Coffee Cake with Fresh Apricots or Apples

Author

Unknown

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Recipe

Measurements	Ingredients
For the Cake Batter:
Two Cups	Sifted Flour
$\frac{3}{4}$ Cup	Sugar
Two Level Teaspoons	Calumet Baking Powder (or any double-acting baking powder)
$\frac{1}{2}$ Teaspoon	Salt
$\frac{1}{2}$ Cup	Shortening
One	Egg
$\frac{3}{4}$ Cup	Milk
For Fruit Topping Option:
As Needed	Fresh Apricots or Apples, Sliced Thickly
$\frac{1}{2}$ Cup	Brown or White Sugar
To Taste	Butter (for dotting)
To Taste	Nutmeg, Ground
For Plain Topping Option:
$\frac{1}{2}$ Cup	Sugar
Two Tablespoons	Flour
One Teaspoon	Cinnamon, Ground
To Taste	Butter (for dotting)

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (the card says 325°, but 375° is more standard for coffee cakes and the baking time of 45 min aligns better with this. Adjust as needed based on your oven). Grease and flour two small cake pans (e.g., 8-inch round or square).
2. In a large bowl, sift together two cups of flour, $\frac{3}{4}$ cup of sugar, two level teaspoons of baking powder, and $\frac{1}{2}$ teaspoon of salt.
3. Cut in $\frac{1}{2}$ cup of shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. In a separate small bowl, beat one egg well with $\frac{3}{4}$ cup of milk.
5. Add the egg and milk mixture to the dry ingredients. Cut in with a knife until just combined (the batter will be somewhat thick).
6. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. This makes 2 layers.
7. For Fruit Topping:
   • Arrange fresh apricot or apple slices thickly, standing them up, over the batter in each pan.
   • Sprinkle $\frac{1}{2}$ cup of brown or white sugar over the fruit.
   • Dot with butter and sprinkle with nutmeg.
8. For Plain Topping:
   • In a small bowl, combine $\frac{1}{2}$ cup of sugar, two tablespoons of flour, and one teaspoon of cinnamon.
   • Sprinkle this mixture over the batter in each pan.
   • Dot with butter.
9. Bake at 375°F for approximately 30-45 minutes (the card says 325° for 45 min), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the topping is golden.
10. Let cool in pans for a few minutes before serving.

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