So this idea came from Katheryn Lane, a fellow author & lovely lady that I met on Twitter (@KatherynLane ~ follow her, you’ll be happy you did). This recipe ties into & was inspired by a pivotal scene in my novel, Small as a Mustard Seed.
The excerpt on which this recipe is based:
I sat at the kitchen table wearing frayed jeans and a blue sweater, my hair pulled back in a small ponytail. I hooked my bare heels on the bottom rung of the chair so my toenails, painted a bright, gaudy red, pointed at the linoleum. I sliced a circle from a log of summer sausage and nibbled on the edges. My mother in her robe and slippers, hair pinned back in a bun, moved from the kitchen counter to the refrigerator and back again. Her flurry of activity sent odors ā honeydew melon, strawberry lotion, flour, and raw eggs ā spinning through the air. Half her body bent into the refrigerator, she scoured the shelves, muttering, āWhere is it? Where is it?ā
āWhereās what?ā I said.
āThe sour cream. Have you seen it?ā
āDaddy finished it off yesterday with the potato chips.ā
She slammed the refrigerator, and the bottles inside the door clanked together. She stamped her foot and said, āJust how am I supposed to make muffins without sour cream?ā
I shrugged. āMake them with butter.ā
She rolled her eyes dramatically then dismissed me with a few flaps of her hand. āLord, you would think I spent all this time teaching you absolutely nothing. Sour cream makes it moist.ā
āOh,ā I said.
And here’s the recipe for slow-cooker coffee cake
Prep. time: 15 minutes. Serves 8 – 10 from the slow-cooker (cake slices) & more if making muffins. Costs less than $10.
To make slow-cooker coffee cake, you’ll need:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Ā 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup shortening (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 6-ounce containers of fresh berries (a little over 2 cups) (I used blueberries & raspberries. I don’t recommend frozen; I tried it & it didn’t work out well)
- 1 tablespoon butter (melted)
- 2 tablespoons chunky granules of sugar
- fresh berries to garnish (optional)
To make slow-cooker coffee cake, follow these directions:
- In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another microwave-safe bowl, soften shortening in the microwave for about 20 seconds then add in sugar. Beat together with an electric mixer. When blended, add in eggs one at a time, mixing well between each egg. Add in vanilla extract & lemon extract, mix well. Add in sour cream & mix well.
- Add flour mixture slowly to shortening mixture, beating until blended.
- Add in berries & fold them in with a spoon (don’t use the mixer to blend).
- Coat slow-cooker with non-stick spray.
- Add batter to slow-cooker in an even layer.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 hours or until edges start to brown & a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.Ā (If you’re making muffins, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, spray muffin cups with non-stick spray or use liners, fill cups/liners 3/4 full, then bake for 30 minutes or until tops start to brown & a toothpick inserted into the center comes out cleanĀ ~ I made large-sized muffins; if you’re making smaller ones, it will probably take less time)
- Melt the one tablespoon of butter in the microwave. Use a pastry brush to brush the butter over top of the entire cake (or entire batch of muffins). Immediately sprinkle the two tablespoons of chunky sugar granules over top of the entire cake (or entire batch of muffins).
- Turn off the slow-cooker & remove the lid (& if you can, remove the ceramic ware from the heating element). Let cool for at least 30 -45 minutes then slice into servings ~ if you try to remove it too soon, while it’s still warm, the cake will fall apart. Muffins can be served immediately.
- Serve with fresh berries as a garnish.
- Enjoy!
Please keep in mind that cooking times may vary so the first time you make a recipe, keep an eye on the slow-cooker (or the oven). You may need to adjust the amount of cooking time.
For more delicious slow-cooker recipes, click here.
How creative is this?! I love it! Tying the recipe and scene together… that’s an awesome idea!
And the recipe looks delicious! (Here I go with the exclamation points again… lol)
Very cool. š
Hi Brandon! I can’t take credit. Katheryn’s the one who thought it up. š That whole cake lasted less than 24 hours at my house, nobody could stop nibbling at it. And I love exclamation points, too!!!!!
This sounds yummy. I’m always looking for crock-pot recipes.
Hi Dorothy! It is yummy, even my 7-year-old liked it & he’s picky. š
Very clever! A recipe and some delicious writing. I love the way you give your readers a little taster of your book. Your posts are always interesting and engaging. x
Hi Michelle! It’s lovely to see you here, too. Thanks for the compliments! That recipe is delish! š
Yum! And you can make this in a crock pot? Now I am going to have to try that. Thanks.
Hi Christy! *waves* Yep, in a crock-pot or muffins. Let me know if you give it a try. Cheers!