Salad in a Jar

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Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake: So Simple the Kids Can Help Make It

For night-owls or early birds:  Mix up this Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake the night before and bake it the next morning. Or, whip it up after you drink your morning coffee and bake immediately. Delicious either way!

Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake sliced to eat

The following people may be affected beneficially by Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake:

  • Picky eaters
  • Harried cooks
  • Beginner cooks
  • Night owls (You can make it the night before)
  • People who like sweets with their morning coffee
  • Sentimental members of my family who have eaten breakfast at my sister’s house

This family recipe comes from my niece, Derinda. She describes it as “the coffeecake Mom always made on Saturday when I was a kid. Now my kids LOVE it. I like it because I can prepare it at night, put it in the fridge, and cook it in the morning.”

Thanks, Derinda for sharing.

Sliced Kid-Friendly Coffeecake

Note the original recipe includes no nuts, chocolate or unusual spices or flavorings making it perfect for kids or people with allergies.

HOWEVER…(it’s hard to leave well enough alone)

I added pecans (1/4 cup) and chopped semi-sweet chocolate (1-2 ounces) to the cake pictured below and it was delicious! I can only imagine what it would taste like with almonds, chopped candy bars, butterscotch chips, etc.

Two ways to distribute the cinnamon-sugar topping:

#1

If you want your cake to have deep valleys full of cinnamon-sugar-buttery-goodness like you see in the first picture, make the topping like Derinda does. Melt the butter and stir with a spoon. Drop it over the dough.

#2

If you prefer a more even topping, do it like her mother, Kay. Cut cold butter into sugar-Bisquick mixture with a fork or rub it together with your fingers then sprinkle evenly over the dough.

Note to my friends who think I never use a mix: Sometimes there is not enough daylight or energy for baking from scratch no matter how much you want to. Thank goodness for baking mixes in those times. Besides, it’s the way this family tradition has always been made

If you make this and enjoy the recipe, it would help me and others if you would return to this post and leave a rating (on the recipe card itself underneath the picture). Although always appreciated, no comment is required. Thanks so much! Paula

Yield: 8 servings

Derinda's Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake

Derinda's Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake
Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake uses Bisquick base with no nuts or unusual spices. Can be prepared the night before and cooked in the morning if desired.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1-1/3 cup Bisquick
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons melted butter
  • 1/2 cup cold milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup Bisquick
  • 1/4 cup softened or cold butter (See Third Step)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 8 or 9-inch round layer pan. (Square will also work.)
  2. Stir together Bisquick and sugar in medium bowl. In separate bowl, melt butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. (I use a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup). Add milk and egg to butter and whisk well. Combine liquids with Bisquick and stir just until mixed. Spread in prepared pan. Don't worry if there doesn't seem to be enough batter. The topping adds a lot.
  3. Mix sugar. cinnamon and Bisquick with softened butter and distribute evenly over the top of batter in the pan. OR mix sugar, cinnamon and Bisquick together with a fork. Cut butter into dry ingredients with a fork or your fingers and sprinkle over batter in the pan.
  4. Bake until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean. 13-14 minutes if using 9-inch pan; 20-21 minutes if using 8-inch pan.
  5. Serve warm.

Notes

May be mixed the night before, covered and refrigerated before baking in the morning. Add a few extra minutes to baking time.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8 servings

Serving Size:

1 serving
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 383 Total Fat: 29g Saturated Fat: 17g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 89mg Sodium: 529mg Carbohydrates: 29g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 15g Protein: 4g
© Paula of saladinajar.com
Cuisine: American / Category: Quick Breads and Biscuits
Make it in the morning or the night before. Either way, your kids will love this simple coffee cake.

Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake is adapted from a recipe on the back of the Bisquick box.

Posts Related to Derinda’s Kid-Friendly Coffee Cake:

Homemade Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Oatmeal Pop-tarts

Flaky Biscuits with a Million Layers of Cinnamon and Sugar

Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits

Glazed Flaky Biscuits Made with Whey (or Buttermilk)

Susan’s Blueberry Coffeecake

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  2. This looks wonderful! I have one quick question, please. I only have a new wave oven, which the baking temperature only goes to 350°. Is it at all possible I can make this at that temperature, cooking with a silicone cake pan? I sure hope so. The maximum heat precludes me from many recipes. I really hope so.

    Reply

  14. Thanks for the memories! All the kids in the neighborhood loved this coffee cake.
    By the way, when they came out with the individual packets of Bisquick, we adapted the original recipe, so one packet just fits this recipe.
    As always, great job with your pictures.

    Reply

  16. i never knew about the difference in the toppings, interesting! i’ve always cut the butter in.

    re: dorie’s cooking class…. you could always cancel the Ft Worth class and sign up for the Dallas one 🙂 there is no penalty this far out. there are a few other bloggers who will be at the Dallas one too! plus it is even more special because Oct 24th is her birthday!! 🙂

    Reply

  18. You do an amazing job with your pictures!!!!!!!!!!!
    I can’t believe I never even thought of chocolate chips or candy bar pieces!….Guess what my kids get to try Saturday morning:+)

    Reply