CofFEE SIMPLE Cake with Pecans

Okay, so I've been wanting to make this for the longest time, and maybe I got a little over eager. It's delicious, and if you tried a piece [there are samples in the law school lobby], just beware that this isn't the typical coffee cake.  It has a lighter cake than is typical, and I added granola to the top for a little crunch. Enjoy, and good luck with finals!!

What you'll need for the...
Crumb Topping: 

- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 steel cut oats (or I used granola)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- pinch of salt

Cream Cheese Swirl:

- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Coffee Cake: 

- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup apple sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs


How you make it:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Mix together your flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl beat together the butter and sugar until it is fluffy. Then add the eggs, buttermilk, and apple sauce. Next, gradually add in the dry ingredients, making sure to everything is combined well. Add in the sour cream and mix well.

Pour the mixture into the greased pan.

Now make the cream cheese swirl. Beat together the cream cheese and brown sugar until fluffy, mix in the vanilla, cinnamon, and pecans.

Spoon the cream cheese mixture on top of the cake batter. Then, use a butter knife to swirl the cream cheese throughout the mixture. Do not over mix!

Lastly, you will top it all off with the crumb mixture! Mix all of the crumb ingredients in a small bowl, mix with a fork until the mixture resembles yummy crumbles, and then top the cake off with all of it!

Bake for 40-45 minutes and then enjoy the yummy, dense, crumbly, and oh so good cake! NOMSSSSSS