Yet Another Coffee Cake

I love having a few dessert recipes up my sleeve that are quick, easy and use ingredients that I always have on hand.  This coffee cake fits the bill.  It's sweet and simple.  The perfect thing to whip up when unexpected guests arrive or you get a craving for something sweet but don't feel like making a trip to the bakery.  It's similar to my sour cream coffee cake, but uses yogurt instead (because I was out of sour cream).  The yogurt makes it sweeter.  You can use either one in this recipe.  Also, I used nuts in the cinnamon mixture, but it will work without them.  Remember, this is all about using what you have.  No trips to the grocery store!

COFFEE CAKE

1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup plain, nonfat yogurt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 TBS baking powder
1/8 tsp salt (a pinch)

Cinnamon Mixture:

2 TBS brown sugar
1/2 TBS cinnamon
2 TBS chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 inch cake pan with cooking spray.  Cream the butter and sugar together with a mixer.  Add egg, yogurt and vanilla.  Mix well.  In a separate bowl, blend flour, baking powder and salt.  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and gently stir until combined.

Set aside.  In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts.  Pour half of the batter into the prepared cake pan.  Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture on top, like this:

Add remaining batter on top of the cinnamon mixture.  Gently spread it out to completely cover.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

My parents were visiting and started eating it before I could snap a pic!  They said it smelled too good to wait. (A compliment I will gladly take)

This cake goes great with a cup of coffee (hence the name) or a cup of tea.  It doesn't even need icing!  Give this one a try the next time you need a quick, easy dessert.