how the purple color bakes (mostly) out? I love how your cake looks in a ring pan. And that Boy Bait cake - I'd have to make it just for the name! I can't tell you how many cakes I lost to the dogs before I got smart and learned where to put them out of reach.
Nancy

Anonymous said...

Your cake looks fantastic. I love that you made it in a ring pan (the one kind I don't have!).

Teanna DiMicco said...

Haha your dogs are SO CUTE! LOVE! The cake looks awesome too, love the ring pan!

Dogs and crumbs do not mix, that is for sure!

TeaLady said...

And we hope Mrs. Easrs (the dog right) cannot jump that hight. Your cake looks just right. And nothing wrong with blue batter.

Mary said...

I have serious dog envy..that is the cutest dog ever....cuter than the ones in the wegman pictures....wow..oh yeah, the cake looks good too..I am still distracted by the cool dog.

Anonymous said...

gosh, i don't think that batter looked bad at all--love the blue tint! :) your cake looks gorgeous--the crumb topping looks perfect. what cute little pups you have.

Heather said...

I love the crumb cake in a ring pan - I think I'll try this next time. Ms. Ears is such a doll - she looks as if she is really enjoying herself playing with her friend.

Anonymous said...

You're the first I've seen who made the cake in a ring pan. I like it!
I know about the dog paws.

Unknown said...

I saw that episode of ATK and made the Blueberry Boy Bait! It was really good! Great job on your cake - it looks wonderful