Caramelized Peanut Coffee Cake is buttery and soft cake, with a topping of caramelized salted and roasted peanuts which is very crunchy. A combination which fits very well together. This cake is delicious at any season and the recipe is easy to follow.
Tools & Equipment
- 23cm/9-inch springform pan
- Small saucepan
- Silikon spatula
- Small bowl
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment or large bowl (mixing by hand)
Recipe Tips for making Caramelized Peanut Coffee Cake
Room temperature ingredients: cold ingredients are not easy to process. At room temperature the ingredients are easier to bond as they are warmer. This results in a smooth and even batter that turns into a light and airy cake. If you try to beat sugar and cold butter together, it will not work very well and will end up lumpy. The easiest way to bring butter and milk to room temperature is to take them out of the fridge about an hour before baking. Prepare ahead, because you cannot rush this step. It’s different with eggs: you can put them in a bowl of warm water for about 10 minutes.
Greasing: butter the sides and bottom of your pan very well.
Start with the peanut topping, because it has to cool down: stirring every once in a while, while making the cake batter.
You should stop the mixer before adding the dry ingredients and scrape down the sides of the bowl, to make sure all the ingredients are well incorporated.
The peanut mixture has thickened up but try to spoon it relatively even on top of the cake. Don’t push it completely to the sides of the pan, as it’ll stick and make it more difficult to release later.
Baking: Bake for 45 to 50 minutes on the lower rack. Check after 30 minutes, if the top is getting to dark put foil on it.
Release: Lightly grease a paring knife to release the cake from the sides of the pan. Run it around the outside of the cake and remove the ring of the pan.
Storage: the cake is best the day it is made, but well-wrapped or under a cake dome you can store it for up to 3 days at room temperature.
I really love that combination of caramelized nuts with a buttery dough. It is so simple, but also somehow sophisticated. Serve with whipped cream, ice cream and/or fresh berries. Or simply enjoy it on its own, because its delicious too. Make a cup of coffee or tea with it. Perfect.
My Summary for Caramelized Peanut Coffee Cake
Difficulty: simple.
Taste: buttery, nutty and sweet.
Texture: the cake itself is soft, while the top is made of a nutty, caramelized layer.
PROS: so easy and delicious.
CONS: enjoy the cake as soon as possible, because it tastes best the day it is made.
