This moist, delicious cinnamon crumb cake is a classic favorite! You can make a cake or cupcakes with this recipe, and it tastes great with either a simple sprinkling of walnuts on top, or a sweet Nut Crumble Topping.
If you’re new to the world of traditional-real food cooking, the “soaking” process may seem a bit strange. But be assured, the centuries-old process of soaking grains helps to breakdown the antinutrients and hard-to-digest components of the grain and at the same time, helps to release highly beneficial nutrients.
Soaking grains for optimal nutrition is really very easy! It just takes a little planning ahead. The result is a highly nutritious and easy-to-digest whole-grain food with wonderful robust flavor.
To learn more about the health benefits of soaking, please check out “How to Soak Grains for Optimal Nutrition.”
Ingredients
- 2 cups organic whole spelt flour
- 1/2 cup organic rolled oats (not quick-cook)
- 1 cup plain organic whole milk kefir (or cultured buttermilk)
- 1/2 cup pure honey (I prefer sage honey due to its mild flavor)
- 1/4 cup rapadura (or sucanat)
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, solid
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp, plus 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
- Crispy Walnuts (use walnuts for your choice of topping options listed below)
Instructions
- Add above ingredients to a large ceramic (or glass) mixing bowl and thoroughly combine. (Mixture will resemble a very sticky dough.)
- Cover the bowl and place it in a warm area of your kitchen for 12-24 hours.
- Once soaking time is completed, preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- In a medium-sized bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the Rapadura, butter and coconut oil, until creamy.
- Add the egg, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix until incorporated.
- Add the butter mixture to the soaked batter and thoroughly combine using electric mixer.
- Place in a well-oiled 9×9-inch baking pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before slicing. (Recipe inspired by Passionate Homemaking.)
- Either top the cake with a sprinkling of rapadura and some crispy walnut pieces, or top with the Nut Crumble Topping, as noted below.
- Instead of using this recipe to make a cake, my friend Brooke had the great idea to make cupcakes instead.
- Simply spoon batter into muffin cups until 2/3 full.
- Then top with the Nut Crumble Topping (see note below).
- Bake at 300 degrees for 25-28 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool 5-10 minutes in muffin tin. (Due to the deliciously crumbly nature of this recipe, your cupcake is probably best eaten with a fork.) Yum!
Notes
Nut Crumble Topping: In a small bowl, add 3/4 cup of finely chopped crispy walnuts, 1 tablespoon of rapadura (or sucanat ), 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Mix well to combine. Spoon mixture evenly over top of the cake/cupcakes and bake as directed above.
Brooke says
These are the best cupcakes & so easy to make.
Kelly says
Every time I make them I think of you and your great idea to make them into cupcakes – you ROCK!!
julia says
Hello. I realy want to make these but as I am new to traditional real food cooking I dont know how to manufacture whole milk kefir, yet! I can get hold of cultured buttermilk at my supermarket but it is homogenised and pasturised. Is this a bad thing? Could I use wholemilk, organic yoghurt for the soak instead? Many thanks 🙂
Kelly says
Hi, Julia. You can most certainly use buttermilk. It won’t change the taste or texture of this recipe at all. Whole milk yogurt can also be used but may make these a bit crumblier, but still delicious. Lots of blessings, Kelly 🙂
julia says
Hello Kelly. Thank you again for your prompt reply. This is all new to me and I sometimes find all the new ways of preparing and doing things are a little scary! Your website is so lovely and has given me the confidence to try! I shall go buy some buttermilk and have a go at my first soaked cupcakes :)))
Kelly says
Wonderful! Hope you enjoy them as much as we do! Blessings to you on your journey. 🙂
kaitlyn says
these look sooo good ! 🙂