Funeral Food: Streusel Coffee Cake
Streusel Coffee Cake is a recipe that feeds a crowd. Around these parts we call these dishes "funeral food."
You know what I mean.
Funeral food is food you make to feed a crowd that doesn't need much tending; it's the kind of dish you put out on a buffet table and forget about.
Comfort food. Food that's not particularly healthy (kind of ironic, right?), yet insanely delicious. Food that mutes your pain for a second or two and brings a bit of cheer in a bad situation.
Streusel Coffee Cake was made for that kind of moment. Or a great potluck or brunch. Versatile!
Husband's aunt made a pan of this coffee cake for a family function when I was just learning how to bake and it became my go-to for many occasions. My favorite way to eat it is right out of the oven with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream. Oh, momma.
Even though I'm an experienced baker now, there are times I make this dish when I'm thinking about Husband's Aunt Jane. She was as unexpectedly delightful as this cake.
Ingredients
- 5 tbsp. butter
- 1 package yellow cake mix*
- 1 cup white flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 package dry yeast
- ⅔ cup warm water
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 can fruit filling (if using apple or peach, add ½ teaspoon cinnamon to sugar)
- Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- Melt butter and cool.
- In a large mixing bowl combine 1 ½ cups dry cake mix (reserve remaining for streusel topping), yeast, flour, eggs and warm water. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Scrape bowl often.
- Spread dough in a greased 13x9 pan. Set aside.
- In a saucepan with cooled butter, combine reserved cake mix to make topping. Mixture will be crumbly. Set aside.
- Spoon pie filling evenly over dough in pan. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp. sugar (or sugar and cinnamon mixture).
- Sprinkle streusel topping over fruit.
- Bake @ 375° for 30 minutes.
- Glaze
- Combine sugar, syrup and water. Drizzle over warm cake.
- E-A-T!
Notes
* Always use a Deluxe Cake mix, never one with a pudding mix.
* Optional Glaze* Omit corn syrup and water. Substitute 1 tablespoon heavy cream. Add cream slowly to find the consistency you want.
Have guests in the house? Have folks in need of a some happiness? Don't have a funeral to attend or bake for, but now you're hungry?
Get to it, my babies.
Happy baking!
Ummm delish! Pinning this one for sure!
My FIL called me to tell me that it was one of the best he's had (we sent some home with him). Stamp of approval! Thanks for the pin.
I've never had a streusel! Or maybe I've had one, but never eaten one?!?! You know... I've never had one.. the fruit throws me for a loop... do they have streusels w no fruit... I was thinking of a cinnamon taste.
You can do any fruit if you're not a fan of blueberry (it's not my fav...i prefer apple with cinnamon). Streusel refers to the crumbly topping, not to be confused with strudel.
Ooh, this looks delicious. I usually see it just as a cinnamon swirl type cake, but I've never had one with fruit. Definitely going to have to give it a try!
Fair warning: it's addictive.
Yep, I know exactly the kind of food you mean. Also called "family reunion" food. And that's not a euphemism for a funeral.
Ha! Exactly. I was wondering last night if this is a Southern thang, or if all regions have funeral food.
I think I just need to come over when you bake and we can have coffee talk and consume all your delicious sweet treats. I will then leave with a serious sugar high. Happy Monday! 😉
i will trade baked goods for a serious workout!
No funeral for us, but I'm making this anyway! Yum!
Yay! Eat a piece for me.
Looks delicious, as all your recipes do! I'll definitely be trying it! Going to pin it right now!
Thanks for such a nice comment. I can say with authority that it is delicious!
This looks soooooooo good. I will definitely make this one. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me.
Thanks!
I wonder if funeral food is a Southern thing? It never fails to see a coffee cake, a bundt cake, chicken spaghetti, and veggie & fruit platters at a wake. This looks so yummy. I can see why it is a go-to recipe.
I wondered the same thing. Surely, there's a version of funeral food the world over.
That looks very good! In my area, "funeral food" is a lime jello mixed with marshmallows. For some reason it's been at every one we've attended - and therefore, if only in our own circles, that's what we call it!
Ha! Oh man, I love that other areas have their version.