Sour Cherry Crumb Cake

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Sour Cherry Crumb Cake

February 20, 2012 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

On Saturday mornings, while both our sons are at swimming, my friend Kathryn will often pop in for a cup of tea.

Yesterday, as we chatted, I assembled and baked this crumb cake, using frozen sour cherries that I’d excavated from the deep recesses of my freezer. It was the weekend, I was debriefing with a beloved friend, and I was baking. It was a restorative bubble of peace and camaraderie at the end of a chaotic week.

This easy Nick Malgieri recipe comes from The Modern Baker and was originally written for fresh blueberries. It uses a large quantity of butter and flour, and the raw dough in the pan weighed a ton. Despite that, the finished cake was light and gentle eating.

The original recipe can be found here. In case it’s of use, here are my metric conversions of the ingredients list:

Crumb Topping:

300g plain (AP) flour
5g (1 teaspoon) baking powder
75g sugar
70g light brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
180g unsalted butter, melted

Cake Batter:

250g unsalted butter, softened
330g sugar
3 large (59g) eggs
10gl (2 teaspoons) vanilla extract
375g plain (AP) flour
10g (2 teaspoons) baking powder
3 egg yolks
60g (¼ cup) milk (or ¼ cup buttermilk)
450g (3 cups) of pitted sour cherries (defrosted first, if frozen)

The cake was baked in a 23 x 33cm parchment lined pan, and took a little longer than the recommended baking time of 40 minutes.

This is a very large recipe, so it’s worth ensuring you have lots of willing eaters before attempting it. Our cake fed the neighbours, our dinner guests both last night and tonight, as well as Pete’s family at brunch this morning. There are still several pieces left for afternoon tea tomorrow!

Posted in Recipes | Tagged baking to share, Nick Malgieri blueberry crumb cake, Nick Malgieri Modern Baker, sour cherries | 69 Comments

69 Responses

on February 20, 2012 at 12:11 am Kate

You have cake leftovers? How is that even possible? Especially with cakes that look as delicious as yours!
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:52 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Kate! The leftovers were actually delicious.. :)
on February 20, 2012 at 12:44 am C

Celia, that looks so delicious! I love cakes with fresh fruit in them, especially when it stays on the top as this has done, with a lovely contrasting crunchy crumbly top. I’m not surprised it took longer than 40 minutes to bake though – that tray looks huge!
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:53 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  C, when I picked it up to put in the oven, I nearly dropped it, it was so heavy! I was pretty happy the cherries stayed on top – I made sure to defrost them well, as I’ve had frozen berries drop like stones in cake batter.. :)
on February 20, 2012 at 12:58 am frugalfeeding

Fig, that looks simply fantastic – what a lovely treat to have with a cup of my Krauter und Gewurzteemischung tea… what ever that is… I think it’s Austrian.
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:55 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks! That tea is a mouthful, Nick! :)
on February 20, 2012 at 1:06 am Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide

What a great way to start the day!
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:56 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Greg, the in-laws thought so, which was pretty cool.. :)
on February 20, 2012 at 1:17 am Suelle

What a lovely looking cake, and so versatile too! Just what we need to brighten the dull winter days over here.
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:56 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Suelle, it was really pretty, but soooo big! :)
on February 20, 2012 at 2:22 am Just A Smidgen

This recipe reminds me of my friend’s mom’s kuchen.. a very similar cake only yeast is used in the base. I have so many great memories of this for breakfast and wish I was in your kitchen with you having a bite! This might be perfect for my Friday’s volunteering, since I need a large amount of baking to share! Were the sour cherries fresh or just from the grocers (aka in a bag? I don’t think we have fresh here)
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:57 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Smidge, they were frozen cherries – I’ve never seen them fresh here. I think fresh cherries would work just as well though. How nice that you bake for others on Fridays..
on February 20, 2012 at 2:59 am sallybr

I had a nice Friday evening with a friend making falafel from scratch… however, it did not have a happy ending, the recipe didn’t work too well, most of the falafel ended up as swimming crumbs in the hot oil :-(

we still had fun and had a nice dinner with the “survivors” – but now I want to get that recipe right.

I clearly don’t bake enough cakes, every time I see one of your cake posts, I want to make it too! ;-)
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:57 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sally, there’s something wonderful about cooking with friends, isn’t there? I feel like I do it when I blog, but it’s even nicer in real life! :)
on February 20, 2012 at 5:08 am Lizzy (Good Things)

I love sour cherries and a good cherry cake, reminds me of one I make, without the crumble. Delicious! I could take a bite of the one in the picture right now with my coffee.
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:58 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Lizzy! I’d love to see your cherry cake recipe.. :)
on February 20, 2012 at 5:17 am Abby

That looks wonderful! Love the sour cherry substitution….yet another NM recipe that I must try soon! :)
- on February 20, 2012 at 2:59 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Abbs, look what you started! I can’t stop baking from the NM books now.. :)
on February 20, 2012 at 5:43 am hotlyspiced

It sounds like you were entertaining all weekend Celia. That’s an enormous cake. No wonder it fed so many. And the batter must be very dense because the cherries managed to stay near the top of the cake. It looks delicious.
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:00 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Charlie, thank you! It was very dense, but I also remembered to defrost the cherries – in the past I’ve used frozen berries, and they’ve gone straight to the bottom.. :)
on February 20, 2012 at 6:14 am thecompletecookbook

What a beautiful way to spend a Saturday morning.
:-) Mandy
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:00 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for understanding, Mandy. :)
on February 20, 2012 at 6:22 am heidi

I agree with all the comments- you make the most delicious cakes, Celia!
AND I just happen to have a bag of sour cherries in my freezer!
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:01 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, I spent ages looking for a savoury recipe to use my sour cherries in but never found one that appealed, so it was nice to find a use for them! :)
on February 20, 2012 at 6:23 am InTolerant Chef

That crumble topping looks great, and sour cherries are great in cakes too. Hard to believe your cake lasted so long indeed!
What a nice sounding weekend- full of friends and food!
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:01 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Becca, it was a lovely, mellow weekend. The nice thing about having a giant cake is that we could feed whoever walked in the door and not have to worry about not having enough food.. :)
  - on February 22, 2012 at 6:32 am InTolerant Chef
    
    Like the Magic Pudding, cut-and-come-again!
on February 20, 2012 at 6:30 am teawithhazel

a merry cherry morning to you celia..your cake looks seriously good..
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:01 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Jane! Hope your day has been most fine! :)
on February 20, 2012 at 6:56 am cityhippyfarmgirl

sounds like the perfect way to round off the week Celia. Cake, tea and a good friend.
(ps. I forget, did you end up buying Short and sweet? All the usual suspects are taunting me with the results on their blogs :-) Do I just get it be done?
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:03 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Brydie! I did buy S & S, and I actually haven’t made very much from it yet. I’m actually more taken with my Nick Malgieri cookbooks and Pam Corbin’s Bake, although there are some savoury recipes in the S & S that look very nice.
on February 20, 2012 at 7:23 am tania@mykitchenstories

Thank you, this is my kind of cake I love it
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:03 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Tania! Me too.. :)
on February 20, 2012 at 7:31 am Jane @ Shady Baker

Wow Celia…that is a serious looking cake…how lovely to cook and chat with a good friend :)
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:03 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jane, it was so therapeutic, just the chance to unwind on a Saturday morning. I always unwind best when I’m baking! :)
on February 20, 2012 at 7:46 am Amanda

I am a little shocked that there is left-over cake. It shows a certain lack of commitment on behalf of your family and neighbours – especially with a cake that has lots of butter and looks very toothsome indeed.
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:04 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, I’ll tell them all they’re letting the side down.. ;-)
on February 20, 2012 at 9:58 am Christie

How nice to have some time to yourself to bake in peace. This cake looks so deliciously buttery and yellow.
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:04 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Christie, if I don’t get to play in the kitchen for at least part of the weekend, I’m crabby for the rest of the week! :)
on February 20, 2012 at 11:08 am The Wild Wood

Looks just like a muffin I occasionally buy form a sourdough shop……….hmm.
If I made muffins do you think the crumble would freeze and thaw successfully?
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:05 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Elaine, I’m sorry, but I’m not sure. I’ve never tried freezing this sort of cake before…
on February 20, 2012 at 11:22 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

What a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning. I love the colour the cherries give this cake. So pretty!
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:05 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Claire! It’s the first time I’ve baked with sour cherries, and I think I might be hooked..
on February 20, 2012 at 12:49 pm Chris@slowlivingessentials

Excavating from the deep recesses of your freezer! This made me chuckle. Crumble topped baked goodies must be in the air lately..I do very much like the look of your sour cherry offering. Sour cherries are a real favourite of mine! :)
- on February 20, 2012 at 3:06 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Chris, you know how it is. :) The bag of cherries was actually masquerading as raspberries until I dragged it out and had a proper look.. ;-)
on February 20, 2012 at 5:49 pm Tandy

lovely to have left overs for breakfast! Have a great day :)
- on February 20, 2012 at 7:44 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Tandy! You too! :)
on February 20, 2012 at 6:44 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

Ooh look at all of that buttery crumb! And here I am with some sour cherries in the fridge that just need a buttery partner ;)
- on February 20, 2012 at 7:44 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Wow, where did you find fresh sour cherries? I’ve only ever seen them jarred or frozen… :)
on February 20, 2012 at 7:36 pm Claire

Hi Celia, I have finally checked out your blog after seeing your comments on my brother’s blog (cookbooks anonymous). Am loving it! So much good stuff for me to get through!

Cheers, Claire
- on February 20, 2012 at 7:45 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, I didn’t even know Dave had a sister…how nice of you to visit! Thanks for stopping by! :)
  - on February 21, 2012 at 11:32 pm Claire
    
    He’s actually got two sisters- someone had to keep him in line when he was growing up!!
on February 20, 2012 at 10:06 pm niasunset

WOW! Seems so beautiful and so delicious… I wished to be there too :) Thank you dear Celia, have a nice week, with my love, nia
- on February 21, 2012 at 6:43 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Nia! Hope you have a great week too! x
on February 20, 2012 at 11:13 pm ChopinandMysaucepan

Dear Celia,

This looks like a beautiful cake to go with a cup of tea and catching up with a friend although most times if my friends come over, it’s a few beers and pieces of meat on the BBQ :)
- on February 21, 2012 at 6:42 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  We don’t own a BBQ any more! Ours died and we’ve yet to replace it.. :)
on February 21, 2012 at 4:16 am Kitchen Butterfly

Wow…..you amaze me Celia. And delight me with all your baking. I love the topping/crumble on this cake, and the fact that it feed an army – Florence Nightingale would have been glad to have you on her team! (Don’t mind me, my daughter’s learning about famous nurses)!

Glad you have people to share with – that’s something to be thankful for. Stay well.
- on February 21, 2012 at 6:21 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Oz, thank you, and you’re right! Having people to share it with is a blessing! :)
on February 21, 2012 at 6:52 pm Tes

What a lovely cake! It will be great delight to bite through those delicate slice :)
- on February 21, 2012 at 6:56 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Tes! It was fun to make too.. :)
on February 22, 2012 at 2:14 am Joanna

Wow look at those perfect cherries floating away at the top of that beautiful cake without a care in the world. (there’s a moral in that somewhere) Your Saturday mornings sound delightful dearest, I hope there are many more to come and that there will always be cake to share too xxx
on February 23, 2012 at 12:07 am Sally

Feeding the five thousand with cake….love it Celia. Have a jar of cherries looking for a baking excuse….
- on February 23, 2012 at 7:15 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sally, it just kept going and going and going. I’d love to know how it goes with jarred cherries…
on February 24, 2012 at 5:15 pm Craig

Ohhh, these style cakes are a delight with a cuppa. I’m sure it is awesome with the buttermilk. Yours looks lovely.
Craig
- on February 26, 2012 at 9:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Craig, thank you! It went down well with the masses.. :)
on February 29, 2012 at 7:15 am Choclette

Celia being able to bake and potter in the kitchen whilst there are other people in it, is my idea of heaven – one day!
- on February 29, 2012 at 7:06 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Choc, one day soon, I hope! It was really a great joy!
on April 3, 2012 at 9:36 am patty smith

This looks pretty good…never had sour cherry before. I may give it a go to serve to my family after Easter supper. It’s between this and an apple one. I’ll check back here once (if) I go forward with the this particular one. Good job illustrating – it sure looks tasty.
- on April 5, 2012 at 8:47 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for stopping by, Patty!