Apple Streusel Coffee Cake (****)

I had a bunch of apples in my fridge last week and was determined to bake something with them. I didn't feel like doing the same old apple crisp as usual so i headed over to foodgawker to search for apple recipes. This is was i turned up!
The original recipe can be found here. I altered it to suit my needs / tastes of course, so my version will be below!



Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Sift flour together with other dry ingredients.
Beat the egg, then add the milk and melted shortening.



Pour the wet ingredients into the dry then add the raw apples and mix well.





Pour the batter into a well-greased 8-inch square pan.

(I actually used a 9 x 9 pan because i don't have an 8" pan, hence why my batter doesn't go to the edges! I still recommend 8 x 8! :P)

Mix together the brown sugar and chopped apples, and sprinkle this on top of the batter.


The addition of the apples on top is to give the cake more of an apple flavour, and to use more apples! I think it adds to the cake for sure.

To make the streusel, stir together the dry ingredients, then cut in butter using a pastry blender**** until it forms pea-sized pieces with the dry ingredients.

Finish combining with your fingertips until you have small clumps.

Sprinkle topping over the batter. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.



ok... YUM! This cake was goood. Perfect for breakfast.

RATING:
Overall Rating (x/*****): ****
Difficulty: Very Easy and Quick
Make again? Definitely!

Ingredients
For the Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1 egg
  
• 1/2 cup milk
  
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, melted*** (shortening melts fast!! watch out! I just melted mine in the microwave and it was fine)
  
• 1 1/2 cup chopped apples any semi-tart to tart variety (I used Macintosh)
  

For the streusel topping :

• 1/2 cup sugar (
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter
  
  
• 1/2 cup chopped apples
• 1/4 sup brown sugar
  

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sift flour together with other dry ingredients.

Beat the egg, then add the milk and melted shortening.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry then add the raw apples and mix well.

Pour the batter into a well-greased 8-inch square pan.
(I actually used a 9 x 9 pan because i don't have an 8" pan, hence why my batter doesn't go to the edges! I still recommend 8 x 8! :P)

Mix together the brown sugar and chopped apples, and sprinkle this on top of the batter.

To make the streusel, stir together the dry ingredients, then cut in butter until it forms pea-sized pieces with the dry ingredients.

Finish combining with your fingertips until you have small clumps.

Sprinkle topping over the apple and sugar layer. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.