Chocolate Chip Crumb Cake

On a chilly day last January - we started talking about a new kitchen.  Adding a second oven, moving the microwave, building out a bigger pantry, venting our ovens outside, sanding and staining the floors - all of that was a part of the initial plan.  But... once the ball got rolling - I couldn't stop.  😬I started designing my dream kitchen island, a rolling baking cart to house my Kitchen Aid mixer and a cutting board display rack.  I may have been the reason that it took so long to get this project off the ground.  😂

54 days ago - the deconstruction and demolition began.  Sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better.🤷🏻‍♀️ I have to admit - it was a little scary to see my kitchen stripped down to the drywall but I had to have faith that at the end of this journey, my kitchen would be restored to an even better space. 🙏🏻
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Before I share with you the big reveal - let me remind you of what our kitchen looked like 55 days ago.  

And then there was this stage...

And now - here we are ....  presenting our new ( and improved) kitchen!!! 

To say that I'm pleased with the results our of extreme kitchen makeover would be an understatement.  I'm more like over the moon, invite everyone I know over to see it and I want to hang out in my new kitchen all day - excited.  Best birthday/Christmas/anniversary/Valentine's Day gift ever.  🤣

There are so many little custom touches in this new space that I want to share with all of you.  Just when you thought you were finished hearing about my kitchen remodel.  😅 I'll be sharing all of my favorite aspects of this new space with you for the next couple of months, for sure.  

I'm spending lots of time getting familiar with my new kitchen.  It's amazing how much more efficiently and purposefully I can move through my new space while I work.  Cooking, baking and creating is even more fun in my new kitchen.  

Although we had very little control over the timing of this kitchen remodel - it actually worked out pretty well.  As of today, our new kitchen is 99% finished - less than a week away from Thanksgiving and just over a month away from Christmas.  If there was ever a time to do some extra baking - this is it.  🍪 😅 This Chocolate Chip Crumb Cake is the perfect holiday sweet that I can make now and tuck away in my freezer for that last minute Christmas gift.  This will inevitably get delivered to a special neighbor, teacher or friend next month.  Maybe I better make a few more.  😉

Chocolate Chip Crumb Cake
Topping 
​⅓ cup granulated sugar
 ⅓ cup brown sugar
 salt
 ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and still warm
 1¾ cups cake flour
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Cake
 1¼ cups cake flour
 ½ cup granulated sugar
 ¼ teaspoon baking soda
 ¼ teaspoon salt
 6 tablespoons butter
 1 egg
 1 egg yolk
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 ⅓ cup buttermilk or yogurt
 ½ cup mini chocolate chips

Whisk together sugars, salt and butter.

Stir in flour with a rubber scraper.  Cool 10-15 minutes. 

Add flour, sugar, baking soda and salt to bowl of standing mixer.  

Add butter 1 Tablespoon at a time until no clumps remain. 

Add egg, yolk, vanilla and buttermilk.  Beat 1 minute.

Fold mini chocolate chips into batter. 

Scrape batter into a greased loaf pan. 

Break apart topping into pea sized pieces.  

Sprinkle over loaf starting at edges and working towards the center. 

Bake 45 - 55 minutes at 325. 

As soon as cake comes out of the oven, sprinkle with 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.

Cool 30 minutes.  Remove from pan and dust with powdered sugar. 

Two oven means twice as many Chocolate Chip Crumb Cakes.  There's nothing wrong with that.  Happy Baking!

Ciao!

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