Cream Cheese Coffee Cake with Sour Cherries

As cooks, most of us realize that it is imperative to have a go-to coffee cake recipe. We are often called upon to bring something to an occasion or meal. A quick and easy coffee cake will always be welcomed. This recipe is very easy and best of all, it tastes even better than it looks. Your friends and relatives will be impressed and only you will know how little work was actually involved. 

What you will need:

A nine-inch springform pan

For the cake

• 2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

Filling

• 1 8 oz package of cream cheese
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup sour cherry jam

Topping:

• 1 cup reserved crumbs from the cake
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Use a pastry cutter to mix the flour, sugar, and butter in a large bowl. You want it to be a course crumb texture. Put aside one cup of the crumb mixture, 

To the main bowl add the baking powder, soda, and salt to the crumb mixture left along with the sour cream, egg, and almond extract, blend well. Pour into the greased and floured springform pan. You may also line the pan with parchment paper if you prefer. 

In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar and egg. When creamed, spoon into the spring form pan. Spread the jam over top of the filling. Add the nuts to the reserved crumb mixture and place it on the top of the jam.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 55-60 minutes. Cool 15 minutes before removing the sides of the pan. 

This cake will show to advantage on a pretty cake plate or platter. This cake will serve  8-10 people and perhaps a cut more if you cut the pieces a little thinner. 

Leftover, if there are any, should be refrigerated. 

This is a very versatile recipe, with just a few tweaks of the flavoring , it can be different every time. Raspberry jam pairs very well with almonds and how about peach jam with walnuts? The combinations are only limited by your imagination. 

If you are watching your calories, you can use no fat or low fat sour cream and cream cheese and the sugar can be replaced by a no-calorie sweetener. I personally, prefer to keep it all as natural as possible. 

This is destined to become a family favorite and it is always a god idea to take along copies of the recipe whenever you bring it anywhere, people will ask for it!!