Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

It is that time of week once again where I am in baking mode for my Sunday coffee cart. I usually offer three things per week. This gives variety as well as provides enough snacks and goodies for everyone to enjoy (hopefully, though I made need to start increasing what I make). Every now and then others contribute as well, but overall, I provide it all, and I enjoy doing it. It is my way of giving back to the community. Plus, I am good at it. I feed people. That’s just what I do. 🙂

One of my features for this week is a strawberry cream cheese coffee cake. Once again, this recipe was an inspiration from our very own, Ohiocook and her blog https://beatcancer2010.wordpress.com/. As always, thanks for the great idea. Also per usual, I changed it and made it my own too.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Strawberry season is starting and the berries are coming out bright red and sweet. What better way to celebrate the season than by putting them to good use, such as in a delicious coffee cake, right?! 🙂

The Streusel

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 3/4 cup flour

Mix all the ingredients together and crumble until it all resembles coarse sand. Set aside. I had just enough streusel topping leftover from the last time I made a streusel, so I avoided this step. Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins

Cream Cheese Filling

8 oz cream cheese, or whipped cream cheese or strawberry cream cheese – I used strawberry cream cheese

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything together with a mixer and set aside.

The Cake

1 2/3 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup or 1 stick softened butter

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon juice

3/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2-2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced thin

Preheat the oven to 350* F or 190* C.

Spray a 9×13 cooking pan with cooking spray.

Combine all the dry ingredients together and set aside.

Mix the sugar and butter together until creamy. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing in between each addition, then add the vanilla and lemon juice. Add 1/2 the flour mixture and mix, then add 1/2 the sour cream and mix, and repeat until it is all incorporated into the mix.

Spread 1/2 the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly to cover the bottom.

Pour the cream cheese mixture over the top and spread evenly over the cake batter.

Layer the strawberry slices over the cream cheese.

Add the remaining batter over the strawberries and carefully spread out to make it even.

Evenly sprinkle the streusel topping over the cake batter and place in the oven.

Bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and the center is set.

Allow the cake to cool completely before removing it from the pan and slicing. Share with friends and enjoy.

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.