New York Beer Crumb Cake Muffins
Jackie Dodd-Mallory
(Senior Editor)
A few years ago I’d had this unfortunate idea that a red eye from LAX to JFK was a great plan. I boarded a plane around 10pm in Los Angeles, alongside a 747 full of business travelers headed for jittery East Coast morning meetings.
It wasn’t so much that I irrationally figured that I could sleep on the plane, but I illogically decided that if I don’t really sleep well anyway, I might was well be not sleeping well on an airplane. When I arrived in New York 6 hours plus time change later, I hadn’t slept for a second. Although the decision to watch The Lovely Bones just after take off probably contributed to my lack of drowsiness.
By the time a subway ride and then a cab deposited me in Chelsea I was tired to catastrophic levels. Which, in the land of most girls means borderline weepy and slightly irrational. Finding out my hotel wasn’t ready for check in and realizing that my only option for sleep was cuddling up with the homeless man near the stairwell, I decided coffee was a necessity. And by necessity I quite literally mean as a route to avoid either crying hysterically or falling asleep on top of a man who smells like hot dogs and old cheese.
I stumbled into a coffee shop and begged for coffee. "Anything else?" The husky Brooklyn dweller spat at me from behind the counter.
"Umm, I…need…uh…the…" I did manage to point at a crumb cake.
"You want duh cake? Fuh breakfast?" Thank god it was just judgmental an rhetorical, he didn’t expect and answer and I couldn’t have given an intelligible one. He thrust it towards me with the coffee. I sat down at the counter, my bag still over my shoulder and started to devour it all. He smiled, one hand on his apron covered hip, "Not bad, huh?"
I nodded, words were still hours away from me.
New York Beer Crumb Cake Muffins
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup pale ale or wheat beer
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3 tbs vegetable oil
For the topping:
- 1 ¼ cups flour
- ½ cup packed light-brown sugar
- ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325
- Line a 12 cup muffin tin with muffin papers.
- Stir together 1 ¼ cups flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, beer, vanilla and vegetable oil. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, batter will be thick.
- Add batter to muffin tins, about ½ way full.
- Combine the remaining 1 ¼ cups flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Drizzle with melted butter, stir together until crumbs form.
- Add the crumbs onto the top of the muffin batter until cups are slightly mounded.
- Bake at 325 for 32-36 minutes or until the top crumbs have just started to turn golden brown. Allow to cool to room temperature, chill until ready to serve. Dust with confectioners sugar prior to serving.
Comments
Averie @ Averie Cooks March 18, 2014 um 1:29 am
Red eyes. The worst. Seems from San Diego heading east, they’re all too common for me. Glad you survived. And these muffins…I love those big crumbs! pinned
Averie @ Averie Cooks March 18, 2014 um 1:31 am
½ pale ale (or wheat beer) <— is that cup, half of one cup? just checking 🙂
Jackie March 18, 2014 um 10:59 am
Yes! Thank you 🙂
Joanie March 18, 2014 um 1:13 pm
Still need that coffee Jackie? 😉
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar March 18, 2014 um 3:34 am
Mmm so much deliciousness in one muffin. Crumb topping all the way!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel March 18, 2014 um 4:35 am
Arrrgh I really want one for breakfast! Looks amazing.
marla March 18, 2014 um 4:59 am
Ohhhhh does this look good!
Cassie March 18, 2014 um 5:49 am
I can see how crumb cake could be the perfect solution to near-breakdown situations. Beer in the crumb muffins could only make it better, too.
Tieghan March 18, 2014 um 6:16 am
These look amazing! I love all the crumbs!
Oh and i hate red eyes, but they sure save time!
Mallory March 18, 2014 um 6:42 am
I worked thirds for a few years and there were many mornings/days/nights where the tiredness became so overwhelming that crying or slumping over were the only 2 options. Coffee and sugar were the only bits that made those moments bearable until sleep could be had. Recipe looks great!
Joanie March 18, 2014 um 1:17 pm
Growing up, I loved Van deKamps Velvet Crumb Cake. I have not found a great replacement, product or recipe. This one looks like a contender!
Gintare March 18, 2014 um 2:23 pm
The only time I ever managed to sleep was after more than 24 hours awake, otherwise it never happens, I can’t even imagine how terrible it should have been. These muffins on the other hand are just splendid!
Susan March 24, 2014 um 1:47 pm
Boy do I feel your pain when it comes to those flights! Nothing’s better than comfort food when your away from home and exhausted and have no place to cry!
addie | culicurious March 26, 2014 um 7:54 am
You’ve got a wonderful way with story-telling, Jackie! 🙂 That’s half the reason I love your blog so much. The other half are the fantastic recipes like this one!! 🙂